Impact of World Wars

Impact of World Wars in World History is evident through the massive political, economic, and social changes they brought. These wars altered global power structures, led to the fall of empires, and shaped the modern international order.

Previous year Questions

Year	Question	Marks
2023	How did the two World Wars enhance the political and economic participation ofEuropean women ?	5M
2021	Discuss the development of ‘Indigenous’ industries in India during the Second World War.	10M
2018	Discuss the impact of World War II on international politics.	10M
2013	The Treaty of Versailles was responsible for the Second World War. Comment.	5M

World War – I

The world’s first global conflict was fought between 1914 and 1918, between the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire) and the Allied Forces (Great Britain, France, the United States, Russia, Italy, and Japan).

Reasons:

• Jingoistic Nationalism Pushing towards Imperialism:
  • Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Weltpolitik (world politics) focused on naval empowerment, colonial expansion, and interference in world affairs.
• Imperialistic Rivalry between England and Germany:
  • The rivalry between Germany and Britain grew. Germany overtook Britain in coal and iron production and challenged its naval dominance. The Kiel Canal and the Berlin-to-Baghdad railway increased tensions as Britain feared losing control of its eastern colonies.
• Franco-German Hostility:
  • France sought revenge after losing to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 (Battle of Sedan). 
• Diplomatic Treaties and Formation of Two Blocks:
  • Bismarck initiated the practice of secret treaties in European politics.
  • In 1882, the Triple Alliance was formed between Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.
  • In 1907, France, Britain, and Russia formed the Triple Entente, effectively encircling Germany and Austria-Hungary.
  • By 1914, Europe was divided between the Entente Powers and the Alliance Powers.
• Pan-Slavism and Balkan Politics:
  • The weakening Ottoman Empire led to the rise of independent states in the Balkans, driven by Pan-Slavism. 
  • Russia supported Slavic movements to gain influence in the region.
  • In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia, angering Serbia and Russia. 
  • Russia grew suspicious of Austria-Hungary’s ambitions in the Balkans.
• Colonial Competition:
  • Germany and Italy felt disadvantaged compared to Britain and France, which had larger empires. This led to a race for colonies, deepening global tensions.
• Media and Propaganda:
  • Newspapers fueled extreme nationalism by exaggerating events.
• International Instability:
  • Conflicts like the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and the Balkan Wars added to the volatile international climate.

Immediate Cause:

• In June 1914, Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia) by members of the secret Slavic nationalist group, the Black Hand.
• Austria-Hungary used the assassination as an opportunity to pursue its ambitions in Serbia, with support from Germany.
• Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which Serbia mostly accepted except for allowing Austrian officials to investigate within Serbia, citing a violation of sovereignty.
• After a one-month deadline, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

Reasons for Escalation into a World War:

• Web of Alliances: The complex system of alliances drew multiple nations into the conflict.

• A Tragedy of Miscalculations: Germany believed:
  • France would fight.
  • Britain would remain neutral, as they had in the Balkan Wars.
  • Supporting Austria-Hungary would ensure Russian neutrality.
  • The Schlieffen Plan, designed to quickly defeat France, would succeed.
• There was also a cultural belief in many countries that war was good and glorious.
• During the War: Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare in the Atlantic, attacking all ships, including civilian vessels, led to the United States entering the war in 1917.

Impact of World War I

Impact on Global Politics

Disintegration of Empires:

• Austro-Hungarian Empire → Split into Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia
• Ottoman Empire → Formed Turkey + Middle Eastern areas (under British and French control like Iraq and Syria)
• Russian Empire → Fell after the Bolshevik Revolution → Led to the formation of the Soviet Union (1922)

End of Absolute Monarchies:

Austria, Germany, Turkey (Ottoman Empire), Russia (Romanov dynasty) → Monarchies ended

• Germany → Became a republic (Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated)
• Austria-Hungary → Became two separate republics
• Turkey → Led by Kamal Atatürk, became a republic (1923)
• Russia → Tsar Nicholas II executed → Led to the creation of a socialist government under lenin.

New countries formed based on ethnic lines: 

• Based on Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points → Encouraged self-rule and democracy
• Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Czechoslovakia

Rise of New Ideologies:

• Socialism → Gained power in Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution (1917), influencing countries like China (under Mao Zedong) and Cuba (under Fidel Castro) in later decades.
• Fascism → Rose in Italy under Mussolini (1922) → promoted extreme nationalism, authoritarianism, and militarism
• Nazism → Emerged in Germany under Hitler (1930s, fueled by Treaty of Versailles)
• Militarism → Japan expanded military power and conquered territories (especially in Asia, like Manchuria)

USA and Japan Became Global Powers:

• USA → Lent over $10 billion to Allies through the Liberty Loan Program → Became the largest creditor
  • President Woodrow Wilson’s role in the Paris Peace Conference and his promotion of the League of Nations showcased the increasing influence of the U.S. on global affairs.
• Japan → Grew as a military power, gained control over German territories in Asia (Shandong)

League of Nations (LoN):

• Created to maintain peace and prevent future wars (first attempt at global cooperation)
• International Labour Organization (ILO) was also formed to protect workers’ rights

Paris Peace Conference & Treaties:

• Treaty of Versailles (1919) with Germany →  It lost territory such as Alsace-Lorraine to France, was forced to demilitarize the Rhineland, and pay huge reparations (around 132 billion gold marks, approximately $31.5 billion). The war guilt clause (Article 231) held Germany responsible for the war.
• Treaty of Sèvres → Dismantled the Ottoman Empire → Created modern Turkey + Loss of territories (to Greece and France)
• Treaty of Trianon with Hungary → Hungary lost a large portion of its territory to neighbors like Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.

Armament Race: 

• The aim of the Versailles Treaty was to weaken Germany, but on the contrary, the feeling of armament increased. The manufacture of modern weapons paved the way for the Second World War.

Social Impact

Loss and Grief:

• resulted in approximately 8 million deaths and 21 million wounded →leading to a “lost generation” of young men.
• Soldiers experienced shell shock [now called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)]

Displacement & Migration:

• No solutions for minorities: Many ethnic minorities, such as Armenians, Greeks, and Kurds, were displaced due to redrawn borders and political upheavals. 
• The Armenian Genocide (1915-1917) during the war was a particularly tragic result of these upheavals, with an estimated 1.5 million Armenians killed by the Ottoman government.

Changes for Women:

• Women filled jobs left by men at war → Gained more rights, including voting (e.g., Britain in 1918, Germany in 1919)

End of European Racial Supremacy:

• Soldiers from Africa, India, Japan fought in the war → Showed that non-Europeans could be just as brave, leading to the questioning of racial superiority
• Sparked future decolonization movements

Questioning European Civilization:

• People doubted Europe’s cultural superiority after the war’s destruction
• Books like “The Decline of the West” by Oswald Spengler raised concerns about Europe’s future

Rise of Atheism & Disillusionment:

• Many lost faith in religion due to the horrors of the war → Rise of atheism and existentialism

War Crimes & Decline in Morality:

• Use of chemical weapons (like mustard gas) shocked the world → Led to new rules about war conduct
• Social norms changed, and there was a rise in immorality in post-war society.

Economic Impact

Global Economic Crisis:

• The total cost of the war was estimated at $400 billion. The destruction of European infrastructure and industries contributed to a prolonged economic depression.

War Economy:

• Focus on steel, iron, and arms production during the war → Other industries collapsed.
• Emergence of large multinational arms companies in later years.

Disruption of Trade:

• Europe’s trade with colonies was disrupted → Became dependent on imports from the USA and Japan.
• Many countries, especially Germany and Austria, resorted to self-sufficiency and raised custom duties to protect their struggling industries.
•  Rise of laissez-faire economics → advocating free-market policies to recover economies.

Debt Crisis:

• Countries like Germany struggled with debt → Printed more money → Led to hyperinflation (e.g., in Germany by 1923, the mark became nearly worthless) → leading to the Dawes Plan to stabilize its economy.

USA as Creditor:

• USA became the world’s largest creditor → Shifted from being a debtor to the dominant economic power

Golden Age for Colonies:

• New industries grew in colonies like India (e.g., textiles, iron) → Laid the foundation for economic independence

Rise of Socialist Elements:

• The growth of socialist ideas, coupled with the war’s devastating effect on workers, led to the establishment of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1919, advocating for workers’ rights.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The Treaty of Versailles (1919) from the Paris Peace Conference is often seen as having sown the seeds of World War II due to its harsh terms and significant consequences for Germany.

1. War Guilt Clause: This clause placed full responsibility for the war on Germany, justifying reparations and punitive measures, and fostering a sense of injustice among Germans.
2. Reparations: Germany was required to pay approximately $33 billion (over $400 billion today), crippling its economy and leading to hyperinflation and widespread suffering.
3. Military Restrictions : The treaty limited the German army to 100,000 troops and prohibited tanks, heavy artillery, and aircraft. It barred the introduction of conscription, and the Rhineland was demilitarized.
4. Territorial Losses: Germany lost 1/8 of its territories in Europe and seven million people, along with all its colonies. → Alsace-Lorraine to France, Schleswig to Denmark, Danzig Port became a free city under LoN, SAAR region to be administered by LoN for 15 years.
5. Economic Impact: 15% of available land, 12% of cattle wealth, 10% of mills and factories, Tonnage of cargo ships reduced from 57 million to 5 million.
6. Resource Losses: Two-thirds of coal fields, Two-thirds of iron, 70% of zinc, More than half of lead deposits and Shortages of rubber and oil due to loss of colonies
7. Rise of Extremism: Economic and social chaos enabled the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, who promised to revoke the treaty and restore Germany’s status.

Other reasons:

• League of Nations: The League was weakened by the absence of major powers like the U.S. and failed to enforce the treaty or address violations effectively.
• Appeasement: The harsh treaty terms and subsequent guilt led Britain and France to adopt appeasement policies, allowing Hitler’s expansion unchecked.)

All these provisions led to a quest for revenge, and when the opportunity arose, Germany sought revenge against the Allied powers, leading to World War II.

India and the First World War

India’s Importance to Britain:

• India was one of the largest and most important colonies of Britain.
• It was the base of Britain’s prosperity and industrial empire.

India’s Role in the War:

• Beginning of the War (1914):
  • Though Indians were not directly involved, Britain included India in the war from the start.
  • The war was mostly for British interests.
• Liberal Congress Leaders’ View:
  • The British Prime Minister told Indians the war would protect democracy worldwide.
  • Liberal leaders of the Congress Party (like Gokhale) believed that if they helped Britain, it would lead to democratic reforms in India after the war.
  • The Congress decided to support Britain.
• Mahatma Gandhi’s Support:
  • Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915.
  • Gandhi supported Britain in the war, believing they were fighting for good principles.
  • He encouraged Indians to help Britain with men, money, and resources.
• Opposition from Tilak and Revolutionaries:
  • Lokmanya Tilak and other revolutionaries were shocked by the war.
  • They believed that any crisis for Britain was an opportunity for Indian freedom.
  • They refused to cooperate, knowing Britain would continue its harsh policies even after the war.
  • Their prediction came true after the war ended.
• India’s Contribution to the War:
  • Despite some opposition, Indians provided huge support to Britain:
    • Soldiers were recruited to fight on many fronts.
    • India supplied weapons, ammunition, and raw materials like wheat, rice, tea, cotton, jute, rubber, coal, iron, and steel.
    • Princely states also sent military and financial help.
    • 10 crore pounds were contributed to the war fund, and 30 crore pounds were spent each year on the Indian army.

Impact of the War on India:

• British Promises:
  • The British government promised Indians they would be rewarded after the war.
  • But instead, Indians faced famine, epidemics, economic exploitation, and oppressive laws.
• Rowlatt Act (1919):
  • The Rowlatt Act allowed the British to jail anyone without trial.
  • This was a blow to Indian hopes for political rights after the war.
  • Indians called it the ‘Black Law’.
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre:
  • Protests against the Rowlatt Act led to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919), where British soldiers killed hundreds of peaceful protesters.
  • This event deeply hurt Gandhi’s loyalty to the British government.
• Government of India Act (1919):
  • The British passed the Government of India Act (1919), but it failed to give self-governance to Indians.
  • This disappointed Indian leaders, further fueling the freedom struggle.

Caliphate Movement and Hindu-Muslim Unity:

• Treaty of Sèvres:
  • The Treaty of Sèvres after the war divided the Ottoman Empire and removed the Caliph.
  • This angered Indian Muslims, leading to the Khilafat Movement to restore the Caliphate.
• Gandhi’s Role:
  • Mahatma Gandhi saw an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims.
  • Congress joined forces with the Khilafat Movement, combining it with the Non-Cooperation Movement against British rule.
• Short-term Benefits:
  • Some Muslims started joining the Congress, but the unity did not last.
  • The Khilafat Movement was more about religious loyalty to the Caliph than national interests.
• Criticism:
  • Justice Mohd. Kareem Chagla later criticized the merging of the national movement with the Khilafat Movement, saying it encouraged communalism among Muslims.

Conclusion:

• Betrayal and Repression: Despite Indian sacrifices during the war, Britain responded with betrayal and repression.
• However, the war experiences and disappointments strengthened the National Movement, leading to more intense struggles for Indian independence.

World War-II

• End of First World War (1918) → The Treaty of Versailles left Germany humiliated and angry.
• The Second World War started in 1939, only 20 years after the First World War.

The Second World War (1939-1945) was a global conflict fought between the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allied Forces (Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France).

Causes of the Second World War

Harsh Treaty of Versailles:

• Germany was forced to sign the treaty after losing World War I.
• Germany lost:
  • 1/8 of its territory in Europe.
  • 7 million people.
  • 15% of its land, 10% of factories, and 2/3 of coal and iron.
• Germany had to pay huge reparations, leading to economic collapse.
• Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000, and it lost its navy.
• This treaty left Germany humiliated, wanting revenge.

Rise of Dictatorships:

• Germany: Hitler came to power by using people’s anger from the treaty.He adopted an aggressive foreign policy and rearmed Germany.
• Italy: Mussolini also rose to power, creating a dictatorship.
• Japan: Adopted a militaristic and imperialist approach.
• These dictatorships formed an alliance: Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.

Weakness of the League of Nations:

• The League of Nations was created to keep peace but failed to stop the aggressive actions of big countries like Germany and Italy.
• Small countries lost confidence in the League and formed military alliances.
• This division into two armed groups increased tensions.

Imperialism:

• Japan wanted to expand its empire in Asia. It invaded Manchuria (1931) and later attacked China.
• Germany: Hitler wanted to regain lost colonies and conquer more to make Germany as powerful as Britain and France.
• Italy: Mussolini aimed to create a great Italian empire.

Failure of Disarmament:

• After World War I, countries agreed to reduce their weapons.
• This rule was enforced only on defeated countries like Germany, not the victors.
• In 1935, Hitler openly announced Germany’s rearmament.
• This caused panic in Europe, leading to more rearmament in France and Russia.
• Europe started to prepare for another war.

Extremist Nationalism:

• Economic competition and the Great Depression (1929) fueled nationalism.
• Nations started believing that their own culture, language, and race were superior.
• Hitler claimed that Germans were a superior Aryan race, deserving to rule over others.
• This extreme nationalism pushed the world towards war.

Policy of Appeasement:

• After World War I, Britain and France tried to maintain peace by appeasing Germany.
• Britain allowed Hitler to expand by taking over Austria and Czechoslovakia without any consequences.
• This gave Hitler confidence to become more aggressive.
• Britain and France hoped this would stop another war, but it only made things worse.

Discontent of Minorities:

• After World War I, new borders left many ethnic minorities in foreign countries.
• Hitler used this excuse to invade Austria and Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia), claiming Germans there were being mistreated.
• He later used the same excuse to invade Poland.

International Economic Crisis (1929):

• The Great Depression hit all countries hard, causing mass unemployment.
• Germany saw 7 million people become unemployed, leading to the rise of Nazism.
• Japan used the crisis as an excuse to invade Manchuria (1931).
• Italy invaded Abyssinia (1935) to distract from its economic problems.

Split into Two Blocs:

• The world divided into two hostile military blocs:
  • Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan).
  • Allied Powers (Britain, France, Soviet Russia, USA).
• When Hitler invaded Poland, Britain and France supported Poland, triggering the war.

Immediate Cause:

• The world was like a powder keg ready to explode.
• Hitler’s invasion of Poland (Sept 1, 1939) was the spark.
• Britain and France warned Hitler to stop but he ignored them.
• On September 3, 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany, starting World War II.

Impact of World War – II

Social Impact:

Impact on Humanity:

• 70–85 million people perished, which was about 3% of the global population in 1940.
• Holocaust and genocide: Nazi Germany’s systematic extermination of 6 million Jews.
• Demographic changes: The war led to changes in population structures, with significant exploitation of women and the rise of war children (children born during or as a result of the war).

Beginning of the Nuclear Age:

• Hiroshima bombed on August 6, 1945 (75,000 killed instantly, 140,000 total deaths).
• Nagasaki bombed on August 9, 1945 (40,000 killed instantly, 80,000 total deaths).
• Start of the nuclear era and fear of mass destruction (led to Cold War arms race).

Displacement and refugee crisis:

• Around 60 million were displaced by the war, including 12 million ethnic Germans expelled from Eastern Europe.
• Creation of Israel (1948) led to migration and displacement of Jewish and Palestinian populations.

Changing Role of Women:

• Women worked in factories during the war → Expanded women’s rights (e.g., France gave women the right to vote in 1944).
• Laid the foundation for the feminist movements in the 1960s.

Political Impact:

Division of the World into Two Ideologies:

• The world split into two ideological blocs:
  • Communism (led by the Soviet Union) → Advocated for government control of production and classless society.
  • Democracy and Capitalism (led by the USA) → Supported free markets, private ownership, and individual rights.

Beginning of the Cold War:

• The ideological conflict between the USA and Soviet Union resulted in the Cold War.
• Both powers engaged in an arms race, supported proxy wars, and competed for global influence, though they avoided direct military conflict.

Totalitarianism in Eastern Europe:

• Soviet-backed communist regimes established in Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland, Hungary, East Germany).
• Western Europe embraced democracy and capitalism.

Division of Germany:

• Germany was divided into:
  • West Germany (capitalist, controlled by France, Britain, and the USA).
  • East Germany (communist, controlled by the Soviet Union).
• Berlin was also split by a wall. This division lasted until 1990.

End of European Supremacy:

• Britain, France, Germany, Italy are economically crippled.
• Leadership shifted to the USA and Soviet Union (superpowers).

Awakening of Asia & Africa:

• Nationalism led to decolonization:
  • India (1947), Burma (1948), Sri Lanka (1948) gained independence from Britain.
  • Ghana (1957) and other African countries followed.
• By 1960, over 30 new nations in Africa had gained independence.

Non-Alignment Movement (NAM):

• Newly independent countries, led by India’s Nehru, remained neutral during the Cold War.
• NAM focused on economic development and resisting colonialism.

Weakening of National Spirit:

• The advancement of science and technology minimized the importance of racial, cultural, and linguistic differences.
• A sense of global unity and cooperation started developing, particularly in countries with similar ideologies.

Establishment of the United Nations (UN):

• UN created in 1945 (51 members initially, now 193). It plays a key role in international conflict resolution and cooperation.
• Aim: global peace, human rights, development.
• Created organizations like UNICEF and WHO.

Nuremberg Trials and War Crimes: 

• These trials held war criminals and leaders accountable for their actions during the war.

Economic Impact:

Post-War Economic Devastation:

• Britain and France lost their economic dominance, while Germany faced severe economic hardship and rebuilding.

Rise of USA as Economic Superpower:

• USA: USA emerged as the global economic leader after the war.
• The Bretton Woods Conference (1944) established the IMF and World Bank, with the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

End of Colonial Economies:

• European colonial powers (Britain, France, Holland) weakened → Led to decolonization.
• Newly independent nations faced economic challenges after colonial exploitation.

Reconstruction and Economic Growth:

• Marshall Plan (1948) provided $12 billion in aid (equivalent to $130 billion today) to rebuild Western Europe and prevent communism.
• Japan also rebuilt quickly with help from the USA, becoming a major economic power by the 1960s.

Non-Alignment and Economic Development:

• Newly independent countries sought economic aid from both the USA and Soviet Union (e.g., India focused on industrialization).
• Helped countries develop without aligning in the Cold War.

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