Who Fought in World War II: A look at Winners and Losers

WWII Attack on Pearl Harbor. Photo by Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division. Wikimedia Commons.

Who Fought in World War II: A look at Winners and Losers

World War II, one of the worst wars in human history, was a global battle that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The Allied powers, which included the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, and China, triumphed over the Axis powers, which were made of  Germany, Japan, and Italy. Significant geopolitical and economic shifts resulted from the war’s aftermath, with some global powers falling and others rising.

In this article, we’ll look more closely at the World War II winners and losers and see how the war affected their lives.

1. United States

In regards to the Allies winning World War II, the United States was essential. Because the war had little impact on the nation’s economy, the United States was able to give its allies the tools they needed to win the conflict. US forces fought on numerous fronts, notably in Europe and the Pacific, and were a major factor in the defeat of the Axis nations. 

Another critical aspect of the Allied victory was the nation’s development of military equipment, such as tanks, planes, and ships. Furthermore, the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan’s capitulation, which finally ended the war. The United States emerged from the war as a superpower, with a strong economy and significant military power that shaped the post-war world.

2. Soviet Union

Leninsk by Vyacheslav Argenberg from Wikimedia Commons

The Soviet Union, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, was essential to the Allies’ triumph in World War II. With an estimated 27 million deaths during the war, the nation suffered tremendous casualties, but its contributions to the war effort were vital.  One of the key turning points in the war was the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front, and its forces were in charge of seizing Berlin, the German capital. The Red Army of the Soviet Union, which at the time was the biggest and most potent military force in the world, was instrumental in establishing the post-war world.

3. Great Britain

The Allied triumph in World War II was greatly aided by Great Britain, under the leadership of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill’s lectures and charismatic leadership spurred the country to reject Nazi assault, making it one of the first to do so. The Battle of Britain, which finally stopped Germany from launching a full-scale invasion of the nation, featured a crucial role for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Along with protecting Allied convoys in the Atlantic, the navy of Great Britain was also essential in securing supply lines. Significant contributions to the war effort were also made by the nation’s intelligence services, particularly the renowned code-breaking work at Bletchley Park. The Allied victory was ultimately made possible by Great Britain’s tenacity and resolve, which also insured that the nation would remain a significant worldwide force in the years following the war.

4. France

In reality, France was one of the countries that Nazi Germany invaded during World War II, hence it is untrue to assert that France was part of the winning team. However, the fact that France contributed significantly to the Allies’ success in the war’s latter phases should not be overlooked, though.

France was a crucial part of the war in the fight to free Western Europe from Nazi rule when the Allies touched down in Normandy in 1944. The French Resistance was a group of guerilla warriors who tried to disrupt Nazi activities and collect intelligence for the Allies. They were instrumental in liberating France.

5. China

Sino-Japanese War bymToshikata Mizuno from Wikimedia Commons

Under the direction of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, China was instrumental in the Allies’ triumph in World War II. Two years prior to the start of World War II, in 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War began, making the nation one of the first to experience Japanese aggression.  Throughout the whole conflict, China resisted the Japanese attack despite incurring significant losses, notably the notorious Rape of Nanking. China’s large population and resources were key to the war effort, and Chinese soldiers fought alongside the Allies in several crucial engagements, including the Burma Campaign.

To prevent Japan from launching a full-scale invasion of the Soviet Union, the Chinese forces’ involvement was particularly crucial in securing a huge number of Japanese troops. China gained dominance in East Asia after the war, and the post-war world was greatly influenced by its contribution to the Allied victory.

Losers:

6. Germany

Beginning of Lebensraum, the Nazi German expulsion of Poles from central Poland, 1939 – Wikipedia

There were a number of reasons why Germany lost the Second World War. One of the major contributing elements was the nation’s choice to fight on two fronts, against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front and the Allies on the Western Front. The government was unable to devote all of its military resources to either front as a result of this decision. Germany also struggled with a dearth of resources, particularly oil and other raw materials, which hindered its ability to build the tools it would need to wage a protracted war.

The failure of the nation was also a result of Hitler’s leadership, which included his military strategies and choices. Finally, the country’s decision to commit atrocities like the Holocaust and other horrible decisions alienated potential allies and made it harder for the country to win over the world. In the end, a number of circumstances contributed to Germany’s defeat, but the nation’s aggressive military buildup and strategic blunders were the two main causes.

7. Japan

WWII Attack on Pearl Harbor. Photo by Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division. Wikimedia Commons.

The fall of Japan in World War Two was caused by a number of things. One of the primary contributing elements was the nation’s choice to fight a war with several superpowers, such as the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, which taxed its military and economic capabilities. A further factor in Japan’s defeat was its reliance on antiquated military strategies and its failure to adjust to the evolving character of contemporary warfare, such as the deployment of aircraft carriers.

Its capacity to wage a prolonged war was also constrained by the nation’s inability to obtain sufficient natural resources, particularly oil. In the end, the United States’ use of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was crucial in bringing about Japan’s eventual surrender and in ending the war. In the end, a number of causes contributed to Japan’s defeat, but its aggressive military buildup and its inability to adjust to modern warfare were crucial elements.

8. Italy

Mussolini and Hitler by Wikimedia Commons

There were a number of reasons why Italy lost the Second World War. The country’s choice to join forces with Germany, which propelled it into an expensive and ultimately fruitless war effort, was one of the major drivers. The Italian military’s ineffectiveness on the battlefield was a result of its inadequate gear and inadequate training.

The conflict also hurt the nation’s economy by causing shortages and inflation as resources and commodities were diverted to the military effort. With their aggressive policies and dictatorial control creating internal instability and hostility to the war effort, Italy’s fascist leadership, especially Benito Mussolini, also played a role in the country’s demise.

9. Austria

Prior to the start of World War Two, in 1938, Austria was seized by Nazi Germany; as a result, it played no autonomous role in the war. Yet it’s crucial to remember that Austria’s alliance with Nazi Germany played a role in the country’s loss of the war. There was no internal opposition to Germany’s Anschluss annexation of Austria, and a large portion of the Austrian population backed Hitler’s policies and the nation’s aggressive expansionism.

Because of this, Austria was considered by the Allies to be a defeated nation, and after Germany’s surrender, it was occupied by Allied soldiers. The war destroyed Austria’s economy and infrastructure, and the nation was split into four occupation zones, with the Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain, and France each assuming control of a zone. Austria was ultimately defeated because of its ties to Nazi Germany and its inability to stand up to the regime’s aggressive policies.

10. Hungary

Admiral Horthy by Austrian postcard from Wikimedia Commons

Admiral Miklós Horthy’s authoritarian regime in Hungary initially aimed to keep the country neutral during World War Two. Yet, because of its affiliation with Nazi Germany, the nation eventually became involved in the battle. Hungary took part in the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union and was among the final nations to submit to the Allies in 1945. Hungary’s military had inadequate tools and inadequate training, which reduced its usefulness in war.

The nation also experienced severe economic problems, such as resource shortages and inflation, which hindered its ability to wage war. Hungary’s downfall was further aided by its alliance with Nazi Germany and its participation in the wartime persecution of Jews and other minorities. Hungary lost the war, and as a result, the Soviet Union invaded and controlled the nation, bringing about substantial political and economic changes.

You can also read Who Started World War 2: A Look at the Major Events that Triggered the War