Before World War II began, which two nations did NOT join the Axis Powers among Italy, Germany, France, and the Soviet Union?

Before World War II began, the two nations among Italy, Germany, France, and the Soviet Union that did not join the Axis Powers were France and the Soviet Union.

The Axis Powers were the nations that fought against the Allies during World War II. The core of the Axis Powers was constituted by Germany, Italy, and Japan. Italy was led by Benito Mussolini and joined forces with Germany early on. Germany was under the rule of Adolf Hitler and was the key aggressor in the early stages of the war, instigating conflict by invading Poland in 1939. The Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, initially signed a non-aggression pact with Germany in 1939 known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. However, after Germany violated this pact by invading the Soviet Union in 1941, the Soviets joined the Allies.

France, on the other hand, was a core member of the Allies and was invaded by Germany in 1940. After a swift campaign, France was defeated and partially occupied by German forces, with a portion of it being governed by the Vichy regime, which collaborated to some extent with the Axis powers but was not considered a member of the Axis. The Free French Forces, led by General Charles de Gaulle, continued to fight alongside the Allies throughout the war.