Originally posted by joespaniel
How many countries fought in all of WWII as active participants?
Limiting the number of countries to those with the sovereignty to declared war on the Axis (or be militarily invaded by the Axis powers, who generally did not bother with such niceties); and limiting the number of countries to those that contributed military forces that saw action:
The Axis (7): Germany, Italy, Japan; Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Finland.
The Allies (21): Great Britain and the British Empire (includes India and others); the Commonwealth nations of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa; France and the French Empire; Poland, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Greece; Ethiopia; the U.S.S.R.; the United States, Mexico, and Brazil; China, the Philippines.
Total number of countries active in military operations: 28
(Note that most of Latin America declared war on Germany, but only Brazil and Mexico contributed military forces that saw action; likewise, this list excludes countries occupied prior to 1939; excludes proxies such as Vichy France -- even though they did get a few shots off against the U.S. landing in Algeria; excludes Spain, even though the Spanish Blue division that voluntarily fought for the Germans.
Re: On the Baltic countries. Estonia and Latvia were declared within the Soviet "sphere of influence" under the German-Soviet entente of 1939. With German connivance, all three Baltic Republics were occupied militarily in June, 1940; after which, pro-Soviet administrations were established, and they "requested" admittance to the Soviet Union. This incorporation officially took place on July 21, 1940.
Apollo! 
theres more.
.)
