DK - World War II Map by Map

262 ENDGAME AND AFTERMATH 1944–1955

THE AFTERMATH OF WAR

The most destructive war in history, World War II was followed by a nuclear arms race

between the US and the Soviet Union that created the potential for mass destruction

on an unprecedented and almost unimaginable scale. Recovery from the material damage

of the war was relatively swift, but achieving genuine peace proved an elusive goal.

Across most of Europe and Asia, World War II left a legacy

of ruined cities and displaced lives. In contrast, the US was

strengthened by the war, both economically and militarily,

and became globally dominant. The Soviet Union had

greatly extended its territory and possessed a formidable

army, but it had suffered some of the worst damage of any

country in the war, and could not compete with the US in

economic strength. For Britain and France, although they

had been on the winning side, the war had been humbling,

and their imperial prestige would never be restored. By

1955, most countries in South and Southeast Asia had

gained independence from colonial rule.

The Cold War sets in

The high ideals professed by the victors

during World War II found embodiment

in the United Nations and provided the

basis for war crime trials of Nazi and

Japanese leaders. However, the alliance

between the Soviet Union and the

Western powers soon fell apart, and

Europe became divided by the “Iron

Curtain,” which separated the Soviet-

dominated Communist East from the

US-dominated capitalist West. By 1950,

after the triumph of Mao Zedong in the

Chinese Civil War, Communist societies

stretched from Central Europe to the

Pacific, while the US adopted the role

of leader of the “Free World.” As the US

△ People on the move

In the wake of World War II, there

were at least 11 million civilian

refugees throughout Europe who

needed to find new homes.

◁ Nuclear arms race

The 1952 explosion of the first

hydrogen bomb at Eniwetok Atoll,

in the Pacific, further expanded the

destructive power of nuclear arsenals.

Jul 26, 1945

Churchill is

defeated in British

election victory

for socialists

Jun 5, 1947

The Marshall Plan

provides US aid for

reconstruction

of Western Europe

Feb 25, 1948

Communists

take over

Czechoslovakia,

ending democracy

Jun 24, 1948

Berlin blockade begins

as occupiers disagree

over future of Germany

Oct 24, 1945

UN Charter

comes into

force

Mar 12, 1947

Truman Doctrine

commits US to

opposing the spread of

Communism worldwide

Aug 14–15, 1947

Pakistan is created;

India becomes

independent

Mar 5, 1946

Churchill’s “Iron Curtain”

speech warns of

division of Europe

Oct 1, 1946

Prominent Nazis are

sentenced at

Nuremberg trials

1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

EUROPE AND ASIA

Unable to agree on Germany’s

future, the Allies turned their

temporary military occupation

zones into separate states.

The Soviet Union’s zone became

East Germany, and the Western

powers’ zones formed West

Germany. Berlin remained divided

between the four powers, but

within East German territory.

Later, West Germany integrated

into NATO, and East Germany

into the Warsaw Pact. Japan was

only occupied by the Americans,

and was reconstructed as a

constitutional monarchy.

EUROPE AND US

ASIA

COLD WAR

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