The End of World War II: The End of World War II: Impact on World AffairsImpact on World Affairs

How did post-war conferences change the U.S.’s role in “policing How did post-war conferences change the U.S.’s role in “policing the world”?the world”?

In what ways did the use of the Atomic Bomb change diplomacy?In what ways did the use of the Atomic Bomb change diplomacy?

What characteristics define a “cold war” and does this accurately What characteristics define a “cold war” and does this accurately describe the early years 1945-1950?describe the early years 1945-1950?

Europe: 1943Europe: 1943 Things looked bleak for most Things looked bleak for most

of “Allied” Europe; Germany of “Allied” Europe; Germany had taken over most of the had taken over most of the continentcontinent• Active resistance to Nazi Active resistance to Nazi

controlcontrol The Soviet Union, Japan, and The Soviet Union, Japan, and

Italy had allied with Germany Italy had allied with Germany to form the “Axis Powers”to form the “Axis Powers”• Hoped to achieve new Hoped to achieve new

imperialist aimsimperialist aims• Soviet Union would later join Soviet Union would later join

Allied Powers after failure to Allied Powers after failure to work with Germany’s demands, work with Germany’s demands, war aimswar aims

U.S. InvolvementU.S. Involvement

Europeans, involved in Europeans, involved in the war since 1939, had the war since 1939, had forces revitalized by forces revitalized by U.S. troops; one factor U.S. troops; one factor in the Allied victoryin the Allied victory

This was also true of the This was also true of the campaign in the Pacific campaign in the Pacific against the Japanese against the Japanese forcesforces

Political negotiationsPolitical negotiations

By 1943, By 1943, The Big 3The Big 3, , Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S.A.), Winston Churchill (U.S.A.), Winston Churchill (Great Britain) and Joseph (Great Britain) and Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) will Stalin (Soviet Union) will form a union and fight form a union and fight together to defeat the Axis together to defeat the Axis Powers.Powers.

LOOK AT HANDOUT OF LOOK AT HANDOUT OF CONFERENCES.CONFERENCES.

End of WWII: EuropeEnd of WWII: Europe

The Soviets were the first to discover the Nazi The Soviets were the first to discover the Nazi “death camps” and reveal the atrocities of “death camps” and reveal the atrocities of Hitler’s “Final Solution” (the Holocaust)Hitler’s “Final Solution” (the Holocaust)

April 30, 1945: Adolf Hitler committed April 30, 1945: Adolf Hitler committed suicide in a bunker during the Battle of Berlin.suicide in a bunker during the Battle of Berlin.V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) was May 7/8, 1945. These are the two days that the unconditional surrender of the Axis Powers in Europe were accepted and signed.

The War in Europe was officially over.

End of WWII: V-E DayEnd of WWII: V-E Day

End of WWII: Pacific FrontEnd of WWII: Pacific Front

During the war, US spies uncover During the war, US spies uncover intelligence that Germany is building an intelligence that Germany is building an atomic weaponatomic weapon• Race between Axis and Allied powers to Race between Axis and Allied powers to

create (and use?) the first “A” Bombcreate (and use?) the first “A” Bomb• US covert project named US covert project named Manhattan Manhattan

ProjectProject after the first meeting place of the after the first meeting place of the scientistsscientists

Trials carried out in New MexicoTrials carried out in New Mexico

After V-E Day, significant debate over After V-E Day, significant debate over whether to use bomb as a show of force whether to use bomb as a show of force to end the war with Japanto end the war with Japan

End of WWII: Nuclear WarEnd of WWII: Nuclear War In order to bring the war to an end quickly, new President In order to bring the war to an end quickly, new President

Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman decided that a show of extreme force decided that a show of extreme force would end the fighting.would end the fighting.• Estimates predicted a loss of over 1 million if fighting continued.Estimates predicted a loss of over 1 million if fighting continued.

On August 6, 1945, a B-52 fortress bomber, the On August 6, 1945, a B-52 fortress bomber, the Enola GayEnola Gay dropped the A-bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima dropped the A-bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima • Japan offered an ultimatum: unconditional surrender or a second Japan offered an ultimatum: unconditional surrender or a second

nuclear attack.nuclear attack.

August 9, 1945: second nuclear bomb called “Fat Man” was August 9, 1945: second nuclear bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki. dropped on Nagasaki.

Mass devastation led to surrender and on August 15, 1945, Mass devastation led to surrender and on August 15, 1945, Japan signed the Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, Japanese Instrument of Surrender, ending ending the war. (aka the war. (aka V-J DayV-J Day))

Hiroshima devastationHiroshima devastation

Nagasaki devastationNagasaki devastation

End of WWII: The Rise of SuperpowersEnd of WWII: The Rise of Superpowers At the end of the war, two clear At the end of the war, two clear

“superpowers” emerge: the U.S. and the “superpowers” emerge: the U.S. and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.).Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.).

• SuperpowerSuperpower—country that has the highest level —country that has the highest level of political influence and military powerof political influence and military power

Despite their alliance during WWII, the US Despite their alliance during WWII, the US and the Soviets become enemies after the and the Soviets become enemies after the war, largely over the issue of atomic energy war, largely over the issue of atomic energy and the challenge of communism vs. and the challenge of communism vs. democracydemocracy

Yalta, 1945:A Divided GermanyYalta, 1945:A Divided Germany At the end of the war it was difficult to decide At the end of the war it was difficult to decide

what to do with Germany:what to do with Germany:• Accused of starting two world wars Accused of starting two world wars • Britain and France feared future invasionsBritain and France feared future invasions• Economic devastation of EuropeEconomic devastation of Europe

The (controversial) solution: divide GermanyThe (controversial) solution: divide Germany• Eastern (Communist) Eastern (Communist) andand Western Western

(Democratic) Germany, (Democratic) Germany, divided by a military divided by a military zonezone

• Specifics were hammered out the following year at Specifics were hammered out the following year at the the Potsdam ConferencePotsdam Conference

Potsdam Conference, 1946Potsdam Conference, 1946

The Soviets lost The Soviets lost millions of troops in the millions of troops in the war and wanted power war and wanted power in the war’s outcome. in the war’s outcome.

U.S. feared the spread U.S. feared the spread of communism in Asiaof communism in Asia

Britain and France Britain and France wanted a say, but were wanted a say, but were busy rebuilding busy rebuilding themselvesthemselves

Decision to divide Decision to divide Germany into parts Germany into parts governed by major governed by major powerspowers

End of WWII: East & West BerlinEnd of WWII: East & West Berlin The capital of Germany was The capital of Germany was

Berlin, and once they Berlin, and once they divided the nation, it fell on divided the nation, it fell on the Soviet controlled East the Soviet controlled East Germany side.Germany side.

As a compromise, theAs a compromise, the city city of Berlin was divided into of Berlin was divided into East East and and West Berlin. West Berlin.

Berlin Wall, Berlin Wall, however, was however, was not constructed until not constructed until 19611961

Cold War: PoliticsCold War: Politics CommunismCommunism is an economic system and form of is an economic system and form of

government in which the government makes all of the government in which the government makes all of the decisions as to what will be produced, how it will be decisions as to what will be produced, how it will be produced, and for whom it will be produced.produced, and for whom it will be produced.

CapitalismCapitalism is an economic system in which individuals is an economic system in which individuals decide what to produce, how to produce, and for whom to decide what to produce, how to produce, and for whom to produce.produce.

DemocracyDemocracy is a form of government in which the people is a form of government in which the people control the government by voting.control the government by voting.

Cold War: PoliticsCold War: Politics

West Germany developed a West Germany developed a capitalist economy, capitalist economy, democratic government democratic government modeled after the USmodeled after the US

East Germany developed a East Germany developed a communist economy and communist economy and government modeled after government modeled after the U.S.S.R.the U.S.S.R.• Not allowed to leave borders Not allowed to leave borders

of Soviet-controlled Berlin of Soviet-controlled Berlin into the Westinto the West

Beginnings of the “Cold War”Beginnings of the “Cold War”

Debate over Germany is Debate over Germany is the first of many the first of many problems between the problems between the Soviets and USSoviets and US

Following the war, theFollowing the war, the Soviets also developed Soviets also developed an atomic bomb—US an atomic bomb—US and USSR in a race to and USSR in a race to control nuclear powercontrol nuclear power

The Cold War The Cold War was a was a time (1945-1991) when time (1945-1991) when non-cooperation non-cooperation between the US and between the US and Soviet Union caused a Soviet Union caused a fear of communism and fear of communism and nuclear war (“mutual nuclear war (“mutual destruction”)destruction”)• As opposed to a “hot” war As opposed to a “hot” war

or active fighting, this was or active fighting, this was mainly based on threats mainly based on threats and fearand fear

Cold War: The World Takes SidesCold War: The World Takes Sides

The Berlin AirliftThe Berlin Airlift In June 1948, the Soviets

decided to seal all land routes into West Berlin; Stalin believed the Western powers were not willing to risk war

Truman was faced with tough choices:• Giving up Berlin would

compromise containment policy• Negotiations might suggest that

the USSR could engineer a crisis to gain power and question American commitment

Truman: “We are going to stay, period.”

US and Britain began moving massive amounts of food and supplies into West Berlin by air • One supply plane landed in Berlin

at the every 3 minutes, saving the city

• American planes flew over 4,000 tons of supplies daily in "Operation Vittles”

Soviets end blockade in May, 1949

With the two superpowers With the two superpowers clearly at odds, the rest of clearly at odds, the rest of the world felt pressure to the world felt pressure to take sidestake sides• Despite issues with alliances Despite issues with alliances

and militarism during both and militarism during both world wars…world wars…

Clear division between Clear division between “democratic” and “democratic” and “communist” nations“communist” nations• Formation of political (and Formation of political (and

economic) allianceseconomic) alliances

North Atlantic Treaty North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Organization (NATONATO))• April 1949April 1949• ““collective securitycollective security”– if any ”– if any

one of the member states one of the member states were attacked, all would were attacked, all would retaliate togetherretaliate together

• US, Britain, France, Italy, US, Britain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Canada, Iceland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, PortugalNorway, Portugal

Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact• May 1955May 1955

• Also based on collective Also based on collective security measuressecurity measures

Cold War: The Berlin WallCold War: The Berlin Wall

TheThe Berlin Wall Berlin Wall became the symbol for became the symbol for the the “Iron Curtain”“Iron Curtain”

The The “Iron Curtain” “Iron Curtain” is is the term for the the term for the imaginary border imaginary border between the between the communist nations communist nations and the members of and the members of NATONATO. .

British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946

Cold War: “Proxy Wars”Cold War: “Proxy Wars” During the Cold War the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. During the Cold War the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.

never never technicallytechnically fought each other fought each other; however, there ; however, there were several “almost” events between the two:were several “almost” events between the two:• 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis • ““proxy wars” in the Middle East; proxy wars” in the Middle East; proxy war--war proxy war--war

instigated by a major power which does not itself become instigated by a major power which does not itself become involvedinvolved

These “proxy wars” are the reason nations like Iraq, These “proxy wars” are the reason nations like Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan have the military Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan have the military training and technology that they do todaytraining and technology that they do today

sourcessources

http://www.ushistory.org/us/52d.asp Susan Pojer’s US History PowerPoint Susan Pojer’s US History PowerPoint

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