During the World War I, most of the powers that were defeated faced myriad political, economical and social challenges (Lewis & Greer, 2004). It is against this reason that extremists from Europe posed threats to revolt for their defeat. This led to rise of totalitarianism in the western world specifically in Europe. In 1918- 1939, among the nations that embarked on totalitarianism included USA, France, Germany, Soviet Union and Britain.
Additionally, the world experienced a holocaust due to rise of anti-Semitism in the western world. Technological advances applied by the axis and allied powers led to devastating impacts in Europe and other parts of the world. Several efforts were made by the end of the World War II to prevent possibility of any future war.
For instance, the formation of United Nations (UN) was mainly spearheaded by the need to maintain world peace and security after gross failure by the League of Nations. The key mandate of United Nations Organization was to promote political, economical and social stability in the world (Lewis & Greer, 2004).
Political changes and the emergence of totalitarianism in 1918 – 1939
This period is well known as the inter war period since it ranges from the time the first world War ended to the beginning of the second world War (Kishlansky, Geary & O’Brien, 2008). The European nations were in the process of recovering from the after math of the First World War. In 1929, there was Great Depression that jeopardized economical and political stability of most European nations (Marty, 2007). This paved way for the rise of Nazism that made German to rise as a super power.
Additionally, other world depressions gave way for countries like Japan to be assertive and powerful (Bernanke, 2000). International order was experiencing a radical change in terms of power balance among the dominant nations. This led to development of an institution that could bring stability and maintain peace (Kishlansky, Geary & O’Brien, 2008). Nevertheless, the League of Nation was formulated to promote world peace and security. Moreover, the union was meant to promote economic growth among the member nations.
Political instability among nations that opposed the League undermined its legitimacy (Lewis & Greer, 2004). These included the Nazis, Japan imperialists, Soviet Union and USA. Frequent crisis and invasions rendered the union ineffective. A nation like Italy invaded Abyssinia to assert power balance against their counterparts. Limited influence asserted by western powers like Britain and France triggered the rise of dictators like Mussolini of Italy and Hitler from Germany.
In this case, they were able to learn how weak the league was in maintaining world stability (Lewis & Greer, 2004). Majority of the nations employed totalitarianism to prevent themselves from political, economical and social influence. Totalitarian system of governance involved total control of people’s life by government of the western world. It was characterized by leaders who dictated with absolute power over the citizens of the respective nations.
Leaders like Adolf Hitler and Stalin of the Soviet Union relied on political and economic ideologies to solve the problem that were being experienced during this period. It is also imperative to note that the emergence of totalitarianism was largely occasioned by the deep desire to control subjects as well as maintain supremacy. In addition, this form of rule was also used by the very powers which were struggling to secure overseas colonies.
The states established single- party dictatorship that used technology and communication to influence political, economical, Cultural and social lifestyle of their citizens (Romano, 2010). During this period, the Soviet Union under Stalin had a single communist party that was used to spread influence among the Soviets (London, 1980).
The Soviets used propaganda and slogans to eliminate open confrontation from within and outside the nation (London, 1980). People lived in total submission to the government during the regime. In contrast to this, other nations like Britain, France and USA employed democratic, communist and fascism ideologies.
Major figures, events, and technological innovations of World War II
Germany had tactical military forces that matched across Europe (Marty, 2007). Sophisticated armaments made the German forces to match against their allies. Moreover, other powers that reinforced the axis powers included Italy and Japan. On the other hand, France emerged as a dominant icon against the axis powers. France was well armored though it had a poor political system, civil disorders and strikes (Lewis & Greer, 2004).
Additionally, other powers such as Britain, Russia and United States joined France against the axis group. Technological advances like war saving bonds, nuclear bombs, radars, jet engines and unmanned rockets helped the two warring groups to seize against each other. Moreover, new technologies like single-wing aircraft, flamethrowers, missiles, aircraft carriers, Molotov Cocktails, and Atomic weapons made each power to exercise their military superiority to gain status (Kishlansky, Geary & O’Brien, 2008).
The Soviet Union and United States were driven by ideological political and economical propaganda that made them to cooperate with the allies (Romano, 2010). Additionally, they had a common aim of defeating the Nazis. This led to mass deaths especially during the Nazi invasion against the Soviet Union in 1939.
The non-aggression pact is one of the major events that triggered the Soviet Union to join the World War II where Germans reacted against it (Romano, 2010). Nevertheless, the soviet advanced on the Eastern front in Europe recapturing German territories. The bombing of the German cities in 1943 led to Nazis defeat.
Causes of World War II
World War II broke out as a result of quest for power balance among European nations (Lewis & Greer, 2004). The event of the great depression destabilized governments and economy of many nations in the world (Bernanke, 2000). Increased cases of unemployment and fall of gross domestic product sharpened national conflict where powers were fighting for colonies to invest (Lewis & Greer, 2004).
Fascism greatly led to the outbreak of the war where France Fascist forces confronted Germany preventing it from exerting it influence on Poland. Rise of a fascist party in Italy encouraged conflict as a mean of social improvement (Lewis & Greer, 2004). Prior to the Agreement on the peace treaty of 1919, the Soviet Union ended their confrontation against Germany. However, in 1939 the treaty was no longer able to extend it influence to end conflicts forcing the Soviets to sign a non-aggression pact with the German (London, 1980).
This gave Germany the freewill to invade Poland hence war broke out. Soviet Union joined the war for territorial gain and to counter German from invading Poland as agreed upon during the non-aggression pact. Moreover, Germans had started invading the Soviet territories (Polley, 2000). However, the major cause of the war due to the failure of the League of Nations to exert control over superior powers that were in haste to exercise their military superiority (Marty, 2007).
The Holocaust in the context of World War II and Western ideals
During The World war II period, the world experienced a holocaust due to totalitarian ideologies that led to rise of anti-Semitism (Romano, 2010). World known dictators like Adolf of Germany and Stalin of the Soviet Union instigated anti-Semitism in their nations (London, 1980). This involved discrimination of races that were taken to be inferior to others. The Jews in the Soviet Union were persecuted for their religion. This also happened in the European countries primarily in Germany.
Hate speeches fueled the discrimination of minor races preferably the Jews who faced horrific moments due to restrictions imposed to them (Lewis & Greer, 2004). In a nation like Spain, Jews were subjected to persecutions and to some extent they were burnt to death (Jackson & Spielvogel, 2010). However, legislative act were taken to bring the holocaust to an end. The formation of the United Nations Organization declared the end of anti-Semitism. Currently, many countries in the western world have enacted laws against anti-Semitism.
The aftermath of World War II
The aftermath of the Second World War may not be exhausted due to the myriad effects that are still being felt in the contemporary society. World War II resulted into massive loss of properties and lives causing far reaching changes in all the nations that participated (Withuis & Mooij, 2011). European economy and 70% of industrial facilities were ruined. Nevertheless, this war led to decolonization of colonial powers primarily in Africa.
Research indicates that, this is the most expensive war ever to happen in the world (Withuis & Mooij, 2011). This war is believed to have started around 1939 ending in 1945. Over 50 nations participated affecting the whole world. However, the war created problems and as well solved others. Domination of German over Europe and Japan over Asia was terminated leaving open position for leadership (Withuis & Mooij, 2011).
This made the Soviet Union to take up their position emerging as a powerful nation in the world. The war led to the creation of an international organization in 1945. Several conferences were held to decide on the future course of the war. For example, in 1943, a conference was held in Tehran in Iran (Marty, 2007). In this conference, it was agreed upon that the German would be partitioned and be divided so as to liberate Europe from Soviet forces (Chubarov, 2001).
The Yalta conference held in Russia in 1945, leaders of super powers met to discuss on the post war issues (Romano, 2010). Attempt to reconcile rival nations bore fruits and nations were encouraged to live in harmony. In addition, the Soviet status rose to become a prominent super power in the world. The massive deaths recorded during the second world harshly impacted most economies that directly or indirectly participated in the war.
This was aggravated by activities of warmongers between the two opposing powers. Besides, war crimes were committed in large scale with most of the atrocities targeting women and children. Most men who died during the Second World War had been forced to serve as soldiers. In addition, slavery and concentration in camps caused massive suffering among people.
References
Bernanke, B. (2000). Essays on the great depression. Hoboken: Princeton University Press.
Chubarov, A. (2001). Russia’s Bitter Path to Modernity: A History of the Soviet and Post-Soviet Eras. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.
Greer, T. & Lewis, G. (2004). A brief history of the Western world. Belmont: Cengage Learning.
Jackson, W. &. Spielvogel, J. (2010).The Essential World History. Belmont: Cengage Learning.
Kishlansky, M., Geary, P. & O’Brien, P. (2008). Civilization in the West. New York: Longman Pearson Education, Inc.
London, K. (1980) The Soviet Union in world politics. Colorado: Taylor & Francis
Marty, G. (2007). The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945). New York: Weigl Publishers Inc.
Polley, M. (2000). A-Z of modern Europe since 1789, New York: Taylor & Francis.
Romano, J. (2010). Cliffsap European History. Hoboken: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Withuis, J. & Mooij, A. (2011).The Politics of War Trauma: The Aftermath of World War II in Eleven European countries. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press