World War II Lecture Notes

Introduction

• World War II (1939-1945): A global conflict involving major world powers.
• Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan.
• Allied Powers: France, Great Britain, USA, Soviet Union, China.
• Scale of Conflict: Largest in history; 100 million militarized, 50 million killed (~3% of world population).

Causes of War

• Treaty of Versailles: Post-WWI, imposed harsh penalties on Germany, fostering nationalism.
• Failure of the League of Nations: Established to maintain peace, lacked enforcement power.
• Global Economic Depression (1929): Led to totalitarian regimes in Europe/Asia.
• Rise of Fascism and Nazism: Promised stability and power against communism.
  • Mussolini: Established the first fascist dictatorship in Italy, 1922.
  • Hitler: Nazi leader, overturned Versailles Treaty, promoted Aryan supremacy.
• Policy of Appeasement: Britain and France allowed German territorial expansion, e.g., Munich Agreement.

Key Turning Points of WWII

• Start of War: Germany's invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939) led Britain and France to declare war.
• Phoney War: Early period of inactivity in Western Europe.
• Ribbentrop Pact: Nonaggression agreement between Germany and Soviet Union.
• Winter War & Fall of France: Germany's fast victories in Scandinavia and France.
• Battle of Britain: Air battle; critical British defense ensuring Germany postponed invasion plans.
• Operation Barbarossa: Germany's failed invasion of the Soviet Union.
• Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941): Japanese attack led to US entering the war.
• Reversal of German Fortunes:
  • Stalingrad (1943): Significant defeat for Germany.
  • Allied advances in North Africa and Europe.
• Nuclear Bombing and End:
  • Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 1945): Led to Japan's surrender.

Aftermath of World War II

• New Superpowers: Shift from Britain/France to USA/USSR.
• Decolonization: End of colonialism in Africa and Asia.
• Birth of the United Nations: Aimed for global peace and cooperation.
• Cold War Beginnings: Division of Germany/Berlin led to US-Soviet tensions.
• Economic Changes: Bretton Woods Conference established World Bank, IMF, and US dollar as global reserve currency.

India and WWII

• Impact on British Empire: Financial strain and anti-colonial sentiment grew.
• Indian Independence: Post-war, British Labour Party began decolonization, leading to India's independence in 1947.