Soviet Union: Led by Joseph Stalin (joined Allies after German invasion in 1941).
China: Led by Chiang Kai-shek.
Other Allied Nations:France (Free French Forces led by Charles de Gaulle), Poland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and numerous other nations.
What:
The Allied Powers were a coalition of nations united in their opposition to the Axis Powers (primarily Germany, Italy, and Japan) during World War II.
Their core goals were to defeat the Axis Powers, liberate territories occupied by them, and establish a post-war world order based on democracy, international cooperation, and collective security.
The Allied Powers employed a wide range of strategies, including military offensives on multiple fronts (Europe, Pacific, North Africa), naval blockades, strategic bombing, and support for resistance movements in occupied territories.
Major Allied conferences (e.g., Casablanca, Tehran, Yalta, Potsdam) were held to coordinate war strategy and plan for the post-war world.
Impact: Why Significant?:
Defeat of Axis Powers: The Allied victory in World War II ended Nazi tyranny, Japanese expansionism, and Italian fascism.
Formation of the United Nations: The Allied nations played a key role in establishing the United Nations (UN) in 1945, an international organization designed to prevent future wars and promote global cooperation. This reflected the desire for a more effective 2425/apush/ids/u7/League of Nations.
Post-War World Order: The Allies shaped the post-war world through the division of Germany, the occupation of Japan, and the establishment of new international institutions and economic systems (Bretton Woods System).
Rise of Superpowers: The war significantly weakened Great Britain and France, leading to the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as the world’s two dominant superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War.
Expansion of Democracy: The defeat of authoritarian regimes during WWII contributed to the spread of democracy in Europe and other parts of the world, although this was complicated by the rise of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.
US Global Influence: Increased US involvement in foreign affairs after isolationist sentiment of the 1920s.