Unit VIII. World War II

D. Impact of WWII

D. Impact of WWII1. Civilian Life and Total War

a. Both the Allies and axis engaged in total war*Cities and civilians became targets of bombing

b. Democratic gov’ts increased their power during the war*Economies were regulated

-Ordered factories to produce war materials instead of civilian products

-Prices and wages were fixed and consumer goods rationed

*The rights of individuals were sometimes limited-In the US and Canada, some Japanese were forced into

internment camps-British took similar action against Germans

*Women increased their influence and power within democracies

-Worked in factories, served in the armed forces as drivers and message decoders, served as nurses at field hospitals

D. Impact of WWII (cont’d)2. Wartime Atrocities

a. The Holocaust*Hitler planned to destroy all those he found inferior

-Jews were the main target, but also included Slavs, Gypsies, and the mentally and physically disabled (genocide)-Policies against these groups increased in severity and

hostility as the war waged on

•Concentration camps and death camps in Germany and Poland

•By 1945, more than 6 million Jews had died

b. Other Atrocities*Rape of Nanjing: Japanese invasion of the city of

Nanjing,1937 -Mass shootings, terrible brutality; ~250, 000 Chinese

killed

*Bataan Death March: Philippines, Japanese soldiers forced American and Filipino prisoners of war marched up the Bataan Peninsula

-Along the way, prisoners were beaten, stabbed, and shot

*In Poland, Soviet troops subjected thousands of Poles to imprisonment, torture, and execution

D. Impact of WWII (cont’d)3. Impact of the War

a. Human Losses

*Killed as many as 75 millionb. Economic Losses

*Throughout Europe and Asia cities were in ruin*European countryside devastated*The economies of these nations would take years to recover

c. War Crime Trials: Nuremburg, Germany 11/45-9/46*Allied leaders agreed to punish those responsible for “crimes

against humanity”-Twenty-two surviving Nazi leaders were tried at

Nuremburg

-Received the death or life imprisonment

-Additional trials held in Italy and Japan

*Demonstrated that leaders could be held accountable for their actions, even d during war

D. Impact of WWII (cont’d)3. Impact of the War (cont’d)

d. Occupied Nations*In order to prevent another world war western nations occupied W. Germany and Japan

-They established new gov’ts w/democratic constitutions

*Soviet forces occupied E. Germany and most of E. Europe-They established communist gov’ts

*Europe divided in two-btw democracy (west) and communism (east)

e. The United Nations: April, 1945*Representatives from nations around the world met San

Francisco to establish the United Nations

-The purpose of the UN is to provide a place to discuss world problems and develop solutions

-Two main bodies:•General Assembly: representatives from all

member nations (each rep has one vote)

•Security Council: 15 member nations, 5 of which are permanent (US, Russia, France, GB, and China)