Aaron O'Neill
Research lead for society, economy, and politics: Europe & global
Get in touch with us nowWWII: Axis territorial gains 1938-1942, by country
Before the Second World War, the Soviet Union was the largest individual world power in terms of territory, at over 21 million square kilometers. When the territories of the United Kingdom it's colonies and dominions are combined, then the expanse of the British Empire totaled at almost 35 million square kilometers, making it larger than the USSR.
The Axis Powers, led by Germany, Italy, and Japan, controlled a much smaller share of the globe than the Allied Powers in 1938 - however, by 1941, the majority of Europe was under (German-led) Axis control, while Japan had taken much of the Western territories in Asia and had pushed further into China. Italy had also sought to consolidate its power in North and East Africa at this time, but was largely contained by British Commonwealth Forces. Although 1941 and 1942 marked the largest territorial gains for the Axis Powers in Europe and Asia, Italy had lost virtually all of its African colonies by the end of 1942, which totaled at just under 3.5 million square kilometers of land. Late 1942 also marked the turning point in the war in the other theaters, where the Soviet counteroffensive started pushing the German lines back in Europe, while American and Commonwealth Forces began pushing the Japanese north through the Asia-Pacific at the end of the year. The war in Europe ended in May, 1945, and in the Pacific in September, 1945.
The Axis Powers, led by Germany, Italy, and Japan, controlled a much smaller share of the globe than the Allied Powers in 1938 - however, by 1941, the majority of Europe was under (German-led) Axis control, while Japan had taken much of the Western territories in Asia and had pushed further into China. Italy had also sought to consolidate its power in North and East Africa at this time, but was largely contained by British Commonwealth Forces. Although 1941 and 1942 marked the largest territorial gains for the Axis Powers in Europe and Asia, Italy had lost virtually all of its African colonies by the end of 1942, which totaled at just under 3.5 million square kilometers of land. Late 1942 also marked the turning point in the war in the other theaters, where the Soviet counteroffensive started pushing the German lines back in Europe, while American and Commonwealth Forces began pushing the Japanese north through the Asia-Pacific at the end of the year. The war in Europe ended in May, 1945, and in the Pacific in September, 1945.
