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Economic Causes Of Ww2 Essay

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Between the years of 1900-1945, new experiences, though not all pleasant, characterized the 45 year period. The world witnessed many “first” within the time frame, such as the first successful airplane flight, the first mass produced cars, the first World War, and the first atomic bomb dropping. Though the first of anything is always regarded as unique, the consequences are not always something to be admired. The 45 year period saw the death of millions due to both World Wars and the rising conflicts between nations. Furthermore, the world saw nations change politically, socially, and economically both for the better and worse. Though the negatives seem to be endless when discussing the time period, with people unemployed, starving, and dying …show more content…

France specifically, “which had borne much of the burden” of WWI, experienced devastating consequences especially economically. The war resulted in the coal mines, which the “French economy depended for its power” being flooded (Macmillan 28) . Furthermore, their factories were “razed or carted away into Germany” and “Six thousand square miles of France” that produced crops, steel, and iron were ruined (Macmillan 28). Though France was not affected as severely in WWII, they still had lost influential power and suffered economically. As for Germany, since it was deemed responsible for WWI, was forced to pay reparations. Not only did Germany have to pay economically, but also had to downgrade its army to “100,000 men”, and was forced to cut down its navy and terminate its air force (Duiker 80). Germany, though it agreed to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, became resentful and that resent would eventually lead to WWII. After WWII, Germany once again was left ruined, with the Nazi Regime being defeated and parts of the country being a wasteland. However, not all of the effects of the war were negative. One of the main positive effects of both wars included the expansion of roles for women. Due to war, “the number of women employed in Britain who held new jobs or replaced men rose by 1,345,000” (Duiker …show more content…

Between 1919-1945, the world witnessed many changes politically around the world. For instance, in 1921 the Chinese Communist Party would be founded, which remains the country’s form of government today. Soon after in 1922, “Benito Mussolini burst upon the Italian scene with the first fascist movement in Europe” (Duiker 122). Then, in 1924, Stalin would come into power in the Soviet Union. Of course later, in 1933 Adolf Hitler would become the German Dictator, which would lead to the second World War. Each of the aforementioned rulers would be the cause of millions of deaths in their countries. However, vicious rulers would not be the only source of death, as the Great Depression was also a culprit which began in 1929. The Great Depression began because of two main reasons: “a downturn in European economies and an international financial crisis created by the collapse of the American stock market in 1929.” (Duiker 87) The Great Depression did not just affect the U.S. and Europe, but was felt worldwide for an estimated 10 years. Near the end of the Great Depression, came the beginning of WWII which resulted in the death of millions. The war also resulted in the use of the first atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bringing the world into the Nuclear

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