WHII: SOL 12c Post WWII

Outcomes of World War II Loss of empires by European powers Establishment of two major powers in the world: The United States and the U.S.S.R. War crimes trials Division of Europe, Iron Curtain

Outcomes of WWII Establishment of the United Nations The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Marshall Plan Formation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Warsaw Pact

Iron Curtain At conferences held by the Big Three (Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin) during the war, it was decided that Germany would be divided into east and west sections. The west would be occupied by America, Great Britain, and France, and the east by the Soviet Union. Berlin would be divided in a similar manner. West Germany soon began to have an economic revival, while the east lagged behind. Divided Germany and, later, the Berlin Wall became symbols of the Cold War.

Iron Curtain Families were split up. The east and west became economic and political rivals. The government of East Germany tried to keep citizens from leaving the country (Iron Curtain, Berlin Wall). People tried to flee to the west, where conditions were better.

Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech AEAQ&nohtml5=False AEAQ&nohtml5=False

Nuremburg Trials Axis leaders tried for “crimes against humanity” 200 Germans and Austrians were tried, most were found guilty Some top Nazi officials received death sentences Trials were also held in Japan **Showed that political and military leaders could be held responsible for actions during wartime

United Nations 1945, delegates from 50 nations drafted the charter for the UN Plays a greater role in world affairs than the League of Nations – General Assembly – Security Council (5 permanent members-U.S. U.S.S.R., GB, France, China) – Can apply economic sanctions or send peace- keeping military force

Marshall Plan To strengthen democratic governments, U.S. sent food and economic assistance to Europe to help nations rebuild U.S. offered aid to Stalin and eastern European nations Stalin refused and forbade any satellite nation from accepting (promising Soviet aid in stead)

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization 1949-Military alliance promising to help one another if any were attacked Soviet Union responded with the Warsaw Pact Warsaw Pact and NATO cemented the division in Europe between “eastern” and “western” blocs

Efforts for reconstruction of Germany Democratic government installed in West Germany and West Berlin Germany and Berlin divided among the four Allied powers Emergence of West Germany as economic power in postwar Europe

Efforts for reconstruction of Japan United States occupation of Japan under MacArthur’s administration Democracy and economic development Elimination of Japan’s military offensive capabilities; guarantee of Japan’s security by the United States Emergence of Japan as dominant economy in Asia

International Cooperative Organizations United Nations North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Warsaw Pact

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Established and adopted by members of the United Nations Provided a code of conduct for the treatment of people under the protection of their government