UNIV 3539 Blog

A GROUP WEBLOG FOR THE PEOPLE'S CENTURY I UNIV 3539.

October 27, 2007

Total War

A third great calamity engulfed humanity between 1931 and 1945. The Second World War grew from long-germinating seeds: the Spanish Civil War, the Great Depression, the inequitable Versailles Treaty, the unprecedented scale and carnage of the Great War, the paternalistic and racist colonialism of the European powers (and the seething anger it engendered in colonials and competitors), rapacious American capitalism (also racist), and the dizzying pace of technological change that destabilized traditional patterns of life across the globe.

The direct causes of the war are obvious?the rise of fascism in Italy, National Socialism in Germany and jingoistic militarism in Japan. All three members of the Tripartite Pact (the Axis) had enormous popular support at home. The aggressive policies of the Axis leaders provoked the war. In Asia it began with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, in Africa with the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, in Europe with the German invasion of Poland in 1939, and in the United States with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 (the U.S. Navy had engaged German submarines in the Atlantic in April and the encounters escalated throughout the year). By 1942, most nations worldwide had declared for either the Axis or the Allies?few countries were neutral.

With a scale and scope previously unseen and unimagined in human history, the conflagration of World War II irrevocably changed the world. By summer?s end in 1945, the world had entered the nuclear age and uncharted territory. A seemingly endless Cold War with its MAD threat (Mutually Assured Destruction) and limited hot wars (Korea and Vietnam) resulted.

Ordinary people the world over keenly felt the shock of total war. Killed, wounded in body and mind, tortured and abused, made homeless, isolated, despairing and afraid, the peoples of the world suffered as never before. As a result of the war, every single person was potentially at risk?war knew no limits.

And yet, within a generation, the world seemed remarkably different. Despite the Cold War, the United States had grown far more prosperous and the material standard of living reached unprecedented heights. A ravaged Europe recovered?with help (the Marshall Plan). Japan rose from the ashes to become the world?s third greatest economy. Throughout Africa and Asia new nations arose from the wreckage of colonialism. Why?

Posted by

William M. at 8:10 AM CDT

Comments:

Adam N.

says:

I believe World War II instilled a deep resolve and determination within all people to improve their lives and to make their nations stronger, both economically and militarily. People across the world had just endured one of the most significant events in world history. They faced constant danger and uncertainty. As a result, they had to show great resolve. They had to be determined to survive. And they realized that their survival and prosperity hinged upon their own efforts. A race had begun to see which nation would stand above the rest; which nation would be the beacon of prosperity for all the others. All people from many different nations had a profound desire for their nation to reach that status. While external reasons may be observed to explain the higher standard of living and quick recovery, it seems to me that the internal reasons are the most responsible for such a dramatic upturn in the global society.

Posted on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:58 AM CDT by Adam N.

Brooke W.

says:

Relatively speaking, the world today has several advantages to that of pre-World War II. While wars still rage, both within countries and between them, the majority of people in the world are still living longer, better lives. Great change is only brought about by drastic measures. World War II was the drastic measure. It showed citizens everywhere that it can be worse--much worse. World War II was mostly a time of political instability. New forms of governments were popping up everywhere and were being tested out. The victors of the war had their governments accepted while the losers were mostly regarded as having uncivilized rule and were shunned by the rest of the world. Once the urge to change political structures had run its course, true stability could be achieved; and the grudges of the First World War could finally be put to rest so that real peace instead of loose, false peace could be established. World War II was horrible, destructive, and a look at the true ugliness of humanity. Yet, above all, it was necessary to have the relatively stabilized world we live in today.

Posted on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:39 AM CDT by Brooke W.

astin p.

says:

even though japan was destroyed they were able to come back from the ashes to make a very strong country. countries are able to come back and become even better because of a couple reasons. a country being rebuilt can come back better than ever because they get to start a new, and fix their government, economy etc how ever they want, and are able to avoid the mistakes of the past. also, rebuilding a nation gives it a lot of patriotic energy to work with, which means that its people will work together.

Posted on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:40 AM CDT by astin p.

Lisette W.

says:

Any time a nation is completely devestated by war, they have to rebuild or face the possibility of total collapse. With that opportunity to rebuild comes the added opportunity to come back even stronger. The people of that country often feel that they do have the ability to work together and make their country better than ever before. Most of Europe and Asia was devestated by the effects of World War II, yet they all were able to rebuild their countries. The US did prosper as well, yet they didn't face the same obstacles because the war wasn't fought on US soil (with the exception of the attacks on Pearl Harbor). War seems to bring out the patriot in everyone, and often the people don't like to fall defeated, but rather want to rise up again to prosper once more.

Posted on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 2:12 PM CDT by Lisette W.

Bessie J.

says:

Economic and political reality in Western Europe forced the dismantling of the European empires. New nations arose from the wreckage of colonialism in Africa and Asia because the new states realized that they were ill prepared to become independent as they were faced with the reality of rapid population growth, social unrest, and political instability.

Posted on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 2:17 PM CDT by Bessie J.

Melanie L.

says:

Anytime people are forced into a state of downtrodenness it strenghtens their resolve. Therefore when these countries rebuilt they were able to come back stronger than before. The people were determined to move back to their homes and attempt to return their lives to a state of normalcy. The war affected everyone. It made the people realize that they all needed each other. It took the collective efforts of all the citizens joining together to build stronger and more unified coutries.

Posted on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 4:48 PM CDT by Melanie L.

Amy C.

says:

I believe determination and perseverance played a big role in these countries having success. The U.S., Europe, and Japan knew what it was like to prosper and longed to have prosperity again. I feel the newly developed countries learned by example. The wanted what the U.S. and European countries had, and freedom to make their own laws.

Posted on Mon, 5 Nov 2007 8:37 PM CST by Amy C.

demia f.

says:

Many countries hit rock bottom. It was a matter of pulling yourself ot of the uncompromising postion or continue to be at an unrest state. Obviously, everyone suffered tremendously from the war; therefore, everyone wanted to rebuild into a new situation with a fresh start. Countries were racing to become on top. Africa and Asia had new nations to form because they became dependent upon other for help. Their continent was destroyed and they needed assistance and guidance in the right direction; therefore, colonization came into play. People united in order to restore their world and what was left of it. They needed a new sense of direction. Each continent and the countries within these continents searched for a rapid recovery.

Posted on Tue, 6 Nov 2007 11:59 AM CST by demia f.

Lafonda B.

says:

I think that these countries had fell so far down after the War that they had no choice but to rise up. These countries where possibly more willing to try to become a powerful nation. These countries may also felt that there could be another world war at anytime, so they needed to take advantage of any opportunity that they where given the opportunity to gain economic status as well as power.

Posted on Tue, 6 Nov 2007 10:32 PM CST by Lafonda B.

Cordelia G.

says:

The rising of these countries constitutes the determination and reorganization of its people. These countries practiced ?survival of the fittest?. Japan rose from basically ashes. I think the fall of Japan demonstrated to them that large nations were now prepared to fight a new more technically advanced war. Other countries would have to learn how to survive or they would be demised. Countries took this idea and put all of their efforts into rebuilding and organizing a stable economy. This would help ensure future success.

Posted on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:42 PM CST by Cordelia G.

Allison S.

says:

I think many nations prospered after World War II for various reasons. Nations such as the U.S. had booming economies thanks to war production and the many jobs that brought with it. The economy tended to thrive as people were elated with the nation's victory in the war. With assistance, European nations too recovered. It took some many years for this to happen, but it in inevitably did all over the continent. Japan would go on to being a great world economy due to their resolve. They may have been down, but they were certainly not out, and they proved that to the world by rising to the position that they are currently in. Other nations saw their creation after the downfall of colonization, a concept which greatly broke down after World War II. The end of the horrible war led to many great changes in many different places.

Posted on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 3:34 PM CST by Allison S.

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