The Axis Powers. Germany was the main cog. She ran over everything in the beginning. Japan was the second member: in the beginning she too looked like she was winning, but as Yamamoto observed, all we've done is wake up a sleeping giant. Italy was the third member. She did not contribute much and towards the end, she had to be rescued.
Deregulation is when the government reduces or eliminates restrictions on industries, often with the goal of making it easier to do business. It removes a regulation that interferes with firms' ability to compete, especially overseas.