The "Allied Powers" fought against the "Axis Powers" in WW2.
These terms are originally used by the leaders and historians of the nations in the Allied
Powers.
These terms are also now in common use to refer to the two alliances
that were at war with each other 1939-1945.
The Axis (Alliance) Powers lost the war. Germany, under Adolf Hitler, created an alliance that would be called the
"Axis". The following country was annexed or absorbed into Germany, however its
population and leaders were primarily active supporters of Germany (part of the
Axis) during the Second World War: Austria The following countries were active
allies of Germany (part of the Axis) during the Second World War: Italy, Japan, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, & Hungary Also the Soviet Union was an ally of
Germany, August 1939-July 1941, until it was attacked by Germany.