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Unit VIII. World War II
D. Impact of WWII
D. Impact of WWII1. Civilian Life and Total War
a. Both the Allies and axis engaged in total war*Cities and civilians became targets of bombing
b. Democratic gov’ts increased their power during the war*Economies were regulated
-Ordered factories to produce war materials instead of civilian products
-Prices and wages were fixed and consumer goods rationed
*The rights of individuals were sometimes limited-In the US and Canada, some Japanese were forced into
internment camps-British took similar action against Germans
*Women increased their influence and power within democracies
-Worked in factories, served in the armed forces as drivers and message decoders, served as nurses at field hospitals
D. Impact of WWII (cont’d)2. Wartime Atrocities
a. The Holocaust*Hitler planned to destroy all those he found inferior
-Jews were the main target, but also included Slavs, Gypsies, and the mentally and physically disabled (genocide)-Policies against these groups increased in severity and
hostility as the war waged on
•Concentration camps and death camps in Germany and Poland
•By 1945, more than 6 million Jews had died
b. Other Atrocities*Rape of Nanjing: Japanese invasion of the city of
Nanjing,1937 -Mass shootings, terrible brutality; ~250, 000 Chinese
killed
*Bataan Death March: Philippines, Japanese soldiers forced American and Filipino prisoners of war marched up the Bataan Peninsula
-Along the way, prisoners were beaten, stabbed, and shot
*In Poland, Soviet troops subjected thousands of Poles to imprisonment, torture, and execution
D. Impact of WWII (cont’d)3. Impact of the War
a. Human Losses
*Killed as many as 75 millionb. Economic Losses
*Throughout Europe and Asia cities were in ruin*European countryside devastated*The economies of these nations would take years to recover
c. War Crime Trials: Nuremburg, Germany 11/45-9/46*Allied leaders agreed to punish those responsible for “crimes
against humanity”-Twenty-two surviving Nazi leaders were tried at
Nuremburg
-Received the death or life imprisonment
-Additional trials held in Italy and Japan
*Demonstrated that leaders could be held accountable for their actions, even d during war
D. Impact of WWII (cont’d)3. Impact of the War (cont’d)
d. Occupied Nations*In order to prevent another world war western nations occupied W. Germany and Japan
-They established new gov’ts w/democratic constitutions
*Soviet forces occupied E. Germany and most of E. Europe-They established communist gov’ts
*Europe divided in two-btw democracy (west) and communism (east)
e. The United Nations: April, 1945*Representatives from nations around the world met San
Francisco to establish the United Nations
-The purpose of the UN is to provide a place to discuss world problems and develop solutions
-Two main bodies:•General Assembly: representatives from all
member nations (each rep has one vote)
•Security Council: 15 member nations, 5 of which are permanent (US, Russia, France, GB, and China)