World War II: Territorial, Demographic, and Political Impacts

Consequences of World War II

Territorial Impact

• The Soviet Union expanded its territory, annexing parts of Poland, Romania, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• Poland gained territory from Germany but became landlocked.
• Italy ceded territories to Yugoslavia and Greece, recognized Albania's independence, and relinquished its African colonies.
• Germany and Berlin were divided into four occupation zones.
• Austria was also divided into four occupation zones due to its support of Germany.
• Japan lost islands to the Soviet Union and the U.S. and came under U.S. command.

Demographic Consequences

• Millions died, were wounded, or went missing, with the highest number of civilian casualties.
• The Nazi extermination of Jews resulted in millions of deaths.
• New borders led to massive transfers of deportees and refugees.

Economic and Political Consequences

• Millions of Europeans faced extreme poverty, and many homes were destroyed or damaged.
• Europe experienced a political and economic decline.
• The Soviet Union established control over much of Eastern Europe and half of Germany.
• The world divided into two opposing blocs: the Soviet Union (socialist) and the U.S. (capitalist).
• The Cold War began as a confrontation between these two blocs.
• Decolonization processes started.

The United Nations

Causes of World War II

Nazi Expansionist Policies

Germany's policies aimed to create a Greater Reich and expand its living space in Europe. This was achieved through actions such as the 1935 annexation of the Saarland, rearmament, forced military service, and the creation of an air force.

Weaknesses of Democracies

The Spanish Civil War saw Hitler and Mussolini supporting the anti-republican forces. In October 1936, the Rome-Berlin axis was formalized, followed by the Anti-Comintern Pact between Japan and Germany against the USSR.

The First Anschluss and Nazi Expansionism

Hitler forced a referendum to incorporate Austria into the Reich (Anschluss). The Munich Conference, involving Britain, France, and Italy, led to the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia.

Outbreak of War in Europe

Hitler's next target was Poland. To avoid a two-front war, he signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with the Soviet Union. The invasion of Poland began on September 1, 1939, leading France and Britain to declare war on Germany on September 3.

Japanese Imperialism in Asia

The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in China led to the formation of a satellite state. In 1937, Japan invaded northern China to establish the Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.