The Axis powers are also called Axis alliance, Axis nations, and Axis countries. The three major countries among the member of this military alliance were Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan.
The term of Axis was first used by Mussolini to speak about the Rome-Berlin axis, arising out of the treaty of friendship between Italy and Germany on the 25th of October 1936.

Some minor country also joined later this alliance such as Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia.

The alliance was established by the Tripartite Pact in September 1940. During the war the Axis powers ruled empires that dominated large parts of Europe, Africa, East and Southeast Asia.

But at the end of the Second World War they were totally defeated by the Allies and had to surrender, the alliance was naturally dissolved.