WORLD WAR II – CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND INDIA’S RESPONSE

WORLD WAR II – CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND INDIA’S RESPONSE

World War II, also called Second World War, conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during 1939-45. The principal belligerents were the Axis powers- Germany, Italy and Japan – and the Allies – France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union. The war was in many respects a continuation, after an uneasy 20-year hiatus of the disputes left unsettled by World War I.

Causes of World War II

1. Immediate Causes:

• German Invasion of Poland (1939): The invasion by Germany was seen as the immediate trigger for the war. It prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, as it violated earlier agreements.
• Hitler’s Expansionism: Hitler’s aggressive policies included annexing Austria and other regions, violating the Treaty of Versailles. His expansionist agenda aimed to create a larger German state.

2. Implicit Causes:

• Humiliation of WWI: The harsh terms imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I, including heavy reparations, humiliated Germany. This resentment contributed to the rise of Hitler and the pursuit of aggressive expansion.
• Great Depression: The Great Depression worsened the economic situation across Europe, increasing poverty and unemployment. Germany’s debt, caused by WWI reparations, slowed reconstruction, fueling dissatisfaction and nationalism.
• Failure of League of Nations: The League of Nations was created after WWI to prevent future conflicts. However, its inability to enforce decisions and its dominance by British and French interests made it ineffective in preventing global conflict.
• Fascism: The rise of fascist regimes in Germany (under Hitler) and Italy (under Mussolini) fueled hyper-nationalism and militarism, directly contributing to the war.
• Failure of Appeasement: The policy of appeasement allowed Hitler to expand unchecked. For example, the Munich Agreement (1938) permitted Germany to annex Czechoslovakia‘s German-speaking regions, but this only emboldened Hitler.
• Japan’s Militarism: mFacing economic hardship, Japan invaded China in search of raw materials to fuel its industrial growth. Japan’s expansionist ambitions in Asia added to the growing global tensions.

Consequences of World War II

1. Immediate Consequences:

• Allied Occupation: The Allies occupied Germany and Japan after the war, leading to the dismantling of Nazi and Imperial governments. The Allied forces facilitated the establishment of democratic governments in both countries.
• Age of Superpowers: The war marked the beginning of the nuclear age and the dominance of the United States as the world’s first nuclear superpower.
• Europe in Ruins: Europe faced economic and social degradation due to years of fighting. Post-war reconstruction efforts, such as the Marshall Plan, were urgently needed.
• Formation of the United Nations (UN): The UN was formed as a global platform to prevent future conflicts, encourage diplomacy, and resolve international disputes multilaterally.

2. Other Consequences:

• Cold War: The development of nuclear weapons by the U.S. and later by the Soviet Union (USSR) triggered the Cold War, an arms race and ideological conflict between the two superpowers that lasted for decades.
• Bretton Woods System: The Bretton Woods Conference established the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to aid in the post-war recovery of Europe and provide financial assistance to countries in economic distress.
• End of Colonial Age: The end of World War II also saw the end of many colonial empires and the independence of many nations like India from Britain. 
• National Movements: The end of the world war also gave impetus to national struggles around the world to gain independence from despotic colonial masters.
• Division of Europe: After the war, Europe was divided along ideological lines – Communist East and Liberal West. The Communist nations of Eastern Europe were divided by what was known as the Iron curtain.

India in World War II

1. Contributions:

• Military Support: In 1939, the British Indian Army had 205,000 troops, and by 1945, it had grown to over 2.5 million, making it the largest all-volunteer force in history.
• Taxation: British taxes and levies (such as the “War Fund”) placed a heavy burden on India’s peasantry, effectively financing Britain’s war efforts in Asia.
• Prisoners of War: An estimated 75,000 Indian soldiers were captured by the Axis powers during the war.

2. Outcomes:

• National Struggle: India’s independence movement intensified during the war years, particularly with the Quit India Movement (1942), which demanded the immediate end of British rule in India.
• Bengal Famine: 3 million Indians died in the Bengal Famine of 1943, partly caused by war-time food shortages, as critical grain supplies were diverted to support British war efforts.
• Independence: The post-war collapse of European colonial empires facilitated the rise of democracies and the independence of nations like India.
• Economic Issues: India’s currency value plummeted after the war, with economic imbalances caused by currency exchange problems and exchange control policies implemented during the war.

German Responsibility for the War

1. For:

• First Aggression: Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 is seen as a calculated move, starting the war and drawing Britain and France into conflict.
• Violation of the Treaty of Versailles: Hitler ignored the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and pursued an aggressive foreign policy aimed at rebuilding German military power and expanding its territory.
• Rise of Hitler: Hitler’s rise and the policies of the Nazi Party played a central role in causing World War II. He pursued the creation of a Greater Germany and advocated for the conquest of Lebensraum (living space) in Eastern Europe for the German people.
• Axis Pact: Germany’s Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan and Italy against communist regimes (like the Soviet Union) solidified its militaristic ambitions and helped strengthen Germany’s position before the war.

2. Against:

• Failure of League of Nations: The League of Nations was established after World War I to prevent future wars, but its inability to enforce its decisions and its weak diplomatic mechanisms failed to stop Germany’s aggression.
• Anglo-French Appeasement: Britain and France pursued a policy of appeasement in the 1930s, allowing Hitler to annex territories like Czechoslovakia (through the Munich Agreement) without facing military opposition. Their reluctance to confront Germany early allowed Hitler to gain power and confidence.

Consequences of World War II

• End of Colonial Age: World War II marked the decline of European colonial empires, with many nations, including India, gaining independence from colonial powers like Britain.
• National Movements: The war gave momentum to nationalist movements across the world, as colonized nations demanded self-rule from their imperial rulers.
• Division of Europe: Europe was divided into two ideological blocs: Communist East (dominated by the Soviet Union) and Liberal West (led by the United States and its allies), separated by what became known as the Iron Curtain.

Conclusion

India’s involvement in World War II was significant in terms of its military and economic contributions, while the war intensified the national struggle for independence. Germany’s responsibility for the war is debated, with many pointing to its aggressive policies, while others highlight the failures of international diplomacy, particularly the League of Nations and appeasement policies, as contributing factors.