Is The Second World War a Turning Point in History?
The 20th century saw a remarkable shift in the way that vast numbers of people lived, as a result of technological, medical, social, ideological, and political innovation. Due to the continuing industrialization and expanding trade, conflicts started to appear among countries all around the world. Terms like ideology, world war, genocide, and nuclear war entered common usage staring from the 20th century. Among all the conflicts, the Second World War was the most noticeable one, since it influenced the future development of the whole world. I believe that this article could help you understand its significance towards the 20th century History in a deeper manner. In this article, I will compare the developments of the world before and after the Second
World War, so as to help me decide whether we should regard
WWII as the turning point in the 20th century History.
The Second World War resulted in changes in various aspects in the world. In the inter-war period, the failure of the League of Nations and other forms of collective security as well as the appeasement policy adopted by Britain and France aroused the increasing ambitions of Germany, Italy and Japan. Finally, Germany’s invasion of Poland sparked off the Second World War. Until 1945, representatives of the great Powers met at Paris to draft the peace settlements.
Owing to the war and the peace treaties, there were several great changes, which would be discussed one by one as follows.
A Changes in the political situation
Fall of totalitarianism in Italy, Germany and Japan
To begin with, the political situation in many countries altered. Before 1945, totalitarian and militarist governments rose to power in Italy, Germany and Japan, mainly because of the dissatisfaction of the people in these counties with the peace treaties. After 1945, the defeat of the Axis powers resulted in the downfall of Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese militarists.
Fall of Germany and Japan
After the Second World War, Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones, each under the rule of the USA, Britain, France and the USSR. Similarly, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers.
Creation of two blocs
Before 1945, independent governments were set up in the newly formed small states such as Yugoslavia, Rumania, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Yet after 1945, these smaller states, especially those in Eastern Europe, became communist states. Therefore, they became the satellite states of the USSR, who was the first communist country in the world. These states were under the great influence of the USSR and this led to the division of European into the Capitalist and Communist bloc.
Decolonization
Before 1945, such great Powers as Britain, France and Portugal made the weak and backward countries in Africa and Southeast Asia their colonies. After 1945, the ideas of nationalism widely spread in these colonies and the people there revolted to struggle for their independence. As a result, in the two decades following 1945, most countries in Asia and Africa ceased to be the colonies of the great Powers and gained their independence.
B Changes in the balance of power
Fall of international status of European Powers
Apart from the changes in political situation, the balance of power shifted. Before 1945, as the USA adopted the isolationist policy and the USSR was isolated by other capitalist countries, Britain and France remained dominant in the 1920s while Italy, Germany and Japan became influential in the 1930s. After 1945, this situation changed. Since most European countries were dragged into the Second World War, which was mainly fought on the European soil, the European Powers suffered huge loss. Thus, after 1945, they concentrated on their internal problems and their influence in the world affairs declined.
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