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the consequences of WW2. Human cost. 40 millions dead in Europe Two-third were civilians One-fifith of Poland’s population died 20 million people displaced. Economic cost. WW1 fighting took place mostly on the Western Front while during WW2 entire Europe was involved.
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Human cost • 40 millions dead in Europe • Two-third were civilians • One-fifith of Poland’s population died • 20 million people displaced
Economic cost • WW1 fighting took place mostly on the Western Front while during WW2 entire Europe was involved. • Aerial bombing destroyed many cities • Transport and communication disrupted • Industry destroyed • Farmland ruined • Food production fell to half • 150 million people dependent on relief food distribution • Britain was bankrupted • Soviet economy badly effected-25 millions homeless
Political consequences • Poland saw its border shifted westwards- lost 179,000 sq.km in the east and gained 104,000 sq.km from German territories • Yalta Conference- decided Poland’s boundaries • Germany to be dicided into four zones • Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia one party regime under Stalin’s control.
Effects of war on international relations • Change in the balance of power. • USSR and USA emerged as super powers
Reasonsmilitary • USA had acquired the largest air force in the world, 12 million men in the armed forces, more naval vessels and the atomic bomb • USSR had acquired the largest land army in the world to defeat Germany • France and Britain’s inability to defeat Germany placed them second in rank • USSR lacked strong military neighbours thus making it a regional power
Reasonseconomic • USA’s economy was strengthened by the war. It was able to out-produce all the other powers • USA was committed to more ‘open’ trade. • Small Eastern European countries needed support of a stronger neighbour which was provided by USSR
Impact of the superpowers • The map of europe after 1945 was determined by the growing conflict between USSR and USA with a clear dicvide between Eastern and Western Europe • USA- end of isolationism, beginning of a dominant role in world affairs • Cold War
Eastern Europe • 1944-48 Stalin established control over Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, romania and Poland which involved • i. establishment of one-party rule • ii. Nationalization of private enterprise • Iii. Five- Year Plans- encouraged collective farming • Each satellite state had to produce what USSR needed- eg Poland produced coal
The economic and political system was backed by: • Social and ideological controls eg. Cominform, secret police • Censorship of all media • Suppression of religious freedom • Military presence of soviet troops • Political purges
Western Europe • Followed democracy • Commitment by USA- the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Aid • Establishment of NATO
Impact on asia • China lost 12 million people • Japan lost 2 million people
Japan • Eliminated as amajor power • Occupied by the Americans under General Douglas macArthur • Japan was made a democracy • Military and secret police forces were dissolved • The emperor remained to maintain political stability
The treaty of san francisco • Signed in 1951- japan to • 1. renounce all claims to Taiwan, Sakhalin and the Kuriles • 2. hand over the Pacific Island of Micronesia to UN • 3. hand over the Ryuku and Bonin Islands to USA • 4. accepted the judgements of the international military Tribunal for the Far East • 4. Guidelines for reparation and compensation to prisoners of war, renounced future military aggression, nullified prior treaties
A separate Treaty between Japan and USA- • USA promised to defend Japan until it could look after its own defense which meant that it had military bases in Japan
china • Fighting continued between the nationalist forces of Jiang jieshi and the communist forces of Mao Zedong • Conflict led to the victory of Mao in 1949 and the establishment of a communist China
Decolonisation: the decline of european influence in asia • Weakness of Britain and France found it increasingly difficult to hold on to their empires in Asia and Africa • Nationalist Movements grew • USA and the UN condemned imperialism • Indonesia got independence from Dutch, Vietnam from the French, India, Burma and Ceylon from the british • USA and USSR sought to increase their sphere of influence in this area- Cold War
Other effects • War Tribunals established • The united nations • The Arms Race
Assignment • What was the impact of World War II on the following: • The popularity and spread of communism? • The defeated powers- Germany and Japan? • What was the impact of WWI and WWII on the roles and status of women?