(a) political impact (b) economic, social and
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2
(a) Political impact
(b) Economic, social and technological impacts
(i) Formation of the United Nations
(a) Political impact
The outbreak of the WWII signified the failure of the League.
In 1942, 26 countries agreed to set up a new international
organization to replace the League.
Leaders of the Soviet Union,
the United States and Britain
supported the formation of
the United Nations
In June 1945, 50 nations signed the United Nations Charter,
marking the birth of the United Nations.
It aims to maintain world peace and promote the economic, social
and cultural developments of nations.
The signing of the United Nations Charter
The symbol of the
United Nations
The headquarters of the United Nations was
built in New York in 1952. Although it is in the United
States, it is regarded as an international territory.
Japan entering the British
colony of Singapore
(ii) Decolonization
(a) Political impact
After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japan readily captured the
colonies of the Western powers in Asia.
The easy defeat of the Western powers encouraged the rise of
African and Asian nationalisms.
After the war, the process of decolonization started.
Independence movement in India
We need a country of OURS!
France was seriously
damaged by WWII
The European powers were seriously weakened by the Second
World War, and were unable to maintain their colonial empires.
The foundation of colonial rule was shaken.
Southeast Asian countries used different methods to gain independence
after WWII: the Vietnamese fought for independence (left) while the
Malays held negotiations with the British (right)
Between 1944 and 1964, 53 new independent nations appeared in
Africa and Asia.
It greatly changed the maps of Asia and Africa.
The economy of Britain was
seriously hit by WWII
The traditional European powers were seriously weakened by the
Second World War.
(iii) Rise of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers
(a) Political impact
Many European countries needed
American assistance after WWII
After the war, their colonies became independent one by one.
They were further weakened and their international influence
decreased.
A cartoon about the confrontation
between the United States and the
Soviet Union during the Cold war
The United States and
the Soviet Union rose
to be superpowers.
After the war, the two
superpowers competed
for world leadership.
Their confrontation led
to the Cold War.
We have mentioned the Western powers
of the 19th century before (see p.4). The term
'Superpowers' was first introduced in the 1930s.
They had the strongest military power and
greatest influence on international affairs. In
1944, Professor Fox stated that the United States,
Britain and the Soviet Union were superpowers
who had to shoulder the responsibility of
maintaining world peace. From that time on, the
term 'superpowers' became popular in
international diplomacy. With the decline of
British power after the Second World War, only
the United States and the Soviet Union were
called superpowers during the Cold War. Fox
The big powers at the end of
the Second World War
Study the source below and answer the questions that follow.
Source: A British cartoon published in August 1945
Clue for
Question 3
1. Which country was represented by the eagle?
It represented ____________________________________________ .
2. According to the cartoon, what role was the eagle going to play in
international affairs?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
the United States
It was the guardian of world peace. From the cartoon, the eagle was
holding an olive branch (a symbol of peace) and a destructive atomic
bomb, showing its determination to maintain peace.
3. Why could the eagle play the role you mentioned in Question 2?
Explain your answer with reference to the cartoon and using your
own knowledge.
Reason:____________________________________________________________
Clue:______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Own knowledge: _______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
The United States was a strong power / the strongest power in 1945.
The eagle was holding an atomic bomb in its left claw.
In 1945, the United States was the only power
possessing atomic bombs. Besides, the Second World War greatly
weakened the traditional powers, the European powers which could no
longer dominate world affairs. Meanwhile, The United States rose to be
one of the superpowers.
WWII was the most
destructive war in history.
More than 50 countries
joined the war.
Soviet soldiers
(i) Casualties and damage
(b) Economic, social and technological impacts
Battles were fought in Europe, Africa and Asia.
More powerful and more destructive weapons were used, such
as bombers and the atomic bomb.
Bombing of Germany
Germany was heavily
bombed in WWII
About 60 million people, including soldiers and civilians,
were killed in the Second World War.
Many civilians were killed
Thousands of civilians were killed by the Axis Powers due to
their policy of genocide.
For example, Nazi Germany killed about 6 million Jews.
Jews killed by Nazi Germany
More than 300,000 Chinese were killed by Japanese soldiers in
the Nanjing Massacre.
A news article about a killing
contest between two Japanese
officers in Nanjing in 1937 A lot of Chinese were
killed in Nanjing
The heavy casualties broke up millions of families and
caused a shortage of labour.
All countries paid a heavy price for the war.
City and railway damaged
by the war
Warring
countries Military Deaths
Russia 1,800,000
Germany 1,700,000
Austria-
Hungary 1,000,000
Britain 900,000
France 800,000
Italy 500,000
U.S.A. 200,000
Warring
countries Military Deaths
U.S.S.R. 9,000,000
Germany 3,500,000
China 1,300,000
Japan 1,750,000
Britain 400,000
Italy 330,000
U.S.A. 300,000
France 250,000
WWI WWII
Casualties of the main warring country
during the two great wars
With reference to the above source, and using your own knowledge, explain
why the Second World War caused more casualties than the First World War.
1. Duration of war:
________________________________________________________________________ .
2. Number of warring countries:
________________________________________________________________________ .
3. Area of fighting:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ .
4. War strategies and weapons:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
WWII lasted nearly two years longer than WWI.
more countries participated in WWII.
WWI was mainly a European war, fought across Europe, European colonies and
the surrounding seas. WWII was fought in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
the weapons used in WWII were far more lethal, including the A-Bomb. WWII saw
the destruction of entire cities, mass killings and genocides as policies of war.
The United Nations defines 'genocide' as the systematic destruction of all or part of a
racial, ethnic, religious or national group. During the Second World War, Hitler advocated the
superiority of the Aryan race and persecuted other 'inferior' races. His persecution of the Jews was
the most brutal genocide in history. About 6 million were killed during the 1941-1945 Holocaust.
Like many Germans, Hitler believed
that Germany was 'stabbed in the back' by the
Jews which caused Germany's defeat in the
First World War. He therefore regarded the
Jews as Germany's enemies. Also Hitler
viewed that the Jews were an inferior race
and wanted to drive them out of Germany.
Stab in the back
After coming to power in 1933, Hitler adopted
anti-Jewish policies to drive them out of Germany. The
measures included banning Jewish civil rights and their
businesses. During the period 1933-1939, many Jews
were forced to leave Germany.
Driving the Jews out
With German victory in the early stage of the Second
World War, many Jews were gathered in German occupied
territories. In 1941, Hitler adopted the Final Solution. The Jews
were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Young males
were forced to work like slaves until they died. Old and weak
males, females and children were simply taken to gas chambers.
Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland became the
symbol of the Holocaust. After the Second World War, Poland
had it converted into a memorial museum. In 1979, it was listed
as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
Persecuting the Jews
1,500,000 Armenians
From 1915-1916, the Ottoman Empire persecuted the
Armenian population of 2 million. Around 1.5 million
people were killed and other people were exiled.
6,000,000 Jews
During Hitler's rule from 1933-1945, nearly 6 million
Jews were killed in German occupied territories.
When the Second World War ended, only 100,000
Jews were le in Europe.
1,000,000 Tutsis of
Rwanda
From April-June 1994, genocide broke out in Rwanda,
Africa. Around 1 million Tutsis were killed by the
Hutu majority.
140,000 Yugoslavs
During the Yugoslav Civil War (1991-1999), ethnic
cleansing was carried out by the different races
against each other. Nearly 140,000 people were killed,
and 4 million people became refugees.
Major genocides of the 20th century listed by
the United Nations
• The Polish government converted Auschwitz Concentration Camp into
memorial museum. What do you think was the significance of this?
• Do you agree with the theory of racial superiority? If people believe in it,
what problems will arise?
The Auschwitz Concentration Camp
• This could remember the Jews who had died there, alert people to the
harm of racial hatred, and teach future generations not to repeat history.
• Disagree. The idea can cause ill-feelings and hostility between races,
leading to racial conflicts.
During the two great wars, science and technology made rapid
progress.
Although they were developed for military use originally, they
brought great benefits to mankind in the long run.
(ii) Development of science and technology
(b) Economic, social and technological impacts
For example, penicillin was produced on a large scale and this
life-saving medicine became widely available.
The radio, airplanes and other wartime communication and
transportation tools were used by the public after the war.
Penicillin saved many
soldiers during WWII
On the other hand, the
United States used the
atomic bomb to end the war.
It started the age of nuclear
weapons.
An atomic bomb made
by the United States Hiroshima after atomic bombing
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union
were engaged in a nuclear arms race.
Mankind had been living under the threat of a nuclear war.
A cartoon about the arms race between the
United States and the Soviet Union
At the wartime conferences,
the U.S.A., Britain and the
U.S.S.R. decided on the
post-war arrangements
Germany and Austria
were each divided into
four occupation zones
and denazification was
carried out
Japan was occupied
by the Allied Powers;
the occupation was
dominated by U.S.A.
The other defeated countries
signed the Treaty of Paris
separately; they were
allowed to join the United
Nations
The war caused great
destruction and heavy
casualties; all countries
faced serious economic
and social problems after
the war
Science and technology
made rapid progress
during the interwar
period; the Nuclear Age
began after WWII
The United Nations
was established,
replacing the
League of Nations
Decolonization started
after the war; many new
independent countries
appeared in Africa and
Asia after the war
The traditional European
powers declined; U.S.A.
and U.S.S.R. became
superpowers
Attitudes of the aggressors towards their history of invasion after WWII
Japan, Germany, and Italy were the aggressors in the Second World War,
and they were also the defeated countries. However, towards their history of
invasion, after the war Germany and Japan had very different attitudes.
Germany: kept in mind the lessons of history
• German leaders had apologized to the invaded countries and victims many times on
public occasions.
• The German government had compensated the invaded countries and Jews with a
huge amount of money. As of 2002, the amount of compensation paid by Germany
had reached 1,000 billion USD.
• Germany designated the day of German surrender as Day of Liberation, showing
that the German people had made a clear break with the history of invasion.
The famous kneeing of the
German Chancellor Brandt in
Warsaw (December 7, 1970).
He was asking for the
forgiveness of the victims on
behalf of Germany.
Japan: refused to face the history
• Japan rejected all demands for
compensations from many Asian
non-governmental organizations.
• Japan also denied its history of
invasion and all kinds of war
crimes. For example, in the 1950s
and 1960s, Japanese history
textbooks were not allowed to
mention Japan's invasion and war
crimes.
• Since 1978, Japanese officials had
paid visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
These actions had angered the
Asian countries, especially those
which had been invaded by Japan
during the Second World War.
Since 1978, Japanese Class A
War Criminals of WWII had been
worshipped in Yasukuni Shrine.
The Shrine is therefore regarded
as the symbol of militarism.
• What were the differences between Japan and Germany in their attitudes
towards their invasions in WWII?
• How would their attitudes affect their international images?
• Germany admitted its war responsibilities, apologized and made
compensations to countries invaded by Germany, and alerted its people
of the crimes of the Nazis. Japan denied or diluted its history of
invasion, and refused the civil reparation claims from many Asian
countries.
• Germany accepted its war responsibilities and admitted its history of
invasion. It was able to win the trust and respect of the international
community. On the other hand, Japan denied or diluted its history of
invasion, which led to the discontent of the countries that had been the
victims of Japan’s aggression and harmed Japan’s international image.
1.(a) Italy, though an Allied Power, was unable to get all the lands promised at the
Paris Peace Conference.
(b) The Germans regarded the Treaty of London as unfair and too harsh.
(c) Which one of the following descriptions about the First World War is incorrect?
(i) Almost all participating countries faced serious economic problems after
the war.
(ii) The war caused great damage to the European countries, especially France
and Russia.
(iii) The Italians felt betrayed, and blamed their government for being weak.
(iv) The French felt humiliated that the country had to bear responsibility for
the war.
T / F
T / F
☛ Refer to p.49-51 to get them all correct.
Related topic: Introduction: problems left behind by the First World War
iv
2.(a) In 1929, the Wall Street Crash caused the Great Depression.
(b) The Great Depression shook the foundation of the American and German
government and society. This led to the rise of totalitarian government in
the two countries.
(c) Fascism and Nazism rose in Italy and Japan respectively after the First
World War.
(d) Hitler promised to rebuild the economy and create jobs to the Germans,
making the Nazi Party popular.
(e) Which one of the following is NOT a feature of Japanese militarism during
the interwar period?
(i) Absolute loyalty to the country and the emperor
(ii) Pro-communism
(iii) Military dictatorship
(iv) Military and territorial expansion
T / F
T / F
T / F
T / F
Related topic: Development during the interwar period
ii
☛ Refer to p.52-67 to get them all correct.
(f) Which of the following about the aggressions of the totalitarian states during the
interwar period is correct?
(i) In 1931, Japanese troops invaded Guangzhou in Northeast China.
(ii) In 1935, Italy invaded Algeria in North Africa.
(iii) In 1938, Germany was united with Austria. This violated the Treaty of Versailles.
(iv) In 1938, Germany occupied the Sudetenland in Northwest Czechoslovakia.
(g) Which of the following descriptions about the interwar period is correct?
(i) In the Abyssinian Crisis, Britain and France suggested that Abyssinia cede land
to Japan.
(ii) Germany got the Rhineland according to the Munich Agreement.
(iii) The United States only condemned the aggressors but did not take any strong
action.
(iv) Soviet leader Chamberlain suspected that Britain and France were trying to turn
Germany against the Soviet Union.
Related topic: Development during the interwar period
iv
iii
3.(a) In March 1939, Germany occupied all of Czechoslovakia, which shocked
Europe.
(b) In September 1939, Germany invaded the Soviet Union, which started the
Second World War.
(c) In August 1945, the Soviet Union dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.
(d) Which of the following is the correct chronological order of the major
events in WWII?
(i) Fall of France ➝ Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour ➝ Soviet troops
occupying Berlin ➝ Surrender of Japan
(ii) Fall of France ➝ Soviet troops occupying Berlin ➝ Japan's attack on
Pearl Harbour ➝ Surrender of Japan
(iii) Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour ➝ Fall of France ➝ Soviet troops
occupying Berlin ➝ Surrender of Japan
(iv) Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour ➝ Soviet troops occupying Berlin ➝
Fall of France ➝ Surrender of Japan
T / F
T / F
T / F
☛Refer to p.68-75 to get them all correct.
Related topic: The course of the Second World War
i
☛ Refer to p.76-85 to get them all correct.
T / F
T / F
T / F
4.(a) Among the wartime conferences, the most important were the Yalta and
Potsdam Conferences.
(b) Germany was occupied by four powers after the war.
(c) Japan was occupied by Allied forces after the war. The occupation was
dominated by Britain.
(d) In June 1945, 50 nations signed the United Nations Charter.
(e) During WWII, Japan occupied the colonies of the Western Powers in
Southeast Asia.
(f) Which one of the following was not related to the political impact of the
Second World War?
(i) Formation of the United Nations
(ii) Decolonization of the European colonies in Africa and Asia
(iii) Rise of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers
(iv) Japan replaced the European powers to become a large colonial power
in Asia
T / F
T / F
Related topic: Results and impact of the war
iv
Study Source A and answer the questions that follow. (9 marks)
France and Britain:
We don't want to fight. But if you do, we
shall probably issue a joint memorandum
suggesting a mild disapproval of you.
Source A: A British cartoon published
in September 1935
1. Identify the incident reflected in the cartoon. (1 mark)
The incident: ______________________________________________ .
2. What policy did Britain and France adopt towards the incident you
mentioned in Question 1? Why did they adopt the policy? (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Italy invaded Abyssinia / Italian invasion of Abyssinia
They adopted the appeasement policy. It was because they did not
want to go to war against Italy / they wanted to prevent war with Italy.
☛ Refer to p.62-68 to get them all correct.
3. "The foreign policy of Britain and France could not stop the
aggressions of Germany and Italy in the 1930s." Do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer with reference to the Source and
using your own knowledge. (6 marks)
• Agree with the statement or not:_____________
• Clue: _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• Own knowledge:________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
The contemptuous attitude of Mussolini in the cartoon shows
that he would not take the warning of Britain and France seriously.
Agree.
Britain and France adopted an appeasement policy
towards the aggressions of Italy and Germany in the 1930s to prevent
war. However, the policy only encouraged more aggressions. In 1936,
Italy annexed Abyssinia. In 1938, Germany annexed Austria and the
Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. In 1939, it annexed the whole of
Czechoslovakia and invaded Poland.
Study Sources B and C, and answer the questions that follow. (10 marks)
* Churchill succeeded Chamberlain as
the British Prime Minister in 1940.
have experienced a total defeat. Silent, ...
abandoned, broken Czechoslovakia will be swallowed
up in the Nazi regime. And do not suppose this is the
end. This is only the beginning.
We
Source C: Churchill's* statement published after signing the Munich Agreement
himself confirmed ... in the speech: "This is the last
territorial claim which I have to make in Europe." ... As Hitler
further assured me, I chose to trust him.
Hitler
Source B: Chamberlain stating Hitler’s promise in 1938
1. What was Hitler's 'last territorial claim' in 1938, according to Source B?
(1 mark)
It referred to _____________________________________.
2. According to Source C, what was Churchill's view on the Munich
Agreement? Explain your answer with reference to the source. (3
marks)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Churchill believed that the Munich Agreement was a 'total defeat'.
It could not maintain peace and Czechoslovakia would be swallowed up
in the Nazi regime. The aggression of Nazi Germany would not end.
the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia
☛ Refer to p.62-68 to get them all correct.
3. Who correctly predicted the outcome of Hitler's 'last territorial claim':
Chamberlain (Source B) or Churchill (Source C)? Explain your answer with
reference to Sources B and C, and using your own knowledge. (6 marks)
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Churchill correctly predicted the outcome. According to Source B,
Chamberlain believed Hitler's promise of 'last territorial claim' and he would
not start aggression again; According to Source C, Churchill had opposite
view. He believed that Hitler would not keep his promise and the aggression
of Nazi Germany would not stop. According to my own knowledge, Hitler did
not stop his aggression after getting the Sudetenland. He occupied the rest of
Czechoslovakia. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and this
led to the outbreak of the Second World War.
Related topic: The Second World War (1939-1945)
2. What was the appeasement policy? Explain how the policy led to
the outbreak of the Second World War.
Guidelines:
a) Define the policy; explain its features and aims: why and how Britain and France
adopted the policy in the 1930s.
b) Explain the impact of the policy: how the aggressor countries reacted to the policy.
c) Trace the events leading to the outbreak of the Second World War (e.g. the Munich
Conference) to illustrate the failure of appeasement.