WWII Aftermath: Impact, Peace Conferences & UN
Impact of World War II
When World War II ended, Europe was materially and morally destroyed, and its population was decimated. Two new powers emerged, the United States and the USSR, relegating Europe to a secondary role. The demographic balance is estimated at around 50 million deaths, almost half from the USSR, followed by Germany and Poland. For the first time in history, the majority of victims were not military personnel.
Material destruction was significant, affecting cities, infrastructure, and industrial facilities. Continued looting in the cities, the military practices of burning crops and forests, and the destruction of industries led to a drastic reduction of agricultural and industrial production in countries at war. In contrast, countries outside of the main conflict zones that became suppliers experienced tremendous economic growth.
The war left a deep moral impact. Border changes and expulsions of ethnic groups led to a high number of forced displacements. During the war, human rights had been violated, and violence and cruelty had been prevalent for six long years. Furthermore, knowledge of the Jewish Holocaust and the consequences of the atomic bomb left a deep trauma.
Peace Conferences
The three great allies met for the first time at the Tehran Conference, attended by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. There, the first joint military measures were taken to hasten the end of the war.
The second conference of the three took place in the city of Yalta, where it was decided to abolish the Nazi regime and divide Germany and Austria into four occupation zones, with a similar division of Berlin and Vienna.
The third conference was held in Potsdam. The new players (Atlee, Truman, and Stalin) agreed on various aspects concerning Germany and settled the Oder-Neisse line as the border between Germany and Poland. However, discrepancies also emerged between Americans and Soviets, with the latter being accused of taking advantage of the war victory to extend their influence and hegemony. Mutual distrust led the Americans to suspend aid to the USSR.
Finally, in the Paris Conference, peace treaties were drafted with the rest of Germany’s allies. The treaty with Austria was not signed until 1955, and the country was occupied by the Allies until that year.
The Creation of the UN
The San Francisco Conference founded the United Nations (UN) to replace the League of Nations. The new organization had 46 founding states, and its objective was the maintenance of peace and security, as well as cooperation between nations. It also established the rejection of force, non-interference in internal affairs, and the right of peoples to self-determination.
At the UN, all states are represented in the General Assembly, and a two-thirds majority is required to make a decision. There is also a Security Council where the five permanent members have the right to veto Assembly decisions.