Axis countries and Axis Powers are the names for some countries that fought together against the Allies during World War II. The war ended in 1945 with the Axis powers losing and their alliances broken.
Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis Powers
The most important Axis countries formed an alliance called the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis Powers (1922 to 1945). They included:
Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler
Kingdom of Italy under Benito Mussolini
Empire of Japan under Emperor Hirohito
All three countries had authoritarian governments, which were (and still are) often referred to as fascist.
Other countries
Subsequent signatories of the Tripartite Pact
In addition to the main three countries, the less important Axis countries were: Hungary under Miklós Horthy Romania under Ion Antonescu Bulgaria under Tsar Boris III
Other countries that helped the Axis without being a part of them were:
Co-belligerent states
Finland fought against the Soviet Union and participated in the Siege of Leningrad. Iraq Thailand
Client states
Slovakia
Philippines (Second Republic) Vietnam (Empire of Vietnam) Manchukuo (Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia) Reorganized National Government of China Independent State of Croatia Province of Ljubljana
Controversial cases
Denmark signed treaty of mutual non-aggression. Spain was neutral, but gave non-military assistance. Vichy France agreed not to resist after Northern France was conquered. Allowed (forced?) to allow Japan to occupy French Indochina.
Several new or rebel governments that were created by the Axis during the war are: Burma (Ba Maw regime) India (Provisional Government of Free India)