16. WORLD WAR – ROUND TWO
WORLD WAR TWO – AN OVERVIEW
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Another horrible World War results –
collapsing Germany, France, England, Italy and Japan Hitler, sensing the weakness or indifference of the nations most responsible to maintaining the post-war status quo (the "democracies" Britain, France and America), begins to rearrange the European political picture – to the advantage of a fast expanding German military-political order. Japan follows suit in Asia – invading and taking over the industrial coastline of China (1937). The democracies appear to be helpless in the face of such military aggression. But Germany and Japan finally push their adversaries too far. In 1939 Germany invades Poland (with the cooperation of Stalin’s Soviet Russia) – causing Britain and France to declare war on Germany. By this time the world is indeed involved in a great Second World War – a war not just of armies against armies, but whole societies against other societies. The war turns into a matter not just of national victory – but of national survival itself. After no action by England and France over the winter of 1939-1940, Hitler springs a surprise attack on the West, quickly taking Denmark (April), Norway, Belgium and – much to everyone’s shock – France (June) Hitler now prepares to invade England (summer of 1940) – but cannot defeat England’s air defenses – and gives up the attempt – though the bombing of England continues Roosevelt announces America’s intention to stay out of the war – though he quietly provides economic and military support for England Failing ultimate victory in the West, Hitler decides to make good on a long-standing promise to make the Slavic lands to the East a Breadbasket for Germany and Lebensraum for an expanding Aryan society and culture: in the summer of 1941 he invades Russia Japan, irritated at America’s refusal to continue to supply the Japanese military vital oil and iron products needed for its war against the Chinese, attacks America (1941). They decide to strike a mortal blow on America’s Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) with the intention of forcing America to give in to Japanese ambitions. At the same time, the Japanese also invade and conquer the Philippines, French Indo-China, Malaya, Singapore and Burma and threaten an invasion of British India But instead of capitulating, America declares war on Japan – and begins the slow counter- offensive against the Japanese in the central and south Pacific Slowly America, England and Russia (now an American ally) force Hitler, and his ally Mussolini, into retreat – and America and England push Japan back in Asia and the Pacific When the war ends in 1945 German, Italian and Japanese societies lay in ruins. They are occupied by one or another of the armies of their wartime enemies, America, Russia, Britain and France. But some of the "victors" are hardly any better off. Russia lays in ruins – although under the tight fist of the dictator Stalin, Soviet Russia’s social order remains remarkably strong. Britain is tired and ready to lay down all political responsibilities outside of the British Isles themselves. France is demoralized and unsure of how it wants to rebuild its old French global order. Only America has escaped the physical devastations of the war: its factories are well stocked in capital goods – which much of the world will need in order to rebuild. |
