Geographic History

World map in 1945

77 states share the map in 1945. The largest by mapped area are Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom and France.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is the largest state on the map in 1945, a position it has held since 1920 (before that: United Kingdom). It stays in first place until 1991, when Russian Federation takes over. The five largest states hold 50% of all land with a recorded ruler. Nearly all land on the map has a recorded state. The number of states is about the same as in 1942: 77 against 75.

Historical map of the world in 1945 showing the borders of states and empires
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The world in 1945, colored by ruling state. Grey land has no state recorded in the dataset.

Largest states in 1945

StateMapped areaProvinces
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics22 million km²309
United Kingdom15 million km²373
France11 million km²187
United States of America9.6 million km²240
Brazil8.6 million km²83
Canada8.5 million km²84
Australia7.8 million km²38
Empire of Japan6.7 million km²249
Republic of China4.3 million km²64
Argentina2.7 million km²38

What changed since 1942

  • On the map, Yugoslavia takes the place of Croatia (about 83 thousand km²).
  • Apart from that, 414 provinces changed hands between 1942 and 1945.
  • France gained about 8.2 million km², mostly from Vichy France and Nazi Germany.
  • Union of Soviet Socialist Republics gained about 2.4 million km², mostly from Nazi Germany and Iran.
  • United Kingdom gained about 1.7 million km², mostly from Iran and Iraq.
  • Norway gained about 320 thousand km², mostly from Nazi Germany.
  • New on the map: Norway, Poland, East Turkestan Republic, Greece and Czechoslovakia.
  • No longer on the map: Vichy France, Iran, Iraq, Persia and Kuwait.

Battles, 1945 - 1948

  • 1945Berlin
    World War II - won by USSR
  • 1945Manchuria
    World War II - won by Soviet Union
  • 1945Prague
    World War II - won by USSR
  • 1945Vistula-Oder
    World War II - won by USSR
  • 1945Po Valley
    World War II - won by United Kingdom, United States
  • 1945Rhineland
    World War II - won by United States, United Kingdom, Canada
  • 1945Ruhr
    World War II - won by United States
  • 1945Vienna
    World War II - won by USSR
  • 1945Wesel
    World War II - won by United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France
  • 1948Huaihai
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Chinese Communists
  • 1948Mukden
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Chinese Communists
  • 1948Liaoshen
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Chinese Communists

Empire maps for this period

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