View source for Axis powers

[[File:Flag of Japan (1870–1999).svg|right|frameless|121x121px]][[File:Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg|right|frameless|122x122px]]
[[File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg|right|frameless|122x122px]]
'''Axis countries''' and '''Axis Powers''' are the names for some [[country|countries]] that fought together against the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] during [[World War II]]. [[Benito Mussolini]], Prime Minister of the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]], announced that an October 1936 agreement had created an Italian-German "axis" around which future European events would revolve. Germany made a separate agreement with the [[Empire of Japan]] at the same time.

The three major powers were joined by several minor countries. The war ended in 1945 with the Axis powers losing and their [[alliance]]s broken.

== Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis Powers ==
The most important Axis countries formed an alliance called the '''Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis Powers''' (1922 to 1945). They included:
* {{Flag|Nazi Germany}}, under [[Adolf Hitler]]
* {{Flagdeco|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Fascist Italy]], under [[Benito Mussolini]] (until Mussolini got overthrown in 1943)
** {{Flag|Italian Social Republic}}, small client state
* {{Flag|Empire of Japan}}, under [[Hirohito]]
[[File:Flag of the Axis countries.png|thumb|280px|The three flags of Axis Powers: [[Nazi Germany]], [[Kingdom of Italy]] until 1943 (then [[Italian Social Republic]] from 1943), and [[Imperial Japan]].]]

<gallery>
File:NS administrative Gliederung 1944.png|[[Nazi Germany]]
File:Italian empire 1940.png|[[Kingdom of Italy]] (before 1943)
File:Japanese Empire - 1942.svg|[[Empire of Japan]]
</gallery>

All three countries had authoritarian [[government]]s, which were (and still are) often referred to as [[Fascism|fascist.]]
[[File:Map of participants in World War II.svg|right|frameless]]

== Other countries ==
===Subsequent signatories of the [[Tripartite Pact]]===
In addition to the main three countries, the less important Axis countries were: 
* {{Flagdeco|Hungary|variant=1920}} [[Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)|Kingdom of Hungary]], under [[Miklós Horthy]]
* {{Flag|Kingdom of Romania}}, under [[Ion Antonescu]] (until Ion Antonescu got overthrown and declaring war on Germany in 1944)
* {{Flag|Kingdom of Bulgaria}}, under [[Boris III of Bulgaria|Tsar Boris III]] (Until Boris III's assasination in 1943 and declaring war on Germany in 1944)

<gallery>
File:Hungary map.png|Hungary
File:Romania1941.png|Romania
File:Map of Bulgaria during WWII.png|Bulgaria
</gallery>

Other countries that helped the Axis without being a part of them were:

=== Co-belligerent states ===
* {{Flag|Finland}}
* {{Flagdeco|Kingdom of Iraq}} [[Iraq]]
* {{Flag|Thailand}}

=== Client states ===
* {{Flag|Slovak Republic|1939|name=Slovakia}}
* {{Flag|Philippines|1942}} (Second Republic)
* {{Flag|Vietnam|1945}} (Empire of Vietnam)
* {{Flagdeco|Manchukuo}} [[Manchukuo]] ([[Manchuria]] and eastern [[Inner Mongolia]])
* {{Flagdeco|Japan|variant=1870}} Reorganized National Government of [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]]
* {{Flagdeco|Independent State of Croatia}} [[Independent State of Croatia]]
* {{Flag|Italian Social Republic}} (from 1943 because Nazis saved Benito.)

== Controversial cases ==

* [[Denmark]], signed treaty of mutual non-aggression; accepted German troops.
* [[Spain]], was neutral, but gave non-military assistance.
* [[Vichy France]], agreed not to resist after Northern France was conquered. Did not resist Japanese occupation of [[French Indochina]].

<gallery>
File:Manchukuo map.png|Manchukuo
File:Slovakia1941 02.png|Slovakia
File:France map Lambert-93 with regions and departments-occupation.svg|Vichy France
File:Ndh 1941.png|Croatia
File:Italian social republic map.png|Italian Social Republic
</gallery>

Several new or rebel governments that were created by the Axis during the war are:
* {{Flagdeco|Burma}} [[Burma]] (Ba Maw regime)
* {{Flagdeco|India}} [[India]] (Provisional Government of Free India)

== Other websites ==
* [http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=84 WW2DB: Tripartite Pact]
* [http://ww2db.com/country.php WW2DB: Axis Countries]

[[Category:World War II]]
[[Category:Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:20th century in Japan]]
[[Category:20th century in Italy]]
[[Category:Military alliances]]