Second World War

We explain what World War II was and the countries that intervened. In addition, its background, stages and consequences.

What was World War II?

World War II was A global armed conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945in which the great powers of the time faced and that involved more than 72 countries.

The Greater the war in the history of humanityfor the amount of nations involved, the territorial dimensions of the conflict, the magnitude of destruction and deaths, the war armament used and its historical consequences.

In World War II two sides faced themselves:

• The alliesled by Great Britain, France, the United States and the USSR.
• The axisheaded by Germany, Italy and Japan.

Dozens of countries joined the contest during the six years that the war lasted, and aligned with one of the sides.

The conflict was caused by multiple factors, among which are the economic and political crisis that Europe was going through in the interwar period, the nationalist and imperialist capitalism of the great European powers and The rise of fascist and totalitarian regimes in Italy and Germany.

During World War II, in addition to the death of soldiers on battle fronts, millions of civilians died from the continuous air bombardment of cities and fields. In this context the holocaust was also perpetuated, which implied The systematic and mass extermination of 6 million Jews in the hands of the German Nazi party.

And, at the end of the war, the United States threw The atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasakithat they took the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians.

See also: Chronology of World War II

Background of World War II

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Europe was crossed by tensions that triggered the First World War (1918-1918) and persisted during the 1920s and 1930s. The tensions were marked by the competence of the European imperialist powers by territories, resources and political hegemony. Different circumstances can be identified that led to trigger the conflict.

Economic causes

Among the main economic causes, it can be highlighted:

• The great depression. During the 1930s the powers of the time crossed the first major capitalist crisis in history. Between 1929 and 1932, world production fell 40 %; commercial exchanges 30 % and prices 60 %. This generated the closure of companies and industries that, in turn, triggered an unprecedented increase in unemployment: 15 million unoccupied people in the United States, 6 million in Germany and 3 million in Britain.
• The state intervention. Given the economic crisis, countries began to apply protectionism measures and strong state intervention, guided by the doctrine of economist John Keynes. In order to mobilize stagnant economies, governments increased their state public spending to invest in their national industries, increased customs taxes in order to reduce imports, encourage exports and control capital flow.
• Investment in the war industry. In this context, many states encouraged the development of their war industries that, in addition to generating employment and economic mobility, produced valuable technology and goods in the context of political tensions. On the other hand, these industries needed raw materials (rubber, oil, minerals, etc.), which many countries did not have within their territories, which exacerbated territorial claims of different European countries.

Political causes

Among the main political causes, they can be mentioned:

• The rearrangement of the European map. The winning countries of the First World War imposed a political reorganization of the European map. The Ottoman Empire and the Austro -Hungarian Empire were dissolved and, instead, new national states were created: Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Yugoslavia. However, in the following decades these countries were in a permanent conflict by claiming territories invoking nationalist reasons (such as language, religion or cultural practices).
• Territorial interests. On the other hand, the different powers had their own territorial claims. The USSR wanted to recover the Baltic countries (lost with the Brest-Litovsk Treaty) and sought to control Ukrainian territories; Italy demanded territories in the Balkans; and Germany claimed territories in the Baltic and in Poland. On the other hand, the United States, China, Japan and the USSR disputed the control of Asian islands to increase its commercial power in the Pacific Ocean.

Ideological causes

In addition, ideological causes can be highlighted:

• Nationalism, racism and fascism. In the context of economic crisis, unemployment, political tensions and territorial claims, the nationalism of the different European populations was exacerbated. Ethnic or racial minorities began to be despised and blamed for the lack of employment and resources, and administrative measures were created in different European countries that discriminated against the population according to their origin or race. Fascism appeared as a political option that integrated the national unity around a state governed by a unique party with a charismatic leader. In Germany, National Socialism built a racist image of humanity, in which the Aryan race was considered superior and, as such, it had to be imposed on the rest of the nations (by expanding the German State) and on the minorities that lived in the territory of the German state. In this context, anti -Semitism became the axis of Nazi ideology.
• The dispute between fascism and communism. Given the success of the communist revolution in the USSR, the fascist parties of Italy and Germany positioned themselves as defenders of Western capitalism. Before their strong anti -communist ideology, the liberal democracies of the rest of the European countries let fascist leaders act. In the first years, they refrained from intervening in expansionist aggressions in the hope that they would constitute a shock force against Russian communism.

See also: Background of World War II

Triggers of World War II

During the 1930s, the limitations of the Nations Society and its ineptitude to neutralize international conflicts began to be seen.

From Hitler’s rise, Germany gradually stopped fulfilling the stipulated in the Treaty of Versailles: It increased its rearme policy, restored mandatory military service and militarized the regions that should remain demilitarized.

In 1935, France and the USSR signed a military pact from mutual defense to prevent German advance on its borders. In 1936, Italy occupied the capital of Abisinia (bordering kingdom of its colonies in Africa). France and Great Britain sought to impose economic sanctions through the Nations Society.

In response, Italy and Germany signed the Roma-Berlin Axis agreement and consolidated as allies in central Europe. In 1938 and 1939, Germany continued its expansionist policy and annexed Austria, the Sudeten region and began its invasion to Czechoslovakia. On the other hand, in 1939 Italy invaded Albania, who was in control of the USSR.

In that context, The USSR signed a “non -aggression” pact with Germany. Among its secret clauses, the agreement established a future division of Poland between both powers.

With the assurance that the USSR would not intervene, on September 1, 1939, Germany began its military invasion to Poland. In response, France and Great Britain left the passive position and declared war on Germany.

World War II alliances

The forces in contest were, mainly, those of the European, Asian and the United States powers, divided into two political and ideological blocks:

• The axis. It was a coalition formed by Germany, Italy and Japan. They had as partners nations such as Hungary and Romania, and were supported by other countries, which did not intervene directly in the war.
• The allies. They were led by France, Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union. With them, the countries that suffered invasions of the axis powers, such as Poland, China, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Yugoslavia, among others. In addition, they had the support of other states that were not involved directly.

See more in: World War II alliances

World War II leaders

The powers faced – especially those of the axis, of a totalitarian nature – were directed by:

• Adolf Hitler. He was Germany’s fascist political leader between 1933 and 1945. He carried out the military movements that triggered World War II and was leading the Holocaust.
• Benito Mussolini. He was the fascist political leader of Italy between 1922 and 1945. He established a totalitarian regime and allied with Hitler during the war.
• Hirohito. He was the emperor of Japan from 1926 until his death, in 1989. Although he allied with the powers defeated in the war, he was not judged and maintained power. It is recognized by the deep transformation that made Japan a world economic power.
• Winston Churchill. It was the Prime Minister of Great Britain between 1940 and 1945 (and then between 1951 and 1955). It is recognized by the important role that he played in the future of World War II and is considered the forge of the “Great Alliance” between the USA., France, Great Britain and the USSR.
• IoSIF Stalin. He was the communist dictator of the USSR between 1922 and 1952, and responsible for turning the USSR into a worldwide political and economic superpower.
• Charles de Gaulle. He was a key French military leader during World War II. He directed the French resistance during the German occupation period. He was in charge of the provisional government between 1944 and 1946 and managed to recognize France as a winning power in postwar treaties.
• Franklin Roosevelt. He was the president of the United States between 1933 and 1945. He created the policies that brought the country out of economic depression and since 1939 he was convinced to Congress to involve the conflict to support liberal democracies.

Fronts of World War II

The main war fronts were:

• Western front He involved territories of Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Great Britain and Norway.
• Eastern front. It was played in regions of the USSR, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the Balkans.
• Pacific Ocean. He covered the island and maritime territories of the ocean from Japan to Australia and from China to Hawaii.
• North Africa. He implied the area that goes from Tunisia to Egypt and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sahara desert.
• Strategic points. In addition, there were battles for the control of some specific territories in the Indian Ocean, in the Arctic, in the center of Africa and in the Río de la Plata.

Stages of World War II

Three stages of World War II can be distinguished:

Axis triumphs (1939-1941)

The first stage of the war was characterized by The successive victories of the forces of the axis in central and western Europe, with the conquests of Norway, Denmark, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia and Greece, as well as the expansion of the fascist forces in North Africa. In 1941, Germany broke the non -aggression pact and invaded the USSR.

For his part, Japan invaded China and in 1941 he began his expansion in Oriental Asia: Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indochina and several island territories of the Pacific. With the attack on Hawaii, the United States decided to intervene in the conflict.

Balance of forces (1942-1943)

With the expansionist triumphs of the axis, the USSR and the United States entered war. In 1942, on the different war fronts, the battles of El Alamein, Midway and Stalingrad arrested the advance of the axis and war troops entered a period of balance of forces. The Americans arrested the Japanese in the Pacific front.

On the western front, the allies bombarded Germany from the air and invaded Italy from the south. In the eastern front, the Soviets managed to expel the Germans from the USSR and invaded Poland. Between 1941 and 1944, resistance was organized in all countries occupied by the axis powers.

Victory of the Allies (1944-1945)

In the western front, the allies managed to recover France and attack Germany from the border. The Italians were defeated and in their escape attempt, Mussolini was arrested for resistance and shot. Since 1944, the Soviets organized a final offensive against Germany: Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia invaded. In 1945, they managed to take Berlin.

Before defeat, Hitler committed suicide and the Germans surrendered. In the Pacific front, after bloody battles the Japanese were cornered by the Americans.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States threw two atomic bombs in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which caused tens of thousands of civil deaths, and forced Japan to sign the final surrender.

See also: stages of World War II

End of World War II

During the last period of the war, the leaders of the allied countries had a series of meetings to delineate the bases of postwar agreements.

In February 1945, The Yalta Conference was heldattended by the highest allied leaders: Winston Churchill (Great Britain), Franklin Roosevelt (United States) and Iosif Stalin (USSR). There they resolved:

• The distribution of Germany, between Great Britain, the United States, France and the USSR.
• The submission of Poland and Yugoslavia under the influence of the USSR.
• The creation of the United Nations Organization (UN) in replacement of the Nations Society.

In July, the leaders gathered again at the Potsdam Conference. This time, The opposing interests were manifest of allied countries. The USSR controlled most of Eastern Europe and had implemented the communist system. Instead, the United States and Britain defended capitalism in Western Europe and the territories they controlled in Africa and Asia.

In 1946, the Paris Conference was held and peace was signed with Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland. Germany, on the other hand, did not sign any peace treaty, but was directly intervened by allied countries.

See also: End of World War II

The Holocaust

During World War II, the National Socialist Party that ruled Germany carried out The systematic and mass extermination of people due to their religion or ethnic origin. This process is known as “holocaust” or “shoá” (in Hebrew).

Since 1933, with the rise of Hitler and his party to power, measures began to impose Nazi ideology in the rest of the population. Through manifestations and mass propaganda, the values ​​of the party were affirmed by repetition: racism, anti -Semitism, anti -communism and nationalism. The Nazis argued that They had to ensure the “racial purity” of Germany and took increasingly violent measures against minorities that were part of German society: from sterilization to people for carrying diseases to the direct persecution of social groups due to their ethnic origin (gypsies and Slavs), sexuality (homoxuals) or religion (Jews).

In 1935, Nuremberg’s laws were adopted, their basic rights were denied to the Jews and pushed them to leave the country or live in separate neighborhoods (called ghettos). Since 1938, with the “Night of Broken Crystals ” the persecution became more violent; the work and homes of Jewish families and More than 30 thousand people were held in concentration camps.

With the outbreak of the Second War, racist policies continued to climb in violence. Hitler and the party identified “the Jewish problem” as an issue of urgent solution and They designed a massive extermination system of people. In conquered cities, such as Warsaw or Budapest, the Jewish population was locked in ghettos. New concentration camps were created in which the prisoners had to perform forced labor.

At the 1942 Wansee Conference, Nazi officials proclaimed the “final solution to the Jewish problem”: Use the entire Jewish population to build supply routes that the German troops needed in their invasion of the USSR. Many prisoners died due to the hard conditions.

The survivors were sent to the concentration camps where they would finally be exterminated in gas chambers. It is estimated that between 1942 and 1945 More than 6 million Jewish people were killed.

Consequences of World War II

Among the main consequences of World War II, it can be highlighted:

• A demographic disaster. Between 40 and 50 million people died for the war. This mortality was caused by the use of increasingly developed weapons, the bombardment of cities and fields, chronic famine and mass extermination policies of civilians (such as the Jewish holocaust, persecution of ethnic minorities and the use of atomic bombs).
• Mass material destruction. The aerial bombings of cities, industries and fields were a key weapon in the contest and generated a level of destruction never seen. The economic effect was incalculable and reconstruction took decades. In Nagasaki and Hiroshima, after the attack with nuclear bombs, the Japanese also had to live with nuclear radiation pollution.
• The decline of European hegemony. Given material and human destruction in Europe, the United States and the USSR rose as economic powers that, in turn, began to compete with each other due to their influence in Europe. After the division of the German territory, Europe itself was divided into two large blocks under the influence of the new superpowers: a western-capitalist block and an oriental-communist block.
• The defense of civil rights. In 1948, after the creation of the United Nations Organization, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved. These agreements between multiple countries, sought to defend democratic values, guarantee the civil rights of people and support the struggle for the rights of social minorities. On the other hand, in most countries women’s suffrage was established.
• The decolonization of Asia and Africa. In the three decades after World War II, most colonized countries obtained their independence. Local nationalist movements were able to fight the foreign governments of France, Great Britain and Germany and achieve their emancipation.

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References

• Hobsbawn, eg (1998). 20th century history. Criticism.
• Messenger, C. (1989). World War II. Rule
• Tato, Mi, Bubello, JP, Castello, AM and Campos, E. (2011). History of the second half of the twentieth century. Estrada
• Weinberg, G. (2016). World War II. Criticism.