The 1940s: A Decade in Review
There were a number of events that demonstrate key political, scientific, economical, and social factors that were prominent in the 1940’s. Some of these include World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, nuclear weapons, and the formation of the United Nations. These events indicate the hostile nature of the times in international relations, and in particularly foreshadow the future tensions that were going to exist between the capitalist driven West, and the Socialist East.
World War II will go down in history as one of the bloodiest Wars in the history of all mankind. The actual damage in human resources, financial resources, and structural damage are surreal. While the War itself began internationally in the late 1930’s, most Americans only remember the events taking place post-Pearl Harbor. In fact, there was much more to this war than what the Americans experienced. It was a hostile war that altered the course of history for millions of people worldwide. World War II offered the world new incredible advancements in the fields of Martial studies, scientific warfare, and political organizations (World War 2 – Spartacus).
There have been many debates over the cause of World War II. Many argue it was the rise of European and Japanese nationalism that fueled an intense militaristic approach to international affairs. This was also coupled by political failings of the League of Nations, and in particularly the stresses that were imposed upon Germany by the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 (World War 2). These placed extreme hardships on the German people; these hardships were coupled by a devastating depression (the Great Depression) that shook the economies of the Western world. The political implications of the rise of nationalist ideology (fascism, Nazism, pan-Aryanism, pan-Asianism) helped create a strong sense of racial and national awareness that was left embittered by the humiliations of defeat from the previous world war (World War 2).
The war in Asia was a different matter, albeit not entirely. Tensions that existed between America and Japan had long been fostered by a sense of resentment by the Japanese towards American imperialism throughout Asia (Gordon 115). This was intensified by a new Japanese government that was bent on the creation of a strong, war-faring state. The Japanese would later act upon these resentments in the mobilization of a massive Navy and Army in hopes of defeating the Western powers via aligning themselves with the Axis powers (Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy).
The cost of the war (in both human and material resources) was astronomical. It has been estimated that over 62 million (60% being civilians) died throughout the war. The majority of casualties were suffered on the side of Allied troops and Allied civilians (World War 2). The Soviet forces and civilians suffered the highest casualties, in part due to the savage and brutal Operation Barbarossa. Furthermore, the structural damage that left whole cities in ruins devastated the European (and Japanese) homelands. This would mean that in the future cities and entire regions of countries would have to be rebuilt and restructured in a post-War world (Gordon 92).
The further implications of WWII were the political divisions that occurred afterwards. The Cold War was the non-violent tensions that existed between the imperialist, capitalist West and the Socialist East. The two countries that were mainly involved in this ideological conflict was the United States of America, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). This was also motivated by the mere fact that only two world superpowers (the former and the latter) existed in contemporary times (Martens 17).
Many of the events that played a central role in the Cold War were the establishment of Socialist nations that rejected western imperialism and showed allegiance to the Soviet Union. These divisions amongst nations created two strongholds, the NATO powers versus the Eastern Bloc (Warsaw Pact). With the successful spread of communism amongst the Eastern European states; South-East Asia, the United States became increasingly worried about their own interests abroad (mainly their ability to extract valuable natural resources and cheap labor from developing parts of Asia) (Martens 55).
There were a number of key developments that played a crucial role in the Cold War. In the Yalta Conference, the Soviets under Stalin’s leadership lead to the formation of the Cominform, the Communist Information Bureau, which was crucial in sustaining socialist governments throughout Russia’s neighbors (Martens 25-26). This was important because not only did it help create an anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist bloc; but it was also created a buffer zone for the Soviets against foreign aggression. Other developments included the division of Germany and the city of Berlin. The Soviets were able to maintain and create a socialist government in the Eastern portion of Germany (as well as in the capitol city of Berlin). Later, it was under Walter Ulbricht that the Berlin wall was created to stop traitors and criminals from fleeing the city to the West (Martens 224).
Other fundamental issues of the Cold War included the spread of socialism worldwide. Indeed, in 1949 the Chinese communists under Mao Tse-tung defeated the nationalist guerillas and were able to establish the future People’s Republic of China. It was also during this time that the foundations were being laid for the Korean Workers Party led by Kim Il Sung in North Korea that would later manifest itself in the form of the Korean War. The politics of the Cold War dominated international relations in the latter half of the 1940’s (Martens 233).
In order to protect their interests, the western imperialist powers (lead by the United States) created a military alliance that could be utilized in any aggression towards the Soviet bloc. This alliance, pushed heavily by President Truman, was labeled the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and was comprised of nations (mainly) from Western Europe that were sympathetic to the American cause and hostile towards socialism. NATO was created in 1949 and continues on today, and was just another example of the rising hostilities and fears that were driving international politics at the time (Martens 233-35).
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the 1940’s was the dawn of the nuclear era. Indeed, the successful creation and detonation of atomic weapons changed the world forever. Not only did the age of nuclear weapons introduce new and dangerous forms of technology, but completely shifted the nature of diplomatic relations, and the strategies and tactics of future warfare (Atomic Archive). The nuclear age represented the very darkest aspect of human development-marking a time in which our own technological advancements could very well mark our own destruction!
After the Americans used the atom-bomb to devastate the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and force them into surrender, it wasn’t long before other nations felt the need to develop their own to counter this powerful monopoly in the hands of the United States. It was in 1949 that the Soviet Union exploded its own atomic bomb. The tensions that resulted from these new weapons of mass destruction heavily influenced the political instability of the Cold War (Atomic Archive).
The madness that surrounded the nuclear age, beginning in the 40’s, was surreal. There were even confrontations between the scientists whom created the bombs, and the United States government. The scientists, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, thought the best way to deal with the situation was to create a world-wide system of monitoring and administrating nuclear powers and arms. However, the United States government thought that it would be best if the information was kept in their own hands, but it wasn’t long that this proved to be impossible. The consequences of the atomic weapons era are something that we still live with today. The possible threat of a nuclear holocaust will never cease to exist as long as international conflicts arise and certain nations are allowed to control over 10,000 nuclear weapons.
To confront all these growing problems, there was a wide consensus amongst the nations of the world that an international administrative body would be necessary in making sure the atrocities of WWII would never happen again. After realizing the failures of the League of Nations, 51 nations formulated what would become the U.N. The organization’s main purposes included overseeing and administrating international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. The biggest advantage that set the U.N. above the League of Nations was the fact that the U.N. could deploy and use members’ troops to put down threats and restore order (United Nations).
Much of the original work of the U.N. remains important today. Even now, peace-keeping missions and rescue campaigns make up a great deal of the work done by the U.N. In the 1940’s, the U.N. had difficulty in maintaining peace throughout the world during the Cold War. Nonetheless, it made several attempts to try and mediate problems before they resulted in violence. In the early years, the U.N. made great strides in dealing with the immediate concerns of the post-war world. Large campaigns were undertaken in regards to human rights, economic development, education, and aiding refugees (United Nations).
Unlike the League of Nations, the Congress realized it was essential for the United States to be amongst the membership of the United Nations. In fact, in December 1945, it was decided by Congress that the headquarters for the United Nations reside in the United States. The construction of the headquarters began in New York City in 1949, and officially opened in 1951 (United Nations). This is the same building and location that stands today.
The goal of the United Nations was to prevent violent conflict from ever arising again. This hasn’t been the case, as we are currently involved in an unsanctioned war as we speak. The U.N. represented something important from the 1940’s. It represented a time in which the world never wanted to revisit the atrocities of war ever again. Most of Europe and parts of Asia (including Japan and China) had been completely devastated by World War II. It was on these grounds that the countries of the world came together in an attempt to come to a resolution that would help prevent such horrendous events from ever happening again; however, the world hasn’t worked out in such a way (United Nations).
The 1940’s was an integral transition stage in world affairs. It played an important link between the revolutionary 1930’s and the reactionary 1950’s. Much of the 1940’s centers around the conflict of World War II, but there was in fact much more going on around the world throughout the entire decade. It was a decade marked by gross human atrocities, as well as human advancement. It laid the grounds for many future breakthroughs and marked a revitalization of human affairs across the globe.
The 1940’s were considered a time in which almost anything was possible, and when the old was transitioning into the new. The 1940’s were more than just a World War, but also about a Cold War in which the tensions between East and West would be pushed to the limits. It also marked the beginning of a nuclear age of weaponry-a dangerous time where human beings now held the capability of destroying themselves and everything else. It was also marked by a newly established world governing body, the United Nations, with the hopes of maintaining peace throughout history. The 1940’s represented a great change in the way in which the world saw itself and the way in which people interacted amongst one another, and we can still feel the consequences of this decade, more than 60 years later.
Works Cited
“Atomic Archive.” 2005. National Science Digital Library. 16 Apr. 2006. http://www.atomicarchive.com/.
Gordon, Andrew. Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Martens, Ludo. Another View of Stalin. Oxford: Editions (EPO), 1994.
“United Nations Web Site.” 2006. United Nations. 17 Apr. 2006. http:www.un.org.
“World War 2.” 2006. Spartacus Educational. 17 Apr. 2006. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WW.htm.
