Second World War (September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945) - war two world military-political coalitions, which became largest armed conflict in mankind's history.
World War 2 - 62 from 73 states that existed at that time (80% world's population) participated.
Combat operations World War Two were fought on territory Europe, Asia and Africa, waters all world's oceans. WWII is only conflict which nuclear weapons were used.
Participants Second World War
Number participating countries changed during war. Some from them conducted active military operations, others helped their allies supply food, and many participated war only nominally.
Anti-Hitler coalition included
Poland, Great Britain (and its dominions: Canada, India, South African Union, Australia, New Zealand), France - entered Second World War September 1939;
Ethiopia - Ethiopian troops under command of Ethiopian government in exile continued guerrilla warfare after annexation state in 1936, officially recognized as an ally on July 12, 1940;
Denmark, Norway - on April 9, 1940;
Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg - since May 10, 1940;
Greece - October 28, 1940;
Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941;
USSR, Tuva, Mongolia entered World War 2 on June 22, 1941;
United States, Philippines - since December 1941;
China (government Chiang Kai-shek) - was fighting against Japan since July 7, 1937, officially recognized as an ally on December 9, 1941;
Mexico - May 22, 1942;
Brazil - August 22, 1942 year.
During period war, Axis countries also declared war on part such states as Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, Nepal, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Iran, Albania, Paraguay, Ecuador, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Bolivia, but these countries did not take part in hostilities, and many of them made a nominal declaration of war only at its most final stage, in period from April to May 9, 1945.
During Second World War, some states that came out of Nazi bloc joined Anti-Hitler Coalition:
Iraq on 17 January 1943;
Kingdom Italy - October 13, 1943;
Romania - on August 23, 1944;
Bulgaria - September 5, 1944;
Finland - September 19, 1944.
On other hand, Axis countries and their allies participated to war:
Germany, Slovakia - September 1, 1939;
Italy, Albania - June 10, 1940;
Hungary - 11 April 1941;
Iraq - 1 May 1941;
Romania, Croatia, Finland - June 1941;
Japan, Manchukuo - December 7, 1941;
Bulgaria on 13 December 1941;
Thailand - January 25, 1942;
China (Wang Jingwei's government) - January 9, 1943;
Burma - August 1, 1943;
Philippines - September 1944.
Iran was not a member of Nazi bloc (until 1941). Territory occupied countries, puppet states were created that were not participants Second World War and joined fascist coalition: Vichy France, Greek State, Italian Social Republic, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Pinda-Meglen Principality, Mengjiang, Burma, Philippines , Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Azad Hind, Wang Jingwei regime. In a number German Reich Commissariats, autonomous puppet governments were created and acted throughout Second World War: Quisling regime in Norway, Mussert regime inNetherlands, Belarusian Central Rada in Belarus. On side Germany and Japan, many collaborative forces, created from citizens of opposing side, also fought: ROA, foreign divisions of SS (Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Estonian, 2 Latvian, Norwegian-Danish, 2 Dutch, 2 Belgian, 2 Bosnian, French, Albanian ), a number of foreign legions. Also armed forces of Nazi bloc countries in World War II, volunteer forces of states formally remained neutral: Spain (Blue Division), Sweden and Portugal.
World War 2 Pictures of:Wehrmacht
Waffen-SS
Red Army
US Army
RAF
