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ClearIAS » World History Notes » Second World War (1939-1945): Causes and Consequences

Second World War (1939-1945): Causes and Consequences

Last updated on October 25, 2016 by Alex Andrews George

We have seen the causes and consequences of the First World War in the last post. The first world war itself sowed the seeds for Second World War, primarily because of the humiliating Treaty of Versailles. We shall see the causes and consequences of the Second World War (WWII) in this post.

The Two Groups: Allies vs Axis Powers

Second World War Groupings - Allies vs Axis Powers

Causes of Second World War(1939-1945)

(1) Humiliation by the Treaty of Versailles

  • War indemnity.
  • The provision for disarming Germany.
  • Saar coal mine to France for 15 years.
  • Polish corridor was given to Poland.
  • City of Danzing was made free.

(2) Growth of Fascism and Nazism

  • Mussolini (Italy) and Hitler (Germany) strongly glorified war and violence.
  • While West was fighting communism, Germany and Italy started massive militarization.

(3) Rise of Japan

  • Imperialism.
  • Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis (1936).

(4) Neglect of minority interests

  • New countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria were formed after the First World War. While drawing boundaries the interests of minority groups in each of these countries were neglected.

(5) Military Alliance

  • Allies – Britain, France, USA, USSR and China vs Axis Powers – Germany, Italy and Japan
  • Leaders – Churchill (Britain), Roosevelt (USA), Stalin (USSR)

(6) Germany’s attack on Czechoslovakia

In-spite of the Munich Pact between Germany and Britain (1938), Germany re-attacked and sized Czechoslovakia.

(7) Immediate Cause : Germany’s invasion of Poland (1st September 1939)

  • Germany annexed Polished corridor and Danzig city. The sudden attack on Poland is known as Blitzkrieg (lightning war).
  • Brtiain and France declared war on Germany.

Course of the War

Second World War - Pearl Harbour Attack

  • World War II officially began on September 1, 1939.
  • Germany conquered – Poland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland and France.
  • Battle of Britain – Germany vs Britain (air battle; German Air force =Luftwaffe).
  • Battle of Stalingrad – Germany vs USSR. (Operation of Barbaressa (1941 = Attack on Yugoslavia and Greece; Russia countered attack on Moscow with Scorched Earth Policy).
  • Atlantic Charter (August 1941) – Between Churchil (UK) and Roosevelt (USA).
  • Pearl Harbor Attack (7th December 1941) – Japan on USA.
  • Italy vs UK in Africa (1942) – Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, British Somaliland, Eritrea.
  • France was conquered by Germany in 1940, but British and American troops liberated France in 1944.
  • Atom bomb – Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Consequences of Second World War

  • End of colonialism and imperialism.
  • End of dictatorship in Germany and Italy.
  • Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany. West Germany was controlled by Britain, France and USA. East Germany by USSR. (Read more about the re-union of Germany in 1989 when you check our post about the fall of the Berlin wall).
  • Strengthening of nationalist movements in Africa and Asia. (From Britain – India, Myanmar, Egypt, Sri Lanka; From America – Philippines; From France – Indo-China; From Dutch – Indonesia)
  • 5 crore deaths (2.2 crore soldiers and 2.8 crore civilians)
  • Economics problems – Unemployment, low growth etc.
  • Emergence of two power blocks – USA and USSR. This resulted in cold war.
  • Emergence of third world Countries.
  • UNO was set up in 1945.
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About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kojum Singkom Gumsing says

    April 27, 2017 at 1:12 am

    It’s good but in very short…

    Reply
  2. Christopher Joshua says

    June 20, 2017 at 10:50 am

    it’s a very nice one, but you should should have explain more for the benefit of those that don’t know history

    Reply
  3. sharanya ganji says

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    it is very good but students need a much information other than these briefly

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    • Hariom says

      October 30, 2017 at 7:18 pm

      Yas

  4. Maloti Bharua says

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    Reply
  5. Deepu says

    December 27, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    This massage is good but no more information briefly

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  6. blaise says

    March 22, 2018 at 1:25 pm

    This is good for ordinary school students

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  7. Ningjut Mosu says

    February 14, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    Explain the anwers in a long term with more words

    Reply
  8. hari says

    May 24, 2019 at 1:03 am

    this is not massage it is message

    Reply
  9. Brenda says

    May 29, 2019 at 10:48 am

    That Is Great Bt Explain It Further

    Reply
  10. Ishika _prasad says

    July 30, 2019 at 7:12 pm

    It’s very meaningful in short….better for projects . it helped me a lot in this.thanx 😇

    Reply
  11. SYED Shabeen taj says

    October 26, 2019 at 6:53 am

    Thank you so much for this

    Reply
  12. Yusuf says

    November 16, 2019 at 1:08 pm

    without history you don’t no who are you

    Reply
  13. Arzoolaksh says

    November 19, 2019 at 5:20 am

    It is knowledgeable but in short extent it

    Reply
  14. Wilfred says

    November 22, 2019 at 3:56 pm

    You have a concrete histosty I like it

    Reply
  15. rishivardhanreddy says

    January 16, 2020 at 10:51 am

    Thnks

    Reply
  16. Masaki says

    February 19, 2020 at 2:05 pm

    Nice one, but students need more Elaboration upon this second world war

    Reply
  17. PRABH DHALIWAL says

    April 10, 2020 at 7:02 am

    Thnx a lot, it was really helpful for me bcz it has explained a lot of things in very short paragraphs………😇😇😇

    Reply
  18. 12345 says

    December 14, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Very helpful to project

    Reply

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