World War II and the Cold War: A Historical Summary

The March to War

Asia

Japan, aiming to expand its influence along the China coast, occupied Manchuria and parts of China.

Africa and Europe

Italy occupied Albania in Europe and Ethiopia in Africa.

Germany and Italy participated in the Spanish Civil War, providing arms and other support.

Germany remilitarized the Rhineland region.

Germany later occupied Austria and the Sudetenland, which was ceded to them.

France and Britain convened the Munich Conference to halt German expansion, but ultimately appeased Hitler, leading to the annexation of Czechoslovakia. Bohemia and Moravia were established, while Slovakia became a satellite state.

Partnerships and the Outbreak of Conflict

Germany and Italy formed an alliance known as the Rome-Berlin Axis (Pact of Steel).

Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact.

France and Britain, initially hesitant, agreed to support Poland in case of war.

To prevent further alliances against them, Germany signed the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact with the USSR. Shortly after, Germany invaded Poland, triggering declarations of war from France and Britain. This marked the beginning of World War II.

Axis Victories

Hitler’s blitzkrieg, characterized by rapid advancements using air support and panzer divisions, began with the invasion of Poland.

In 1940, Germany bombed British cities and ports in preparation for a potential invasion, known as the Battle of Britain.

Britain resisted, forcing Hitler to abandon the invasion plans. However, he imposed a blockade on the British Isles, initiating the Battle of the Atlantic to disrupt supply lines.

In 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, a surprise attack on the Soviet Union, reaching Moscow quickly. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into the war.

Decolonization

Asia

Nationalist movements in Asia resisted a return to pre-war conditions. Britain granted independence to India and Indonesia.

France withdrew from Indochina, leading to the proclamation of the State of Vietnam.

North Africa

Libya gained sovereignty. France recognized the independence of Morocco and Tunisia but fought a protracted war before granting independence to Algeria.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Most British, French, and Belgian colonies in sub-Saharan Africa gained independence.

Southern Africa

Portuguese colonies, including Namibia, achieved independence. South Africa’s independence had previously been declared by white settlers.

The Iron Curtain

The Truman Doctrine, which denounced the establishment of communist regimes in occupied countries and proposed containing the communist threat in Europe, marked a significant escalation in tensions.

The United States increased its military presence and established bases in Europe, also proposing the Marshall Plan to aid European economic reconstruction.

In response, the USSR issued the Zhdanov Doctrine, criticizing U.S. actions as a means of dominating Europe, and founded the Cominform, an organization of communist countries.

The world became divided by the Iron Curtain, with the United States and its allies forming NATO, and the Soviet Union and its allies forming the Warsaw Pact.

Cold War Conflicts

Korean War

Korea, divided into two states after World War II, experienced a conflict when the Soviet-backed North invaded the South. The war ended with the Panmunjom Armistice, solidifying the division of Korea.

Vietnam War

Communist forces in Vietnam declared independence. France, with U.S. support, fought against the nationalist forces backed by the Soviet Union. The war concluded with the U.S. withdrawal and the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.

Cuban Missile Crisis

The United States imposed an economic boycott on Cuba after the establishment of a revolutionary regime. Cuba received support from the USSR.

The U.S. imposed a naval blockade on Cuba in response to the Soviet deployment of nuclear missiles. The crisis ended with the Soviet withdrawal of missiles and the U.S. lifting the blockade.

Causes of Decolonization

  • Desire for independence among colonized populations
  • Rise of nationalist movements
  • Decline in the prestige of colonial powers
  • Growing international opposition to colonization
  • Support for decolonization from both the United States and the Soviet Union

Peace Conferences

The Allied powers (United States, Britain, and USSR) held several conferences:

  • Tehran Conference: Focused on joint military strategy to end World War II.
  • Yalta Conference: Addressed the elimination of Nazi Germany.
  • Potsdam Conference: Discussed the future of Germany, revealing growing tensions between the U.S. and the USSR.
  • Paris Peace Conference: Peace treaties with Germany’s allies were drafted.