1. Aftermath of World War II

2. Objectives
Describe the issues faced by the Allies after World War II ended.
Summarize the organization of the United Nations.
Analyze how new conflicts developed among the former Allies after World War II.

3. Terms and People
Nuremberg – city in Germany where Nazi war crimes trials were held
United Nations (UN) – the body of nations formed to promote world peace
Cold War – state of tension and hostility between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its allies; rarely resulted in direct armed conflict
Truman Doctrine – the policy of limiting communism to the areas already under Soviet control

4. Terms and People (continued)
Marshall Plan – massive aid package that funneled food and economic assistance to Europe to help with rebuilding after World War II
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – a military alliance among several North Atlantic states to safeguard them from the presumed threat of the Soviet Union’s communist bloc
Warsaw Pact – the Soviet Union’s military alliance with seven satellite nations in Eastern Europe

5. What issues arose in the aftermath of World War II and how did new tensions develop?
As many as 50 million people had been killed in World War II. After it ended, the Allies faced difficult decisions about the future.
The United Nations was formed as a peacekeeping and humanitarian group. The U.S. Marshall Plan offered aid in rebuilding Europe. But the Soviet Union and the West quickly developed into worldwide rivals—the beginning of the Cold War.

6. Estimated Casualties of World War II
Military Dead
Military Wounded
Civilian Dead
Allies
Britain
264,000
277,000
93,000
France
213,000
400,000
350,000
China
1,310,000
1,753,000
1,000,000
Soviet Union
7,500,000
14,012,000
15,000,000
United States
292,000
672,000
6,000
Axis Powers
Germany
3,500,000
5,000,000
780,000
Italy
242,000
66,000
153,000
Japan
1,300,000
4,000,000

7. The Allies needed to help these devastated countries.
In 1945, Germany, Japan, China, the Soviet Union, and other countries were in ruins.
Cities, factories, harbors, bridges, and railroads were destroyed.
More than twenty million refugees wandered through Europe.
Hunger, disease, and mental illness were rampant.
The Allies needed to help these devastated countries.

8. The full extent of the inhumanity of the Holocaust was revealed.
At the Nuremberg trials, a number of Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes and sentenced to death. Similar trials were held in Japan.
The Allies built new democratic governments in Germany and Japan to promote tolerance and peace.
After the war, the horrors committed by the Axis powers became apparent to the world.

9. The United Nations was another attempt to promote peace.
In April 1945, delegates from 50 nations met to form a United Nations charter.
Each nation had one vote. However, the five permanent members of the Security Council—the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, and China—could veto any decision.
The UN was given the authority to back up its resolutions with economic sanctions or send a peacekeeping military force. 9

10. Plans for world peace did not go smoothly as conflicts developed between the former Allies.
Stalin ignored his promise. He wanted to spread communism and make Eastern Europe a buffer against Germany.
The United States and Britain wanted Stalin to honor his promise to hold free elections in Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe.
Conflicting ideologies and mutual distrust soon led to the Cold War.

11. By 1948, pro-Soviet communist governments were ruling in Eastern Europe, backed by the Red Army.
New conflicts developed outside of Eastern Europe. Stalin was menacing Greece, and also Turkey in the Dardanelles.
President Harry Truman set forth the Truman Doctrine. This policy said that communism should be limited to the areas already under Soviet control.

12. The Marshall Plan provided food and economic assistance to decimated countries.
Truman hoped the Marshall Plan would strengthen democratic governments.
Stalin refused the aid and forbade Eastern European countries to accept aid.
The United States helped relieve postwar hunger and poverty in Western Europe.

13. Germany became a focus of the Cold War.
Western Allies united their zones of control and extended the Marshall Plan.
The Soviets were furious at Western efforts to rebuild the German economy.
Stalin held on to East Germany.

14. After more than a year, Stalin was forced to end the blockade.
In an effort to drive Western powers out of Berlin, Stalin blocked delivery of supplies to the parts of the city they controlled in June 1948.
The United States and Britain organized the Berlin Airlift to drop food and supplies into West Berlin.
After more than a year, Stalin was forced to end the blockade.
Hungry Berlin residents greet planes delivering supplies during the Berlin Airlift.

15. As tensions grew, two competing military alliances took shape.
The Soviet Union and its satellites in Eastern Europe formed the Warsaw Pact. The Soviets often used Warsaw Pact troops to keep its satellites in order.
Twelve countries, including the United States and nations in Western Europe, formed NATO. Members pledged to defend one another against Soviet attack.