The End of World War II and its Impact on World Affairs

The End of World War II and The End of World War II and its Impact on World Affairsits Impact on World Affairs

End of WWIIEnd of WWII Things were bleak for Things were bleak for

Europe. Europe. Germany had taken over Germany had taken over

Poland, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, France and Czechoslovakia, France and many other nations.many other nations.

The Soviet Union, Japan, The Soviet Union, Japan, and Italy had allied with and Italy had allied with Germany to form the Axis Germany to form the Axis Powers.Powers.

End of WWII End of WWII ContinuedContinued

Japan will attack Pearl Japan will attack Pearl Harbor, the US naval Harbor, the US naval base located in Hawaii.base located in Hawaii.

This will lead to the This will lead to the USA jumping in and USA jumping in and supplying troops to supplying troops to fight the war.fight the war.

Our troops will Our troops will revitalize Europe’s revitalize Europe’s forces and be one factor forces and be one factor for the Allied victory.for the Allied victory.

End of WWII: EuropeEnd of WWII: Europe

Hitler will turn on the Hitler will turn on the Soviet Union, causing them Soviet Union, causing them to join the Allies.to join the Allies.

The Big 3, Joseph Stalin The Big 3, Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union), Franklin D. (Soviet Union), Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S.A.), and Roosevelt (U.S.A.), and Winston Churchill (Great Winston Churchill (Great Britain) will form a union Britain) will form a union and fight together to defeat and fight together to defeat the Axis Powers.the Axis Powers.


The Soviets will push The Soviets will push Germany in from the Germany in from the East, and the U.S.A., East, and the U.S.A., Britain, and what was Britain, and what was left of France’s forces left of France’s forces will push in from the will push in from the West.West.


The Soviets were the first to discover The Soviets were the first to discover the Death Camps in Germany and the Death Camps in Germany and make reports that will shock the make reports that will shock the world.world.

It is generally accepted that on April It is generally accepted that on April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler committed 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide with his new wife Eva Braun suicide with his new wife Eva Braun in a bunker during the Battle for in a bunker during the Battle for Berlin.Berlin.

End of WWII: V-E DayEnd of WWII: V-E Day

V-E Day (Victory in V-E Day (Victory in Europe day) was May 7 Europe day) was May 7 and 8 1945.and 8 1945. These are the These are the two days that the two days that the unconditional surrender of unconditional surrender of the Axis Powers in Europe the Axis Powers in Europe were accepted and signed.were accepted and signed.

The War in Europe was The War in Europe was officially over.officially over.

End of WWII: Nuclear WarEnd of WWII: Nuclear War

New technology will be New technology will be used by the U.S.A.used by the U.S.A. as a as a show of force to end the show of force to end the war with Japan in the war with Japan in the Pacific.Pacific.

End of WWII: Nuclear WarEnd of WWII: Nuclear War In order to bring the war to an end quickly, In order to bring the war to an end quickly,

President Harry S. Truman, decided that a show President Harry S. Truman, decided that a show of extreme force would end the fighting.of extreme force would end the fighting.

On August 6, 1945, “Little Boy” was On August 6, 1945, “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima.dropped on Hiroshima.

The U.S.A. then gave Japan an ultimatumThe U.S.A. then gave Japan an ultimatum, , unconditional surrender by the Japanese unconditional surrender by the Japanese or there or there would be a second nuclear attack.would be a second nuclear attack.

On August 9, 1945, with Japan failing to On August 9, 1945, with Japan failing to surrender, a second nuclear bomb called surrender, a second nuclear bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki.“Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki.

On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered to On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies.the Allies.

End of WWII: HiroshimaEnd of WWII: Hiroshima

Hiroshima Model Before Bombing Hiroshima Model After Bombing


The ruins of Hiroshima smolder one day after the atomic The ruins of Hiroshima smolder one day after the atomic bomb called “Little Boy” was dropped on August 6, 1945.bomb called “Little Boy” was dropped on August 6, 1945.


End of WWII: NagasakiEnd of WWII: Nagasaki

End of WWII: NagasakiEnd of WWII: Nagasaki

End of WWII: The Rise of SuperpowersEnd of WWII: The Rise of Superpowers At the end of the war, there will be two At the end of the war, there will be two

clear Superpowers: The United States of clear Superpowers: The United States of America and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.).America and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.).

A superpower is a country that has the highest A superpower is a country that has the highest level of influence on world politics and has a level of influence on world politics and has a very strong military.very strong military.

Although the USA and Soviet Union were Although the USA and Soviet Union were friends during WWII, after the war they friends during WWII, after the war they are enemies. are enemies.

End of WWII:A Divided GermanyEnd of WWII:A Divided Germany

At the end of the war it was At the end of the war it was difficult to decide difficult to decide what to do with Germany.what to do with Germany.

They were accused of starting two world wars They were accused of starting two world wars and Britain and France did not want to be and Britain and France did not want to be invaded again.invaded again.

The solution was to divide Germany, but The solution was to divide Germany, but how? how?

Germany was divided into Eastern Germany was divided into Eastern (Communist) and Western Germany (Communist) and Western Germany (Democracy).=Berlin Wall.(Democracy).=Berlin Wall.

End of WWII:A Divided GermanyEnd of WWII:A Divided Germany The Soviets had lost millions of troops in the war and The Soviets had lost millions of troops in the war and

wanted some control over the outcome. wanted some control over the outcome. The U.S.A. felt the need for representation if the Soviets The U.S.A. felt the need for representation if the Soviets

were involved. They feared the spread of communism were involved. They feared the spread of communism (the Soviets new economy and form of government).(the Soviets new economy and form of government).

Britain and France also wanted in, but really were in no Britain and France also wanted in, but really were in no shape to control anything other than rebuilding shape to control anything other than rebuilding themselves.themselves.

Germany was divided into four quarters, but the U.S.A. Germany was divided into four quarters, but the U.S.A. would control all three sections for the Allies.would control all three sections for the Allies.

End of WWII: East & West GermanyEnd of WWII: East & West Germany

End of WWII: East & West BerlinEnd of WWII: East & West Berlin The capital of Germany was Berlin, and once they The capital of Germany was Berlin, and once they

divided the nation, it fell on the Soviet controlled divided the nation, it fell on the Soviet controlled East Germany side.East Germany side.

As a compromise, theAs a compromise, the city of Berlin was divided city of Berlin was divided into East and West Berlin. into East and West Berlin.

West Berlin was controlled by the U.S.A.West Berlin was controlled by the U.S.A.

East Berlin was controlled by the Soviet Union.East Berlin was controlled by the Soviet Union.

End of WWII: Beginnings of the Cold WarEnd of WWII: Beginnings of the Cold War

The debate over the division of Germany would be The debate over the division of Germany would be the first of many problems between the Soviets and the first of many problems between the Soviets and the U.S.A.the U.S.A.

Following the war, Following the war, the Soviets also developed an the Soviets also developed an atomic bomb.atomic bomb.

Now the two world superpowers both had nuclear Now the two world superpowers both had nuclear weapons.weapons.

Cold WarCold War

The Cold War was a time period when The Cold War was a time period when non-cooperation betweennon-cooperation between the two major the two major world Superpowers, world Superpowers, the USA and the Soviet the USA and the Soviet Union, that caused a fear of nuclear war.Union, that caused a fear of nuclear war.

Cold WarCold War

With the two superpowers at odds, the rest of the With the two superpowers at odds, the rest of the world felt the pressure to take sides.world felt the pressure to take sides.

There became a clear division between the non-There became a clear division between the non-communist nations of NATO and the communist communist nations of NATO and the communist nations that became members of the Warsaw Pact.nations that became members of the Warsaw Pact.

These two organizations (NATO and the Warsaw These two organizations (NATO and the Warsaw Pact) were alliances between countries on either Pact) were alliances between countries on either side.side.

Cold War: The World Takes SidesCold War: The World Takes Sides

Cold War: PoliticsCold War: Politics

West Germany developed a capitalist West Germany developed a capitalist economy and a democratic government economy and a democratic government modeled after the U.S.A.modeled after the U.S.A.

East Germany developed a communist East Germany developed a communist economy and government modeled after the economy and government modeled after the U.S.S.R.U.S.S.R.

Cold War: PoliticsCold War: Politics Communism is an economic system and form of Communism is an economic system and form of

government in which the government makes all of the government in which the government makes all of the decisions as to what will be produced, how it will be decisions as to what will be produced, how it will be produced, and for whom it will be produced.produced, and for whom it will be produced.

Capitalism is an economic system in which individuals Capitalism is an economic system in which individuals decide what to produce, how to produce, and for whom to decide what to produce, how to produce, and for whom to produce.produce.

Democracy is a form of government in which the people Democracy is a form of government in which the people control the government by voting.control the government by voting.

Cold War: The Berlin WallCold War: The Berlin Wall

In 1961 the Soviets built the Berlin wall to divide In 1961 the Soviets built the Berlin wall to divide East Germany from West Germany.East Germany from West Germany.

Anyone who tried to cross the wall would be shot.Anyone who tried to cross the wall would be shot.

Cold War: The Berlin WallCold War: The Berlin Wall

Cold War: The Berlin WallCold War: The Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall became The Berlin Wall became

the symbol for the “Iron the symbol for the “Iron Curtain.”Curtain.”

The “Iron Curtain” is theThe “Iron Curtain” is the term for the term for the imaginary imaginary border between the border between the communist nations and communist nations and the members of NATOthe members of NATO..

Cold War: “Proxy Wars”Cold War: “Proxy Wars” During the Cold War the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. never During the Cold War the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. never

technicallytechnically fought each other fought each other, there were several “almost” , there were several “almost” events between the two.events between the two.

These include the Cuban Missile Crisis.These include the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Quite often the two nations avoided fighting directly and Quite often the two nations avoided fighting directly and encouraged other nations to fight each other instead. encouraged other nations to fight each other instead.

These “proxy wars” are the reason nations like Iraq, Iran, These “proxy wars” are the reason nations like Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan have the military training and Syria, and Afghanistan have the military training and technology that they do.technology that they do.

Cold War: And the Wall Comes Tumbling Down After decades of failure to cooperate, After decades of failure to cooperate, under U.S.A. under U.S.A.

President Ronald Regan and U.S.S.R. Premier the President Ronald Regan and U.S.S.R. Premier the two nations began to have communications.two nations began to have communications.

The U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. leaders before these two The U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. leaders before these two men had not met regularly to speak in person.men had not met regularly to speak in person.

These two leaders began a relationship that sped These two leaders began a relationship that sped up the end of the Soviet Union and the eventual up the end of the Soviet Union and the eventual fall of communism as we knew it.fall of communism as we knew it.

Cold War: And the Wall Comes Tumbling Down

Cold War: And the Wall Comes Cold War: And the Wall Comes Tumbling DownTumbling Down

Under Mikhail Under Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s form of Union’s form of communism ended. communism ended.

The fall of the Berlin The fall of the Berlin Wall in August of 1989 Wall in August of 1989 became the symbol of became the symbol of the fall of communism the fall of communism in Europe and the end in Europe and the end of the Cold War.of the Cold War.



After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germans After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germans from from East Berlin/GermanyEast Berlin/Germany could finally travel across the could finally travel across the border border into West Berlin/Germanyinto West Berlin/Germany freely. freely.

This was the beginning of the reunification of East This was the beginning of the reunification of East and West Germany.and West Germany.

The two parts of Germany had been divided since the The two parts of Germany had been divided since the end of World War II in 1945.end of World War II in 1945.

Cold War: One GermanyCold War: One Germany

The newly reformed Germany has struggled to The newly reformed Germany has struggled to reshape itself into one nation again. reshape itself into one nation again.

Though people were happy with the event, the Though people were happy with the event, the difficulties of bringing former East Germany’s difficulties of bringing former East Germany’s infrastructure up to West German standards has infrastructure up to West German standards has taken a long time.taken a long time.

Today, the reunification is considered to be a Today, the reunification is considered to be a success.success.

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The End of World War II and its Impact on World Affairs