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Important Leaders in World War II

Axis


Fascism: an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization

Adolf Hitler crosses his arms and looks straight on.

Adolf Hitler (image courtesy of Wikimedia).

Nazi Germany
Adolf Hitler (1889–1945)
Leader of the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party, 1921–45
Chancellor and Dictator of Germany, 1933–45

Bento Mussolini and Adolf Hitler stand in dress uniforms in front of soldiers.

Benito Mussolini (left) and Adolf Hitler (image courtesy of the Daily Express).

The Italian Empire
Benito Mussolini (1883–1945)
Leader of the National Fascist Party of Italy, 1922–43
Dictator of Italy, 1930–43

Absolute monarchy: a form of government in which the monarch has absolute power among his or her people.

Portrait of Hirohito standing in a dress uniform.

Hirohito (image courtesy of Wikimedia).

The Empire of Japan
Hirohito (1901–89)
His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, 1926–89

Allies

Representative democracy: founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people

Franklin Roosevelt sits at a desk holding a pen and paper. He is looking directly at the camera and wearing a suit and tie.

President Franklin Roosevelt (image courtesy of US News and World Report).

The United States of America
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945)
32nd President of the United States of America, 1933–45

Harry S. Truman sits at a desk and writes on a piece of paper. He is wearing a suit and tie.

President Harry S. Truman (image courtesy of Wikimedia).

Harry S. Truman (1884–1972)
33rd President of the United States of America, 1945–53

Constitutional monarchy: a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written, unwritten, or blended constitution

Winston Churchill wears a suit, bowtie, and hat as he looks at the camera.

Sir Winston Churchill (image courtesy of the Daily Mail).

The United Kingdom
Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965)
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1940–45
Minister of Defense, 1940–45
Leader of the Conservative Party, 1940–55

Communism: a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs

This portrait shows Joseph Stalin wearing a uniform and hat.

Joseph Stalin (image courtesy of The Telegraph).

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Joseph Stalin (1878–1953)
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, 1922–52
Chairman of the Council of Ministers, 1941–53
People's Commissar for the Defense of the Soviet Union, 1941–46