Name:
Historical Context: The World During and After World War II (1941 - 1947)
Between 1941 and 1945, the world was engulfed in one of the largest and most
devastating conflicts in history: World War II. This global war involved many countries
and was marked by significant battles, political alliances, and major events that
profoundly shaped the course of history. The conflict can be traced back to the rise of
totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan, which sought to expand their
territories and influence.
The United States entered the war after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 1941, by Japanese forces. This attack led to a swift declaration of war by the
U.S. against Japan, and soon after, Germany and Italy declared war on the United
States. As a result, American troops were deployed to various fronts, including Europe
and the Pacific, where they would engage in fierce battles against Axis powers.
During the war, several critical events unfolded. The Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)
marked a turning point on the Eastern Front, as Soviet forces successfully defended the
city, leading to a significant defeat for Nazi Germany. In North Africa, Allied forces
fought to gain control of strategic territories, culminating in the decisive Battle of El
Alamein in 1942. The D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, saw Allied troops storm the
beaches of Normandy, France, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western
Europe from Nazi occupation.
By 1945, the war was nearing its end. The Allied forces achieved major victories,
leading to the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945. In the Pacific, the
United States employed a strategy of island-hopping to reclaim territory from Japan.
The war in the Pacific came to a dramatic conclusion with the dropping of atomic bombs
on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. These bombings led to Japan's
surrender on September 2, 1945, officially bringing an end to World War II.
In the aftermath of the war, a series of important conferences were held to
discuss the future of Europe and the world. Key leaders from the major Allied countries,
including U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, met at conferences such as Yalta
(February 1945) and Potsdam (July-August 1945). At these meetings, they made
crucial decisions regarding the post-war order, including the division of Germany into
occupation zones and the establishment of the United Nations (UN), an organization
aimed at fostering international cooperation and maintaining peace. The United Nations
was officially founded on October 24, 1945, with the mission to prevent future conflicts
and promote human rights. The UN sought to create a platform for dialogue and
diplomacy, with member states working together to address global challenges.
As the world moved into 1947, the geopolitical landscape began to shift
dramatically. The devastation of World War II left many countries struggling to rebuild,
while new tensions emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union. This
period marked the beginning of the Cold War, characterized by ideological differences,
military build-ups, and various proxy wars around the globe. The U.S. adopted a policy
of containment aimed at preventing the spread of communism, leading to significant
events such as the Marshall Plan, which provided economic aid to help rebuild
Western European economies.
Countries began to align themselves with either the Western powers led by the
United States or the Eastern bloc led by the Soviet Union. The division of Europe into
East and West became symbolized by the Iron Curtain, a term famously coined by
Winston Churchill in a speech in 1946. This division significantly impacted international
relations and the political landscape for decades to come.
EARLY COLD WAR NOTES
Watch the Cold War: Containment video and take notes
on the following events after WWII that led to the
outbreak of the Cold War:
Churchill’s “Iron ●
Curtain” Speech 1946
George Kennan’s “Long ●
Telegram” 1946
Policy of “Containment” ●
Truman Doctrine 1947 ●
Marshall Plan 1948 ●
Berlin Blockade & Airlift ●
1948-49
NATO 1949 ●
Warsaw Pact 1955 ●
Soviet Nuclear Weapons ●
Mao Zedong & China ●
1949
