Freeland Legacy of World Wars Running head: LEGACY OF WORLD WARS I & II

Legacy of World Wars I & II Sandra Freeland HIS 321 Baker College Cadillac Ted Reese May 30, 2011

Freeland Legacy of World Wars Legacy of World Wars I & II

There have been many important wars that have occurred in the histories of nation-states throughout the world, but none has been quite as important to so many as World War II. World War II left a legacy of new innovations in science, technology, and economic theories and principles. It saw the deaths of hundreds of Jews. It changed the way that many people looked at war and international politics. World War II united many allies, and created many enemies. This paper will discuss: (a) how World War II can be seen as a continuation of World War I, (b) the major political, economic, and technological growths and defeats brought about by World War II, (c) the impact that World War II had on the idea and reality of state sovereignty, and (d) how the consequences of the World Wars continue to be experienced today. In many ways the conflicts and outcomes of World War I paved the way for World War II. The occurrence of another world war was inevitable. One of the reasons for this inevitability was because of the harsh conditions that were laid upon Germany and its people. Germany, a country not solely responsible for the World War I, was solely responsible for making reparations to Great Britain and France, two of the three major decision makers in the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The treaty that Germany signed was an agreement for $2 billion in reparations. Even this amount was a difficult amount to achieve for the battered government. By the time Great Britain and France totaled all of the losses up, Germany was in for $33 billion in reparations (The Coming of WWII, 2007). That amount was absolutely undoable for the Germany government. The government had to borrow money from the United States just to pay back Great Britain and France. That did not allow any extra monies to help the Germany people recover from the war that their government took place in. Germany had very few resources available after using up so much during World War I. Inflation rose and stifled any growth that might have

Freeland Legacy of World Wars occurred to help the German people rise out of the ashes of World War I. This caused hostile attitudes to grow among the public and helped pave the way for Hitler and his regime to come into power. Hitlers views and goals would help lead to the start of World War II. Another way that World War I paved the way for another world war was through hard feelings, uncertainties, and conflicts that remained after the end to the war. Many nations-states

did not feel as safe as they had felt prior to World War I. World War I demonstrated how large powers could unite and cause destruction to governments because of greed for more power and more land. Though some nations agreed to a moratorium to building ships and increasing navy potentials, this agreement eventually fell apart as many nations increased their munitions potentials in order to protect themselves from a possible invasion by rivals as well as the possibility of another war breaking out (World History for All, n.d.). It also demonstrated to nation-states that were not geographically located near the European powers whose ground the war was fought on that it might be wise to stay out of the fight. Nation-states like the United States took on a view of Americanism, which caused the United States government to turn a blind eye to conflicts such as the racial attack on the Jews by Nazi forces and Hitlers Third Reich. The racial hatred felt by the Germans in Hitlers council caused the creation of concentration camps and the destruction of Jews in Germany. The United States government denied access to Jewish children and families fleeing Germany and the Holocaust, trying to avoid becoming entangled in the problems of other countries (The Holocaust, 2007). The tensions that caused World War I and World War II created much destruction, but at the culmination of World War II the world saw many innovations in technology, and growth in economic conditions for many nation-states, as well as shifting political alliances and government politics. Technological growth helped shape the landscape of World War II. The

Freeland Legacy of World Wars

technology that aided in warfare went on to be used in civilian life. One result of war technology was the use of radar. Radar was first used during World War II to see incoming attacks by enemy air forces from short distances. Radar evolved during World War II to include larger areas of viewing, navigation, and usage in weather prediction and forecasting (The National World War II Museum, n.d., p. 2). Another technology that was born of World War II warfare was plastic. Plastic was used in plastic wrap as a replacement for aluminum foil, which was a scarcity during the rationing of metals in World War II. Plastic was also used to wrap guns to keep them dry and protected while they were being transported (The National World War II Museum, n.d., p. 3). One of the biggest technological devices to come from World War II was the atomic bomb, which the United States dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the Japanese offensive. The atomic bomb was created using two different elements. The Hiroshima bomb was a uraniumtype bomb, while the Nagasaki bomb was a plutonium type bomb (The National World War II Museum, n.d., p. 4). Technological growths from World War II also helped to stimulate economic conditions in many nation-states. The increase in arms to prepare for the war, as well as during the war, stimulated job markets in the United States (World History for All, n.d.). Japan and Germany had declared intentions to increase building of ships and air forces, and those jobs stimulated the economic conditions there. While the war was going on, production of war-time necessities, such as tanks, guns, airplanes, bombs, rations, shoes, and clothes for soldiers increased, creating jobs for the civilians left behind, especially women. This was wonderful news for the United States as it crawled its way out of the Great Depression (Mobilizing for War, 2007).

Freeland Legacy of World Wars The tumultuous times of World War II saw changes in political alliances and views. Russia, which had made an agreement with Germany at the beginning of World War II, fell victim to German invasion after a thwarted attempt to invade Great Britain. The traitorous acts by Hitler against his agreement with the Russian government would see the Russian making an alliance with the Allied forces. Great Britain witnessed the resignation of its Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, who had unfortunately taken Hitler at his word. He was replaced by Winston Churchill, who had been calling for caution when dealing with Hitler long before the

war broke out (War Begins, 2007). World War II saw the first time that a United States president was elected to his fourth term in office, something that would never happen again. The changes that occurred during World War II changed the way that some looked at state sovereignty. The Treaty of Westphalia recognized the sovereignty of nations and gave states the right to be free of interference from other states (Ray & Kaarbo, 2008). The outbreak of World War I and World War II challenged the idea of sovereignty that the Treaty of Westphalia outlined. Now sovereignty is less about freedom from interference and more an idea that states have the right to make laws within their borders, but they do not have the right to try and seize more power than they should (Joffe, 1999). The creation of the League of Nations after World War I demonstrated this idea. The United Nations today continues to demonstrate that while states in the global political arena are sovereign, they still have to be willing to be team players. States seek approval from participating states before declaring war on other nations. This was not the case when Germany declared instigated war against France and Great Britain in World War II (Joffe, 1999).

Freeland Legacy of World Wars World War I and World War II have brought about changes that are still felt today. The advances in science, medicine, technology, and media are all borne from the seeds planted during World War II. Mass production of medicine was invented during World War II (The National World War II Museum, n.d., p. 2). Without mass production capabilities, we would

have many people in desperate need of vaccinations without the means of receiving them in time to fight off disease. Technology that introduces calculating machines and computer devices during the war has led to the computer that is being used to research materials for this paper and the internet resources available for said research (The National World War II Museum, n.d., p. 1). The state of the global political area today was laid in the ashes of World War II war sites and loss of lives. The creation of the United Nations and the European Union has grown out of the necessity that was created by the circumstances of World War I and World War II. The many facets of our daily lives and interactions with people and technology are all directly descended from World War II. In closing, the hostilities and circumstances that resulted from World War I directly lead to the beginning of World War II. Though there was so much loss and destruction during World War II, the seeds of change were planted on the fertile soil of destruction. Technology, economic conditions and policies, and global politics saw many changes during this time. These are changes that people are still living with today. The idea of sovereign states, once thought to be free from interference and free to rule, changed due to the circumstances and causes of World War II. World War II showed everyone in the world that it is easy to destroy, but it takes courage and strength to turn the destruction to growth.

Freeland Legacy of World Wars References

Joffe, J. (1999). Rethinking the Nation-State: the Many Meanings of Sovereignty. Retrieved May 15, 2011, from Council on Foreign Relations, Inc. Web site: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/55618/josef-joffe/rethinking-the-nation-state-themany-meanings-of-sovereignty Mintz, S. (2007). America at War: World War II-Mobilizing for War. Retrieved May 16, 2011, from Digital History Web site: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=543 Mintz, S. (2007). America at War: World War II-The Coming of WWII. Retrieved May 16, 2011, from Digital History Web site: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=536 Mintz, S. (2007). America at War: World War II-The Holocaust. Retrieved May 16, 2011, from Digital History Web site: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=533 Mintz, S. (2007). America at War: World War II-War Begins. Retrieved May 16, 2011, from Digital History Web site: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=534 The National World War II Museum. (n.d.). The War That Changed Your World: the Science and Technology of WWII. Retrieved May 17, 2011, from The National World War II Museum Web site: http://www.ww2sci-tech.org/essays/essay2.html Ray, J. L., & Kaarbo, J. (Eds.). (2008). Global Politics (9th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Freeland Legacy of World Wars World History for All. (n.d.). Big Era Eight: A Half Century of Crisis 1900-1950 CE. Retrieved May 15, 2011, from San Diego State University Web site: http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/eras/era8.php