The Second World War and the United Nations
Revenge for Versailles, fascist aggression and the West's appeasement led to war in 1939. After 1945 came the Cold War and the United Nations, set up on 24 October 1945.
Main causes of the Second World War
- Revenge for Versailles: Germany wanted to undo its humiliation. Italy was bitter at gaining no colonies after losing nearly 600,000 people in the First World War.
- Fascist aggression: Mussolini's and Hitler's parties praised war and promised to win back lost glory by conquest.
- The Axis: the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis gave Japan a free hand in Asia and the Pacific, and Germany and Italy a free hand in Europe.
- Appeasement: Britain and France, fearing communism, gave in to Germany and Italy and hoped they would turn on the Soviet Union. They let Germany's army grow from 100,000 to 800,000 soldiers without protest.
- Failure of the League of Nations to stop any aggressor.
Road to war, step by step
- 1935Italy attacks Ethiopia.
- 1936Germany marches troops into the demilitarised Rhineland, breaking the Treaty of Versailles. The western powers stay silent.Your NIOS lesson says Germany 'annexed' the Rhineland; it was already German land, which Versailles had demilitarised.
- 1936 to 1939In the Spanish Civil War, General Franco fights Spain's elected government. Hitler sends him arms, while Britain and France do nothing.Your NIOS lesson dates the war from 1937; it began in July 1936.
- 1938Germany takes over Austria.
- September 1938In the Munich Pact, Britain and France let Germany take the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. In March 1939 Germany takes the rest of the country. Appeasement reaches its peak.Your NIOS lesson puts the Munich meeting in August 1938; the pact was signed on 30 September 1938.
- August 1939The Soviet Union signs a pact with Germany: neither will attack the other. This buys the Soviets time.
- 1 September 1939Germany attacks Poland. Britain declares war on Germany on 3 September 1939.
Consequences of the war
- The most destructive war in history: huge loss of life, property and resources, and many people driven from their homes.
- German Jews were killed or sent to concentration camps.
- Atomic bombs almost wiped out the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, raising the fear of nuclear war.
- Germany was divided into four zones under the victors. The Nazi Party was outlawed and Germany's armed forces were broken up.
- Japan was placed under US occupation until 1952, and its emperor stayed on the throne. (Your NIOS lesson says US troops left in 1949 when the monarchy was re-established; in fact the monarchy was never removed, and the occupation ended in 1952.)
- Imperialism weakened, and many nations of Asia and Africa won freedom.
- The USA and the Soviet Union became superpowers leading two blocs: the Western Bloc and the Communist Bloc. Their tense rivalry without direct fighting was the Cold War.
Founding of the United Nations
The horrors of the war convinced world leaders that a stronger peace body was needed. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet leader Stalin and US President Roosevelt met at several conferences to plan it. The UN Charter, its founding document, was signed at a conference in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 by 50 nations. It took effect, and the United Nations Organisation came into being, on 24 October 1945, now marked every year as UN Day. Your NIOS lesson puts the San Francisco conference on 24 October; that is the day the Charter took effect. It rests on the sovereignty and equality of all nations. Its flag shows a world map seen from the North Pole, inside a wreath of olive branches, in white on light blue.
Objectives of the United Nations
- Maintain international peace and security.
- Prevent future wars and settle disputes peacefully.
- Develop friendly relations among nations, based on equality.
- Achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems.
- Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people.
- Act as a common platform where nations work together towards these aims.
League of Nations and United Nations
Both were formed to keep peace and prevent war. The UN added a wider aim of cooperation and human rights.
India was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945, and Indian soldiers and police have served in many UN peacekeeping missions. Many schools in India mark UN Day on 24 October.
2 marks: “On which date did the UN come into being, and in which city was its Charter signed?” The UN came into being on 24 October 1945, now UN Day. Its Charter was signed at San Francisco in June 1945.
3 marks: “Why was the United Nations set up? State three of its objectives.” (1) To maintain international peace and security. (2) To settle disputes peacefully and develop friendly relations among nations. (3) To achieve international cooperation on economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems. Also: to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.
6 marks: “How did the policy of appeasement lead to the Second World War?” (1) Meaning: Britain and France gave in to Germany and Italy, hoping they would turn on the Soviet Union. (2) Germany's army grew to 800,000 unchallenged. (3) Silence over the Rhineland (1936) and Austria (1938). (4) No help for Spain's elected government against Franco. (5) Munich Pact (1938) gave away the Sudetenland, then all Czechoslovakia. (6) Emboldened, Hitler attacked Poland on 1 September 1939.
War began 1-9-39 (Poland, 1 September 1939), Britain joined on the 3rd. UN Day: 24 October 1945, Charter at San Francisco.