User:Maxpando/sandbox9

This page lists important political and military leaders of countries involved in World War II. These include heads of state and government and their deputies, foreign ministers, armed forces leaders, and theater commanders.

Allied Powers

United States

The United States joined the war on 7 December 1941 after Japan attacked American forces at Pearl Harbor in the American territory of Hawaii while simultaneously attacking territories of the United Kingdom, already a member of the Allied Powers, making them co-belligerents.

Heads of State and Government
Franklin Roosevelt	President of the United States (until 12 April 1945)
	Franklin Roosevelt led the United States from the time it entered the war through most of its duration, having come to power during the Great Depression on a promise to help the country recover. Before the United States formally entered the war, Roosevelt had already been supportive of the Allied Powers, providing them aid through the Lend-Lease program. He eventually died of an intracerebral hemorrhage just weeks before Germany's surrender, at which point he was succeeded by his deputy, Harry Truman (see below).
Harry Truman	President of the United States (from 12 April 1945) Vice President of the United States (20 January 1945 – 12 April 1945) Other positions held during the war United States Senator from Missouri (before 17 January 1945)
	Harry Truman led the United States from the death of Franklin Roosevelt (see above) through the end of the war, automatically inheriting the office as his elected deputy. He notably authorized the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of the war. After the war, he continued leading the United States through the world's postwar recovery.
Deputy Heads of State and Government
see Harry Truman above (20 January 1945 – 12 April 1945)
Head of the Armed Forces
Fleet Admiral William Leahy	Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief (from 20 July 1942) Other positions held during the war United States Ambassador to France (until 1 May 1942)
	William Leahy led the American armed forces from shortly after American entry into the war through the end of the war. He was the first person to hold such a position, as the American army and navy previously retained entirely separate commands. During the war, he notably became the first person appointed to the rank of Fleet Admiral, served as one of the American attendees at the Yalta Conference, and expressed skepticism about using the atomic bomb against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the war, he remained in the office until his retirement four years later.
Head of the Army
General of the Army George Marshall	Chief of Staff of the United States Army
	George Marshall led the American army throughout the entire war. After the war, he became a diplomat, ultimately serving as Secretary of State overseeing the postwar reconstruction of Europe, later called the Marshall Plan, for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Heads of the Navy
Fleet Admiral Ernest King	Chief of Naval Operations (from 2 March 1942) Other positions held during the war Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet (from 20 December 1941) Commander-in-Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet (until 30 December 1941)
	Ernest King led the American navy during most of the war. After the war, he chose to retire.
Theater Commanders
General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower	Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe (16 January 1944 – 14 July 1945) Supreme Commander of Allied Force Headquarters in the Mediterranean (12 September 1942 – 8 January 1944) Other positions held during the war Military Governor of the American occupation zone in Germany (from 5 June 1945) Commander of the United States Army in the North African Theater of Operations (4 February 1943 – 8 January 1944) Commander of the United States Army in the European Theater of Operations (24 June 1942 – 3 February 1943, 16 January 1944 – 30 June 1945) Chief of the Operations Division of the War Department General Staff (9 March 1942 – 23 June 1942) Chief of the War Plans Division of the War Department General Staff (16 February 1942 – 9 March 1942) Deputy Chief of the War Plans Division of the War Department General Staff (19 December 1941 – 15 February 1942) Chief of Staff of the United States 3rd Army (until 18 December 1941)
	Dwight Eisenhower led all Allied forces in the effort to open a new theater of operations in northwestern Europe, overseeing the planning and execution of Operation Overlord to invade France and later Germany and the German-occupied Low Countries. He previously led all Allied forces in planning and opening the Mediterranean theater of operations as well. Following Germany's surrender, he became the military governor of the American occupation zone in the country.
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur	Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the South West Pacific Area (from 18 April 1942) Other positions held during the war Commander of the United States Army in the Far Eastern Theater of Operations
	Douglas MacArthur led all Allied forces in the southwestern region of the Pacific Ocean against Japan from the breakup of American–British–Dutch–Australian Command under Archibald Wavell (see below) until the end of the war, operating out of the British dominion of Australia. He simultaneously continued leading all American forces in eastern Asia through the end of the war, as he had been doing since American entry into the war, previously based in the American territory of the Philippines before its capture by the Japanese. As the senior Allied commander in the region, he was the person who formally accepted Japan's surrender on 2 September 1945, which officially brought the war to an end. After the war, he served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan, overseeing the country's postwar occupation.
Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz	Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Pacific Ocean Areas (from 18 May 1942) Other positions held during the war Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet (from 31 December 1941) Chief of the Bureau of Navigation of the United States Navy (until 17 December 1941)
	Chester Nimitz led all Allied forces in the Pacific Ocean region apart from the seas closest to the Asian continent after the breakup of American–British–Dutch–Australian Command under Archibald Wavell (see below). He simultaneously led all American naval forces in the Pacific Ocean for the majority of the war as well.

British Commonwealth

At the time of the war, the British Commonwealth consisted of the United Kingdom and six self-governing dominions: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and Ireland. The Statute of Westminster of 1931 allowed the British dominions to conduct their own foreign policies, and had by the time of the war been applied to Canada, South Africa, and Ireland, and Australia adopted it during the war in 1942.

Head of State
George VI	King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions
	George VI was the monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions throughout the entirety of their participation in the war. Though largely ceremonial, he served as a powerful symbol of national unity, boosting public morale throughout the Commonwealth by personally visiting victims at bombing sites and workers at war munitions factories throughout the country with his family.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom joined the war on 3 September 1939 by declaring war on Germany, a member of the Axis Powers, based on its refusal to end its invasion of Poland, making it one of the first members of what would be known as the Allied Powers alongside Poland. This declaration was issued based on its obligations under the Anglo–Polish alliance, which had been signed earlier that year with the express purpose of protecting Poland from a German invasion given growing British fears of German domination of Europe, in keeping with the longstanding British foreign policy of preventing any single power from dominating all of Europe.

Heads of Government
Neville Chamberlain	Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (before 10 May 1940) Other positions held during the war Lord President of the Council (10 May 1940 – 3 October 1940)
	Neville Chamberlain led the United Kingdom as it entered the war after the invasion of Poland, though he had previously supported appeasing Germany in its territorial goals. Months into the war, he was compelled to resign over the failed Norwegian campaign, after which point he briefly served in the cabinet of his successor Winston Churchill (see below) before dying of cancer.
Winston Churchill	Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (10 May 1940 – 26 July 1945) Other positions held during the war Leader of the Opposition (from 26 July 1945) Member of Parliament for Woodford (from 5 July 1945) First Lord of the Admiralty (3 September 1939 – 11 May 1940) Member of Parliament for Epping (before 15 June 1945)
	Winston Churchill led the United Kingdom as Prime Minister throughout most of the war, coming to power after his predecessor Neville Chamberlain (see above) was compelled to resign over the failed Norwegian campaign given his status as a longtime skeptic of German leader Adolf Hitler (see below). He notably rallied the British public during the Battle of Britain to remain committed to the war effort. He ultimately lost power after his Conservative Party lost the 1945 British general election held shortly after victory was achieved in Europe to the Labor Party
Clement Attlee	Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (from 26 July 1945) Other positions held during the war Lord President of the Council (28 September 1943 – 23 May 1945) Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (15 February 1942 – 24 September 1943) Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (12 May 1940 – 15 February 1942) Leader of the Opposition (until 11 May 1940, 23 May 1945 – 26 July 1945)
	Clement Attlee led the United Kingdom at the very end of the war after his Labor Party defeated the Conservative Party of incumbent Prime Minister Winston Churchill (see above) in the 1945 British general election, two months after victory had been achieved in Europe and shortly before victory was achieved in Asia.
Theater Commanders
Field Marshal Harold Alexander	Supreme Commander of Allied Force Headquarters in the Mediterranean (from 12 December 1944) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Middle East Command (10 August 1942 – 18 February 1943) Other positions held during the war Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy (11 January 1944 – 12 December 1944) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the 15th Army Group (10 July 1943 – 11 January 1944) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the 18th Army Group (19 February 1943 – 14 May 1943) Deputy Supreme Commander of Allied Force Headquarters in the Mediterranean (19 February 1943 – 8 January 1944) General Officer Commanding of the British 1st Army (15 July 1942 – 10 August 1942) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Burma Command (5 March 1942 – 20 May 1942) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the British Southern Command (15 December 1940 – 26 February 1942) General Officer Commanding of the I Corps (31 May 1940 – 3 June 1940, 9 June 1940 – 14 December 1940) General Officer Commanding of the British 1st Infantry Division (until 31 May 1940, 3 June 1940 – 9 June 1940)
	Harold Alexander led all Allied forces in the Mediterranean at the end of the war, and prior to that, all Allied forces in Italy from the beginning of the invasion of Italy, leading him to be the commander to receive the German surrender in Italy on 29 April 1945. Earlier, he had also led all British Commonwealth forces in the Middle East, being chosen to replace Claude Auchinleck (see below). He had left the position to serve on the frontlines after his forces linked up with other Allied forces coming from northwestern Africa commanded by Dwight Eisenhower (see above), after which point his command was subsumed Eisenhower's. He notably was also the last British division commander to be evacuated during the Battle of Dunkirk.

Canada

Canada joined the war on 10 September 1939 by declaring war on Germany, a member of the Axis Powers. Though not obligated to do so, it still desired to preserve close relations with the United Kingdom, and issued its war declaration shortly after the British had issued their own in order to support the British war effort.

Head of State
Alexander Cambridge, Earl of Athlone	Governor-General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces (from 21 June 1940) Other positions held during the war Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle
	Alexander Cambridge served as the representative of King George VI in Canada throughout most of the war. Though a figurehead, he served as a source of morale for Canadians and actively supported the war effort, visiting Canadian troops at military hospitals and training sites throughout the war. He also notably hosted the First and Second Quebec Conferences attended by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (see above) and American President Franklin Roosevelt (see above) among others to make strategic decisions about the war.
Head of Government
Mackenzie King	Prime Minister of Canada
	Mackenzie King led Canada throughout the entirety of its participation in the war. Though he initially favored appeasement of Germany, by the time of the invasion of Poland, he favored war against Germany. However, he notably chose to convene the Canadian Parliament to vote on the decision to declare war on Germany to demonstrate Canada's newfound independence since the adoption of the Statute of Westminster, which he had played a key role in achieving, despite having the ability to request the declaration from the King without a vote. Despite Canada's small population, he had an outsized influence on the war effort, hosting various world leaders during the war. He also oversaw the strengthening of relations with the United States after its entrance into the war as the two neighboring states cooperated against their mutual enemies.
Heads of the Army
General Harry Crerar	Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Army (22 July 1940 – 22 December 1941) Other positions held during the war General Officer Commanding of the Canadian 1st Army (from 20 March 1944) General Officer Commanding of the I Canadian Corps (6 April 1942 – 19 March 1944) General Officer Commanding of the Canadian 2nd Infantry Division (23 December 1941 – 5 April 1942) Vice Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Army (6 July 1940 – 21 July 1940) Brigadier General Staff of Canadian Military Headquarters in London (17 October 1939 – 6 July 1940) Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada (until 17 October 1939)
	Harry Crerar led the Canadian army for a year during the war. He notably decided to step down to take personal command of Canadian troops, ultimately commanding all Canadian troops in northwestern Europe during the invasion of France.

South Africa

South Africa joined the war on 6 September 1939 by declaring war on Germany, a member of the Axis Powers. Though not obligated to do so, most in the South African government still desired to preserve close relations with the United Kingdom, and thus declared war shortly after the British had done so in order to support the British war effort.

Head of State
Patrick Duncan	Governor-General of South Africa (until 17 July 1943)
	Patrick Duncan was the representative of King George VI in South Africa from the beginning of the war until his death on 17 July 1943.
Nicolaas de Wet	Officer Administering the Government of South Africa (from 17 July 1943) Other positions held during the war Chief Justice of South Africa (until 17 July 1943)
	Nicolaas de Wet acted as the representative of King George VI in South Africa through the end of the war after the death of Patrick Duncan (see above), inheriting the position automatically in his capacity as Chief Justice of South Africa.
Head of Government
Jan Smuts	Prime Minister of South Africa
	Jan Smuts led the British dominion of South Africa throughout the entirety of its participation in the war. During the war, he became the first and only South African to be given the military rank Field Marshal.

Australia

Australia joined the war on 3 September 1939 when the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, a member of the Axis Powers, as it had not yet adopted the Statute of Westminster which would give it an independent foreign policy and thus remained subject to British declarations of war. However, during the war, it did finally ratify the statute, giving it full independence in both foreign and domestic policy.

Heads of State
Alexander Hore-Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie	Governor-General of Australia (until 30 January 1945) Other positions held during the war Deputy Constable and Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle (from 6 April 1945)
	Alexander Hore-Ruthven served as the representative of King George VI in Australia throughout most of the war. He did not take a direct role in Australian politics, but served as a symbol of morale during the war, notably conducting a four-week tour of Allied forces in the country in 1943.
Heads of Government
John Curtin	Prime Minister of Australia (7 October 1941 – 5 July 1945) Other positions held during the war Leader of the Opposition (until 7 October 1941)
	John Curtin led Australia during and shortly before the war in the Pacific until his death towards the end of the war. He notably oversaw Australia's shift from the United Kingdom to the United States as the more reliable guarantor of its security, declaring this directly in a New Year's message on 1 January 1942 as direct Japanese attacks became increasingly likely. To this end he formed a close relationship with Douglas MacArthur, the senior American commander in the region (see above) and directed the Australian Military Forces to follow his orders as if they were his own. He also oversaw the Australian ratification of the Statute of Westminster formally giving it an independent foreign policy from the United Kingdom, which was made retroactive to 3 September 1939, when it had joined the war alongside the United Kingdom. He notably also insisted on bringing the Australian I Corps back to Australia from the Middle East after the outbreak of war in the Pacific to defend their own country.
Heads of the Army
General Thomas Blamey	Commander of Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific Area (from 26 March 1942) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces (from 11 March 1942) Other positions held during the war Deputy General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Middle East Command (23 April 1941 – 11 March 1942) General Officer Commanding of the Australian I Corps (3 April 1940 – 23 April 1941) General Officer Commanding of the Australian 6th Infantry Division (13 October 1939 – 3 April 1940) Controller-General of Recruiting for the Australian Department of Defense Co-ordination (until 13 October 1939)
	Thomas Blamey led the Australian army throughout most of the war in the Pacific, as well as all Allied forces on land in the southwestern Pacific under Douglas MacArthur (see above). At the end of the war, he signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on behalf of Australia.

New Zealand

New Zealand joined the war on 3 September 1939 when the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, a member of the Axis Powers, as it had not adopted the Statute of Westminster which would give it an independent foreign policy and thus remained subject to British declarations of war. Though a self-governing British dominion, its decision not to ratify the statute meant it was not fully independent for the duration of the war.

Heads of State
George Monckton-Arundell, Viscount Galway	Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand (until 3 February 1941) Other positions held during the war Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire (3 February 1941 – 27 March 1943)
	George Monckton-Arundell served as the representative of King George VI in New Zealand at the beginning of the war, leaving office shortly after serving the customary five years to be replaced by Cyril Newall (see below).
Cyril Newall	Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand (from 22 February 1941) Other positions held during the war Chief of the Air Staff of the United Kingdom (until 25 October 1940)
	Cyril Newall served as the representative of King George VI in New Zealand for most of the war, replacing George Mockton-Arundell (see above) after he completed the customary five-year term.
Heads of Government
Michael Savage	Prime Minister of New Zealand (until 27 March 1940)
	Michael Savage led New Zealand from the beginning of the war until his death by cancer. He notably opposed fascism and appeasement, and thus declared forcefully his support for New Zealand's solidarity with the British declaration of war against Germany.
Peter Fraser	Prime Minister of New Zealand (from 27 March 1940) Other positions held during the war Minister of Police of New Zealand Minister of Education of New Zealand (until 30 April 1940) Minister of Health of New Zealand (until 30 April 1940) Minister of Marine of New Zealand (until 30 April 1940)
	Peter Fraser led New Zealand throughout most of the war after being selected by his Labor Party to replace Michael Savage (see above) after his death. During the war, he worked to ensure New Zealand retained control of its own forces and where they were deployed, particularly after disastrous losses in the Balkans campaign. When Japan entered the war, he recalled them to the Pacific, showcasing this control.

India

India was not independent at the time of the war, and in fact was divided between a number of provinces directly administered by the United Kingdom and protectorates ruled by Indian nobility. However, both the governors of the provinces and rulers of the protectorates were overseen by a central administration that while appointed directly by the British still wielded significant influence comparable to leaders of the British dominions.

Heads of Government
Victor Hope, Marquess of Linlithgow	Viceroy and Governor-General of India (until 1 October 1943) Other positions held during the war Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1944 – 1945)
	Victor Hope governed India from the beginning of the war until his retirement, after which point he was replaced by Archibald Wavell (see below).
Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, Viscount Wavell	Supreme Commander of American–British–Dutch–Australian Command in the Pacific (1 January 1942 – 25 February 1942) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Middle East Command (until 5 July 1941) Viceroy and Governor-General of India (from 1 October 1943) Commander-in-Chief of India (5 July 1941 – 5 January 1942, 7 March 1942 – 20 June 1943)
	Archibald Wavell took on several prominent roles for the British Commonwealth within Asia during the war, first leading of British Commonwealth forces in the Middle East from the beginning of the war until his replacement by Claude Auchinleck (see below). He notably oversaw the successful East Africa campaign that resulted in the capture of Italian Somaliland and Eritrea and the end of Italian occupation of Ethiopia and British Somaliland, as well as a successful offensive against the Italians in Libya, even though Italian forces in the region significantly outnumbered the British. He then took up Auchinleck's previous position leading the Indian army, during which time he stepped away to lead all Allied forces in the Pacific after Japan entered the war, though this was short-lived as after repeated defeats, the command was dissolved, being replaced by two commands: the South West Pacific Area under Douglas MacArthur and the Pacific Ocean Areas under Chester Nimitz (see above). He was finally promoted to govern India at the end of the war after the retirement of Victor Hope (see above), with Auchinleck reclaiming his position as head of India's army in his place.
Heads of the Army
General Claude Auchinleck	Commander-in-Chief of India (27 January 1941 – 5 July 1941, from 20 June 1943) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Middle East Command (5 July 1941 – 14 August 1942) Other positions held during the war General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command (20 July 1940 – 11 December 1940) General Officer Commanding of the British V Corps (1 June 1940 – 10 July 1940) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Norway (13 May 1940 – 1 June 1940) General Officer Commanding of the British IV Corps (1 February 1940 – 13 May 1940) Commander of the Meerut District of the United Provinces of India (until 24 January 1940)
	Claude Auchinleck led the Indian army for much of the war during two separate periods, between which he led British Commonwealth forces in the Middle East, being selected to replace Archibald Wavell (see above), who ended up taking his place as head of the Indian army himself. He was later replaced as Middle Eastern commander by Harold Alexander (see above), after which point he returned to command the Indian army once Wavell was promoted to govern India.
see Archibald Wavell above (5 July 1941 – 5 January 1942, 7 March 1942 – 20 June 1943)

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union joined the Allied Powers on 22 June 1941 after being invaded by the Axis Powers during Operation Barbarossa. Prior to that point in time, the Soviet Union had been a co-belligerent of the Axis Powers, having most notably assisted in their invasion of Poland. It remained in the war until 8 May 1945 when Germany surrendered, but rejoined the war against Japan three months later on 8 August 1945 until its surrender a week later.

Head of Government
Joseph Stalin	Chair of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union Other positions held during the war General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party
	Joseph Stalin led the Soviet Union throughout the entirety of its participation in the Allied Powers. He oversaw the Soviet Union's successful war effort that transformed it into a global superpower as well as the installation of communist governments in occupied countries in Eastern Europe.
Head of State
Mikhail Kalinin	Chair of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union
	Mikhail Kalinin served as head of state of the Soviet Union throughout the duration of the war.
Foreign Minister
Vyacheslav Molotov	People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs
	Vyacheslav Molotov was the foreign minister of the Soviet Union throughout the entirety of the war. He was responsible for conducting negotiations with the United Kingdom and United States to coordinate their war efforts against the Axis Powers, most notably securing their agreement to open a second front in northwestern Europe. He notably also negotiated the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact that facilitated Soviet cooperation with Germany prior to the Soviet Union joining the Allied Powers.
Heads of the Army
Marshal Georgy Zhukov	Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army (until 30 July 1941) Other positions held during the war Military Governor of the Soviet occupation zone in Germany (from 10 June 1945) Commander of the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front (16 November 1944 – 10 July 1945) Commander of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front (1 March 1944 – 24 May 1944) Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Armed Forces (2 August 1942 – 24 June 1945) First Deputy People's Commissar of Defense (until 30 July 1941, 2 August 1942 – 24 June 1945) Commander of the Soviet Western Front (10 October 1941 – 2 August 1942) Commander of the Soviet Leningrad Front (10 September 1941 – 10 October 1941) Commander of the Soviet Reserve Front (30 July 1941 – 10 September 1941)
	Georgy Zhukov was the head of the Red Army at the beginning of the war and became Stalin's deputy in the later portion of the war, overseeing the successful liberation of the Soviet Union from German occupation and the subsequent Soviet offensive into Eastern Europe, including the eventual capture of Berlin. Following Germany's surrender, he became the military governor of the Soviet occupation zone in the country.

China

China was already involved the Second Sino–Japanese War against Japan at the beginning of the war, and this conflict was folded into the broader war on 8 December 1941 when Japan attacked the United Kingdom, a member of the Allied Powers, making them co-belligerents.

Heads of State, Government, and the Army
Chiang Kai-shek	Chair of the National Government of China (from 1 August 1943) Premier of China (until 31 May 1945) Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in China (from 1 January 1942) Chair of the Military Affairs Commission
	Chiang Kai-shek led China in various roles throughout the entirety of its participation in the war, including personally leading the Chinese military. He notably conducted a truce with the Chinese Communist Party after being compelled to do so during the Xi'an Incident in order to fight together with them against the Japanese.

France

France joined the war on 3 September 1939 after declaring war on Germany, a member of the Axis Powers, based on its refusal to end its invasion of Poland. This declaration was issued based on its obligations under the longstanding Franco–Polish alliance, which it had agreed to as part of its longstanding foreign policy objective of containing Germany, which it viewed as its biggest potential threat as a neighboring great power that had invaded it on two recent occasions. However, after a stunningly successful German offensive into the country, France agreed to surrender on 22 June 1940. Some French troops and officials who favored remaining in the war formed a government-in-exile shortly afterwards in the United Kingdom, thus remaining in the war until they were eventually installed as the official government of France on 3 June 1944 after the country was successfully captured by the Allied Powers, remaining in the war until its conclusion.

Heads of State
Albert Lebrun	President of France (until 11 July 1940)
	Albert Lebrun was head of state of France at the beginning of the war, notably overseeing France's surrender to Germany. He lost his position when it was abolished alongside the French Third Republic, but he refused to formally acknowledge this. After the formation of the provisional French government rendered the decision to abolish the republic illegal, he legally became head of state again, but chose to submit his official resignation in favor of Charles de Gaulle (see below) rather than attempt to reclaim power.
Brigade General Charles de Gaulle	Chair of the Provisional Government of France (from 3 June 1944) Chair of the French Committee of National Liberation (9 November 1943 – 3 June 1944) Co-Chair of the French Committee of National Liberation (3 June 1943 – 9 November 1943) Chair of the French National Committee (24 September 1941 – 3 June 1943) Chair of the French Empire Defense Council (26 June 1940 – 24 September 1941) Other positions held during the war Under-Secretary of State of France for National Defense and War (5 June 1940 – 17 June 1940) Commander of the French 4th Armored Division (12 May 1940 – 5 June 1940) Commander of the French 507th Tank Regiment (until 12 May 1940)
	Charles de Gaulle led a French government-in-exile from the dissolution of the French Third Republic until France was recaptured by the Allied Powers, after which point he led France itself. He claimed his leadership position based on his status as the highest-ranking cabinet official of the pre-surrender government outside France itself at the time of the surrender. He notably attempted to rally the French people to the cause of continued resistance rather than surrender in a broadcast on the BBC just before the French surrender was signed.
Army General Henri Giraud	Co-Chair of the French Committee of National Liberation (3 June 1943 – 9 November 1943) Other positions held during the war French Civil and Military Commander-in-Chief (5 February 1943 – 3 June 1943) High Commissioner of French North and West Africa (26 December 1942 – 5 February 1943) Commander-in-Chief of the French Army of Africa (13 November 1942 – 9 April 1944) Commander of the French 9th Army (15 May 1940 – 19 May 1940) Commander of the French 7th Army (until 19 May 1940)
	Henri Giraud briefly co-led the French government-in-exile alongside Charles de Gaulle (see above) shortly after they reconciled at the Casablanca Conference, having previously been governing French North and West Africa in the name of the French government in Europe. He competed with de Gaulle over influence within their unified government, but after unilaterally invading Corsica without consulting the government, was forced to acknowledge de Gaulle as sole leader. He notably successfully escaped from Germany earlier in the war after being held as a prisoner of war for nearly two years and was the preferred French leader of the United States over de Gaulle.
Heads of Government
Édouard Daladier	Prime Minister of France (until 21 March 1940) Other positions held during the war Minister of National Defense and War of France (until 18 May 1940) Minister of Foreign Affairs of France (13 September 1939 – 21 March 1940, 18 May 1940 – 5 June 1940)
	Édouard Daladier led France during the early stages of the war until he was compelled to resign over his failure to aid Finland during the Winter War, being replaced by Paul Reynaud (see below).
Paul Reynaud	Prime Minister of France (21 March 1940 – 16 June 1940) Other positions held during the war Minister of National Defense and War of France (18 May 1940 – 16 June 1940) Minister of Foreign Affairs of France (21 March 1940 – 18 May 1940, 5 June 1940 – 16 June 1940) Minister of Finance of France (until 21 March 1940)
	Paul Reynaud led France from the resignation of Édouard Daladier (see above) until his own resignation a few months later. He notably oversaw the Battle of France, in which significant portions of French territory were captured by Germany. He resigned when advised by his cabinet, most notably Deputy Prime Minister Philippe Pétain, to agree to a separate peace with Germany, not wanting to be the one to oversee such an agreement.
see Charles de Gaulle above (from 11 July 1940)
Heads of the Army
Army General Maurice Gamelin	Chief of the French Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the French Army (until 20 May 1940)
	Maurice Gamelin led the French Army during the early stages of the war, most crucially during the critical days of the German invasion of France, eventually being dismissed for his failure in repelling the invasion.
Army General Maxime Weygand	Commander-in-Chief of the French Army (20 May 1940 – 11 July 1940) Other positions held during the war Minister of National Defense (16 June 1940 – 5 September 1940) Delegate-General of French North Africa (5 September 1940 – 18 November 1940)
	Maxime Weygand led the French Army after the dismissal of Maurice Gamelin (see above). Seeing no way to prevent France's defeat, he eventually gave his support to surrendering to the invading German forces.

Poland

Poland was the first member of the Allied Powers, with the war starting after Germany invaded it on 1 September 1939. Poland was fully captured on 6 October 1939, but members of its government were able to escape to France and form a government-in-exile. After France's surrender, the government relocated to the United Kingdom to remain in the war. However, a separate Polish government was established on 22 July 1944 as Poland was liberated by Soviet troops. Though the Soviet Union had reestablished relations with the Polish government-in-exile after joining the Allied Powers, it later broke them off after the government refused to repudiate German allegations that Soviet troops killed tens of thousands of Poles in the forest of Katyn. Members of both governments eventually reconciled, though, establishing a unity government in Poland on 28 July 1945 that then received recognition from all other members of the Allied Powers.

Heads of State
Władysław Raczkiewicz	President of the Polish-government-in-exile (from 30 September 1939) Other positions held during the war Governor of Pomerania (until 5 September 1939)
	Władysław Raczkiewicz served as the head of state of the Polish government-in-exile throughout most of the war, entering the position shortly after the government's formation in exile in France after Poland's defeat. Apart from the power to appoint and dismiss officials in the government-in-exile, he held little power over the actual policies pursued by the government.
Heads of Government
Branch General Władysław Sikorski	Prime Minister of the Polish-government-in-exile (30 September 1939 – 4 July 1943) General Inspector of the Polish Armed Forces (7 November 1939 – 4 July 1943) Other positions held during the war Unassigned active-duty Polish soldier (until 30 September 1939)
	Władysław Sikorski led the Polish government-in-exile and the Polish Armed Forces that had escaped the country from shortly after the defeat of Poland until his death in a sudden plane crash. He notably supported rapprochement with the Soviet Union after it joined the Allied Powers despite its participation in the invasion of Poland two years prior. After his death, Poland quickly lost influence over Allied decision-making for the postwar world, resulting in Poland's postwar subordination to the Soviet Union.
Stanisław Mikołajczyk	Prime Minister of the Polish-government-in-exile (14 July 1943 – 24 November 1944) Other positions held during the war Deputy Prime Minister of Poland (3 September 1941 – 14 July 1943, from 28 June 1945) Minister of Agriculture and Agricultural Reforms (from 28 June 1945) Minister of Internal Affairs (3 September 1941 – 14 July 1943) Deputy Chair of the National Council of Poland (21 December 1939 – 30 July 1941)
	Stanisław Mikołajczyk led the Polish-government-in-exile from the death of Władysław Sikorski (see above) until resigning shortly after the Tehran Conference, as he failed to convince the rest of the government to accept Soviet demands the other powers agreed to at the conference to shift the postwar Polish border west to the Curzon Line.
Heads of the Armed Forces
Marshal Edward Śmigły-Rydz	General Inspector of the Polish Armed Forces (until 7 November 1939)
	Edward Śmigły-Rydz led the Polish Armed Forces during their failed defense against the invasion of Poland. He fled to Romania after the Polish defeat where he was interned and resigned from his position, taking responsibility for the defeat. He later escaped his internment to return to Poland, where he became a common soldier in the Polish resistance, though he died of natural causes weeks later.
see Władysław Sikorski above (7 November 1939 – 4 July 1943)

Belgium

Belgium joined the war on 10 May 1940 after it was invaded by Germany, a member of the Axis Powers. It was defeated on 28 May 1940, but the government was able to flee to France and form a government-in-exile there. Upon France's surrender, the government relocated to the United Kingdom to remain in the war. On 8 September 1944, the government was able to return to Belgium after it had been liberated by Allied troops.

Head of State
Léopold III	King of the Belgians
	Léopold III served as the monarch of Belgium throughout its participation in the war. Prior to the war, he had overseen extensive preparations for a potential German invasion of the country. He notably chose to remain in Belgium rather than flee with the rest of his government, living under house arrest in his castle in Brussels throughout much of the war. Though he refused to cooperate with the Germans by administering Belgium subject to their wishes, the Belgian government-in-exile still considered him to have been rendered unable to rule.
Heads of Government
Hubert Pierlot	Prime Minister of Belgium (until 12 February 1945)
	Hubert Pierlot led the Belgian government throughout most of the war, initially in Belgium during the Phony War and then in exile after the country was occupied by Germany, overseeing the organization of the Free Belgian Forces that continued fighting alongside the Allied Powers.
Heads of the Armed Forces
Lieutenant-General Victor van Strydonck de Burkel	Commander-in-Chief of the Free Belgian Forces (28 May 1940 – 8 September 1944) Other positions held during the war Chief of the Belgian Military Mission to the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force (8 September 1944 – 14 July 1945) Commander of the Belgian 1st Military Zone (until 28 May 1940)
	Victor van Strydonck de Burkel led Belgian military forces while they were in exile in the United Kingdom from their formation until their return to their country. After the liberation of Belgium, he became Belgium's representative at the Allied headquarters for northwestern Europe.

Greece

Greece joined the war on 28 October 1940 after it was invaded by Italy, a member of the Axis Powers. Greece was defeated on 24 May 1941 after German troops joined Italy's campaign, but the government was able to flee to Cairo and form a government-in-exile there. It later returned to Greece on 18 October 1944 after German occupying forces were forced to withdraw to more defensible frontlines.

Head of State
George II	King of Greece
	George II served as the monarch of Greece throughout the duration of the war. Prior to Greece entering the war, he was already sympathetic to the British war effort. When Greece was invaded by Italy, he fled with the rest of the Greek government for Crete, and then into exile in Egypt and finally the United Kingdom after the Battle of Crete. He retained the support of Greek forces fighting in other theaters like the Middle East. Given this support, after the war, he was able to return as monarch.
Heads of Government
Ioannis Metaxas	Prime Minister of Greece (until 29 January 1941)
	Ioannis Metaxas led Greece at the beginning of the war. Despite his sympathy for fascism and support for strong economic ties with Germany, he recognized the expansionist goals of Italy as a threat to Greece and thus worked to keep Greece out of the war. However after Italy issued an ultimatum to Greece demanding access to strategic sites within the country, notably outright rejecting it with a single sentence. Soon into the war, he died from a throat condition, though.
Heads of Government
Lieutenant General Alexandros Papagos	Commander-in-Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces (28 October 1940 – 23 April 1941) Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff (28 October 1940)
	Alexandros Papagos led the Greek armed forces after being appointed to the wartime position at the beginning of the Italian invasion of Greece from Italian-controlled Albania. Prior to the war, he had led the Greek army, actively trying to reorganize and rearm it. When the Greek government fled to Crete, he notably chose to remain behind and alongside other generals, eventually resigning from his position after the last Greek forces surrendered, after which point the position was once again abolished. After he was discovered to be organizing resistance to the Axis occupation, he was arrested and sent to a concentration camp in Germany. After the war, he was freed and rejoined the Greek army.
Heads of the Army
see Alexandros Papagos above (28 October 1945)

Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia joined the war on 6 April 1941 after it was invaded by Germany and Italy, members of the Axis Powers. It was defeated on 18 April 1941, but the government was able to flee to the United Kingdom. An alternative government was later established by partisan forces resisting the occupation within the country on 29 November 1943, but the two governments reconciled on 2 November 1944 as Axis forces in the country were steadily forced into retreat.

Head of State
Peter II	King of Yugoslavia
	Peter II served as monarch of Yugoslavia throughout the duration of the war. He notably participated in a British-backed coup to seize power from his cousin Prince Paul, who had been ruling in his name due to Peter's youth and was increasingly collaborating with the Axis Powers. He was shortly afterwards forced to leave the country after the Axis invasion. After the war, he was quickly deposed as monarch by the country's newly communist-led government, making him Yugoslavia's last monarch.
Heads of Government
Josip Tito	Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (from 2 November 1944) President of the National Committee for the Liberation of Yugoslavia (29 November 1943 – 2 November 1944) Commander-in-Chief of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia (27 June 1941 – 1 March 1945) Other positions held during the war General Secretary of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia
	Josip Tito led the Yugoslav partisan forces resisting against Axis forces in the Balkans starting shortly after the Soviet Union was invaded by the Axis Powers based on their shared beliefs in communism, issuing a public call on Yugoslavs to take up arms against their occupiers and being selected by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia to serve as their military commander. After the war, he abolished the monarchy and established a communist state in the country, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia.

Finland

Finland joined the war on 30 November 1939 after it was invaded by the Soviet Union, which was at the time considered to be in a state of war with Poland, a member of the Allied Powers. As Soviet troops began breaking through the Finnish defensive lines, Finland agreed to surrender on 12 March 1940, signing the Moscow Peace Treaty. It later rejoined the war as a member of the Axis Powers (see below), but as Soviet troops were able to begin invading the country, it switched sides back to the Allied Powers on 19 September 1944, fighting against German troops it had hosted within its own borders.

Heads of State
Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim	President of Finland Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defense Forces (until 12 January 1945)
	Gustaf Mannerheim led Finland throughout its second period fighting alongside the Allied Powers as it attempted to expel the German troops within its borders during the Lapland War. He had previously led Finland briefly while it was still a member of the Axis Powers negotiating to switch sides as well. He also led the Finnish armed forces for most of its time fighting alongside the Allied Powers.
Heads of the Armed Forces
see Gustaf Mannerheim above (until 12 January 1945)

Axis Powers

Germany

Germany started the war on 1 September 1939 by invading Poland, as its governing Nazi Party saw capturing Poland as a necessary step in its radical plan to wipe out Slavs in Eastern Europe and settle their former territory with Germans. This made it the first member of the Axis Powers. Germany finally surrendered on 8 May 1945 as significant portions of German territory fell under the control of the Allied Powers.

Heads of State
Adolf Hitler	Chancellor of Germany (until 30 April 1945) President of Germany (until 30 April 1945)
	Adolf Hitler led Germany as both head of state and government simultaneously throughout nearly its entire participation in the war. He had come into power in the country during the period of crisis following its defeat in World War I and transformed it into a fascist state. He notably pursued deeply anti-Semitic policies that culminated in the Holocaust, as well as an aggressive foreign policy that ultimately began the war when he ordered the invasion of Poland. He eventually committed suicide once he was convinced the war was no longer winnable, and was succeeded by his hand-picked successors Karl Dönitz (see below) as head of state and Joseph Goebbels (see below) as head of government.
Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz	President of Germany (from 30 April 1945) Commander-in-Chief of the German Naval High Command (30 January 1943 – 1 May 1945) Other positions held during the war Commander of the Submarines (until 31 January 1943)
	Karl Dönitz served as the German head of state for the final week of the war after Adolf Hitler (see above) committed suicide. Before that, he led the German navy, overseeing unrestricted submarine warfare waged by the German submarine fleet during the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war, he was tried at Nuremberg.
Heads of Government
see Adolf Hitler above (until 30 April 1945)
Joseph Goebbels	Chancellor of Germany (30 April 1945 – 1 May 1945) Other positions held during the war Realm Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda (until 30 April 1945)
	Joseph Goebbels led the German government for one day between the suicide of Adolf Hitler (see above) and committing suicide himself the next day. He had previously controlled the media in the German government, using his position to build support among the German people for a large-scale military conflict. He was an avid supporter of the war, and one of the closest associates and most devout followers of German leader Adolf Hitler (see above).
Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk	Leading Minister of Germany (from 2 May 1945) Other positions held during the war Minister of Finance of Germany
	Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk led the German government for the final week of the war after the suicide of Joseph Goebbels (see above).
Deputy Heads of State
Rudolf Hess	Deputy Leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (until 12 May 1941)
	Rudolf Hess served as deputy to Adolf Hitler (see above) until he was arrested by the British after deciding unilaterally to fly alone to Scotland to score a stunning diplomatic victory by negotiating peace between Germany and United Kingdom. He was tried at Nuremberg and sentenced to life in prison.
Head of the Air Force
Realm Marshal Hermann Göring	Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force High Command (until 24 April 1945)
	Hermann Göring led the German Air Force until nearly the end of the war, when he was dismissed from his position for perceived insubordination. For much of the war, he was considered to be the second-most powerful figure in Germany. He notably received the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross for his leadership. He ultimately surrendered himself to American forces, making him one of the highest ranking German officials who was able to be tried during the Nuremberg trials.
Head of the Navy
see Karl Dönitz above (30 January 1943 – 1 May 1945)

Japan

Japan joined the war on 7 December 1941 after attacking territories of the United Kingdom, a member of the Allied Powers, based on its participation in economic sanctions against Japan over its occupation of French Indochina. It finally surrendered on 15 August 1945 after suffering two nuclear weapons attacks, the first and only two in history, and a declaration of war by the Soviet Union, the only neutral great power in the conflict at the time. It was the last member of the Axis Powers to surrender, and thus its surrender ended the war as a whole.

Head of State
Hirohito	Emperor of Japan
	Hirohito served as the monarch of Japan throughout the war. Though most governing decisions were made by his Prime Ministers, he oversaw these decisions and intervened when he judged it necessary.
Heads of Government
Hideki Tōjō	Prime Minister of Japan (until 22 July 1944)
	Hideki Tōjō led the Japanese government throughout most of its participation in the war and was a stalwart supporter of the war effort. He was eventually forced to resign and leave government entirely after Japan's defeat in the Battle of Saipan, after which point Emperor Hirohito (see above) saw no chance of victory. He was then replaced by Kuniaki Koiso (see below). After the war, he was sentenced to death for war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East.
Kuniaki Koiso	Prime Minister of Japan (22 July 1944 – 7 April 1945) Other positions held during the war Governor-General of Korea (15 June 1942 – 22 July 1944)
	Kuniaki Koiso led the Japanese government for several months during the war after the forced resignation of Hideki Tōjō. He attempted to figure out a way to make a peace that would be amenable to both the Japanese Army and the Allied Powers, but could not do so, and resigned after Allied forces landed on Okinawa, being replaced by Kantarō Suzuki.
Kantarō Suzuki	Prime Minister of Japan (from 7 April 1945) Other positions held during the war President of the Privy Council of Japan (10 August 1944 – 7 April 1945) Vice President of the Privy Council of Japan (until 10 August 1944)
	Kantarō Suzuki led the Japanese government during the last few months of the war after the resignation of Kuniaki Koiso. He contributed significantly to the final peace negotiations that ultimately resulted in Japan's surrender.

Italy

Italy joined the war on 10 June 1940 by declaring war on the United Kingdom and France, members of the Allied Powers, transparently hoping to take advantage of their seemingly imminent defeat against Germany. As the Allied Powers began invading the Italian mainland, Italy surrendered to them on 8 September 1943. However, German forces already in the country quickly seized control of much of it, aiding in the creation of a new Italian government to continue the war effort. This government finally surrendered on 29 April 1945 after Allied forces broke through their last defensive lines.

Heads of State
Victor Emmanuel III	King of Italy (until 8 September 1943)
	Victor Emmanuel III served as monarch of Italy throughout the war. He supported the fascist government of Benito Mussolini (see below) to pull Italy out of the economic depression it was in after World War I through most of the war, but ultimately dismissed him as an Allied invasion of the Italian mainland loomed in order to seek out an armistice. Once the armistice was signed and German troops began invading the country, he formally switched to supporting the Allied Powers. Nevertheless, the Allied Powers still supported a referendum to end the Italian monarchy after the war for his earlier participation in the Axis Powers.
Benito Mussolini	Prime Minister of Italy (until 25 July 1943) Chief of State and Prime Minister of Italy (23 September 1943 – 28 April 1945)
	Benito Mussolini led Italy throughout most of the duration of its participation in the Axis Powers. He had notably established the world's first fascist government in Italy, including the nationalism, militarism, anti-communism, and state propaganda that would influence others that later formed, most notably the German government of Adolf Hitler (see above). He was ultimately dismissed and imprisoned by King Victor Emmanuel III (see above) once the king had concluded the war appeared lost and he unable to disentangle Italy from it. However, he was later freed from captivity by the Germans and compelled to lead a new German-dominated Italian government in the north of the country, which he led largely as a figurehead until his capture and death on 28 April 1945.
Heads of Government
Marshal Pietro Badoglio	Prime Minister of Italy (25 July 1943 – 8 September 1943) Chief of the General Staff of the Italian Armed Forces (until 5 December 1940)
	Pietro Badoglio led the Italian government after Benito Mussolini's dismissal, most notably negotiating an armistice with the Allied Powers, after which point he switched sides to support the Allied Powers as German troops began invading the country. Earlier in the war, he led the Italian armed forces, but resigned after their poor performance during the invasion of Greece. In that position, he had prior to the war led Italian forces during the successful Second Italo–Ethiopian War.
see Benito Mussolini above (until 25 July 1943, 23 September 1943 – 28 April 1945)
Heads of the Armed Forces
see Pietro Badoglio above (until 5 December 1940)

Romania

Romania joined the war by participating in Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, hoping to regain territory lost to the Soviets just months earlier. As Soviet troops began invading the country, a coup led the government to switch sides to the Allied Powers on 23 August 1944.

Head of State
Michael	King of Romania
	Michael served as Romania's monarch throughout the entirety of its participation in the war on the side Axis Powers. He was a figurehead during up through the end of the war, having been installed as monarch in a coup by Antonescu (see below) so he could consolidate power. However, he crucially launched a successful coup himself against Antonescu as Soviet troops neared the country that resulted in Romania switching sides in the war.
Head of Government
Ion Antonescu	Prime Minister of Romania
	Ion Antonescu led Romania as dictator throughout the entirety of its participation in the war, being removed from power in a coup by King Michael (see above) that resulted in Romania switching sides.

Thailand

Thailand joined the Axis Powers on 25 January 1942 by declaring war on the United States and United Kingdom, both members of the Allied Powers, after they bombed Japanese forces occupying the country. This declaration of war was declared illegal on 16 August 1945, one day after Japan's surrender, ending Thailand's participation in the war.

Head of State
Ananda Mahidol	King of Thailand
	Ananda Mahidol served as monarch of Thailand throughout its participation in the war. He was studying in neutral Switzerland when the war reached Thailand, still being a child at the time, and was unable to return to the country until after the war.
Heads of Government
Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram	Prime Minister of Thailand (until 1 August 1944)
	Plaek Phibunsongkhram led the Thai government throughout most of the war. He pursued economic nationalist and anti-Chinese policies, and notably made the decision to align Thailand with Japan, enabling them to use the country to invade British Burma and Malaya. As the economy declined alongside Japan's performance in the war, he was voted out of office by the National Assembly for continuing to push increasingly unrealistic aggressive economic plans. They then selected Khuang Aphaiwong (see below) to replace him.
Khuang Aphaiwong	Prime Minister of Thailand (from 1 August 1944) Other positions held during the war Minister of Commerce (8 September 1942 – 17 February 1943) Minister of Transport (until 8 September 1942)
	Khuang Aphaiwong led the Thai government from the dismissal of Plaek Phibunsongkhram (see above) until the end of the war.

Hungary

Hungary joined the war on 11 April 1941 by invading Yugoslavia, a member of the Allied Powers. Later in the war, Hungary was captured by the Soviet Union on 4 April 1945, but its government fled to Germany, establishing a government-in-exile. However, on 7 May 1945, the government dissolved itself, one day after its leader was captured and one day before Germany itself surrendered.

Heads of State
Miklós Horthy	Regent of Hungary (until 16 October 1944)
	Miklós Horthy served as head of state of Hungary during most of the war until he attempted to establish an armistice with invading Soviet troops, at which point German troops forced him to step down in favor of Ferenc Szálasi (see below).
Ferenc Szálasi	Leader of the Nation of Hungary (4 November 1944 – 4 April 1945) Prime Minister of Hungary (16 October 1944 – 4 April 1945) Leader of the Nation of the Hungarian government-in-exile (from 4 April 1945) Prime Minister of the Hungarian government-in-exile (from 4 April 1945)
	Ferenc Szálasi led Hungary in the final stages of the war, being hand-selected by Germany to replace Miklós Horthy (see above) after they forced Horthy to step down for his attempts to establish an armistice with invading Soviet troops.
Heads of Government
László Bárdossy	Prime Minister of Hungary (until 7 March 1942) Other positions held during the war Chair of the United Christian National League (from 1943)
	László Bárdossy led the Hungarian government from the country's entry into the war until his dismissal by Miklós Horthy (see above) for his refusal to name Horthy's son Miklós Jr. as Horthy's official successor, leading to him being replaced by Miklós Kállay (see below).
Miklós Kállay	Prime Minister of Hungary (9 March 1942 – 22 March 1944)
	Miklós Kállay led the Hungarian government between the dismissal of László Bárdossy (see above) and the German invasion of Hungary, during which German troops forced Miklós Horthy (see above) to dismiss him for attempting to negotiate a separate peace with the Allied Powers in favor of the more favorable Hungarian Ambassador to Germany Döme Sztójay (see below).
Döme Sztójay	Prime Minister of Hungary (22 March 1944 – 29 August 1944) Other positions held during the war Hungarian Ambassador to Germany (until 22 March 1944)
	Döme Sztójay led the Hungarian government after the German invasion of Hungary forced Miklós Horthy (see above) to dismiss Miklós Kállay (see above) for attempting to seek a separate peace from Germany. However, his extreme policies eventually still led Horthy to dismiss him, replacing him with Géza Lakatos (see below).
Colonel general Géza Lakatos	Prime Minister of Hungary (29 August 1944 – 16 October 1944) Other positions held during the war Commander of the Hungarian 1st Army (1 April 1944 – 15 May 1944) Commander of the Hungarian 2nd Army (5 August 1943 – 1 April 1944) Commander of Hungarian Occupation Forces Command in Ukraine (22 May 1943 – 1 August 1943) Commander of the Hungarian VIII Corps (1 August 1941 – 1 May 1943) Chief of Staff of the Hungarian 2nd Army (until 1 August 1941)
	Géza Lakatos led the Hungarian government from the dismissal of Döme Sztójay (see above) until being deposed in a German-backed coup led by Ferenc Szálasi (see above) for attempting to negotiate peace with the Allied Powers.
see Ferenc Szálasi above (from 16 October 1944)

Croatia

Croatia joined the war upon its formation on 10 April 1941, as it was recognized by the Allied Powers as belonging to Yugoslavia. Later in the war, as insurgents seized control of the country, the government fled to Germany on 8 May 1945, the same day it surrendered, but successfully formed a government-in-exile. However, it was compelled to surrender itself a week later on 15 May 1945.

Head of State
Tomislav II	King of Croatia (18 May 1941 – 31 July 1943)
	Tomislav II served as nominal monarch of Croatia from shortly after its formation. By birth, he was an Italian prince, and was recommended by his cousin King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy (see above) to serve as monarch to cultivate good relations with the new country. However, he held no real political power, and never stepped foot in the country due to its ongoing insurgency. He eventually abdicated the throne on the orders of his cousin shortly after he dismissed Benito Mussolini (see above) from power in Italy, starting the process of attempting to withdraw Italy from the Axis Powers.
Ante Pavelić	Leader of Croatia (2 September 1943 – 8 May 1945) Prime Minister of Croatia (until 2 September 1943) Leader of the Croatian government-in-exile (from 8 May 1945)
	Ante Pavelić led Croatia throughout its existence, first as prime minister under King Tomislav II (see above) and then as head of state himself after Tomislav's abdication until his own surrender at the end of the war.
Head of Government
see Ante Pavelić above (before 2 September 1943)
Nikola Mandić	Prime Minister of Croatia (2 September 1943 – 8 May 1945) Prime Minister of the Croatian government-in-exile (from 8 May 1945)
	Nikola Mandić led the Croatian government in the later portion of the war. He eventually fled into exile with the rest of the Croatian government before surrendering.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria joined the war on 19 April 1941 by annexing territory that legally belonged to Yugoslavia, a member of the Allied Powers. As Soviet forces began entering the country, a military coup overthrew the government and switched sides to the Allied Powers on 9 September 1944.

Heads of State
Boris III	Tsar of Bulgaria (until 28 August 1943)
	Boris III served as monarch of Bulgaria for most of the war until his death on 28 August 1943, being succeeded by his son Simeon (see below).
Simeon II	Tsar of Bulgaria (from 28 August 1943) Other positions held during the war Prince of Tarnovo (before 28 August 1943)
	Simeon II served as monarch of Bulgaria after the death of his father Tsar Boris III (see above). As a child monarch, he held no power, with his role instead being exercised by his uncle Kiril, Prince of Preslav (see below).
Kiril, Prince of Preslav	Prince Regent of Bulgaria (from 28 August 1943)
	Prince Kiril held the powers of head of state of Bulgaria from the death of his brother Tsar Boris III (see above) on behalf of his nephew Tsar Simeon II (see above) until his overthrow in a Soviet-backed military coup as Soviet forces began invading the country.
Heads of Government
Bogdan Filov	Prime Minister of Bulgaria (until 9 September 1943) Other positions held during the war Member of the Regency Council of Bulgaria (from 28 August 1943)
	Bogdan Filov led the Bulgarian government from its entrance into the war until shortly after the death of Tsar Boris III (see above), at which point he began serving on the regency council for the young Tsar Simeon II (see above) instead, being replaced by his Interior Minister Petar Gabrovski (see below).
Petar Gabrovski	Acting Prime Minister of Bulgaria (9 September 1943 – 14 September 1943) Other positions held during the war Minister of the Interior and Public Health of Bulgaria (until 14 September 1943)
	Petar Gabrovski briefly led the Bulgarian government between the resignation of Bogdan Filov (see above) and the appointment of Dobri Bozhilov (see below), Filov's preferred successor.
Dobri Bozhilov	Prime Minister of Bulgaria (14 September 1943 – 1 June 1944) Other positions held during the war Minister of Finance of Bulgaria (until 1 June 1944) Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (1 June 1944 – 10 August 1944)
	Dobri Bozhilov led the Bulgarian government after being appointed to replace Petar Gabrovski (see above) in the wake of a government reshuffling after the death of Tsar Boris III (see above) until his resignation as the war effort seemed to be rapidly collapsing in favor of Ivan Bagrianov (see below), who was more favorable towards the Allied Powers.
Ivan Bagrianov	Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1 June 1944 – 2 September 1944)
	Ivan Bagrianov led the Bulgarian government after the resignation of Dobri Bozhilov (see above). He notably attempted to restore Bulgarian neutrality by withdrawing it from the Axis Powers, but failed to do so as the Allied Powers insisted on Bulgaria fully switching sides to fight against the Axis Powers before agreeing to peace, leading him to resign himself at his failure in favor of Konstantin Muraviev (see below).
Konstantin Muraviev	Prime Minister of Bulgaria (from 2 September 1944)
	Konstantin Muraviev led the Bulgarian government from the resignation of Ivan Bagrianov (see above) until he was overthrown in the coup that resulted in Bulgaria officially switching sides.

Finland

Finland joined the Axis Powers on 25 June 1941 by declaring war on the Soviet Union, nominally based on a bombing raid it had conducted against German troops in Finland, though Finland had already agreed to join the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union based on its desire to regain territories it had lost during the Winter War earlier in the war while on the side of the Allied Powers (see above). As Soviet troops began invading the country, it switched sides on 19 September 1944.

Heads of State
Risto Ryti	President of Finland (until 4 August 1944) Other positions held during the war Governor of the Bank of Finland (4 August 1944 – June 1945)
	Risto Ryti led Finland during most of its participation in the war on the side of the Axis Powers while waging the Continuation War against the Soviet Union until his resignation in favor of Gustaf Mannerheim (see below), which he gave in order to lift Finland's obligation to adhere to the Ryti–Ribbentrop Agreement by which he had personally committed to not seek a separate peace with the Allied Powers, facilitating Finland's agreement to such a separate peace a month later.
Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim	President of Finland (from 4 August 1944) Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defense Forces
	Gustaf Mannerheim led Finland during its last month within the Axis Powers after the resignation of Risto Ryti (see above) as peace negotiations were ongoing and led the Finnish armed forces throughout the entirety of its participation in the Axis Powers, serving as both an astute politician and successful military commander. He continued leading Finland after it switched sides to the Allied Powers as well.
Heads of the Armed Forces
see Gustaf Mannerheim above

Iraq

Iraq joined the war on 2 May 1941 after British forces stationed at an airbase in Habbaniyah, which they had retained control of after giving Iraq independence nine years prior, attacked Iraqi forces doing training exercises outside the base. Shortly before the country fell under the control of the British, the government fled to Iran on 30 May 1941, establishing a government-in-exile. After British and Soviet forces began invading that country, the government then relocated to Germany. The government then finally dissolved on 8 May 1945 as Germany surrendered.

Head of Government
Rashid al-Gaylani	Prime Minister of Iraq (until 30 May 1941) Prime Minister of the Iraqi government-in-exile (from 30 May 1941)
	Rashid al-Gaylani led Iraq until shortly before it was defeated by the British, and continued leading the Iraqi government-in-exile in Berlin until the defeat of Germany. He had returned to power in the 1941 Iraqi coup d'état against the pro-British government of Nuri al-Said, who had replaced al-Gaylani as Prime Minister just months earlier after the British imposed economic sanctions against the country due to al-Gaylani's refusal to support the British war effort in an effort to assert Iraqi independence. Thus, his restoration to power led to the increased tensions with the British that would result in their attack.

Slovakia

Slovakia joined the war on 1 September 1939 shortly after Germany by joining its invasion of Poland, mainly because its independent existence relied on German support. Later in the war, it was captured by the Allied Powers on 4 April 1945, but the government successfully fled to Germany and established a government-in-exile. It then finally surrendered on 8 May 1945, the same day as Germany.

Head of State
Jozef Tiso	President of Slovakia (26 October 1939 – 4 April 1945) Prime Minister of Slovakia (before 26 October 1939) President of Slovak government-in-exile (from 4 April 1945)
	Jozef Tiso served as head of state for Slovakia for most of the war, and prior to that led its government directly, appointing Vojtech Tuka (see below) to take his place.
Heads of Government
see Jozef Tiso above (before 26 October 1939)
Vojtech Tuka	Prime Minister of Slovakia (26 October 1939 – 5 September 1944) Other positions held during the war Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia (before 26 October 1939)
	Vojtech Tuka led the Slovak government during most of the war after his predecessor Jozef Tiso (see above) was declared President.

China

The Reorganized National Government of China based in Nanking was already involved in the Second Sino–Japanese War against the National Government of China based in Chungking at the beginning of the war, and this conflict was folded into the broader war on 8 December 1941 when Japan attacked the United Kingdom, a member of the Allied Powers. The government had been founded by members of the Chinese government who supported reconciliation with the Japanese rather than continuing the war with them. Though it claimed to be the rightful government of all of China, its jurisdiction remained limited to the portions of Chinese territory occupied by the Japanese during the war. The government was ultimately dissolved on 16 August 1945, one day after the surrender of its main patron, Japan.

Heads of State and Government
Wang Jingwei	Chair of the Reorganized National Government and President of the Executive Branch of China (until 10 November 1944)
	Wang Jingwei led the Reorganized National Government of China from the beginning of its participation in the war until his death while undergoing medical treatment, after which point he was replaced by his designated successor Chen Gongbo (see below)
Chen Gongbo	Chair of the Reorganized National Government and President of the Executive Branch of China (from 10 November 1944) Other positions held during the war President of the Legislative Branch of the Reorganized National Government of China (until 10 November 1944)
	Chen Gongbo led the Reorganized National Government of China from the death of his political ally Wang Jingwei (see above) until its dissolution after Japan's surrender.
Deputy Head of State
Zhou Fohai	Vice President of the Reorganized National Government
	Zhou Fohai served as deputy to Wang Jingwei (see above) throughout the duration of the Reorganized National Government of China's participation in the war.

Manchuria

Manchuria was already involved in the Second Sino–Japanese War against China at the beginning of the war, and this conflict was folded into the broader war on 8 December 1941 when Japan attacked the United Kingdom, a member of the Allied Powers. It finally surrendered on 16 August 1945, one day after the surrender of its main patron, Japan.

Head of State
Puyi	Emperor of Manchuria
	Puyi was the monarch of Manchuria throughout the duration of the war, though he held little actual power. In his youth, he had been the last Emperor of China before its monarchy was abolished.
Head of Government
Zhang Jinghui	Prime Minister of Manchuria
	Zhang Jinghui headed the government of Manchuria throughout the duration of the war, though he wielded little actual power, merely enforcing policies laid out by Japanese military forces in the country.