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Results and significance of World War 2. Main stages of the Second World War

Terrible war with large-scale human losses began not in 1939, but much earlier. Following the results of the First World War of 1918, almost all European countries acquired new boundaries. Most were deprived of part of their historical territory, which led to small wars in conversations and in minds.

In the new generation, hatred of enemies and resentment for lost cities were brought up. There were reasons to resume the war. However, in addition to psychological reasons, there were also important historical prerequisites. The Second World War, in short, involved fighting the entire globe.

Causes of the war

Scientists identify several main reasons for the outbreak of hostilities:

Territorial disputes. The winners of the 1918 war, England and France, divided Europe with their allies at their own discretion. Decays Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire led to the emergence of 9 new states. The lack of clear boundaries gave rise to great controversy. Defeated countries wanted to return their borders, and the victors did not want to part with the annexed territories. All territorial issues in Europe have always been resolved with the help of weapons. Avoid the beginning new war it was impossible.

Colonial disputes. The defeated countries were deprived of their colonies, which were a constant source of replenishment of the treasury. In the colonies themselves, the local population raised liberation uprisings with armed clashes.

Rivalry between states. After the defeat, Germany wanted revenge. It was always the leading power in Europe, and after the war it was limited in many ways.

Dictatorship. The dictatorial regime in many countries has strengthened significantly. The dictators of Europe first developed their armies to suppress internal uprisings and then to seize new territories.

The emergence of the USSR. The new power was not inferior to the power of the Russian Empire. It was a worthy competitor to the USA and leading European countries. They began to fear the emergence of communist movements.

Beginning of the war

Even before the signing of the Soviet-German agreement, Germany planned aggression against the Polish side. At the beginning of 1939, a decision was made, and on August 31 a directive was signed. State contradictions in the 1930s led to the Second World War.

The Germans did not recognize their defeat in 1918 and the Versailles agreements, which oppressed the interests of Russia and Germany. Power went to the Nazis, blocs began to form fascist states, and large states did not have the strength to resist German aggression. Poland was the first on Germany's path to world domination.

At night September 1, 1939 German intelligence services launched Operation Himmler. Dressed in Polish uniforms, they seized a radio station in the suburbs and called on the Poles to rebel against the Germans. Hitler announced aggression from the Polish side and began military action.

After 2 days, England and France declared war on Germany, having previously entered into agreements with Poland on mutual assistance. They were supported by Canada, New Zealand, Australia, India and the countries of South Africa. The war that began became a world war. But Poland did not receive military-economic assistance from any of the supporting countries. If British and French troops were added to the Polish forces, then German aggression would be instantly stopped.

The population of Poland rejoiced at the entry of their allies into the war and waited for support. However, time passed and no help came. Weak side The Polish army had aviation.

The two German armies “South” and “North”, consisting of 62 divisions, opposed 6 Polish armies of 39 divisions. The Poles fought with dignity, but the numerical superiority of the Germans turned out to be the decisive factor. In almost 2 weeks, almost the entire territory of Poland was occupied. The Curzon line was formed.

The Polish government left for Romania. Defenders of Warsaw and Brest Fortress went down in history thanks to their heroism. The Polish army lost its organizational integrity.

Stages of the war

From September 1, 1939 to June 21, 1941 The first stage of World War II began. Characterizes the beginning of the war and the entry of the German military into Western Europe. On September 1, the Nazis attacked Poland. After 2 days, France and England declared war on Germany with their colonies and dominions.

The Polish armed forces did not have time to deploy, the top leadership was weak, and the allied powers were in no hurry to help. The result was the complete cupping of Polish territory.

France and England did not change their foreign policy until May of the following year. They hoped that German aggression would be directed against the USSR.

In April 1940, the German army entered Denmark without warning and occupied its territory. Immediately after Denmark, Norway fell. At the same time, the German leadership implemented the Gelb plan and decided to surprise France through the neighboring Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The French concentrated their forces on the Maginot Line rather than in the center of the country. Hitler attacked through the Ardennes Mountains beyond the Maginot Line. On May 20, the Germans reached the English Channel, the Dutch and Belgian armies capitulated. Was defeated in June French fleet, part of the army managed to evacuate to England.

The French army did not use all the possibilities of resistance. On June 10, the government left Paris, which was occupied by the Germans on June 14. After 8 days, the Compiègne Armistice was signed (June 22, 1940) - the French act of surrender.

Great Britain was supposed to be next. There was a change of government. The USA began to support the British.

In the spring of 1941, the Balkans were captured. On March 1, the Nazis appeared in Bulgaria, and on April 6 in Greece and Yugoslavia. Western and Central Europe were at the mercy of Hitler. Preparations began for an attack on the Soviet Union.

From June 22, 1941 to November 18, 1942 The second stage of the war lasted. Germany invaded the territory of the USSR. Has begun new stage, characterized by the unification of all military forces in the world against fascism. Roosevelt and Churchill openly declared their support for the Soviet Union. On July 12, the USSR and England entered into an agreement on general military operations. On August 2, the United States pledged to provide military and economic assistance to the Russian army. England and the USA promulgated the Atlantic Charter on August 14, to which the USSR later joined with its opinion on military issues.

In September, the Russian and British military occupied Iran to prevent the formation of fascist bases in the East. The Anti-Hitler Coalition is being created.

The German army encountered strong resistance in the fall of 1941. The plan to capture Leningrad could not be implemented, since Sevastopol and Odessa resisted for a long time. On the eve of 1942, the plan for a “lightning war” disappeared. Hitler was defeated near Moscow, and the myth of German invincibility was dispelled. Germany faced the need for a protracted war.

In early December 1941, the Japanese military attacked a US base in the Pacific Ocean. Two powerful powers went to war. The USA declared war on Italy, Japan and Germany. Thanks to this, the anti-Hitler coalition strengthened. A number of mutual assistance agreements were concluded among allied countries.

From November 19, 1942 to December 31, 1943 The third stage of the war lasted. It is called a turning point. The hostilities of this period acquired enormous scale and intensity. Everything was decided on the Soviet-German front. On November 19, Russian troops launched a counteroffensive near Stalingrad (Battle of Stalingrad July 17, 1942 - February 2, 1943). Their victory provided a strong impetus for subsequent battles.

To regain the strategic initiative, Hitler carried out an attack near Kursk in the summer of 1943 ( Battle of Kursk July 5, 1943 - August 23, 1943). He lost and went into a defensive position. However, the allies of the Anti-Hitler Coalition were in no hurry to fulfill their duties. They expected the exhaustion of Germany and the USSR.

On July 25, the Italian fascist government was liquidated. The new head declared war on Hitler. The fascist bloc began to disintegrate.

Japan did not weaken the group on the Russian border. The United States replenished its military forces and launched successful offensives in the Pacific.

From January 1, 1944 to May 9, 1945 . Fascist army was pushed out of the USSR, a second front is being created, European countries are being liberated from the fascists. The joint efforts of the Anti-Fascist Coalition led to complete collapse German army and the surrender of Germany. Great Britain and the United States carried out large-scale operations in Asia and the Pacific.

May 10, 1945 – September 2, 1945 . Armed actions are carried out on Far East, as well as the territories of the South East Asia. USA applied nuclear weapon.

Great Patriotic War (June 22, 1941 - May 9, 1945).
World War II (September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945).

Results of the war

The greatest losses fell on the Soviet Union, which took the brunt of the German army. 27 million people died. The resistance of the Red Army led to the defeat of the Reich.

Military action could lead to the collapse of civilization. War criminals and fascist ideology were condemned in all world trials.

In 1945, a decision was signed in Yalta to create the UN to prevent such actions.

The consequences of the use of nuclear weapons over Nagasaki and Hiroshima forced many countries to sign a pact banning the use of weapons mass destruction.

Countries Western Europe lost their economic dominance, which passed to the United States.

Victory in the war allowed the USSR to expand its borders and strengthen totalitarian regime. Some countries became communist.

RUSSIA YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Dr. History Sciences V. P. Kuptsov

RESULTS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

The consequences and lessons of the bloodiest wars are assessed

XX century - The Great Patriotic War and the Second World War.

Sixty years have passed since the victory of the combined forces of 55 countries anti-Hitler coalition over Nazi Germany and its allies. Despite the age of this event, interest in studying the history of the past war is constantly growing. Of the many aspects of this complex and multilateral problem, we should first of all highlight the results and lessons of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War, the cost of the victory won.

The world-historical victory over fascism and Japanese militarism, won with the decisive role of the Soviet Union, saved humanity from the threat of enslavement, obscurantism and social degradation. The sovereignty of the countries captured by the fascist bloc was restored, and the international authority of the USSR increased.

As the largest military conflict in the history of mankind, the Second World War is characterized by the enormous scope of military operations, the tension of the moral and political forces of peoples, and an unprecedented increase in military production. In total it lasted 2194 days (6 years). 61 states were drawn into the war. The population of the countries participating in the war was 1.7 billion people (about 80% of the planet's population). It was the most destructive of all the wars that history has known. According to far from complete data, the total material damage from military destruction is estimated at 316 billion dollars. Particularly significant damage was caused to the USSR. Direct damage from destruction on its territory amounted to 679 billion rubles (41% of all material losses countries participating in the war), and together with indirect losses - reached almost 2,600 billion rubles. On the territory of the USSR, 1,710 cities and towns, 70 thousand villages and hamlets were destroyed, 32 thousand industrial enterprises and 65 thousand kilometers of railway tracks were destroyed. Enormous damage was caused agriculture. The Soviet Union lost about 30% of its national wealth during the war. Other countries also suffered significant losses.

In the history of mankind, the Second World War was not only the most destructive, but also the bloodiest. Its victims were enormous. More than 55 million people died, 27 million of them on the battlefield. The greatest demographic losses, as during the First World War, were again suffered by European countries (40 million people), of which more than half (about 27 million) occurred in the Soviet Union.

So, the direct losses of the population of the USSR during the war years amounted to 11.5% of its population by mid-1941. For a more complete picture of this figure, we present estimates of the irretrievable losses of the population of a number of countries participating in the Second World War: Great Britain - 375 thousand people, or 0 ,9% total number; USA - 405 thousand people (0.3%); Japan - 2.5 million people (3.4%). In countries of Eastern Europe The populations of Poland (6 million - 17.2%) and Yugoslavia (1.7 million - 10.9%) suffered the most.

Current issue, which has not received a final decision to this day, is the determination of human losses fascist Germany. In the most recent publication, it was calculated that the total irretrievable demographic losses (military personnel and civilians) in Germany amounted to 8.8 million people, i.e. 12.7% of the country’s population at the beginning of World War II, and together with its satellites - 11.9 million people.

According to the results of a study by the commission of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Military Forces, the German armed forces for the period from September 1, 1939 to May 9, 1945, lost 13.4 million people killed and wounded, according to incomplete data. At the same time, on the Soviet-German front (from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945), the irretrievable losses of the Germans amounted to 7.2 million military personnel, and together with the allies - 8.7 million people.

The irretrievable losses suffered by the Soviet Armed Forces in 1941-1945 reached 11.4 million people, and together with the allies on the Eastern Front - 11.5 million people. They correlate with the corresponding enemy losses as 1:1.3.

Wars are accompanied by an increase in civilian deaths relative to total number human losses. During the First World War this figure was 5%, during the Second World War - 48, the Korean War - 84, in Vietnam - 90%.

A special and little-studied area of ​​the military-demographic consequences of wars are indirect and remote losses. As a result of the mobilization of young men, there is a sharp drop in the number of marriages and birth rates, and this, ultimately, significantly reduces natural population growth. The number of disabled people is growing significantly.

There is a significant decline in the quality of the population associated with the deterioration of material living conditions (in the Second world war in Europe, 60 million people were left homeless) and, as a consequence, a decline in morality, intellectual potential, epidemics and other negative phenomena.

The Second World War had an impact big influence not only on the natural reproduction of people in all countries of the world, but also on their interstate and internal migration. The migration caused by the war, accompanied by enormous hardships and hardships, led to an increase in mortality and a decrease in birth rates, in other words, the war brought about serious changes in the structure of population throughout the world. For a number of countries, including the Soviet Union, the demographic consequences of the war became one of the most negative factors in their further development.

Indeed, the cost of the victory of the Soviet people was too great. However, it cannot be a reason to falsify the USSR’s decisive contribution to the victory.

Firstly. In literature published in Germany and others Western countries, the human losses of the Germans in World War II are greatly underestimated. Some Russian publicists and even historians use such data, often without proper analysis. Citing the ratio of human losses between the Soviet Union and Germany (1:5,1:7,1:10), many authors compare incomparable values. From Nazi Germany, only the irretrievable losses of the Wehrmacht (during combat operations) are taken, and from the USSR, the losses of the entire population of the country, including those who died of hunger, in concentration camps and forced labor in Germany, etc. As a rule, this information is not included in the calculations losses of Germany's allies in the fascist bloc, as well as various foreign formations that fought as part of the German troops.

Secondly. The goals of the opposing sides in the war are not taken into account. The Soviet Union, fighting the army of Nazi Germany, defended its freedom and independence and did not pursue the goal of destroying the German people. The aggressor - German fascism - in addition to military plans, carried out its misanthropic intentions to destroy the Slavic and other peoples of our country. It is also known that military operations within the USSR lasted for over three years, and on German territory for less than 5 months. Hence the colossal losses of the civilian population of the Soviet Union, which cannot be compared with the losses of Germany.

Third. The role of the Soviet-German front in the defeat of the aggressor is downplayed and preference is given to the Western European, African and Pacific theaters of military operations. Such narrowing

theses are far from reality. The Eastern Front was the main, most intense and longest in the Second World War. Here the highest price was paid for the overall victory. It was here that she was crushed military power fascist bloc, which led to the collapse of the entire political and military machine of Germany and its satellites. At different times, from 190 to 270 divisions of Nazi Germany and the Allies operated simultaneously on the Soviet-German front. Anglo-American troops in North Africa in 1941-1943. opposed from 9 to 20 divisions in Italy in 1943-1945. - from 7 to 26 divisions, in Western Europe after the opening of the second front - from 56 to 75 divisions. Soviet armed forces in 1941-1945. defeated and captured 607 enemy divisions (the allies defeated 176 divisions). The Wehrmacht lost 70-75% on the Eastern Front various types military equipment and weapons.

There are often allegations that US Lend-Lease assistance played a significant role in achieving the victories of the Red Army on the Eastern Front. Our people remember this and thank their allies in the anti-Hitler coalition. In reality, supplies under Lend-Lease did not exceed 4% of all military products supplied to the front during the war. Therefore, the Red Army and Navy beat the enemy not with foreign, but with domestic weapons, which were provided by the country's military industry. Victory in World War II was the common merit of the coalition of anti-fascist states and peoples, but the USSR made a decisive contribution to the victorious conclusion of the war. That's probably why Soviet people paid the highest price for the overall victory.

As a result of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War, fundamental changes occurred in the international situation.

Changes in the balance of political forces. Confrontation between two systems. The war changed the face of the world. First of all, there have been significant changes in the balance of power and the redistribution of spheres of influence within the capitalist world. The economies of Italy, Germany and Japan were disorganized. The positions of France and the British Empire were significantly weakened. In contrast, the military and economic potential of the United States has sharply increased. Military orders allowed them to make huge profits. The role of the United States as an international banker, supplier of weapons and food for the warring countries turned this power into the leader of the entire capitalist system.

Significant changes took place in the domestic and international position of the USSR, and its influence and authority in the world community increased. In determining the foreign policy activities of the country

faced an alternative choice: 1) continuing allied relations, enter the “common home” of the post-war civilized world and develop with it, with its help restore the economy; 2) follow the same path of the world communist perspective, spreading the socialist ideal to states that have liberated themselves from fascism, and isolate themselves with an “iron curtain” from “class opponents.”

Stalin chose the second path. In the process of expelling the German occupiers from Eastern European countries and the Japanese militarists from East Asia, in the course of restoring the sovereignty of states in these regions, the Stalinist leadership took measures to create communist governments in a number of European and Asian countries. The necessary assistance was provided in the reorganization of socio-political systems with the aim of introducing the Soviet model of socialism. In the ideological sphere, this process was explained by the concept of creating a world socialist system.

The growing influence of the USSR in the post-war world caused alarm and extreme concern among the Western powers. This was most strongly reflected in the speech of former British Prime Minister W. Churchill in American city Fulton (March 1946) and in the message to Congress of US President G. Truman (February 1947). These and other documents formulated two strategic tasks of the West in relation to the USSR. The first priority is to prevent further expansion of the sphere of influence of the USSR and its communist ideology (the doctrine of “containing communism”). The promising one is to push the socialist system back to the pre-war borders, and then achieve its weakening and elimination in Russia itself (the doctrine of “throwing back communism”).

Specific measures to achieve these goals were also identified:

Provide large-scale economic assistance to European countries, making their economies dependent on the United States (Marshall Plan). In 1948-1951 material assistance amounting to $12.4 billion was sent there free of charge;

Under the leadership of the United States, pursue a so-called bloc policy directed against the USSR, countries under its influence and political movements supported by it. In 1949, the North Atlantic Military-Political Alliance was created Western states- NATO. Following this, military-political blocs are being put together in the Near and Middle East. They united about 30 states;

Place a network of military and naval bases USA;

Support anti-socialist forces within the Soviet bloc countries;

Use (as a last resort) the armed forces of the Western powers to directly interfere in the internal affairs of the countries of the Soviet sphere of influence. Moreover, using the factor of the US nuclear monopoly, the possibility was allowed nuclear war. Real plans for an atomic attack on the USSR were being developed. By 1947, 100 Soviet cities had been identified as targets for nuclear attack.

The leadership of the USSR regarded the new foreign policy course of the former allies as a call to war, which immediately affected both the external and internal domestic policy Soviet state. Hopes for comprehensive cooperation after the war among the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition collapsed, the world entered the era of the Cold War, which, either fading or intensifying and threatening to turn into the Third World War, lasted for about half a century.

The measures taken by the USSR after the war in foreign policy were adequate to the actions of the United States, although less effective. The forces were unequal primarily because the Soviet Union emerged from the war economically weakened, while the United States of America emerged stronger.

Thus, one of the main results of the war was a new geopolitical situation. It was characterized by growing confrontation between the leading capitalist states, led by the United States, and the Soviet Union, which was extending its influence to a number of countries in Europe and Asia. What made this confrontation exceptionally dramatic was the fact that it developed in the nuclear era, which humanity entered in August 1945.

Development of democratic trends in many countries of the world. The rise of the labor and democratic movement, caused by the victory over fascism, made it possible to significantly expand rights and freedoms in many bourgeois countries.

A feature of the labor movement of the post-war period was the strengthening of the role and influence of communist, socialist and social democratic parties in it. Being the most consistent forces in the fight against the occupiers and internal reaction, such parties (especially the communists) acquired the well-deserved trust of the people, led democratic transformations, and entered the government of many states.

The growth of the national liberation movement in colonial and dependent countries. The defeat of fascist Germany and militaristic Japan, the weakening of England, France and other colonial powers strengthened the ideas of national liberation and equal rights

childbirth Dozens of enslaved states in Africa, Asia and Latin America rose up to fight for the elimination of colonial oppression and the conquest of political independence.

In the first 15 post-war years alone, more than 40 liberated states emerged in Asia and Africa. By the beginning of the 1960s. almost two thirds of the population globe freed from colonial oppression. In the 1970s The destruction of the colonial system was almost completed.

The USSR has always been sympathetic to the concerns and concerns of the liberated countries. Among the largest initiatives of the Soviet Union is the discussion at the UN of the issue of the elimination of colonialism in 1960, providing assistance in choosing the path of future development.

Creating new conditions for solving the most burning problem of our time - war and peace, preventing a new world war. There was a significant regrouping of socio-political forces in favor of peace and social progress. Convincing confirmation of the changes in world development was the creation of the United Nations (UN).

Soon after the war, an organized peace movement emerged. In April 1949, the first World Peace Congress took place simultaneously in Paris and Prague. More than two thousand delegates represented the peoples of 67 countries and 18 international democratic organizations. The Manifesto for Peace, adopted at the congress, called on all peoples to actively fight against war and to strengthen security and international cooperation.

The development of the democratic peace movement was facilitated by the creation of post-war period and such mass organizations as the World Federation of Trade Unions (1945), the International Democratic Federation of Women (1945), the World Federation of Democratic Youth (1945), the World Peace Council (1948) and other international associations (students, journalists, doctors, lawyers, etc.) d.).

The powerful movement of peace supporters was an important factor in strengthening the security of nations. However, the increasing confrontation between the two systems - socialism and capitalism - destroyed the unity of action of the movement of peace-loving forces and complicated the solution to the problem of ensuring lasting peace. And although preventing a new world war became possible, the number of local, that is, spatially limited, wars and armed conflicts was enormous (researchers count up to 500) and they claimed tens and hundreds of thousands of human lives.

Thus, the components of the potential of the post-war world, split and weakened by the confrontation between capitalist and social

listist systems, were deprived of the opportunity to act as a united front against the forces of aggression and war. In a number of regions local wars have become a reality.

A look at past international crises, of which twice in the twentieth century. world wars flared up, prompts some thoughts about their political results and lessons, about the degree to which they are taken into account in the ongoing military policy states in post-war period historical development.

Changes in the balance of political forces in the international arena after the end of World War II, the confrontation between two socio-political systems, and the outbreak of the Cold War predetermined the involvement of the Soviet Union in the arms race imposed on it, a grueling confrontation. One can only guess what the final astronomical figure for military spending was, the depth of the deformations in consciousness and culture that occurred in the twentieth century. for militaristic reasons. The achievement of military-strategic parity between the USSR and the USA actually devalued military force as a universal weapon of politics. And, probably, the leaders of these countries realized that a nuclear “tournament” could only lead to a historical dead end, since the ashes of the warring parties would be practically indistinguishable, and in a nuclear missile war there would be neither winners nor losers. Unfortunately, the lessons of the past war are not always and not always taken into account. Therefore, humanity is not yet faced with the need to form a “planetary” consciousness in relation to war, which may provide perhaps the only chance to prevent it.

The further expansion of the North Atlantic bloc to the East, according to many military observers, poses a serious danger to our country. In April 2004, NATO was replenished with seven new members: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia. This event was preceded by the admission of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to the alliance. It is important to pay attention to the fact that three former union republics of the USSR and six former member states of the Organization became NATO member states Warsaw Pact(OVD). This strengthens NATO's geopolitical position in Europe and weakens Russia's position.

Today, the military-political bloc includes 26 states, bound by a single strategic concept and having united armed forces. The alliance's aviation group includes 4,700 combat aircraft. Against which country can the potential capabilities of the NATO group be used? If we mentally go back to the Cold War period, the answer is clear: against the countries participating in the Warsaw War. After the collapse of the Department of Internal Affairs, and then the collapse

The USSR in the East has only one state left as a potential enemy in a large-scale war - Russia.

Thus, the theoretical position of the Military Doctrine Russian Federation the expansion of military blocs and alliances to the detriment of Russia's security is confirmed by reality.

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The immediate and most obvious result of the Second World War was gigantic destruction and loss of life. The war devastated entire countries, reduced cities and villages to ruins, and led to the death of many millions of people. The greatest human losses - 26.6 million people - were suffered by the Soviet Union. Germany and its European allies lost, according to various estimates, from 8 to 13 million people. At least 6 million Polish citizens, 6 million Jews, 2–3 million Japanese, and 1.7 million residents of Yugoslavia died.

China's military losses amount to approximately 5 million people, and in total, about 18 million people died in China during the war years - mainly from hunger and disease. Losses of indigenous Asian and African countries, on whose territory military operations were carried out: Burma, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaya, Tunisia, Syria, Ethiopia, Somalia - no one counted. The military losses of France, the USA and Great Britain were relatively small: 635 thousand killed in France, about 300 thousand in the USA, over 400 thousand in Great Britain. England suffered severely from aerial bombing; There was no military destruction in the United States. Relative to the total population, the heaviest casualties were suffered by Poland (17.2%), the Soviet Union (13.5%) and Yugoslavia (11%).

However, the results of World War II are not limited to losses and destruction. As a result of the war, the face of the world changed: new borders and new states appeared, new trends in social development emerged, major inventions and discoveries were made.

The war gave a strong impetus to the development of science and technology. Radar, jet aircraft, ballistic missiles, antibiotics, electronic computers and many other inventions and discoveries were made or came into widespread use during the war. The beginning of the mastery of atomic energy dates back to wartime, thanks to which the twentieth century. often called the atomic age. It was then that the foundations of the scientific and technological revolution were laid, which transformed and continues to transform the post-war world.

The main political result of World War II was the victory over the fascist aggressors. Countries and peoples threatened by fascism defended their independence and freedom. Aggressive states: Germany, Italy, Japan and their allies were defeated. Their armed forces, economy, politics, ideology suffered a complete collapse; their leaders were brought to justice, and they received their well-deserved punishment.

The ideology of fascism, Nazism, racism, and colonialism has completely discredited itself; on the contrary, the ideas of anti-fascism, anti-colonialism, democracy, and socialism gained wide popularity. The human and civil rights enshrined in the UN Charter have received international recognition. Members of the Resistance and former front-line soldiers gained enormous authority. They had a great influence on social and political life, entered the elite of society, and in some countries came to power. The influence of parties and groups fighting for democracy and social transformation - communists, socialists, social democrats, Christian democrats and others - has increased sharply democratic forces. The measures they proposed: the nationalization of industry and banks, the transfer of land to those who cultivate it, the participation of workers in production management, the creation of a comprehensive social insurance system - found a wide response among the population. In many countries, including Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Holland, socialist, social democratic and Christian democratic parties have become the leading political force and headed governments.

Communist parties have grown and strengthened significantly. In France, the Communist Party became the largest political party, in Italy the communists took over the leadership of the largest trade unions. They were part of the government, millions of voters voted for them.

In addition to Italy and France, in seven more countries of Western Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Luxembourg) and in four countries of Latin America (Chile, Cuba, Costa Rica, Ecuador) communists were the first to post-war years also participated in governments.

Major reforms were carried out in many countries: partial nationalization of industry and banks, creation state system social insurance, expansion of workers' rights, in some places (in Germany, Italy, Japan) land reforms were carried out. A number of countries, including France, Italy, Germany, and Japan, adopted new, democratic constitutions. There has been a profound renewal of society; democratization of state and public institutions.

A very important result and consequence of the Second World War was the collapse of the colonial system. Before the war, the vast majority of the world's population lived in colonies, the area and population of which were many times larger than the metropolitan countries: Great Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Japan. During the Second World War and especially after its end, some dependent and colonial countries: Syria, Lebanon, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma, the Philippines, Korea - declared themselves independent. In 1947, India became virtually independent, divided into two dominions: India and Pakistan. A rapid process of liberation of the colonial peoples began, which continued until the complete liquidation of the colonies in the second half of the century.

As a result of the war, the balance of power in the world changed dramatically. Germany, Italy, Japan, which before the war were among the great powers, having been defeated, temporarily turned into dependent countries occupied by foreign troops. Their economy was destroyed by the war, and for a number of years they were unable to compete with their former competitors. Compared to pre-war times, the positions of France and even Great Britain were significantly weakened. Of all the great capitalist powers, only the United States of America emerged from the war significantly stronger. Far ahead of all other countries economically and militarily, the United States has become the sole leader of the capitalist world, a giant “superpower” claiming global leadership.

The second “superpower” was the Soviet Union. Having won victory, despite colossal casualties and destruction, having played a decisive role in the defeat Hitler's Germany, The Soviet Union increased its power and international prestige to an unprecedented degree. By the end of the war, the Soviet Union had the world's largest land army and enormous industrial potential, surpassing that of any other country except the United States. The armed forces of the USSR were located in many countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in East Germany and North Korea. The Soviet Union was unconditionally supported by all communist parties, whose influence greatly increased due to their participation in the fight against fascism. A significant part of world public opinion saw in the USSR not only the winner of the fascist aggressors, but also a country paving the way to a socialist future.

A number of countries liberated by the Soviet Union took the path of non-capitalist development. After liberation from the occupiers in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, people's democratic governments were created with the participation or under the leadership of communists, which began to carry out deep social transformations. In accordance with the Yalta agreements, these countries were tacitly considered the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union and were actually under its control.

Similar transformations were carried out in East Germany and North Korea, occupied Soviet troops. In China, after the victory over the government of Chiang Kai-shek in the Civil War of 1945-1949. The communists also came to power.

If the United States of America became the leader of the capitalist world, then the Soviet Union led the social forces that opposed capitalism. Two main poles of attraction for world forces have emerged, conventionally called East and West; two ideological and military-political bloc, the confrontation of which largely determined the structure of the post-war - bipolar - world.

The first public signal of such a confrontation is considered to be Churchill’s speech, which he delivered on March 5, 1946 in the American city of Fulton in the presence of US President Truman. In this famous speech, Churchill publicly repeated the thoughts that he confidentially expressed to Eden and Truman at the end of the war.

At Fulton, Churchill said that the Soviet Union had divided Europe with an "iron curtain", established a "tyranny" in its sphere of influence, was driven by "expansionist tendencies" and wanted "the limitless spread of its power and its doctrines." He called for opposition to the USSR “with all the strength of the countries that speak English language"and have a monopoly on atomic weapons. Stalin immediately responded that Churchill’s position “is an orientation toward war, a call for war with the USSR.” A fierce debate ensued with mutual accusations of preparing a new war, which for many years remained the dominant feature of social and political life and determined the main content of international relations.

The anti-fascist coalition split. Its participants began to fight each other, and the Cold War began, which lasted for more than 45 years, until the collapse of the USSR, the collapse of the socialist states and the bipolar world system.

The post-war world turned out to be different from the pre-war one. The border between them was drawn by the Second World War, the most grandiose event in the history of the 20th century.


Other chapters from this book


The Second World War was the most difficult and bloody war in the history of mankind. At least 60 million people died during the war, approx. 27 million citizens of the Soviet Union and 6 million citizens of Poland. Tens of millions of people were injured and became disabled. The war devastated entire countries, reduced cities and villages to ruins, and turned millions of people into refugees. In Europe alone, the number of so-called displaced persons forced to leave their place of residence has exceeded 11 million people. The loss of life in the Second World War was almost six times greater than in the First World War, and the damage to property was 12 times greater.

The war was fought cruelly and mercilessly. Hitler's Germany set as its goal to enslave the population of the occupied territories, undermine the vitality of the Slavs, and completely exterminate Jews and Gypsies. The German armed forces carried out massive reprisals against civilians, burning houses, starving or shooting prisoners. Of the 4.5 million Soviet troops captured by Germany, only 1.8 million returned home. In specially created German death camps, the Nazis killed more than 11 million people, including 6 million Jews.

The powers of the anti-fascist coalition - the USA, England, the USSR - responded with massive bombings of enemy cities, deportation of the population suspected of collaborating with the occupiers - sometimes entire peoples, as was the case in the USSR with the Volga Germans, Crimean Tatars, Chechens, Ingush, Kalmyks. At the final stage of the war, the United States used a terrible weapon of mass destruction - the atomic bomb. 2 American atomic bombs, dropped on Japan in the summer of 1945, almost completely destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki along with civilians.

Having drawn all the oceans and continents into its orbit (with the exception of Antarctica), covering 4/5 of the world's population, the Second World War became one of the turning points in the history of mankind.

The main result of the Second World War- victory over fascism.

The fascist and militaristic aggressor states - Germany, Italy, Japan and their allies were completely defeated. Their economy, politics, ideology collapsed, their armed forces capitulated, their territories were occupied by the troops of the anti-fascist coalition. The occupation authorities, with the support of local anti-fascists, liquidated fascist regimes, banned fascist parties, and brought fascist leaders to trial. Only Spain and Portugal still have dictatorial regimes of the fascist type.

The broad masses of the population were overwhelmed with enthusiasm and sought to restructure society on a more just and humane basis. Anti-fascist, democratic and patriotic forces gained unprecedented authority.

During the war, a resistance movement against the occupiers and their accomplices arose and strengthened in the occupied countries. After the war, members of the Resistance, surrounded by respect and honor, began to play a prominent socio-political role. In many countries they came to power and determined state policy.

The influence of the communists, who made a great contribution to the Resistance movement, grew greatly; regardless of the victims, they fought for the freedom and independence of their countries, for the eradication of fascism, for the restoration of democratic freedoms. In a number of countries that freed themselves from fascism, primarily in the countries of Eastern Europe, as well as in Italy and France, communist parties became widespread and received the support of a significant part of the population.

One of the most important results of the war There was a transition of a number of countries to the path of non-capitalist development. After liberation from the occupiers in a number of countries in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, called the countries of People's Democracy, rights were created with the participation or under the leadership of communists, who began to implement anti-fascist, democratic, and then socialist transformations. Similar transformations were carried out in East Germany and North Korea, occupied by Soviet troops. In China, after the defeat of Japan and victory in civil war 1945-1949 The communists came to power.

On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established, whose leadership declared that it intended to build socialism. A whole community of people's democratic and socialist countries was formed.

Another important result World War II - the beginning of the collapse of the colonial system.

The liberation goals and anti-fascist nature of the war, the defeat of the colonial powers in the war with Japan, and then the defeat of the fascist aggressors contributed to the rapid rise of the national liberation movement. Asian countries occupied by Japan and Pacific Ocean(Indochina, Indonesia, Malaya, Burma, Philippines) are out of the control of the metropolitan countries. A significant part of their population participated in the guerrilla struggle against the Japanese occupiers; created its own national political and military organizations. After the surrender of Japan, the countries it occupied declared their independence and refused to recognize the power of the former colonialists. In other colonial countries, especially in India, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, and Palestine, the war awakened the masses of the population to political activity, who more and more persistently demanded independence. The power of the colonialists was shaken. The irreversible collapse of the colonial system began.

As a result of the Second World War, the balance of power on the world stage changed dramatically. Germany, Italy, Japan, which before the war were among the great powers, having been defeated, temporarily turned into dependent countries occupied by foreign troops. Their economy was destroyed by the war, and for a number of years they were unable to compete with their former competitors.

France, defeated by Germany in 1940 and occupied by Nazi troops for four years from 1940 to 1944, temporarily lost its position as a great power. Great Britain successfully ended the war as one of the three victorious great powers, but its position was weakened. Economically and militarily, it lagged far behind the United States and was dependent on American aid.

Only the United States of America emerged from the war significantly stronger. Without conducting military operations on their territory, avoiding military destruction and major human losses, they were far ahead of all other countries economically and militarily. Only the United States had atomic weapons; their navy and air force were the strongest in the world; their industrial output was greater than that of all other countries combined.

The USA has become a giant “superpower”, the leader of the capitalist world, claiming world hegemony.

The second “superpower” was the Soviet Union. Having won victory, despite colossal casualties and destruction, and having made a decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union increased its power, influence and prestige to an unprecedented degree. By the end of the war, the Soviet Union had the world's largest land army and enormous industrial potential, surpassing that of any other country except the United States. The armed forces of the USSR were located in many countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in East Germany, and North Korea. The Soviet Union controlled the situation in the People's Democracy countries and enjoyed their full support, as well as the support North Korea and China, the most populous country in the world.

The Soviet Union was unconditionally supported by the communists and a significant part of world public opinion, who saw in the USSR not only the winner of fascism, but also a country paving the way to the future; into socialism and communism.

If the United States of America was the leader of the capitalist world, then the Soviet Union led all social forces that opposed capitalism. Two main poles of attraction for world forces have emerged, conventionally called East and West; two ideological and military-political blocs, the confrontation of which largely determined the structure of the post-war world.



(ed.: based on the “Chronicle of Humanity.” M., 1994; book “The Second World War. Discussions. Main Trends. Translated from German. M., 1997, textbook 1989 and course of lectures by E.F. Yazkov)

The Second World War had a decisive impact on the history of all the great powers that participated in it, on their further rise or their fall. The system of states itself has undergone significant changes. It concentrated around a few superpowers and a number of “middle” states, but continued to exist, and, moreover, it strengthened under the sign of the formation of ideological and state-political “blocs”.

1. Basics - victory over fascism. Fascist. parties are banned, leaders are put on trial (Nuremberg trials), the ideology of fascism has discredited itself.

2. Countries and peoples that were threatened by the loss of independence and fascisation, retained their statehood, defended democratic freedoms.

3. Grew up international authority of the USSR. Stalin's cunning determination ultimately ensured Soviet Union the greatest successes among all the victorious powers, although its territory suffered incomparably more from the war. 26 million dead (USA - 259 thousand, UK - 386 thousand), devastated areas in the west - extraordinary. high price per turn, to international recognition. In the future, the possibility of recreating anti-Soviet combinations in Eastern, Central and South-Eastern Europe in the style of the 20s and 30s was excluded.

4. Before the war, there was 1 state, built by socialism, after it (it doesn’t matter: on “Soviet bayonets” or independently) it began to form world system of socialism. Later, in the late 50s, this allowed Soviet ideologists to say that “the victory of socialism is complete and final, since the restoration of capitalism is impossible.” In the 30s the victory of socialism was spoken of only “in the main.” After World War II, 11 states (1945-1949) took the path indicated by the USSR, forming a kind of belt between the USSR and Europe.

5. Surrender of the Axis countries ( Germany, Italy, Japan) completely changed the situation in the world, since they temporarily dropped out of the category of “great powers”. Over time, Italy got out of the situation worst of all, Germany (split into 2 states!) a little faster, and Japan - excellent - “economical. miracle" of the 60s.

6. All Old Europe increasingly at a faster pace began to lose its leading role in world politics. Especially “got it” France: in 1940, she capitulated to Germany and dropped out of the ranks of the “great powers”; her position was much worse than that of her rival England. France was recognized as a victorious country, but economically it was not one. This determined on long years the duality of its position: France itself was still aware of its greatness, but on a global scale it was no longer perceived as a “power”. But also England lagged behind the USA. For her, the very decision to enter the war in 1939 predetermined the further weakening of her position as a world power, which had been shaken during the First World War


7. The power political vacuum was filled by the victorious powers after the war - USSR and USA. Exactly these 2 powers(although their losses were human and material, and their contribution to the victory was unequal) began to determine the nature of political decisions on a global scale. Having acquired nuclear weapons - the USA in 1945, the USSR in 1949 - they received powerful leverage on world politics. The transformation of the USSR and the USA into “superpowers” ​​is associated with the creation of the hydrogen bomb (1952 - USA, 1953 - USSR) In connection with the role of the USSR and the USA, world politics has transformed from multipolar to bipolar(“two blocs”, the policy of confrontation in the form of the “Cold War” since 1946, two ideological systems, the bearers of which believed their life values ​​and attitudes were the only true ones). At the same time, the United States (+An) initially insisted on the idea of ​​a “literal united world” [against the policy of violence, for the right of nations to self-determination, international disarmament, free trade, cooperation in all areas] - developed in 1941 within the framework of the “Atlantic Charter” ( Roosevelt-Churchill signed). But Stalin believed that “whoever occupies a certain theory will give it a corresponding social system,” and therefore insisted - i.e. was going to strengthen the influence of socialism in Europe and create a state system with a pro-Soviet orientation, which has been consistently implemented since 1943. The first step in this direction was the non-recognition of Polish emigre rights by the USSR and the creation of a pro-Soviet state in Poland. Next is the consistent desire for the division of Germany. All this pushed Churchill to speak in March 1946 and declare the Cold War. Cold War As a result, World War II had its advantage (from the point of view of modern German IS): instead of the “either-or” principle, it forced the world to gradually recognize the principle of “both and - so...”

8. In a number of countries (primarily England), the center of attention was displaced by internal problems. [The outcome of the British elections in July 1945 - the resignation of Churchill (despite his triumph in the war) and the coming to power of Labor, who insisted on social reforms, showed that the majority of the British had come to terms with the retreat into the second tier of powers and wanted to have different priorities] [The example of Japan: it was among the vanquished, but by concentrating on solving internal economic problems it made the famous leap = Japanese miracle = and became one of the powers that play an important role in the modern world economy. And this despite the fact that it developed independently, remained faithful to tradition, incl. monarchical, imperial]

9. The need for the United States and England to use the potential of the “Commonwealth of Nations and Colonies” for the purpose of waging war (so that the colonies do not go over to the side of the enemy; in 1942, England promised the independence of India so that it would not go over to the side of the Pact of 3 Powers or the “Axis” ) had the consequence that after the war, all nationalities revived. movement. France might have acquired greater political importance in Europe if it had recognized the freedom and independence of its colonies, as de Gaulle had proclaimed - albeit hesitantly - as his program during the war. But at the moment of victory in France in 1945, the forces defending the colonial status of France gained the upper hand. After the war, however, a number of colonial countries declared themselves independent- Syria, Lebanon, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, etc. The beginning of the collapse of the colonial system continued in the 60-70s.

“Since all the young states of Asia and Africa were blinded by their national sovereignty, decolonization, as one of the most important results of the Second World War, paradoxically strengthened general trend returns to the outdated principle of sovereignty in all, even the smallest states" (opinion of the German historian Hilgruber from the book "World War II")

10. Growth of the labor and communist movement In all countries. In some countries, communists began to enter the government and others executive bodies authorities (Italy, France, Belgium, Finland). In others, the communists won the right to legal activity (countries of Asia and Latin America). The strength of the trade union movement has grown.