Effects of World War 2

The Effects of World War 2 were brutal for most of Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. After the war ended in 1945, some of its immediate effects were food and fuel shortage and inflation. All war-damaged countries were short on gold and dollars. The effects of World War 2 were not limited to economics; they also affected the environment and other aspects of human life.

World War II was a conflict that engulfed nearly every nation on the planet from 1939 to 1945. It had a lasting impact on the world economy and the global standard of living. In this article, we have shared the effects of World War 2 in detail.

Effects of World War 2: Overview

The first effects of World War 2 included the decline of colonial empires around the world. The Allied forces, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China were pitted against the Axis powers, Germany, Italy, and Japan. World War 2 lasted nearly six years and was the world's greatest conflict. Here is an overview of the effects of World War 2.

• The Second World War led to the end of imperialism and colonialism.
• It led to the emergence of two distinct power centers, the US and the USSR.
• World War 2 effects included the emergence of third-world nations after the end of colonialism.
• It led to the establishment of the United Nations Organization to maintain peace globally.

Causes and Effects of World War 2

The effects of World War 2 were extreme but the world was already on the brink of destruction before the Second World War. Numerous global events and failures led to the war. Here are some of the causes of World War 2.

• Treaty of Versailles: The Allied Powers forced Germany to sign the Treaty, which led to an ultra-nationalist sentiment in Germany.
• Great Depression of 1929: This event impacted Europe and Asia and resulted in totalitarian control of Europe in several countries.
• Rise of Fascism and Nazism: One of the main causes of World War 2 was the rise of fascism and nazism in the world.

Major Effects of World War 2

The period between 1939-1945 was a time of great disturbance in the world. After 1945, World War 2 effects gradually became more and more apparent. This war led to large-scale destruction and loss of human life, property, etc. Here are some of the major effects of World War 2.

World War 2 Effects: Emergence of New Superpowers

• Changes in the status of countries and continents occurred as a result of World War II.
• One of the immediate effects of World War 2 was that Britain and France lost their dominance as superpowers.
• Imperialism and colonialism began declining.
• The United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two new superpowers of the world.

Effects of World War 2: Decolonization

• As an effect of World War 2, Britain and France were presented with a slew of domestic and international issues. They couldn't hang on to their different colonies much longer. As a result, colonialism in Africa and Asia came to an end in the postwar world.
• World War 2 effects also led to the formation of the United Nations Organization. It was one of the second world war's most significant outcomes.
• The United Nations Charter enshrines humanity's ambitions and ideals as a foundation for countries to work together to achieve long-term peace.

World War 2 Effects: Cold War

• As an effect of World War 2, a conference at Potsdam, Germany, was conducted to establish peace treaties. Those that fought alongside Hitler lost ground and were forced to pay compensation to the Allies. Germany was divided into four parts, with Berlin as the capital.
• Another World War 2 effect was that Great Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union were to be in charge of the zones.
• The 3 Western Forces and the Soviet Union clashed on many issues. Germany eventually split into two countries: East Germany, which a Communist government ruled, and West Germany, which a democratic government ruled.
• The Cold War was born as a result of this.

Effects of World War 2: New Economic Order

• The Bretton Woods Conference during World War II made financial accommodations for the aftermath of world war ii after Germany and Japan were expected to be defeated.
• An effect of the World War 2 was that a plan was devised for the IBRD (World Bank) to make long-term capital available to countries that were desperately in need of assistance, as well as a plan for the IMF to support short-term payment processing imbalances to stabilize the exchange rates.
• As World War 2 effect, the US dollar was also designated as a global reserve currency.

Effects of World War 2 on India

The British Empire suffered greatly due to the effects of World War 2. England had suffered huge losses and was turning to its colonies to assist them in reclaiming their status as a world power. On the other hand, Mahatma Gandhi was organizing Indians against the British at the time. Here are some details of World War 2 effects on India.

• World War 2 prevented Hitler from establishing German colonies outside of Germany's boundaries, foreign exploitation that Britain had been carrying out for centuries.
• As an effect of World War 2, people worldwide began to support voices against British colonial occupation.
• So when the Labour Party took power in the United Kingdom in 1945, it was committed to internationalism, racial equality, and other liberal ideas.
• Prime Minister Clement Attlee (Labour Party) initiated the process of granting India independence in 1947, shortly after taking office.
• World War 2 effects included the ending of colonialism in several parts of the world.

FAQs on Effects of World War 2

Q1. What were the causes and effects of World War 2?

World War 2 began as a result of international disturbance, following the Great Depression, the Treaty of Versailles, etc. The effects of World War 2 included the militarization of approximately 100 million individuals and the death of 50 million people in a span of six years.

Q2. What were the major economic effects of World War 2?

The major economic effects of World War 2 included extreme poverty in war-affected areas. Shortage of gold and US dollars, which resulted in inflation. As the US emerged to become a global superpower, the designation of the US dollar as a global reserve currency was also announced.

Q3. What were the effects of World War 2 on the US dollar?

The World War 2 effect on the US dollar was that the currency was designated as a world reserve currency. After the war, the United States gained the status of a global superpower. As a consequence, the United Nations Organization was also created for international peacekeeping.

Q4. What were the effects of World War 2 on Germany?

The effects of World War 2 on Germany was that it eventually split into two regions: East Germany, where a Communist government ruled, and West Germany, where a democratic government ruled.

Q5. What were the effects of World War 2 on colonialism?

The British Empire had suffered greatly due to the World War 2 effects. England had suffered huge losses and was turning to its colonies to assist them in reclaiming their status as a world power. As a result of World War 2, colonialism and imperialism gradually ended.

Q6. How did the new superpowers emerge as a result of World War 2?

An important effect of World War 2 was the emergence of new superpowers in the world. For centuries, Britain and France had remained the important imperialist powers of the world. After World War 2, Britain and France lost their dominance as superpowers to the United States and the Soviet Union.