Effects and Results of the Second World War

Question 1

Timeline: 1945: Yalta & Potsdam Conferences

Answer 1

Feb. Yalta:
Discussed unconditional surrender of G.
USSR agrees to fight against J.
Stalin promises Poland democratic basis for gov.
Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt.

July Potsdam:
Stalin, Attlee, Truman
Occupation of G. & J.
Allied control of Berlin: denazification, demilitarisation, democracy.
New German currency: Deutsche mark.
Prosecution of war criminals.
Reduce G. borders by 25% (Oder-Neisse Line)

Question 2

Timeline: 1946: Churchill makes “Iron Curtain” speech

Answer 2

Officially establishing that there are now two blocs: Democracy/Communism.
Because of place of speech, implying that U.S. and U.K are friends.

Question 3

Timeline: 1947: Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan

Answer 3

Truman Doctrine:
Policy of containment

Marshall Plan:
Aid programme launched in 1948. Half went to B., F. & W.G.
Offered to communist Europe but blocked by Stalin bec. US insisted on capitalist econ. policies.

Question 4

Timeline: 1949: creation of Federal Republic of Germany & People’s Republic of Germany

Answer 4

W. G. (FDR) emerged from the French, British & American zones & incorporated W. Berlin.
E. G. (GDR)

Question 5

Political & Territorial changes: peace conferences & settlements

Answer 5

1945: Yalta & Potsdam
Allies created “4 zones of occupation” of G. for F.,B.,U.S.,USSR. with Berlin in USSR zone further divided.
1949: FDR & GDR formed.
Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia remained Russian republics.
Polish boundaries pushed west-wards, but Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech. (1948), became part of Soviet Empire.
J. lost territory & was occupied by U.S.
Korea gained independence, / between comm. N. & dem. S.

Question 6

Economic impact

Answer 6

Financial burden.
U.S. willingness to engage with Europe (vital) - provided enormous amount of aid (Marshall Plan)
By 1950 onwards econ. growth in Europe & US prospered bec. of new foreign markets, lowering tariffs.
Increased gov. intervention in mkt. bec. it was seen that wartime planned production prevented unemployment & depression.
War stimulated progress in chemical and electrical industries.
1950 economic growth boom.

Question 7

Wider implications for international relations: the Cold War

Answer 7

US
Policy of Containment
Truman Doctrine 1947
Marshall Plan 1948

USSR
Comecon (joint econ. system to coordinate E.E. states)
Cominform (political co-ordination of communist world)

Question 8

Wider implications for international relations: the Nuclear Age

Answer 8

1945 US first atomic bomb tested
1949 USSR first atomic bomb tested
At first, cost & technology was high and membership was restricted to “Nuclear Club”
However, 1952 UK, 1960 France, 1964 China etc… became nuclear powers.

Question 9

Wider implications for international relations: Anti-imperialism

Answer 9

Decline in overseas empires of great powers.
Cost of maintaining overseas empires was also too great for European countries after war.
Granting of Indian Independence 1947.
French defeated by Vietnamese at Dien Bien Phu 1954.

Question 10

Wider implications for international relations: Greater unity & international co-operation

Answer 10

To prevent war.
UN 1945
NATO 1949 (F., Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, B., USA) military pact to defend Western democracies.
Warsaw Pact 1955 (military alliance among USSR’s satellite states in E.E.) arose as a reaction to Germany joining NATO in 1954.