week 4- Chapters 30 + 31 Flashcards
New Order
Hitler’s program was based on the guiding principle of racial imperialism, which
gave preferential treatment to the Nordic peoples above “inferior” Latin peoples and, at the bottom, “subhuman” Slavs and Jews. This plan included the annexation and occupation of territories, the extermination of Jews and other groups deemed undesirable by the Nazis, and the establishment of puppet governments and direct control over conquered areas.
The New Order led to widespread atrocities, including the Holocaust, massive destruction across Europe, and significant geopolitical changes during and after World War II.
Holocaust
The Holocaust was a genocide during World War II in which Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, systematically murdered six million Jews, along with millions of other targeted groups including Roma, disabled individuals, Polish and Soviet civilians, political prisoners, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This atrocity, driven by extreme anti-Semitic ideology, involved forced ghettos, mass shootings by mobile killing units, and extermination camps where victims faced forced labor, starvation, and gas chambers. Liberation of these camps by Allied forces revealed the full horror of the genocide, leading to the Nuremberg Trials that prosecuted key Nazi leaders. The Holocaust profoundly impacted global human rights policies and is commemorated to ensure such atrocities never happen again.
Europe first policy
TThe military strategy, set forth by Churchill and adopted by Roosevelt,
that called for the defeat of Hitler in Europe before the United States launched an all-out
strike against Japan in the Pacific. This strategic decision reflected the urgent need to counter the significant threat posed by Nazi Germany’s aggressive expansion across Europe. By concentrating their efforts on defeating Germany first, the United States and the United Kingdom aimed to weaken the Axis powers and secure victory in the overall war. This approach led to major military offensives such as Operation Overlord (D-day in Normandy), ultimately resulting in the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation and the defeat of Germany in 1945. With the successful conclusion of the European campaign, Allied focus shifted to the Pacific theater, where efforts intensified against Japan, ultimately culminating in the end of World War II. The “Europe First” policy’s success in securing victory in Europe laid the groundwork for post-war reconstruction and the establishment of democratic governments, shaping the course of history in the 20th century.
How did Germany and Japan build empires in Europe and Asia, and how did the Allies defeat them?
Germany and Japan expanded their empires through aggressive military conquests in Europe and Asia during the 1930s and early 1940s. Employing tactics like Blitzkrieg, Germany swiftly overwhelmed European nations, while Japan pursued territorial gains in Asia, notably with the invasion of Manchuria and the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, the Allies, led by the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom, defeated them through coordinated military campaigns. In Europe, Allied offensives from multiple fronts, particularly the Eastern Front and Normandy landings, led to the eventual surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945. In the Pacific, the United States employed island-hopping strategies and ultimately dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender. These defeats marked the end of World War II and the dismantling of their respective empires.
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension and ideological rivalry between the United States and its Western allies, and the Soviet Union and its Eastern bloc allies, lasting roughly from the end of World War II in 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Key features of the Cold War included ideological competition between capitalism and communism, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and proxy wars fought in various regions around the world. The conflict was characterized by a “balance of terror,” with both sides engaged in an arms race and mutually assured destruction doctrine. Major events during the Cold War included the Berlin Blockade, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the construction of the Berlin Wall. The Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, marking a significant shift in global politics and ushering in a new era of international relations.
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a pivotal U.S. foreign policy initiative announced by President Harry S. Truman in 1947. It aimed to contain the spread of communism and Soviet influence, particularly in Europe, in the aftermath of World War II. The doctrine emerged in response to perceived communist threats in Greece and Turkey, where internal conflicts and Soviet pressure jeopardized their stability and independence. Truman proposed providing military and economic aid to nations threatened by communist expansion, framing the struggle as a global contest between democracy and totalitarianism. The Truman Doctrine represented a departure from traditional isolationist policies and marked the beginning of a more active U.S. role in international affairs, laying the foundation for subsequent Cold War strategies such as the Marshall Plan and NATO.
MILITARY AID
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, was a massive U.S. economic aid initiative launched in 1948 to support the post-World War II recovery of Western Europe. Named after U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the plan aimed to rebuild war-torn economies, promote stability, and counter the spread of communism in Europe. It provided billions of dollars in financial assistance, technical expertise, and materials to European nations, helping them rebuild infrastructure, modernize industries, and stabilize their economies. The Marshall Plan was instrumental in fostering economic recovery and political stability in Western Europe, laying the groundwork for the region’s rapid post-war reconstruction and the emergence of the European economic integration. It also served as a key component of U.S. Cold War strategy, demonstrating American commitment to rebuilding Europe and containing Soviet influence in the aftermath of World War II.
ECONOMIC AID
NATO
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a political and military alliance established in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several European countries. With a membership now comprising 30 nations, NATO’s primary objective is collective defense and security. The cornerstone of this defense is Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which stipulates that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members, necessitating a collective response. Originally formed in response to the perceived threat of Soviet expansionism during the Cold War, NATO has since evolved to address new security challenges, including terrorism, cyber threats, and instability in neighbouring regions. It operates on the principles of consensus decision-making and has a centralized military command structure to plan and execute military operations. NATO remains a critical pillar of transatlantic security, promoting stability, cooperation, and democratic values across the Euro-Atlantic area.
How did the Cold War and decolonization shape the postwar world?
The Cold War and decolonization were two interconnected and transformative processes that profoundly shaped the post-World War II world. The Cold War, characterized by ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, divided the world into two opposing blocs and dominated international relations for much of the 20th century. It led to an arms race, nuclear proliferation, and proxy conflicts fought in various regions, such as Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, decolonization marked the end of European colonial empires as colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean gained independence. This process was driven by nationalist movements, anti-colonial struggles, and changing global attitudes towards imperialism. Decolonization resulted in the emergence of dozens of new nation-states, each grappling with the challenges of state-building, governance, and national identity. The intersection of the Cold War and decolonization led to proxy conflicts in newly independent nations, as superpower rivalry often played out in decolonized regions. Additionally, newly independent countries often aligned themselves with either the Western or Eastern blocs based on ideological affinity, strategic interests, or economic ties. However, many postcolonial states sought to maintain neutrality and pursue non-alignment in the Cold War. Overall, the Cold War and decolonization were defining processes of the postwar era, shaping global power dynamics, international relations, and the emergence of a new world order.
