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Consequences of World War II - Coggle Diagram
Consequences of World War II
Immediate Consequences:
The USSR and the United States won the European, North American. and Pacific fronts.
European civilization was extremely affected by the war.
WWII is the most deadly war conflict in history.
An estimated 70 to 80 million people died, 3% of the world's population at the time.
Direct deaths from the war:
50 - 56 millions
Indirect deaths due to hunger and diseases:
19 - 28 millions
Destruction:
Central and Western European cities were destroyed: (destruction of the infrastructure)
trains, bridges, dams, roads and factories, leaving people homeless, those who stayed in the cities faced hunger and poverty.
The USSR alone, the war destroyed:
70,000 villages / 1700 cities.
32 000 factories.
64 000 km of train tracks.
25 million homes.
Migration:
During war, civilians were moved to German zones for forced labour, growing the German economy.
Bombings caused civilians’ death, while others died working. The war went on and plenty of civilians escaped.
Citizens supporting Germany or against war were moved to USSR areas, where 40% of deaths were within a year.
Ending the war, German refugees were deported from other countries back to Germany. Others trapped in new territorial limits. Most Jews escaped to other countries, leaving Europe.
Borders and Territories:
Independent states prior to WWII were absorbed by other states thus the conflict. Borders were adjusted, displacing civilians against their will.
Poland lost Eastern territories to the USSR, while gaining German territories.
Germany lost 25% of territory by peace treaties.
Germany was occupied by the Allies and divided into 4 zones during the first years, turning into Eastern Germany (USSR) and Western Germany (USA, France and England)
United Nations:
Society of Nations failed to prevent World War II, remaining with the idea that an international organization should exist to prevent further conflicts.
The United Nations (UN) formed from the allied powers that fought against the Axis. The first meeting was held in April 1945.
Both the United States and the USSR joined.
All states would have representation in a General Assembly.
A Security Council of 15 member states would have the capacity to undertake peacekeeping missions.
Five nations would have permanent seats on the Security Council, each with the power to prohibit any UN decision.
The UN would have the right to authorize the use of military force to prevent further conflict or crimes of humanity.
Decolonization:
WWII affected British, French and Italian colonies, allowing nations to gain their independence.
WWII weakened old colonial powers making them give up empires, WWII contributed to the wave of decolonization that influenced African and Asian colonies in the postwar period.
Examples:
Korea
India
Libya
Syria
Lebanon
China (some territories)
New Zealand
Australia
The Cold War:
The United States and the USSR (world’s superpowers), continued their diplomatic, political and military rivalry for nearly 40 years.
Causing small wars, diplomatic crises and an arms race where each competes for having more nuclear missiles and other weapons.
The Cold War ended with the fall of the USSR in 1991.