The world witnessed a lot of devastation and drama in the wake of World War Two, a conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It remains the most devastating war ever to have taken place, responsible for over 70 million fatalities and the displacement of more than 30 million people. Its impact was far-reaching, touching almost every corner of the globe. On this page, we take a look at the aftermath of World War Two and some of the key takeaways.
Significance of the Atomic Bomb
For the first time in history, mankind was faced with the prospect of nuclear war – something only a few years prior was thought to be impossible. The first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6 1945, followed by the second atomic bomb three days later over Nagasaki. These two horrific events heralded the end of the war, with Japan’s eventual surrender. The devastating effects of these two bombs transformed the way wars were fought, and the following years saw nuclear powers come to the fore in the form of the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Impact of World War Two
Aside from the catastrophic physical destruction and loss of life, World War Two had long-lasting economic, social and political effects on the nations directly involved.
Economic Impact
The war caused widespread imbalance in the global economy, leading to runaway inflation in many countries. In the US, for example, prices had doubled since the start of the war, while in the UK they had tripled. To restore some sense of balance, governments issued new forms of currency, rationed goods and services, and boosted programs to help ensure a flow of food and resources. In the wake of the war, many countries were also forced to rebuild their infrastructure and systems.
Social Impact
The war led to a range of social changes and upheaval. The role of women changed drastically, with women having to take on many of the roles of men who were away at war. Social attitudes also changed to focus on resource preservation, with governments emphasizing the importance of rationing for economic and military reasons.
Political Impact
The war had a major political impact, leading to the dissolution of Empires such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the creation of new nations, such as the United Nations. The United Nations was created in 1945 with the aim of ensuring that a disaster of this nature would, ideally, never take place again.
The Displacement of People
Loss of life incurred during the war was not limited to those involved in the direct fighting; millions of people who were civilians were displaced by the Axis powers and driven from their homes. People from all walks of life, from all corners of Europe, were driven from their homes and suffered losses.
Aftermath of the War
After the war, the Allied Powers embarked on a mission to bring the Axis powers to justice. Trials were held to account the war criminals from countries that had been allied with the Axis. The Nuremberg Trials saw a number of Nazi leaders, including Hermann Goring, put on trial for their war crimes.
Marshall Plan
In an effort to restore stability in the postwar period, the US initiated the European Recovery Program, also known as the Marshall Plan. The plan was aimed at providing economic assistance to European countries in order to help them rebuild and restore their economies. This initiative was largely successful, and most of the European countries quickly recuperated their economies.
Reorganisation of Europe
In the wake of the war, Europe was significantly reorganized. New borders were drawn and new countries were created, while other countries were partitioned. This reorganization had a significant impact on Europe’s politics, in that the entire region was significantly changed.
World War Two was one of the most devastating conflicts ever to have occurred, one whose consequences are still being felt to this day. This article has highlighted some of the key takeaways from World War Two, from its devastating economic, social, and political effects, to the displacement of millions of people, and the long-term political and economic restructuring of Europe. The most important takeaway, however, is that such a devastating conflict should never be allowed to happen again.
