5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.4 AFTERMATH

United States-  was involved in WW II as a major military power and more or less in every military campaign since the WW II, almost always coming out as the winner. The United States, once in a great power, now is in a great trouble.

Today, major economic concerns in the US include national debt, external debt, entitlement liabilities for retiring baby boomers who have already begun withdrawing from their Social Security accounts, corporate debt, mortgage debt, a low savings rate, falling house prices, a falling currency, and a large current account deficit.

Russia- Soviet Union, an Allies member, was also involved in many military conflicts including War World II and the Korean War. Russia faced serious financial problems and stagnation; with the Cold War coming to a close in the late 1980s and the early 1990s.

Japan- Attacked the United States naval base in Pearl Harbor and declared war on the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. This act brought the United States into World War II. After the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, along with the Soviet Union joining the war against it, Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945. The war cost Japan millions of lives and left much of the country's industry and infrastructure destroyed.

Germany- Was a major European power from the 1930s to the mid-1940s. Its historical significance lies mainly in its responsibility for escalating political tensions in Europe by its expansionist foreign policy which resulted in World War II. The state came to an end in 1945, after the Allied Powers succeeded in seizing German occupied territories in Europe and in occupying Germany itself. Germany like some other European countries was seriously destroyed during the WW II.

Today, Germany is the largest national economy in Europe, the third largest bynominal GDP in the world.

Information from:

http://www.worldwariihistory.info/WWII/aftermath.html

http://www.topix.com/forum/world/russia/TF35OV1JAJD25O1V0

5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.3 THE VICTORY OF THE ALLIES (1943-1945)

The long-range fighter, introduced from late 1943, made bombing more secure, and provided the instrument to destroy the German fighter force over the Reich.

City raids from May 1945 destroyed a vast area of urban Japan and paved the way for a surrender, completed with the dropping of the two atomic bombs in August 1945. Here, too, the American government and public was keen to avoid further heavy casualties.

There are many other factors that explain victory and defeat.

"...no misjudgements were more costly in the end than the German belief that the Red Army was a primitive force.."

This still leaves open the question of German miscalculation. There were weaknesses and strengths in Hitler's strategy, but no misjudgements were more costly in the end than the German belief that the Red Army was a primitive force, incapable of prolonged resistance, or Hitler's insistence that the USA would take years to rearm and could never field an effective army, or the failure to recognise that bombing was a threat worth taking seriously before it was too late.

Information from:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/how_the_allies_won_01.shtml

5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.2 THE WIND THAT SHAKE EUROPE IN 1939, THE FIRST CAMPAIGNS (1939-1943)

On January Hitler threatens Jews during Reichstag , in March he take Czechoslovakia and the Spanish Civil war ends. Then in May Nazis sign the Pact of Steel with Italy, later they also make an alliance/pact with Soviets. Britain and Poland sign a mutual treaty, in the same month of august British fleet mobilizes making civil evacuations from London.

On September occurred the majority of acts such as the invasion of Poland (by Germany) and the declaration of war from Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand on Germany, the British Royal Air attack the German Navy, the proclamation of neutrality of United States, Canada declares war on Germany and the starting of the Atlantic battle. Soviet army invades Poland again and divide it between Nazis and Soviets.

The start of euthanasia on sick and disabled in Germany by Nazis, assassination on Hitler failed and finally on December 14 the expulsion of Soviet Union from the League of Nations.

Polish Campaign 1939:

Our eyes move wearily from scene to scene and the further we march, words become less frequent [...] It is a tragic contrast. The birdsong doesn't capture the face of this world. The reality is bloody traces of the battle which has passed

Werner Flack, Poland, September 1939

Poland was attacked by Germany on September 1st 1939. The German attack was code-named Operation White (Fall Weiss). The attack on Poland started and by the end of the month Poland had surrendered to the Germans and the country was occupied.

The difference in power was overwhelming,

While Germany had 11 tank divisions, 40 infantry divisions, 4 motorised divisions and one cavalry brigade. Poland only had 1 tank division 30 infantry divisions, no motorised divisions and 11 cavalry brigade.

In terms of air power, the Germans had 850 bombers and dive-bombers (the JU-87) and 400 fighters. The Polish Air Force numbered 210 bombers and 150 fighters – though many of these were obsolete and clearly no match for the modern Luftwaffe that destroyed the Polish Air Force within two days of the first attack.

Information from:

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/attack_on_poland.htm

5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.1 ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT AND PRECEDENTS. ITALIAN INVASION OF ETHIOPIA. THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR AND THE MUNICH AGREEMENTS.

WW2 began in September 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany following Germany's invasion of Poland.Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Almost immediately he began secretly building up Germany's army and weapons. In 1934 he increased the size of the army, began building warships and created a German airforce. Compulsory military service was also introduced.

Although Britain and France were aware of Hitler's actions, they were also concerned about the rise of Communism and believed that a stronger Germany might help to prevent the spread of Communism to the West.

In 1936 Hitler ordered German troops to enter the Rhineland. At this point the German army was not very strong and could have been easily defeated. Yet neither France nor Britain was prepared to start another war.

Also in 1936, Hitler argued that France had signed a new treaty with Russia, Germany was under threat from both countries and it was essential to German security that troops were stationed in the Rhineland. France was not strong enough to fight Germany without British help and Britain was not prepared to go to war at this point. Furthermore, many believed that since the Rhineland was a part of Germany it was reasonable that German troops should be stationed there.

The League of Nations was an international organisation set up in 1919 to help keep world peace. It was intended that all countries would be members of the League and that if there were disputes between countries they could be settled by negotiation rather than by force. If this failed then countries would stop trading with the aggressive country and if that failed then countries would use their armies to fight.

In theory the League of Nations was a good idea and did have some early successes. But it failed

The Italian invasion of Ethiopia was initiated in the month of October 1935. It was a brief colonial war that is also remembered in history as the second Italo-Abyssinian war.

In the context of political history this colonial war is remembered for exposing the weak bond on which the League of Nations was found. It was quite clear following this event that the League of Nations was a total failure in terms of accomplishing the objectives for which it was established. This is because both Italy as well as Ethiopia were members of the League of Nations

The fact that Mussolini wanted to rebuild an Italian Empire reminiscent of the glorious Roman Empire of the past was no secret by this point in time. In order to do this Italy would have to take over the Mediterranean and the North African regions. This was one of the primary objectives of invading Ethiopia.

In 1920, Spain was a constitutional monarchy. The king was Alfonso XIII.

However, the government was inefficient and corrupt. In 1921, an army was sent to Spanish Morocco to put down a rebellion. It was massacred but this defeat seemed to emphasise just how corrupt and incompetent Spain’s leadership was.

The little industry that Spain had was also hit by the Depression. Iron and steel were especially hit as no-one had the money to pay for the products. Iron production fell by 33% and steel by 50%.
Unemployment in both agriculture and industry rose and those in work had to put up with a cut in wages as the economy struggled to survive the Depression.
The Republic faced losing the support of those whose support it desperately needed – the working class.Two important regions in Spain wanted independence – Catalonia and the Basque region. Had their requests been successful, it would have lead to the break-up of Spain.

The Munich Agreement was the agreement signed on 29 Sept 1938 between Chamberlain, Daladier ( France ), Hitler and Mussolini ( Italy ).

As a result of the agreement, German forces crossed the border on October 1 and were warmly received by the Sudeten, Germans while many Czechoslovaks fled the region.

In London, Chamberlain proclaimed that he had secured "Peace for our time". While many in the British government were pleased with the result others were not.

Images from:

http://historiatorrealmenara.blogspot.com.es/2012/01/democracias-y-totalitarismos-1918-1939.html

http://wa8.wikispaces.com/League+of+Nations

http://www.100pies.net/Gifs/Armas/Guerra.asp?Page=2

Information from:

http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/causes.htm

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/italy/Italy-Invades-Ethiopia/3626

http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII5_Munich_Agreement.htm

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/World-War-Ii-Munich-Agreement.htm