Understanding the Axis Powers in the Second World War

The question asks to identify which state was not part of the Axis Powers WWII during the Second World War. To answer this, we need to understand which countries formed the main Axis Powers WWII alliance.

The Axis Powers WWII were a military coalition that fought against the Allies in the Second World War. The core members of the Axis alliance were:

• Germany: Led by Adolf Hitler, Germany was a primary driver of the war in Europe.
• Japan: A major power in East Asia, Japan expanded aggressively in the Pacific region.
• Italy: Under Benito Mussolini, Italy joined the Axis powers and played a significant role in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

These three nations formed the backbone of the Axis Powers WWII. Other countries also joined the Axis at various points, but Germany, Japan, and Italy were the most prominent members.

The Soviet Union's Role in the Second World War

Let's consider the options provided:

• Germany: As mentioned, Germany was a key member of the Axis powers.
• Japan: Japan was also a core member of the Axis powers.
• Italy: Italy was another principal member of the Axis powers.
• Soviet Union: The Soviet Union's role in the Second World War was complex. Initially, the Soviet Union had a non-aggression pact with Germany (the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed in 1939). However, this changed drastically when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. From that point onwards, the Soviet Union became a major member of the Allied powers, fighting fiercely against Germany on the Eastern Front. Therefore, the Soviet Union was definitively not part of the Axis Powers WWII; it was one of their main adversaries as part of the Allies.

Based on this analysis of the key alliances during the Second World War, it is clear that the Soviet Union was not aligned with the Axis Powers WWII.

Conclusion: Identifying the Non-Axis State

Comparing the options to the composition of the Axis powers and the role of the Soviet Union:

• Germany was an Axis power.
• Japan was an Axis power.
• Italy was an Axis power.
• The Soviet Union was part of the Allies after Germany's invasion.

Therefore, the state that was not included in the Axis power in the Second World War was the Soviet Union.