1. Unit VIII. World War II

2. D. Impact of WWII

3. D. Impact of WWII 1. Civilian Life and Total War a. Both the Allies and axis engaged in total war *Cities and civilians became targets of bombing b. Democratic gov’ts increased their power during the war *Economies were regulated -Ordered factories to produce war materials instead of civilian products -Prices and wages were fixed and consumer goods rationed *The rights of individuals were sometimes limited -In the US and Canada, some Japanese were forced into internment camps -British took similar action against Germans *Women increased their influence and power within democracies -Worked in factories, served in the armed forces as drivers and message decoders, served as nurses at field hospitals

4. D. Impact of WWII (cont’d) 2. Wartime Atrocities a. The Holocaust *Hitler planned to destroy all those he found inferior -Jews were the main target, but also included Slavs, Gypsies, and the mentally and physically disabled ( genocide ) -Policies against these groups increased in severity and hostility as the war waged on Concentration camps and death camps in Germany and Poland By 1945, more than 6 million Jews had died b. Other Atrocities * Rape of Nanjing : Japanese invasion of the city of Nanjing,1937 -Mass shootings, terrible brutality; ~250, 000 Chinese killed * Bataan Death March: Philippines, Japanese soldiers forced American and Filipino prisoners of war marched up the Bataan Peninsula -Along the way, prisoners were beaten, stabbed, and shot *In Poland, Soviet troops subjected thousands of Poles to imprisonment, torture, and execution

5. D. Impact of WWII (cont’d) 3. Impact of the War a. Human Losses *Killed as many as 75 million b. Economic Losses *Throughout Europe and Asia cities were in ruin *European countryside devastated *The economies of these nations would take years to recover c. War Crime Trials: Nuremburg, Germany 11/45-9/46 *Allied leaders agreed to punish those responsible for “ crimes against humanity ” - Twenty-two surviving Nazi leaders were tried at Nuremburg -Received the death or life imprisonment - Additional trials held in Italy and Japan *Demonstrated that leaders could be held accountable for their actions, even dduring war

6. D. Impact of WWII (cont’d) 3. Impact of the War (cont’d) d. Occupied Nations *In order to prevent another world war western nations occupied W. Germany and Japan -They established new gov’ts w/democratic constitutions *Soviet forces occupied E. Germany and most of E. Europe -They established communist gov’ts *Europe divided in two-btw democracy (west) and communism (east) e. The United Nations : April, 1945 *Representatives from nations around the world met San Francisco to establish the United Nations -The purpose of the UN is to provide a place to discuss world problems and develop solutions -Two main bodies: General Assembly : representatives from all member nations (each rep has one vote) Security Council : 15 member nations, 5 of which are permanent (US, Russia, France, GB, and China)