The Third Reich refers to the period of Nazi Germany under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945. It was officially known as the "Deutsches Reich" (German Reich) and is often referred to as the Third Reich to distinguish it from the previous German empires. During this time, Hitler and the Nazi Party implemented their ideology, carried out aggressive expansion, and committed numerous atrocities, including the Holocaust.
The Italian Empire refers to the colonial territories and possessions that were under the control of Italy between 1885 and 1943. Italy's imperial ambitions were pursued primarily under the rule of Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party. The Italian Empire included territories in East Africa (such as Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somaliland), as well as possessions in the Mediterranean, including Libya and the Dodecanese Islands.
The Soviet Union, also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a federal socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was composed of various Soviet republics, with Russia being the largest and most influential. The Soviet Union emerged after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and was led by the Communist Party under leaders such as Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. It encompassed a vast territory and was characterized by a planned economy and a one-party political system.
The Japanese Empire refers to the period when Japan pursued an expansionist and colonial agenda from the late 19th century until the end of World War II. It began with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and Japan rapidly industrialized and modernized. The Japanese Empire expanded through military conquests, including the annexation of Taiwan, Korea, and parts of China. It reached its height during World War II when Japan occupied numerous territories in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, until its defeat in 1945.