Partner Discussion1. WWII was much more economically devastating than WWI……

WHY???2. Read the excerpt from Judt’s Postwar: A History of Europe (pg179)

According to him, how were politics different post-WWI vs. post-WWII?

3. Describe the political/territorial changes in Europe post-WWII.4. How did WWII affect European empires and colonies? 5. Hitler and Stalin were personally responsible for the removal of

___________ people. How & why did they do this?

Effects of WWII

Social, Political, Economic and Military Effects of WWII in Europe & Asia.

Effects in post-WWII Germany• Germany was totally defeated,

and the Nazi regime brought down. Its leaders were tried for crimes against humanity at Nuremberg.

• German cities were in ruins from a massive bombing campaign.

• Germany was divided into 4 zones of occupation by the victorious powers

Effects in post-WWII England• England was devastated by the

war, having experienced extensive bombing during the 1940 blitz by the Germans.

• The economy depended on recovery & aid from the United States.

• England rapidly phased out most of its remaining colonies in the years immediately following the war.

Effects in post-WWII France• France had not experienced the

enormous human losses sustained in the First World War, but would have to recover from the effects of Nazi occupation.

• Like England, France would be compelled to dismantle its colonial empire in the years following the war. This was a particularly traumatic and drawn out process for the French, in Algeria and in Vietnam where they fought prolonged and bitter wars in an attempt to maintain their colonial control.

• England and France no longer held a status of power comparable to the United States or the Soviet Union.

Effects in post-WWII Soviet Union• The Soviets had suffered

immeasurably during the war, and western SU was devastated by the land warfare which was primarily on Soviet territory.

• But, in the process of defeating the Germans, the Russians had built a large and powerful army, which occupied most of Eastern Europe at the end of the war.

• WWII was seen as a triumph of communism over fascism

• The great resources and population of USSR assured that the Soviet Union would be, along with the United States, one of two super-powers.

Effects in post-WWII United States• The United States economy was greatly

stimulated by the war, even more so than in World War I.

• The depression was brought to an end, and new industrial centers were built all over the United States.

• By avoiding the physical destruction of war, the U.S. economy dominated the world economy.

• After 4 years of military buildup, the U.S. had also become the leading military power.

• US could no longer be isolationist since all of Western Europe depended on strength of democracy.

• The position of the United States as world leader was now more obvious than ever.

Economic Cost• WWII was much more economically devastating than

WWI……. WHY???• Fighting all over Europe• Aerial bombing left millions dead, destroyed

transportation, communication, industry and farmland• Victors emerged from the conflict almost as devastated

as the losers (Britain & USSR)

Economic CostCountry Cost ($ in 2000)

United States $288 billion

Great Britain $117 billion

France $111 billion

USSR $93 billion

Germany $212 billion

Japan $41 billion

Manila, Philippines

Discussion• Read the excerpt from Judt’s Postwar: A

History of Europe (pg179) According to him, how were politics different post-WWI vs. post-WWII?

Political Consequences• Describe the political/territorial changes in Europe post-WWII.• All the countries the Red Army liberated – Poland, Hungary,

Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania – became one-party regimes under Stalin’s control

• Growing hostility between the Western Allies and USSR, led to a permanent division of Germany in 1949

• How did WWII affect European empires and colonies? • European countries could not maintain control of oversea

empires

Effects of WWII in Asia

Discuss: List three changes implemented by the Allies in Japan post-WWII.

Effects of WWII in Asia• List three changes implemented by the Allies in Japan post-WWII• Japan was eliminated as a major power• Allied occupation of Japan; MacArthur was appointed Supreme

Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP)• Removal of Japanese troops in China

– In 1949, China falls to communism under Zedong • Territories are reclaimed: Taiwan, Korea (divided), Pacific Islands • SU gets control of Sakhalin and Kuril Islands• The Emperor would help maintain political stability and facilitate

reform• Japan was turned into a democratic state with a new constitution

Treaty of San Francisco

• What did this treaty rule? Who was left out? Why?

Japanese compensation to countries occupied during 1941–45Country Amount in US$ Date of treatyBurma 200,000,000 November 5, 1955Philippines 550,000,000 May 9, 1956Indonesia 223,080,000 January 20, 1958Vietnam 38,000,000 May 13, 1959Total US$1,012,080,000 N/A

In accordance with Clause 14 of the Treaty, Allied forces confiscated all assets owned by the Japanese government, firms, organization and

private citizens, in all colonized or occupied

countries

Japanese overseas assets in 1945 (¥15=1US$)Country/region Value (US Dollars)Korea 468,370,000Taiwan 2,846,100,000North East China 9,768,800,000North China 3,695,800,000Central South China 2,447,900,000Others 1,867,600,000Total $25,300,000,000

Establishment of War Tribunals• Nuremburg Trials: November 1945-October 1946– 21 leading Nazis charged with war crimes and crimes

against humanity• International Tribunal in Tokyo: 1945 (three-year

period)– 5,700 Japanese war criminals tried & about 1,000

executed

Defendants in the Nuremburg Trials. The main target of the prosecution was Hermann Göring (left, front) considered to be the most important surviving official in the Third Reich after Hitler's death.***Not included were Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Joseph Goebbels, all of whom had committed suicide several months before the indictment

Outcome of Nuremburg Trials• Out of the 21 Nazis

tried, 12 were sentenced to death.

• 2 committed suicide prior to execution date

• Remaining 10 were hanged Chief American prosecutor Robert H.

Jackson addresses the Nuremberg court.

Nazi Escape through Ratlines• Ratlines: system of escape routes for Fascists• These escape routes mainly led toward havens

in South America, particularly Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Bolivia.

• Other destinations included the United States, Great Britain, Canada and the Middle East.

• There were two primary routes: the first went from Germany to Spain, then Argentina; the second from Germany to Rome to Genoa, then South America

• 13 top ranking Nazis escaped to South America– Joseph Mengele, head doctor at Auschwitz lived

rest of his life in Brazil– Gustav Wagner, Staff Sargent of SS lived rest of life

in Argentina– Other “missing” officials were assumed to escape,

but never found

War Tribunal in Tokyo• Trials were carried out

by General MacArthur and an appointed 11 judges (Australia, Canada, China, France, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, UK, US & USSR)

Defendants were charged with conventional war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity.

The trial continued for more than two and a half years, hearing testimony from 419 witnesses and admitting 4,336 exhibits of evidence, including depositions and affidavits from 779 other individuals.

Execution of Hideki Tojo

Discussion• List the primary military, political, and

economic reasons that the US and USSR emerged as superpowers.