World War II (1939-1945) was fought between two groups: the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers. The Allies were the countries that cooperated to defeat the Axis.
Who Were the Allied Powers in WWII? (Quick Answer)
In World War II, the Allied Powers were the United Kingdom, Unites States, the Soviet Union (USSR), and China. These are sometimes called the “Big Four”. France was also considered an Allied Power after its liberation from Germany.
| Country | When they Joined | Primary Leader |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (UK) | 1939 | Winston Churchill |
| USSR (Soviet Union) | 1941 | Joseph Stalin |
| United States (USA) | 1941 | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| China | 1941 | Mao Zedong |
| France | 1940 | Charles de Gaulle |
These Allied Powers are countries that fought against the Axis (Germany, Japan, Italy). Find out more about the Allied Powers (United Kingdom, United States, USSR, and China), and their leaders and generals.
The Big Four Allied Powers in WWII
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Soviet Union (USSR)
- China
What Countries Made The Allied Powers?
The Allied Powers were formalized by the Declaration by United Nations (January 1, 1942). This included many other nations than the Big Four, including but not limited to France, Poland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
Teacher Note: Different sources list Allied Powers in different ways. Some only focus on the Big Four, while others focus on the entire Allied coalition.
When Did Major Allied Countries Join WWII? (Simple Timeline)
- 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany after the German invasion of Poland.
- June 22, 1941: The USSR entered the war after Germany invaded them.
- December 8, 1941: The United States enters the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- January 1, 1942: The Allied coalition was formed at the United Nations (Big Four plus many others).
Leaders of the Allied Powers (Kid Friendly)
Much like in World War I, the Second World War involved different nations that were formed into groups, or alliances.
The Allies formed to protect themselves and each other against the attacks of the Axis Powers of Japan, Italy, Germany.
The original members of the Allies included Great Britain, France and Poland, but things did change throughout the war.
As we will see, some countries changed sides, and some countries just had to join the Allies because they had been invaded by Germany as the war went on.
Russia
Russia (known as the USSR or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics at the time), was not fighting on the allied side until Germany launched a surprise attack on June 22, 1941.
Joseph Stalin was the leader of Russia (called the General Secretary of the Communist Party at this time).
Russia fought many battles and millions and millions died.
The Russians had a political system called communism. Their symbolic colour was red, so their army was called the Red Army.
Remember, Lenin and the Bolsheviks got rid of the King in 1917, and Russia became communist.
After winning the war, Stalin spread communism to other countries that surrounded Russia and in Eastern Europe: he set up the Eastern Bloc of Soviet (Russian) communist states.
Georgy Zhukov led the Red Army and pushed Germany out of Russia and back to Berlin.
Vasily Chuikov was a general who led the Russian Army in defending Stalingrad when the Germans attacked.
Britain
Neville Chamberlain was the Prime Minister of Britain before Winston Churchill took over. He became one of the most famous prime ministers in Britain.
He is remembered for his stance against German people and his powerful speeches to the people during the Battle of Britain.
There were some famous leaders in the army, too. One of them was Bernard Montgomery, who was also known as “Monty”. He led ground troops during the invasion of Normandy.
France
France had some leaders who surrendered to Germany and formed the Vichy government. Anyone who disagreed with this escaped and were called the Free French.
The leader of the Free French was Charles de Gaulle and he led what is called the ‘French Resistance’ movement against Germany.
United States
The United States wanted to stay neutral during World War II. However, an attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese changed all of this.
This attack united the country against the Axis Powers. The USA joined and this helped the Allies win the war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt is known as a great president because he is said to have helped America out of the Great Depression (1929) and helped them win World War II.
Harry Truman became the president after Roosevelt died and used the atomic bomb against Japan.
One famous general was George Marshall, who also became famous after the war because he won the Nobel Peace prize.
Other Countries and Leaders
Some countries joined the allies after they were attacked. Other countries that were part of the Allied Nations included China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Belgium, and Greece.
Related: Geography facts (countries, continents & much more).
China
China was invaded by Japan in 1937 and became a member of the Allies after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941.
In China, Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Republic of China, joined forces with the Communist Party to fight the Japanese. After the war, he fled from the communists to Taiwan.
Mao Zedong was the leader of the Communist Party of China and he gained great popularity because he fought off the Japanese. He gained control of mainland China after the war.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Allied Powers in WWII?
The Allies were those who fought against the Axis. The primary Allied Powers were the United Kingdom, United States, USSR, and China.
What countries made up the Allies?
The Allied coalition included many countries that signed the Declaration of United Nations in 1942
Quiz
Who were the Allies?
Name one famous general from the US.
Why was Winston Churchill so famous?
Name two other countries that were part of the Allied nations.
Why did China join the Allies?
