World War 2
This World War 2 is mostly known in another name as the Second World War. This was a global war that was fought between the years 1939 to 1945 and involved almost the entire world (the vast majority nations of the world) as well as all of the great powers forming the two conflicting military alliances: the Axis and the Allies. This period was the darkest, largest and most violent armed conflict in the history of the mankind where hundred of millions suffered from wounds and injuries.
Many reasons have been suggested by historians as the causes of Second World War. However, it is evident that World war two served as the peak of the interwar period. The main causes which led to World War II include;
- Versailles Treaty
- Failure of the League of Nations to sustain the peace.
The League of Nations was formed in 1919 to help in upholding the world peace. It was meant to solve disputes any disputes between the member countries failure to which the aggressive country will face trade sanctions or military action if the sanctions fail (Ross 13).
- Appeasement.
In 1937 Neville chamberlain became the prime minister of Britain and the policy of appeasing Germany followed. France and Britain did not believe that Germany under the leadership of Hitler would cause war. They could effortlessly stop Hitler before German became strong; however Hitler’s strategy of avoiding violence helped him increase German’s military might, until it became too late to prevent him (Ross 23). This made Hitler believe that no one could stop him, and this made him go further. The appeasement became a catalyst to an outbreak of war.
Effects of Second World War
The magnitude of the impacts of the World War Two was greater than the World War One. The effects of the World War II include.
- Death and Devastation.
Throughout the war period, many lives were lost, and a lot of homes and assets were damaged. Many people became refugees, and the economies of most European countries’ economies were weakened.
- Emergence of USA and USSR as the world super powers.
After the war, USA and USSR became the superpowers and moved in the opposite directions. The misunderstandings over the treaties with Japan, Germany and Austria and the aggressive actions by USSR in the Eastern Europe lead to tension between the Super Powers thus resulting in the cold war (Ross 52).
- The Formation of the United Nations.
The United Nations was formed in 1945 after the culmination of the war. To improve the organization and avoid the problems experienced by the League of Nations, the powers were split among the five major nations; US, UK, France, USSR and China (Ross 64)
- Enormous Technological progress
The world war two lead to new inventions in military. For example, The British developed the Radar which became a forerunner of TV. Other developments include the development of new medicines to fight diseases.
- Boost to Nationalism
World War two weakened most colonial thus leading decolonization in Africa and Asia. The colonial empires crumbled because of their inability of the colonial powers to control the colonies.
Bibliography
Overy, J. The Origins of Second World War. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008.Print.
Ross, Stewart. Causes and Consequences of Second World War. London: Evans Brothers Limited, 2005. Print.
