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People Behind the Axis Powers
This list of biographies will be regularly updated and new
individuals added. Keep this page bookmarked for more info in the future!!
Individuals are listed in Alphabetical Order:
Antonescu, Ion (Marshal - Rumanian : 1886-1946)
The dictator of Rumania during World War II, he quickly allied himself with Hitler and Mussolini.
He soon supported Hitler's invasion of the USSR, but his troops were blamed for the German defeat
outside Stalingrad (St. Petersburg today). He attempted to get out of the fascist alliance in 1944
as Soviet troops were approaching the country, and was overthrown by King Michael. He was placed
under arrest as the Red Army prepared for the invasion of Rumania.
Amadeo, Duke of Aosta (Italian : 1898-1942)
As Governor of Italian East Africa, and a cousin of the King of Italy, he conducted the invasion of
British Somaliland in 1940 and then the defence of Abyssinia and Eritrea against the British
counter-offensive (1941). He made a last stand at Amba Algi in May, but eventually surrendered
in order to stop further useless loss of life. In his testimony to is brave conduct, the British
accorded him the "Honours of War". He died in captivity in Nairobi.
Anami, Korechika (General - Japanese - 1887-1945)
As Vice Minister of War in 1940, under Konoye, and a leading member of the Army, Anami was involved
in power play which led to Tojo�s appointment as Prime Minister. He was later War Minister at the
Suzuki Cabinet, which was manoeuvring the nation towards peace. Though as convinced as most leaders
of the inevitability of Japan�s eventual defeat, he constantly delayed admitting this, having to save
face for the army and to control his militant officers who desired a fight to the death of the whole of
Japan. In the final days, a coup was brewing among these officers and Anami was not able to stop them
as he was unwilling to join them. However, his final refusal to join ensure that none of the highest
ranking officers, except Hatanaka, joined. He committed suicide on August 15th, 1945.
Braun, Wernher (German : 1912-1977)
Appointed technical director of the German Army Rocket Research Center at the age of 25. He developed
the V-2 Rocket, with a 320km range, many of which were fired on the Allies between 1944 and 1945. At the
end of the war he surrendered himself, his staff and all documents to Allied forces. He went on to
develop the inter-continental ballistic missile and space vehicles in the post-war era.
Ciano, Count Galeazzo (Italian : 1903-1944)
Mussolini's son-in-law and Italian Foreign Minister (1936-43). Amongst his first tasks was the signing
of the Axis Treaty (June, 1936) between Germany and Italy. He advised Mussulini to avoid war, but once
it had begun, commanded bomber squadrons in Ethiopia. He was dismissed in 1943. Speaking out against him
in a coup in June lead to him leaving Rome. He was tricked into giving himself up by the Nazis and recieved
the death sentence (1944).
Dietrich, Josep (SS Colonel-General - German : 1892-1976)
Sepp (as he was called) Dietrich had been Hitler's personal bodygaurd since 1928. He helped build up the Waffen
SS and, in 1944, saw action in Hungary. Although he surrendered to Allied troops at the end of the war, these
handed him over to Soviet forces.
Eichmann, Adolf (German : 1906-1962)
SS Officer and head of the Gestapo's department on Jewish Affairs, he spent the war years rounding up Jews and
sending them to concentration camp to face death. After the Wannsee Conference he put the 'final solution' into
effect, introducing gas chambers. He escaped to South America in 1945. Later he was kidnapped by Israeli agents
and put on trial in Israel. He was found guilty and executed in 1962.
Galland, Adolf (General - German : 1912-?)
One of the most successful pilots of the war, he was the youngest General in the German Armed Forces. He was awarded
the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds for his efforts during the Battle of Britain. He was shot down
near Munich in 1945 by a P-51 Mustang (US) while flying a new ME 262 twin-jet fighter.
Goebbels, Joseph (Minister - German : 1897-1945)
He was the Minister of Propaganda from 1933 onwards and used his skills to great effect in rallying the morale of Germany.
He stayed with Hitler until the end. When the Soviet Armies were approaching Berlin, he killed his six children and had an
SS officer shoot him and his wife to avoid capture.
Goering, Herman (Reich Marshal - German : 1893-1946)
He organised the Gestapo and created the new German Air Force (Luftwaffe) in 1935. As head of the Air Force he made
promises of great victory to Hitler. However, he soon lost favour with him when it became evident that he could not live
up to these. At the Nuremburg Trials he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He committed suicide by taking smuggled-in
poison on the eve of his execution.
Hess, Rudolf (Deputy - German : 1896-?)
From 1920, he became the deputy in the Nazi party but found not significant role in government after the seizure of power.
On his own initiative he left Germany in 1941 in a fighter and crash-landed in Scotland in an attempt to make peace. He
was disowned by Hitler and judged insane by the British. At Nuremburg he was sentence to life inprisonment.
Himmler, Heinrich (Reichsfuhrer - German : 1900-1945)
An early supporter of Hitler, Himmler was made head of the Schutzstaffel (SS). He had been head of the police and became
Minister of the Interior in 1943, giving him full control of internal affairs, including the Gestapo and the concentration camps.
He attempted to make peace witht he Allies in 1945, but Hitler soon caught wind of this. He was captured by Allied forces while
attempting to escape and promptly committed suicide.
Hitler, Adolf (Fuhrer - German : 1889-1945)
A separate biography section is under construction.
Separate sections will also be constructed for W. Churchill, Roosevelt, De Gaulle, Emperor Hirohito,
Yamamoto and Mussolini.
Homma, Masaharu (General - Japanese : 1888-1946)
Homma led the surprise attack on Luzon in December, 1941, which led to the Bataan Death March in which at least 10,000 died.
However, his lack of experience led to McArthur's troops being able to dig in. When his efforts failed he was relieved of
duty in April, 1942. He eventually overcame the resistance by having 50,000 of Japan's most elite troops at his disposal.
Homma would be blamed for the Bataan Death March and tried and executed in Manila (1946).
Jodl, Alfred (General - German : 1890-1946)
Jodl was a Bavarian Gunnery Officer who was Head of Operations for the OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht). He gave
more concrete military forms to Hitler's strategies and was Hitler's principal source regarding
technical information. He was tried at Nurmeburg for planning an aggressive war.
Joyce, William 'Lord Haw Haw' (Propagandist - British/American/German : 1906-1946)
As a wartime pro-Nazi broadcaster, Joyce spent most of the war behind the microphone, sending propaganda messages from Germany
to Britain. He was of English-Irish origin, had held an American passport for nine months and then taken on German citizenship.
Kuribayashi, Todomichi (General - Japanese : 1885-1945)
As Commander of the 109th Division, he defended the island of Iwo Jima in a fierce and bloody one-month battle in which 21,000
Japanese died.
Mussolini, Benito (Il Duce - Italian : 1883-1945)
See message under Hitler, Adolf.
Nomura, Kichisaburo (Admiral - Japanese : 1877-?)
As a retired Admiral, Nomura was appointed ambassador to Washington to spin out negotiations with Cordell Hull
while Japan prepared for war with the US. However, even he knew nothing about the immediate Japanese plans for
attack and only handed in the Japanese declaration of war 40 minutes after the attack on Pearl Harbour (Dec. 7, 1941).
Ozawa, Jisaburo (Vice-Admiral - Japanese : 1886-1966)
The Commander of the Japanese Mobile Fleet during the battle of the Philippine Sea and at the Leyte Gulf. He took command
in November, 1942. At the Battle of the Philippine Sea it was his task to act as a decoy to lure Admiral Halsey away from
tje San Bernardino Strait. He made several errors and lost several ships, including his flagship, the Carrier Taiho,
he offered his resignation as a result, but this was refused due to his great skill in completing his task, regardless of the
losses.
Quisling, Vidkun (Norwegian : 1887-1945)
Leader of the Norwegian Nazi party, the Nasjonal Samling. A former army officer and government minister, he proclaimed
himself the Head of Government upon the Nazi invasion of Norway (9 April, 1940). He was disowned by most of his fellow countrymen
and, his power proving worthless, was removed from office. He regained his position in 1942, but had to feebly hold on to power
until the end of the war. In 1945, he gave himself up, was arrested, tried and executed.
Raeder, Erich (Admiral - German : 1876-1960)
Raeder was a pre-war commander in the Germany navy. He built the 'pocket' battleships and drew out the basics for Hitler's U-boat
fleet. However, Raeder wanted to rebuild the German High Seas fleet to the capacity of that of the begining of the century. Hitler
did not see this and their diverging views led to his replacement by Admiral Donitz in 1943. He was tried at Nuremberg after the war
and recieved 10 years imprisonment.
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