The creation of the anti-Hitler coalition is an unprecedented example in the history of the unity of states with different political systems and economic interests in the face of a mortal threat to all mankind. Having existed for only a few years, it played an exceptional role in the victory over fascism.
The anti-Hitler coalition began to form from the very beginning of the Second World War, i.e. from September 1939. Then it included only two states, connected with Poland, which was subjected to German aggression, by treaties of mutual assistance: Great Britain and France. It was called the coalition of the Western allies. But then this narrow organization had no real opportunity to resist fascist Germany. This was clearly soon confirmed by the German occupation of France.
Building a broad coalition
They started talking about a broad anti-Hitler coalition only after Germany attacked the USSR. Then, immediately after the start of the fascist aggression, the USA and Great Britain declared their military support to the USSR. Moreover, the United States at that time was not yet in a state of war with Nazi Germany.
In August-September 1941, there are several trilateral and bilateral meetings at the level of the foreign ministers of the three states, during which all the necessary official documents on mutual assistance in the fight against the enemy are signed.
A new stage in the development of the anti-Hitler coalition began in January 1842 with the Washington Conference of twenty-six. After her, the coalition began to number 26 states. It was joined by such large countries as China, India, Australia, Kannada, a number of Latin American and Asian states and the governments of occupied countries in exile.
It was then, at the suggestion of the American President Roosevelt, that the anti-Hitler coalition acquired its new synonym "united nations."
Further expansion of the anti-Hitler coalition
The contribution to the fight against fascism of the various countries that were part of the coalition was very disproportionate. Some states took a direct part in hostilities, others provided assistance to the belligerent allies with weapons, raw materials for the military industry and food, and still others, simply supported morally.
The greatest help from the allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, of course, was received by the USSR, the leaders of all anti-fascist states were well aware that it was on its fronts that the outcome of the war was decided.
The Nazi leadership had high hopes for a split in the anti-Hitler coalition. Hitler believed that yesterday's sworn enemies of the USSR and the Western countries would not be able to peacefully coexist for a long time. But it turned out differently. Shortly before the end of the war, yesterday's German allies joined the united nations: Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Finland.
In total, the anti-Hitler coalition in 1945 already consisted of 58 states.
