Second World War was a global military
conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945. The great powers of the world, split up
into two opposing military alliances the Allies and the Axis and involved in
the war. It was the most widespread war in history. In a state of 'total
war' the major participants placed their entire
economic, industrial and scientific capabilities at the service of the war
effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. The
Treaty of Versailles left many countries dissatisfied. Adverse conditions such
as, repartition and unemployment led to new radical ideas, which led to the
second world war.
Causes
for the Second World War Treaty of Versailles:
The first world war ended by the Treaty
of Versailles. It was vindictive in nature and many
countries were dissatisfied. According to the treaty, Germany was stamped as an
aggressor and levied a huge war indemnity. She had been deprived of several
territories which included Alsace and Lorraine. The rich Saar coal mine was
given to France for 15 years under free lease license. Her army was reduced.
All these humiliating terms against Germany resulted in the Second World War.
Spirit of Nationalism
The concepts like Germany for Germans,
Italy for Italians which emphasized nationalism in a manner led to tension.
Germany boosted the superiority of German race on the earth. Nationalism is
indeed to develop love for one's country and to rise above
regionalism but when it crosses all limits
it assumes alarming proportion.
Failure of League of Nations
League of Nations was founded after the
first world war to prevent wars in future and to maintain international peace
and security. The big powers which dominated the League of Nations did not obey
the terms and conditions of the League. Hence the League failed in its prime
duty of preventing the race for armament and preserving peace.
Rise of Japan
Japan emerged as a World power after the
First World War. The industrial development and economic growth forced Japan to
follow the policy of imperialism. It signed Rome-Berlin- Tokyo Axis with Italy
and Germany and sowed the seeds for Second World War.
Rise of Dictatorship
After the First World War, the World was
witnessed the rise of new ideologies such as Democracy, Communism, Fascism and
Nazism. The newly formed Republican governments in many European countries
failed and gave way to dictatorship of Hitler and Mussolini. These dictators
glorified the principles of war and conquest which ended in the second world
war.
Problems of Minorities
After
the First World War, a number of new nations had been created but the principle
of nationality was not followed. Several countries like Poland, Austria and Czechoslovakia
were formed by neglecting the interests of the minority groups.
Policy of Appeasement
The statesmen of the major world powers
ignored and evaded their responsibility and followed to the policy of
appeasement. But appeasement did not satisfy. The great powers increased steadily and it resulted in the Second
World War.
Formation of the Axis Coalition
Adolf Hitler, the Leader of the German
National Socialist (Nazi) party, preached a racist brand of Nazism. Having
denounced the disarmament clauses of the Versailles Treaty, he created a new
air force, and reintroduced conscription. Hitler in collaboration with Italy
and Japan signed the Rome- Berlin-Tokyo Axis in
1936. This resulted the war.
German Aggression in Europe
In September
1938 Hitler threatened Czechoslovakia. The British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain initiated talks and
signed the Munich Pact, Hitler promised not to take any more Czech territory.
Chamberlain believed that he had achieved “peace for our time,” but
Hitler within six months seized the remainder of Czechoslovakia which resulted
the second world war.
Immediate
Cause
In 1939, Hitler demanded from Poland the
right to construct a military road connecting East Prussia and Germany through
Polish Corridor. He also demanded the surrender of Danzig. When Poland refused,
Hitler made a lightening attack on Poland known as Blitzkrieg on 1, September
1939. As Britain wanted to protect Poland declared war on Germany on
September 3rd 1939 and France
was also joined with Britain. Thus started the Second World War.
Opening
Events (1939)
The World War II officially began on
September 1, 1939, when Hitler declared his Blitzkrieg, (lightning war) against
Poland. Britain and France much to Hitler's surprise, immediately declared war
upon Germany.
Soviet Aggression(1939-1941)
As Hilter's forces conquered Poland, the
Soviet Union was acting out guarantees of territory under a secret part of a
Non-Aggression pact between the USSR and Germany. This Treaty gave Stalin free
reign to take the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as
Eastern Poland, all of which would remain in Soviet possession after the war.
At this
moment, Mussolini declared war on the Allies to occupy a few hundred
yards of French territory.
The Battle of Britain 1940
Hitler turned his attention to Britain. He
sent his Luftwaffe (Airforce) to drop bombs on Britain. His ‘U’
boats(Sub
marines) torpedoed many British ships. During the month of August and September
in 1940, Luftwaffe continuously bombed London and other cities daily. This is
called the Battle
of Britain Though
the British suffered heavy losses at first, eventually, it managed under the
Prime Ministership of Winston Churchill and turned the air strike against
Germany.
Operation Barbaressa (1941)
Hitler,
after his defeat over the skies of Britain, turned his attention towards the
Soviet Union. Despite having signed the non-aggression pact with Stalin, Hitler despised communism and
wished to destroy it in the land of its birth. Hitler ordered a large attack on
the Yugoslavia and Greek. The Italian and German armies quickly swept across
Yugoslavia, In Greece, there was tougher resistance, but the Axis forces proved
too powerful and by the end of April the Balkans were under Axis control.
Soviet Attack
On June 22.1941, Hitler invaded Russia, At
this critical moment, the Russian winter, which began early that year, stalled
the German (army) to a halt at the gates of Moscow. Stalin had planned to
evacuate the city, and had already moved important government functionaries,
but decided to stay and rally the city.
Russians followed the Scorched
Earth Policy They
abandoned the villages and set fire to crops, roads, railways, factories and
even houses. So that Germans could not gain anything. After a long besiege of
five months, the Germans were able to capture the empty city of Moscow. After
suffering a crushing defeat in Russia they retreated in January, 1944.
Atlantic charter
In August 1941 the British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill and US President F.D Roosevelt met on the
board of the battle ship Augusta and
signed the Atlantic charter, and agreed to launch a massive attack against the
common enemy Germany.
America Enters the war
Meanwhile, the Japanese had attacked
American fleet stationed at Pearl Harbour on December 7,1941. This disastrous
attack forced the Americans to enter into the war. The very next day the USA
declared war on Japan.
Mussolini's Aggression in Africa (1940 -1942)
Mussolini had seized Ethopia and launched
attack on Kenya, the Sudan and British Somaliland. The British counter attacked
and captured Eritrea in February, Somalia in March and Addis Ababa, capital of
Ethiopia.
End
of the War
The Allied troops planned an invasion of
France from England. In May 1944, a big American and British force landed in
Normandy. They were joined by the secret underground French forces. Germany was
attacked on all sides. From the East the Russian forces chased German troops.
When Hitler came to know about the advance of the armies
from the two sides reaching Berlin, he committed suicide.
Italian army was defeated and Allies
occupied Italy and Mussolini was killed. The Allied army entered Germany and it
surrendered on May 1945. After the fall of Germany, America dropped atom bombs
on the cities of Hiroshima on August 6, and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 which
caused a great destruction. As the result
Japan surrendered unconditionally. Thus the second World War came to an
end.
Results
of the war
1.
The destruction to life and property was
on a much larger scale than the First World War. Over 50 Millions were lost
their lives.
2.
It sounded the death knell to dictatorship
in Germany and Italy. Germany was occupied by the Allied forces and later it
was divided into two parts. The West Germany was controlled by Britain, France
and America and the East Germany by
Russia. At the end of the war Japan was
occupied by American forces under General McArthur.
3.
The war weakened Britain and France.
America and Russia emerged as Super Powers. The war did not end
totalitarianism in Russia. A cold war started between Russia and America.
4.
The war quickened the phase of national
movements in Asia and Africa. India, Burma, Egypt, Ceylon and Malaya fought for
their freedom and won their freedom from Britain. Philippines from America.
Indo-china from France and Indonesia from the Dutch got their independence.
5.
The European countries gave up the policy
of Colonialism and Imperialism.
6.
The United Nations Organisation was set up
to maintain International peace and harmony. The organization worked hard to
maintain international co-operation and for the promotion of human welfare.
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1 comment:
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