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Difference Between Allied and Axis Powers – Allied vs Axis Powers

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 14th, 2023

The key difference between Allied and Axis Powers is that the allied countries combined their strength to fight together during WWI and WWII, while the axis powers were formed during World war II. However, the terms originated during World War II. Several powerful countries of the world were involved in the conflict, making it a global war between two military alliances, the Allies and the Axis powers, from 1939 to 1945.

Difference Between Allied and Axis Powers PDF

The Allied and Axis powers difference is that allies came together due to the war steam, but the formation of axis powers resulted from the diplomatic efforts. Both had contradictory philosophies and goals that separated them from one another. Below you will learn the major differences between allied and axis powers in detail.

Difference Between Allied and Axis Powers

A significant difference between Allied and Axis Powers is that Axis Power is the combination of Italy, Japan, and Germany. In contrast, the allied power comprised the powerful countries of the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France.

WWII touched many nations, but the war was fought between two opposing leagues of countries, the Allied powers and Axis powers.

Allies vs Axis Powers

Difference Between Allied and Axis Powers

Allied Power

Axis Power

The Allied countries were France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States (joined after Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941).

China was engaged in a war with Japan during WWII and is also referred to as an Allied power.

The Axis powers were Germany, Japan, and Italy (which joined in 1940).

It was led by Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the French resistance; Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Joseph Stalin, premier of the Soviet Union; and Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States.

It was led by Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Nazi Germany; Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy; and Hideki Tojo, Prime Minister of Japan.

The Allied powers came into being through the wartime alliances of World War I.

On September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, also known as the Three-Power Pact.

The Allies came together to defeat the Axis powers, end the fascist regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan, and prevent Germany from rising to power again.

The Axis powers were formed on two common interests: territorial expansion and overthrowing Soviet Communism.

The Allies had a liberal and democratic regime led by some of history’s greatest leaders.

Staunch dictators led the Axis, exercising authoritarian regimes.

Allied Powers and Axis Powers

The Allied powers and Axis powers were two sides that fought each other in World War II combat involving all the nations. Germany, Japan, and Italy were collectively considered the Axis Powers. Great Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union supported the Allied powers.

What are Allied Powers?

The countries United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France came together to form a supreme power to fight against the Central powers of world war I. The Central powers include Turkey, Austria-Hungary, and Germany.

  • Initially, towards the end of the 20th century’s first decade, the major European powers got separated into Triple Alliance and Triple Entente.
  • The Alliance consisted of Italy, Austria-Hungry, and Germany.
  • However, Italy remained neutral during the first world war. Later, in 1915 Japan joined Entente (popularly named allies).

What are Axis Powers?

Axis power, popularly known as the Rome-Berlin Axis, was initiated during World War II as a military coalition to fight against the allies. The Axis power combines the Kingdom of Italy, Nazi Germany, and Japan’s Empire. Though their combination was strong enough to fight against the allies, they lacked ideology cohesion and comparable coordination.

What Started the Second World War?

Some underlying causes that started the war were the strategy of appeasement and its failure and Hitler’s rise to power. Both of them are briefly explained below.

Hitler’s Rise to Power

In 1933, Adolf Hitler became Germany’s Chancellor with an absolute majority. Hitler, a fascist, wanted Germans to dominate Europe by making Germany the most powerful country. As such, he strengthened Germany’s defence forces.

  • Giving in to his fanatic mission of restoring Germany’s power and wealth, in 1936, German troops annexed the German-speaking areas of France, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.
  • Britain and France were aware of Hitler’s actions but wanted to avoid a war.

Strategy of appeasement and its failure

Britain and France were not ready to go to war against Germany. As such, they agreed to Hitler’s demands to avoid conflict. In other words, they appeased’ by allowing Germany to take over German-speaking areas in Czechoslovakia.

  • The agreement was also met because the countries believed that the Treaty of Versailles from World War I was unfair to Germany.
  • However, in 1939, Germany broke the appeasement by invading the rest of Czechoslovakia and other countries.
  • On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland.
  • Defending Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany, so WWII officially began in Europe on September 1, 1939.

How Did the War End?

World War II lasted more than five years, ending in 1945. In the final stages, several battles were fought, and Germany’s downfall began in 1943. On April 30, 1945, Hitler committed suicide, and the war officially ended on May 8, 1945.

Similarity Between Allied and Axis Powers

The similarity between allied and axis powers is that while the Axis partners never formed friendly relations in their diplomatic or military policy, both superpowers shared the goal of territorial expansion.

  • Both the Allies and the Axis powers desired the establishment of imperial systems based on military conquests and the dissolution of the post-World War I international order.
  • Both have the motto of global dominance and were at the forefront of the fights.

Conclusion:

Key Difference Between Allied and Axis Powers

The key difference between Allied and Axis powers is that Allied powers came into being through the wartime alliances of World War I, while Axis powers were created on two shared interests: territorial growth and destroying Soviet Communism.

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