<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Central Powers </Td> </Tr> <P> The Axis powers (German: Achsenmächte; Italian: Potenze dell'Asse; Japanese: 枢軸 国 Sūjikukoku), also known as the Axis and the Rome--Berlin--Tokyo Axis, were the nations that fought in World War II against the Allied forces . The Axis powers agreed on their opposition to the Allies, but did not completely coordinate their activity . </P> <P> The Axis grew out of the diplomatic efforts of Germany, Italy, and Japan to secure their own specific expansionist interests in the mid-1930s . The first step was the treaty signed by Germany and Italy in October 1936 . Benito Mussolini declared on 1 November that all other European countries would from then on rotate on the Rome--Berlin axis, thus creating the term "Axis". The almost simultaneous second step was the signing in November 1936 of the Anti-Comintern Pact, an anti-communist treaty between Germany and Japan . Italy joined the Pact in 1937 . The "Rome--Berlin Axis" became a military alliance in 1939 under the so - called "Pact of Steel", with the Tripartite Pact of 1940 leading to the integration of the military aims of Germany, Italy and Japan . </P> <P> At its zenith during World War II, the Axis presided over territories that occupied large parts of Europe, North Africa, and East Asia . There were no three - way summit meetings and cooperation and coordination was minimal, with slightly more between Germany and Italy . The war ended in 1945 with the defeat of the Axis powers and the dissolution of their alliance . As in the case of the Allies, membership of the Axis was fluid, with some nations switching sides or changing their degree of military involvement over the course of the war . </P>

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