The Aftermath of WWII and the Rise of Decolonization

The Consequences of WWII

In 1945, the leaders of the USA, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain held a series of meetings to discuss peace agreements: the Yalta Conference, the Potsdam Conference, and the San Francisco Conference.

Demographic Consequences

Between 36 and 50 million people died during the war.

Economic Consequences

Bombings destroyed large areas of agricultural land, cities, factories, and infrastructure.

Political Consequences

• The German, Italian, and Japanese regimes disappeared.
• Germany was occupied by the Allies.
• Democratic governments were established in Italy and Japan.
• The USA and the Soviet Union became the new superpowers.
• The world was divided into two main spheres of influence:
  • The Western Bloc: Led by the USA.
  • The Eastern Bloc: Led by the Soviet Union.
• The United Nations (UN) was created.

Territorial Consequences

• Germany was divided into four zones, each occupied by Great Britain, France, the USA, and the Soviet Union.
• Italy lost its African colonies and Trieste.
• The USSR received Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• Poland received part of Eastern Germany and half of East Prussia.

Decolonization

Decolonization is the process through which colonies become independent states. A number of factors caused this process:

• Members of the colonial elites, who had often been educated in Europe, demanded independence for these areas.
• The United Nations supported the right of all people to national self-determination.
• During WWII, people from the Allied colonies fought against the Axis Powers in defense of freedom and democracy; this encouraged the colonies to demand their own freedom after the war.

Key Nations That Gained Independence

• India:
  • Obtained independence from Great Britain in 1947.
  • The most important leader was Mahatma Gandhi.
  • The British territory was divided into two parts: India and Pakistan.
• Indonesia:
  • Obtained independence from the Netherlands in 1949.
  • The most important politician was Sukarno.
• Algeria:
  • Obtained independence from France in 1962.
  • The most important politician was Ben Bella.