Hungary late '38: 3 ' 39: 2 '40: 0 '41+: 0 This is Germany's most likely minor ally assuming Austria is already incorporated into the Reich. As Austria's partner in the late Hapsburg empire, Hungary shared Axis alliance and bitter loss in the earlier war. Hungary was particularly bitter over loss of Transylvania to Romania, and also harbored ambitions on land now belonging to Czechoslovakia (which they received as that country broke up) and Yugoslavia, all of which were aligned to some extent with the Allies at the outbreak of the war. Yet, it was not until the Fall of France, and the obviously dominance of Germany, that made any choice but compliance hopeless, that Hungary became committed. An earlier entry would likely have been precipitated by a Soviet move into Poland or Romania, assuming Germany would oppose such an attack. Romania late '38: 7 '39: 6 '40: 1 '41+: 0 An ally in World War I, Romania profited greatly from the redrawn borders after that conflict. This gave her neighbors motivation to participate in corrections. A "guarantee" by Britain provided some protection that may have deterred minor powers, and even the Soviet Union waited until June 1940, when Germany and Britain were busy elsewhere, to claim the award of Bessarabia granted by their treaty with the Germans. Despite having been allied with Russia in WWI, Romania had no affinity for the communist USSR. So, at the start of the conflict, Romania is neutral, leaning allied, but not wanting to provoke German attention by doing something important like cutting off the oil. Poland's demise cannot but have driven Romania toward neutrality, since the one Allied power with a common border, and no grudge, was now gone. After France's fall, and with the Soviets moving in from the North, the time seemed ripe for Bulgaria and Hungary to satisfy their ambitions at Romanian expense. Britain was in no position to help. It was either fight a losing war or come to terms. In July Romania exited the guarantee by Britain, and accepted German help in settling the disputes with her neighbors. Romania gave up territory, but remained an autonomous nation, yet allied with the Germans, and occupied by them by October. The Romanians then participated in campaigns against Yugoslavia and Russia with territory rewards granted by the Germans. If the Soviet Union becomes an Ally, or if the Allies generate a significant presence in the Balkans (say, reinforcing Greek and Yugoslav allies), then Romanian entry as an allied power is possible. Alignment of Hungary and Bulgaria with Germany brings a need for decision, and Romania can conceivable go either way. Loss of Romanian oil will cause tremendous problems for the Germans. If the Germans find themselves in an early war with the USSR, the latter may well be tempted to move into Romania, whichever side Romania chooses. Adding Politics to Your WWII Game A Model Introduction Poland Great Britain France, Belgium, Holland Italy USSR USA Spain and Portugal Hungary and Romainia Yugoslavia and Bulgaria Greece and Turkey Finland Norway, Sweden, and Denmark Political Event Table Treaties Back to Table of Contents -- Against the Odds vol. 1 no. 2 Back to Against the Odds List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by LPS. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com * Buy this back issue or subscribe to Against the Odds direct from LPS.