World War 2 remains the deadliest conflict known to humankind claiming the lives of around 70 to 85 million people. The war involving several countries waged from 1939 to 1945, with the various warring nations eventually forming two opposing military alliances known as the Allies and the Axis Powers.
So World War 2 was fought between the Allies and the Axis powers.
Here are the major differences between the Allies and the Axis powers.
Alignment of Countries
The Allies initially consisted of European Nations, with the exception of Germany, Italy and Russia. Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden were neutral. Russia (Soviet Union) and the USA would join later in 1941.
The Allied camp would be led by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Societ Premier Josef Stalin.
The Axis consisted of Germany, Italy and Japan. But after the German blitzkrieg campaigns of 1939-1940, they were joined by countries occupied directly by them or governments that supported the Axis such as Bulgaria, Romania, Finland and Norway.
The Axis camp was led by German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler, Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini and Japanese Shōwa Emperor Hirohito (Although military affairs were led helmed by General Tojo Hideki).
Democaracy vs Authoritarian
The governments of the Allied nation were democratic and liberal in their nature and approach.
The Axis powers were authoritarian regimes led by powerful dictators who championed different forms of fascism, authoritarianism and militarism.
Reasons for Conflict
The reason why countries joined the Axis or the Allies were dependent on several factors – military power, political beliefs, geographical location.
The main goal of the Allies was to create a peaceful post-war world, and liberate nations under occupation by the Axis powers. Its creation was a response to the aggression and unprovoked war the Axis had unleashed upon the world.
Each country had different ideas about what this post-war world would look like.
- Britain wanted to create a post-war Europe that would prevent Germany from rising again.
- The United States wanted a permanent end to the fascist regimes (of Germany, Italy and Japan) and wanted to foster democracy throughout the world.
- The Soviet Union wanted to crush Germany and gain influence over Europe.
The United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union coordinated their foreign and military policies and created institutions in common to support these policies and win the war.
The primary goal of the Axis powers was territorial expansion at the cost of its neighbours. The Axis alliance supported each other’s goal for territorial expansion, wanted the destruction of the Soviet Union, and acknowledged each other’s supremacy in their respective geographic areas.
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