|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
World War II was the defining moment of the 20th century. The War enveloped virtually every part of the world during the years 1939-45. ... To most observers it looked like German had essentually won the War in 1940 and 41, seizing most of SWestern Europe and North Africa. Then in 6-months the direction of the War was fundamentally altered when in Hitler attacked the Soviet Union bringing that enormous country into the War on the Allied side (in effect switching sides) and Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor bringing America into the War. World War II was the central event of the 20th century. It not only was the largest most destructive war in human history, but it also fundamentally changed social, economicm and political trends in Europe, North America and Asia. While the focus of most studies of the War are primarily on the titantic military campaigns, weapons, and leaders, children also played a role in the War. They in many ways the people most affected by the War. ... The Germans at the end of the War were using young teenagers, but all sides used large numbers of older teenagers. Ine of the many impacts of World War II was on fashion. Quite a range of fashion shifts occurred during and after World War II. Some of the major changes included: an increasing shift to casual dress, less elaborate fashions, the disappearance of knickers, short pants began to be worn as summer attire, American boys stop wearing kneesocks and long stockings, American Scouts and Cubs begin wearing long pants, "T" shirts and jeans became a mainstay of American boyhood, short hair styles become popular for boys in America after the War.
Overview
World War II enveloped virtually every part of the world during the years 1939-45. ... The war was in many respects a continuation, after an uneasy 20-year hiatus, of the disputes left unsettled by World War I. No precise accounting exists, but up to 50 million people died in the conflict--making it the bloodiest conflict as well as the largest war in human history. ... The devestation of the War resulted in unpresedented social upheavals. Soldiers and sailors who had never been farm from home found themselves fighting in places they had never heard of before half way accross the world. ... The demands of the War created opportunities for working class Britons and Americans. ... Britons Labour Policy after the War pursued policies designed to provide greater opportunity, although its economic policies may have have in fact limited economic growth.
20th Century Watershed
World War II was the defining moment of the 20th century. The stakes of the War were enormous. ... Along with World War I, World War II was the great watershed of 20th-century geopolitical history. ... The War marked the shift of world power from the states of Werstern Europe to the Soviet Union and America. ... America rose as the dominate world power. ...
League of Nations
The League of Nations was the first international organization established oin the basis of collective security to preserve world peace. It was created by the Versailles and other peace treaties ending World War I. The unbrialded nationalism that had inflamed Europe in the early 20th century was widely seen as a major cause of World War I. The horendous losses in the War convinced many Europeans that there must never be another war. A League of Nations as proposed by President Wilson was seen as a way of preventing war in the future through a system of collective security. ... The Red Cross, the Hague Conferences, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (Hague Tribunal) were all organizations that before World War I were drawing nations together in an expanding web of international relations. ... Had the Allies acted decisely, World War II with all its horrors could have been prevented. Winston Churchill in political exile at the time came to call World War II as the unecessary war because decissive action through the League could have prevented the War. ...
Totalitarian Political Parties
World War II was in many ways a continuation of World War I. It was also a result of the emergence of political parties, primarily Fascist parties, which idealized war. Despite the experience of World War I, the Fascists idealized war. ... This commitment to war was normally disguised in part propganda. While not as committed ideologically to war, the Communist were quite willingto employ coercion both domestically and iternationally. ... The agreement allied Germany and Italy (which were at war with Britain) and Japan (which was at war with China). Germany and Italy has since 1939-40 been at war with Britain. Japan since 1937 had been at war with China. ...
The British Dominions
When Britain declared war against Germany in World War I (August 1914, the entire British Empire was automatically at war also. This meant that the dominions of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa were also at war with Germany. While the Dominions proudly gave great service during the war, this automatic commitment became a source of irritation to Dominion nationalists. The Dominions won the right to be consulted in 1931 and made their own declarations of war in support of Britain in 1939. ...
Land Campaigns
World War II is generally dated from September 1, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. ... Many of these conflicts influenced or in the case of Japans onslaught against China continued and became an integral part of World War II. ... When the Soviet Communists joined the Fascists in a Non-Agression Pact in 1939 it looked like the vallance of power had swung against the Western democracies which was further confirmed by the devestaing fall of France in 1940. ... Only America could save Britain, but the American people were stongly isolantionist and intent on staying out of the War. ... The Japanese attackon Pear Harnor in Devember brought America onto the War. ...
Air Campaigns
One of the countroversies surrounding World War II is the Allied bombing campaign of Germany. ... This began even before the World War II during the Spanish Civil War with the bombing of Guernica in 1937? ... Once the World War II began the tactic was used on Warsaw (September 1939), Rotterdam (May 1940), and on numerous British cities (1940-41). Once America joined the War in December 1941, a much larger bombing campaign was launched on Germany which by 1943 began to inflict serious civilian casulties.
Approximate Word count = 5300
Approximate Pages = 21.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|