World War II/Infobox
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References
- Footnotes
- ^ In 1939, in agreement with Germany, the Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland. In the winter of 1939–40, it also invaded neutral Finland. The Soviet Union was expelled from the League of Nations for its invasion of Finland. It joined the Allies after being invaded by the Axis powers on 22 June 1941.
- ^ a b China and Japan had been at war since 1937.
- ^ China's nationalist government led a united front of various Chinese factions against Japan.
- ^ After the fall of the French Third Republic, while Vichy France signed an armistice in June 1940 and became officially neutral, Free France continued to fight with the Allies. Vichy France was occupied by Germany and Italy after Operation Torch. After the liberation of France, Free France established the Provisional French Republic in 1944, which participated as a major ally in the invasion and defeat of Germany.
- ^ Czechoslovakia collapsed after the Munich Agreement, in the face of German threats in March 1939. In 1941 a Czechoslovak government-in-exile was formed in London; it organised the resistance in its homeland and contributed volunteers to Britain's war effort.
- ^ Ethiopia had been annexed by Italy in 1936, after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. In 1941, it was liberated by the Allies and its emperor restored. It adhered to the Declaration by United Nations in July 1942.
- ^ In April 1940 Germany conquered Denmark in a lightning campaign. The Danish government remained in place, but ceased to cooperate with Germany in August 1943. It was dissolved and the country put under full German occupation as a result. In the aftermath of Germany's capitulation, Denmark was recognised as one of the United Nations.
- ^ Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945, ending World War II in Europe.
- ^ Italy declared war on France and the United Kingdom on 10 June 1940. It signed an armistice with the Allies in September 1943. Thereafter, the royal government fought with the Allies, while an Axis government headed by Mussolini was established in the north, effectively resulting in an Italian Civil War.
- ^ An Axis member from November 1940, Romania joined the Allies in August 1944 after a royalist coup (in the face of an incoming Soviet invasion) deposed the fascist Antonescu regime. It subsequently fought alongside the Soviet Union in its westward drive against Germany.
- ^ An Axis member from March 1941 (though, unlike all other European Axis members, it never fought against the Soviet Union), Bulgaria joined the Allies in September 1944 following a pro-Soviet coup. It subsequently fought alongside the Soviet Union in its westward drive against Germany.
- ^ Various other dates have been proposed as the date on which World War II began or ended.