Transcript Chapter 30
Chapter 30 WWII and the End of European World Order Old & New Causes OLD CAUSES Economic disaster creates the right conditions for fascist groups (Germany/Italy) and the military (Japan) to gain power Rising nationalism in China and Russia creates internal turmoil Inability of international organizations (League of Nations) to stop aggression NEW CAUSES Success of Guomindang creates worry in Japan of a united China Great Depression helps Nazi party come to power Hitler and Mussolini get involved in civil wars, make plan to expand Western powers let aggression go unchecked b/c no one wants another war Unchecked Aggression EUROPE: Nazis annex Czechoslovakia (lebensraum) and later launch blitzkrieg by invading Poland ASIA: Japan invades Manchuria and invades China. Their war crimes still cause tension between the two countries today (Rape of Nanjing) (at left) A terrified baby after Shanghai is attacked by Japan Conduct of WWII Blitzkrieg Campaign (1939-1941): Nazis control most of Europe & Mediterranean; prepare to launch offensives against Britain and Russia Japan attacks China and prepares to launch offensives against Western colonies throughout SE Asia Blitzkrieg, Stalemate, Retreat Blitz: Quickly destroys Poland and pushes back French and British troops; creates a puppet regime in France (Vichy) and occupies Norway and Denmark, leaving Britain standing alone but defending itself successfully against German air raids Loss at Battle of Britain causes Hitler to turn south (Africa) and east (Russia). Both campaigns will end badly for Germany, but not after years of hard fought battles and catastrophic losses. The Holocaust 12 million dead (6 million Jews) Other persecuted groups: Communists, Catholics, homosexuals, lesbians, gypsies, Poles (labeled undermenschen) Period characterized by persecution, forced labor, inhumane medical experiments. Mentally and physically handicapped put to death immediately. End of the Reich German shift to the east gives Britain space to launch offensive, along with USA, who prepare to invade and take back France. Battle of the Bulge (Germany’s last stand) Rise and Fall of Japan 1/3 of Japanese troops in China while the rest moves into SE Asia and Pacific. US (bulk of Allied forces in Pacific) engages in “island hopping” campaign, taking ground slowly but decisively in battles like Coral Sea, Midway and Okinawa. Nationalistic propaganda encouraged people to never surrender; many committed suicide and even after atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the emperor’s surrender came as a shock to many. WWII Ends…Superpower Standoff Begins WWII’s end did not create lasting peace United Nations replaces League of Nations A more internationals community replaces one dominated by the Western powers Cold War Many close calls between 1945 and 1990, but no direct conflicts Tensions rise at a series of conferences Yalta: Churchill, Roosevelt & Stalin divide Germany but disagreed about the political future of eastern Europe Potsdam: Russia occupies most of E. Europe and E. Germany, Austria divided and occupied and treaty worked out with Italy. Cold War (con’t) Japan signs separate treaty w/USA; stripped of territory and creates a new parliamentary regime with US help Korea divided into 2 zones—US and Soviet occupied Attempts to keep colonial borders frustrated by overwhelming resentment toward a weakening West Stage is set for decolonization and the Cold War (Cold War politics will play out as each colony gets independence). Nationalism & Decolonization WWII sapped the resources and the will of Europeans to maintain colonies Both the US and USSR condemned colonialism (ex—Atlantic Charter) and began to spread their own brand of propaganda among Asia, Africa and the Middle East. S/SE Asia Win Independence British refusal to grant India independence despite their aid in WWII led to widespread civil disobedience (Quit India movement) Muslim League (led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah) sides w/British in hopes of gaining a separate Muslim state, creating tension between Hindus and Muslims Hasty pullout of British results in violence despite a partition of a Muslim state (Pakistan) Weakening of British signals the end of other colonial empires (Dutch and French) in Asia Liberation of Nonsettler Africa Many Africans served in the war only to return home to the same racist ideologies they had left behind—this creates even greater support of nationalist movements Need for war supplies meant that many areas of Africa had been industrialized (this went against initial imperialist policies) Two main paths to decolonization: 1) Relatively peaceful devolution of power from western to African governments (Ghana) 2) Hasty retreats that left little-educated and ill-prepared Africans in control (this method most often led to violent civil wars, some still being played out today) Struggle for Settler Colonies Peaceful withdrawal rarely happened, especially in places where whites had settled and intended to stay (Kenya, S. Africa) Kenya= nonviolent resistance does not make headway. Jomo Kenyatta and the KAU found the Land Freedom Army and launch the Mau Mau Rebellion, a guerilla war against the British. Other examples of guerilla militaries FLN in Algeria OAS in Algeria White Supremacy in S. Africa A white minority held on to power all the way until 1990s After British leave, Afrikaner (Dutch) rulers take control in 1940s Afrikaner policy is apartheid, which created separate and horribly unequal conditions for blacks and whites Apartheid laws are finally repealed in 1994 after international pressure is applied to S. Africa’s government. Later, Nelson Mandela becomes the first democratically elected African president in South Africa. Arabs, Israelis and Palestine Egypt, Iraq, Syria among the states that get independence between wars, though European influence remains strong. Holocaust creates more sympathy for the Zionist movement, though the increased influx of Jewish refugees into Palestine was met with violence. Zionists and Arab Palestinians are determined to have a state. Britain just wants to leave. The result is partition (and we all know how well that has worked out). Global Connections WWII completes the process of the demise of Western dominance, a process that had begun years earlier Decolonization occurs, but European influence remains strong, and power passes mostly to Western-educated elites Liberation of colonies did not disrupt Western dominance in the economy Decolonization does set up new internal conflicts, creating civil wars that have lasted into the 21st century.