World War II Flashcards
Allied powers
US, great Britain, France and USSR
Axis powers
Germany, Italy and Japan
Germany attacks
1936- • 1936: Germany attacked and Occupied Rhineland- a demilitarized zone between France & Germany.
• March 1938: Attacked Austria and unified it with Germany
• October 1938 -39: Attacked and occupied Czechoslovakia
• 1st September, 1939: Attacked Poland, which triggered the second world war.
Italy attack
Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, Albania in 1939, and in 1940 attacked and conquered British Somaliland.
Japan
• Fascist Japan, in 1931, attacked and took away Manchuria, in 1937 attacked China, in 1941, it attacked on Hong Kong, which was then a British territory, and attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. This event forced
USA to enter into the war.
German Blitzkrieg ( lighting war )
Germany’s military Blizkrieg
Operation Barbarossa
22 June 1941- Hitler attacked Russia breaking no aggression treaty signed between Russia after first world war
War of Normandy
6 June 1944, the D day - 1st victory of allied forces against Germany
Nuclear attacks on Japan
August 6, 1945 - Nagasaki- little boy
August 9,, 1945 - Hiroshima- fat man
Causes of World War II
Factors (Causes) Behind World War II:
Unjust Treaty of Versailles
As explained above in detail, the one sided, unjust, and harsh treaty of Versailles was forced on Germany. This badly hurt the pride and ego of German nation/people and helped rise of Fascism under the Nazi party of Hitler.
This became the single most factor behind the start of World War II.
• Fascist upsurge in Europe; Rise of Fascist Italy, Germany, and Japan
• As explained above, Fascist Italy, Germany, and Japan adopted very adventurous, expansionist, and imperialist policies during the inter-war period. They attacked and annexed neighbourhood territories and nations disregarding international laws, treaties, pacts.
• Nazi Germany of Hitler was most belligerent and adventurous.
Appeasement Policy of Britain and France
•Inclined not to involve in another world war, Britain and France allowed Hitler do whatever he wanted.
• This further encouraged Hitler and he went on attacking and annexing neighbourhood territories and nations.
• Finally, when it attacked Poland, Britain and France were forced to declare war against Germany, starting second world war.
• Idealism in IR during the inter-war period:
•During the early part of inter-war period Idealism was the dominant IR perspective.
• Idealism as perspective in IR stressed on peace, cooperation, and shared aspirations among nation-states. Idealism was supported by American President Woodrow Wilson in his 14-point principle and followed by Britain & France.
• Idealism overlooked the real-politic of inter-war period. Germany took advantage of such misguided perspective on IR by the allied power.
• Failure of League of Nations
Based on idealist approach to IR, the League of Nations was set up in 1920 to bring about lasting peace and progress.
Despite being based on President Woodrow Wilson’s idea, USA never joined League of nation, USSR & Germany were not allowed to join, Japan broke from it in 1933.
• Thus, the experiment of League of Nations failed completely to check attacks and annexation of neighboring territories by Hitler and other fascist regimes.
• Imperialism
Imperialist aspirations of Nazi Germany, Japan, and Italy and its clash with the imperialist aspirations of Britain, France, and even USA created the situation for second world war.
• Ideological Tussle
• Fascism, as political ideology, was challenging both Liberalism and Communism.
• Both Liberalism and communism were felt threatened by the rising popularity of
Fascism during the inter-war period.
• Hence, both USA, the champion of Liberalism and USSR, leader of Communist world, joined hands to fight the fascist powers led by Nazi Germany
When was the league of nations set up?
1920
Who coined the term iron curtain?
Winston Churchill
Consequences of world war 2
Consequences of the World War 11:
World war II had profound impact on global politics, world order, and IR. It changed the world in many ways. Some of the consequences are as below:
Fascism, as political ideology, was dead
• Everything associated with Fascist ideology- expansionism, Jingoism (militant nationalism), Imperialism, Racism, Ultra-nationalism, etc were discredited forever
Fascism acquired such negative connotations (meaning) that it is used as slang in political language.
• Division of Europe by Iron Curtain
• Ideological as well as physical separation (by boarder, barbs, boundary wall)- iron curtain- between the capitalist Western and communist Eastern Europe.
• This phrase, Iron Curtain, was coined by Winston Churchill who said in his speech in 1946 that an iron curtain has descended in Europe.
• Economic devastation of Europe:
Economically Europe was in ruins.
• USA helped re-build Europe’s economy by pumping huge aids through the Marshal
Plan.
.
Start of Cold war
• The most significant consequence. A prolonged hostility, heightened tension, and military conflicts between the USA led western alliance (NATO) and USSR led eastern alliance (Warsaw pact) started after the World War II. This was called Cold
War.
• End of the second world war with virtual division of Europe into capitalist and communist bloc, what Churchill called the iron curtain, signalled start of the cold war which lasted till 1990.
• Bi-polar World
Fall of Germany, and British Empire left only two superpowers- USA and USSR.
• On ideological front also only two. ideology- Liberalism and
Socialism/Communism remained.
• De-colonisation and end of Colonialism/Imperialism
•Decline in power & prestige of Europe in the World War II accelerated the decolonisation process.
• In next 25 years, almost all the colonial nations got their independence.
• Emergence of 3rd world
• Decolonisation added large numbers of nation-states in the international state system, which till then was largely Eurocentric.
• Emergence of post-colonial states of 3rd world added new dimension to the global politics and IR.
• From east-west, the focus in IR shifted to geo-politics of North-South.
Creation of United Nation
• Despite the failure of league of nations, UN was set up with active support of USA.
This time USA joined the UN. All other major powers also joined UN. The were given veto power.
• As it turned out, UN became a success in promoting peace and progress and cooperation among the nation-states.
