World War II Historical Agency | 7:52 p.m. ET Updated 9:00 p.m. ET by Kamil Towhiduzzaman
The Bad Guys: The Axis Allies
GERMANY AND OVERVIEW
In the Axis alliance there were three main countries: Germany, Italy, and Japan, all three of which acknowledged German control over most of continental Europe, Italian control over the Mediterranean Sea, and Japanese control over East Asia and the Pacific. On the other hand was the Allied powers, which included Great Britain, the U.S., and eventually the Soviet Union. {1}
The two main common objectives of the Axis partners was territorial expansion and empire creation, and the end of Soviet Communism. On November 1, 1936, Germany and Italy announced a Rome-Berlin Axis, and Imperial japan and Nazi Germany signed the Anti-Comintern Pact against the Soviet Union on November 25, 1936, which Italy joined on November 6, 1937. The Pact of Steel was signed on May 22, 1939 by Germany and Italy which added military support to the Axis alliance, and the Tripartite Pact finalizing the Axis alliance was signed on September 27, 1940. {2}
The western theater of war in World War II was set up before with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, which started the European war. Also, Italy joined the Axis side when it entered WWII on June 10, 1940 since France's defeat was evident. {3}
In the Axis alliance there were three main countries: Germany, Italy, and Japan, all three of which acknowledged German control over most of continental Europe, Italian control over the Mediterranean Sea, and Japanese control over East Asia and the Pacific. On the other hand was the Allied powers, which included Great Britain, the U.S., and eventually the Soviet Union. {1}
The two main common objectives of the Axis partners was territorial expansion and empire creation, and the end of Soviet Communism. On November 1, 1936, Germany and Italy announced a Rome-Berlin Axis, and Imperial japan and Nazi Germany signed the Anti-Comintern Pact against the Soviet Union on November 25, 1936, which Italy joined on November 6, 1937. The Pact of Steel was signed on May 22, 1939 by Germany and Italy which added military support to the Axis alliance, and the Tripartite Pact finalizing the Axis alliance was signed on September 27, 1940. {2}
The western theater of war in World War II was set up before with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, which started the European war. Also, Italy joined the Axis side when it entered WWII on June 10, 1940 since France's defeat was evident. {3}
ITALIAN AXIS Alliance
Italy was Germany's ally from 1940-43 and helped Germany with their Army, Air Force, and Navy. However, when British and U.S. forces moved from North Africa to invade Sicily in July 1943, even some Fascists decided Italy had to change sides. Within two weeks of ally arrival, Benito Mussolini was kicked out of his position as prime minister by the King and arrested. Pietro Badoglio announces an armistice with the Allies and flees with King of Italy to Allied lines, leaving Italian soldiers without a mission or a goal, resulting in the Italian Army being largely disbanded. {4} {5} The Germans then occupy Italy and in September 12, 1943, German Research teams locate the imprisoned Mussolini and the the Germans rescue him. Hitler then pressures Mussolini to become head of new Italian Fascist movement in September 23, 1943, called the "Repubblica Sociale Italiana" (RSI). The RSI had 5 smoke cover battalions defending the Baltic ports and the 92nd Blackshirt battalion at Vienna.{6} |
SLOVAKIAN AXIS ALLIANCE
Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918 after WWI and was home to two main ethnic groups: the Czechs and the Slovaks/Slavs. The Czechs were dominant and they made the capital of the new nation Praha/ Prague. The Czechs were usually the people who led the armies while the Slovaks were the people who took orders from them. When the Czech formed the Czech Nation, the Germans invaded Sudetenland and gave the Slovaks their chance at autonomy, and so they became independent in March 1939 as Slovakia. {7}
Slovakia was the only Axis nation in the campaign of Poland. Two combat groups were formed to aid the Germans. Slovakia also helped Germany fight against Russia. {8}
The Slovakian army was strong, but it lacked good leadership, since there was discrimination between the Czechs and the Slavs in high positions before, and they lacked in knowledge and supply of modern weaponry and equipment. Germany tried to change this buy sending some of the Slavs to Germany for military training, although it made little difference. {9}
Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918 after WWI and was home to two main ethnic groups: the Czechs and the Slovaks/Slavs. The Czechs were dominant and they made the capital of the new nation Praha/ Prague. The Czechs were usually the people who led the armies while the Slovaks were the people who took orders from them. When the Czech formed the Czech Nation, the Germans invaded Sudetenland and gave the Slovaks their chance at autonomy, and so they became independent in March 1939 as Slovakia. {7}
Slovakia was the only Axis nation in the campaign of Poland. Two combat groups were formed to aid the Germans. Slovakia also helped Germany fight against Russia. {8}
The Slovakian army was strong, but it lacked good leadership, since there was discrimination between the Czechs and the Slavs in high positions before, and they lacked in knowledge and supply of modern weaponry and equipment. Germany tried to change this buy sending some of the Slavs to Germany for military training, although it made little difference. {9}
HUNGARY BECOMES AN AXIS ALLY
In 1941, Germany and Italy want to bring Hungary into a military alliance and in return they offer to give Hungary territory that they lost in the 1920 Treaty of Trianon. In April 1941, Germany prepares for an invasion of Yugoslavia and request the aid of Hungary, who mobilized the Hungarian 3rd Army. {10}
Hungary joined the Axis on November 20, 1940. During this time, Germany has already been fighting Soviet Russia, and on July 27th, 1941 Hungary formally declares war against the Soviet Union and becomes a full Axis partner to Germany and Italy. There are a couple of reasons that Hungary chose to eventually completely side with the Axis. One of those reasons is the "Red Terror" of 1918 where a communist by the name Bela Kun announced a Soviet Hungarian Republic and took over many areas. This subsequently pushed Hungarian forces towards the Axis camp during pre-war years. This communist group was defeated by Vice Admiral Miklos Horthy, who was the last commander in chief of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, along with a new army. Another reason was the Treaty of Trianon, which limited their territory and army like the Treaty of Versailles did to Germany. {11}
At this time, Hungary entered an alliance with Italy in 1927. Also, Germany got economic concessions from Hungary, and in return Hungary received better economic and political footing and Hungary also was able to annex northern Transylvania because of German support. {12} {13}
On 1939, Hungary joins the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany, Italy and Japan. Hungary said it was neutral when Germany invaded Poland on September 1939, but it was building up its armies since 1938. With the occupation of Hungary by Germany in 1944, Hungary never surrendered to the Allies and they were out of the fight when Soviet troops move through Hungary's western border into Austria in April 1945. {14} {15}
In 1941, Germany and Italy want to bring Hungary into a military alliance and in return they offer to give Hungary territory that they lost in the 1920 Treaty of Trianon. In April 1941, Germany prepares for an invasion of Yugoslavia and request the aid of Hungary, who mobilized the Hungarian 3rd Army. {10}
Hungary joined the Axis on November 20, 1940. During this time, Germany has already been fighting Soviet Russia, and on July 27th, 1941 Hungary formally declares war against the Soviet Union and becomes a full Axis partner to Germany and Italy. There are a couple of reasons that Hungary chose to eventually completely side with the Axis. One of those reasons is the "Red Terror" of 1918 where a communist by the name Bela Kun announced a Soviet Hungarian Republic and took over many areas. This subsequently pushed Hungarian forces towards the Axis camp during pre-war years. This communist group was defeated by Vice Admiral Miklos Horthy, who was the last commander in chief of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, along with a new army. Another reason was the Treaty of Trianon, which limited their territory and army like the Treaty of Versailles did to Germany. {11}
At this time, Hungary entered an alliance with Italy in 1927. Also, Germany got economic concessions from Hungary, and in return Hungary received better economic and political footing and Hungary also was able to annex northern Transylvania because of German support. {12} {13}
On 1939, Hungary joins the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany, Italy and Japan. Hungary said it was neutral when Germany invaded Poland on September 1939, but it was building up its armies since 1938. With the occupation of Hungary by Germany in 1944, Hungary never surrendered to the Allies and they were out of the fight when Soviet troops move through Hungary's western border into Austria in April 1945. {14} {15}
CROATIA FIGHTS UNTIL THE VERY END
In 1929 the Croatian Constitution was abolished and an absolutist dictatorship by King Aleksander was established. The country was also renamed Yugoslavia. The dictatorship caused the creation of a Croatian separatist group called the Ustashe (translated as rebel or upriser.) led by Croatian lawyer Dr. Ante Pavelic. The Ustashe wanted an independent homeland for the Croatian people, and Fascist Italy and Hungary gave financial and military assistance to them since each of them wanted a piece of Yugoslavia. When the King was in France, the Ustashe and the VMRO, a Macedonian anti-Yugoslav party, successfully assassinate him in 1934. {16}
Germany invades Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941 and most of the Croatian population welcomed them. In April 10, 1941 Yugoslav Colonel and secret Ustasha Slavko Kvaternik announced in Zagreb, the Croatian capital, an Independent state of Croatia called NDH. Ante Pavelic was the leader/poglavnik and Kvaternik was the commander in chief of the Croatian armed forces. A Croatian home defense was created along with an armed force similar to Germany's Waffen SS called the Ustashka Vojnica. {17}
On May 6 1945, the German Army retreats as the communist Partisan Army led by Josef Tito advances and Russia's Red Army swarms across the borders. The Croatian government leaves Zagreb and the rest of the 200,000 soldiers of the Croatian Armed Forces retreat towards Austria to surrender to the British. {18}
Croatia surrendered between May 15 and 17, 1945, being the last European Axis army to surrender. {19}
In 1929 the Croatian Constitution was abolished and an absolutist dictatorship by King Aleksander was established. The country was also renamed Yugoslavia. The dictatorship caused the creation of a Croatian separatist group called the Ustashe (translated as rebel or upriser.) led by Croatian lawyer Dr. Ante Pavelic. The Ustashe wanted an independent homeland for the Croatian people, and Fascist Italy and Hungary gave financial and military assistance to them since each of them wanted a piece of Yugoslavia. When the King was in France, the Ustashe and the VMRO, a Macedonian anti-Yugoslav party, successfully assassinate him in 1934. {16}
Germany invades Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941 and most of the Croatian population welcomed them. In April 10, 1941 Yugoslav Colonel and secret Ustasha Slavko Kvaternik announced in Zagreb, the Croatian capital, an Independent state of Croatia called NDH. Ante Pavelic was the leader/poglavnik and Kvaternik was the commander in chief of the Croatian armed forces. A Croatian home defense was created along with an armed force similar to Germany's Waffen SS called the Ustashka Vojnica. {17}
On May 6 1945, the German Army retreats as the communist Partisan Army led by Josef Tito advances and Russia's Red Army swarms across the borders. The Croatian government leaves Zagreb and the rest of the 200,000 soldiers of the Croatian Armed Forces retreat towards Austria to surrender to the British. {18}
Croatia surrendered between May 15 and 17, 1945, being the last European Axis army to surrender. {19}
- "Axis Alliance in World War II." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. August 18, 2015. Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005177
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- "The Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI) The Post-1943 Italian Fascist Forces of WWII." The Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI). Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.feldgrau.com/rsi.html.
- Findley, Carter V., and John Alexander Murray Rothney. Twentieth-Century World. Seventh ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1986.
- Feldgrau, RSI.
- "Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII." Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII. Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.feldgrau.com/a-slovakia.html
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- "Hungarian Axis Forces in WWII." Hungarian Axis Forces in WWII. Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.feldgrau.com/a-hungary.html.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- USHMM, Axis Alliance in World War II.
- Feldgrau, Hungarian Axis Forces in WWII
- USHMM, Axis Alliance in World War II.
- "Croatian Axis Forces in WWII." Croatian Axis Forces in WWII. Accessed November 3, 2015. http://www.feldgrau.com/a-croatia.html.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.