Crash Course World History: World War II - A War for Resources

Introduction to the Perspective

• Presented by John Green
• Focus on WWII as a war for resources, particularly food, rather than purely good vs. evil
• Exploration of resource allocation impacts on soldiers and civilians

Food as a Central Motive

• WWII often seen as good vs. evil, but resource needs played a crucial role
• At least 20 million people died from food shortages during WWII
• Germany and Japan sought autarky (self-sufficiency) in food
• Germany:
  • Sought "lebensraum" (living space) for agricultural land to feed Germans
  • Blockade memories from WWI motivated food security efforts
• Japan:
  • Needed colonies for space and food, i.e., Korea, Formosa
  • Great Depression heightened food crisis, leading to Manchurian annexation

Strategic Decisions Influenced by Food

• Germany’s Hunger Plan:
  • Plan to use Ukraine and western Russia as a breadbasket
  • Influenced disastrous invasion of the Soviet Union
• Battle of the Atlantic:
  • Critical for shipping food and materials from the U.S. to Britain
  • Churchill: "dominating factor all through the war"

Impact on Colonies and Civilian Populations

• British policies caused famine in colonies like India and Africa
  • Colonies forced to produce for war, not for domestic needs
  • Famine in Bengal due to rice supply cut and lack of relief efforts
• U.S. and Britain implemented rationing but avoided starvation
  • British "dig for victory" improved diet with more vegetables
  • Shared sacrifice in the U.S. through rationing

Variations in Soldier Feeding and Nutrition

• U.S. and Britain prioritized well-fed soldiers
  • Americans received high-calorie rations (4,758 calories/day)
• Soviet troops and Japanese troops suffered from inadequate food
  • Japanese soldiers faced severe starvation, particularly highlighted by Guadalcanal

A Global Perspective on WWII

• Highlights how resource needs affected global regions outside of direct combat areas
• Shows the impact of war on places like Africa and India
• Examines hyper-nationalistic responses to globalization

Conclusion

• Resources, especially food, played a crucial role in WWII
• History shows danger in viewing others as inferior or their land as necessary for us
• Awareness of resource conflicts can help prevent future wars

Credits

• Filmed in Chad and Stacey Emigholz studio
• Supported by Subbable subscribers