The Global Impact and Consequences of World War II Essay

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of World War II, examining its origins, course, and lasting global impact. It delves into the background of the war, including the rise of the Axis powers and the key events that led to the conflict. The essay explores the devastating consequences of the war, including the immense loss of life, the destruction of infrastructure, and the economic devastation across the globe. It also examines the outcomes of the war, such as the formation of the United Nations, the rise of the Cold War, and the shift in global power dynamics. The essay highlights the war's impact on society, politics, economy, health, and the environment, emphasizing its significance as a pivotal event in human history and a catalyst for significant changes in international relations. The essay uses various historical references to support its arguments and concludes by reaffirming the war's status as the first truly global event.

Running head: WORLD WAR II
World War II
Student’s name
University
Author’s note

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Introduction
World War II is perhaps the most brutal and biggest incident of war that in the history of
mankind. Since the dawn of human civilization, there has been no other evidence of war or
conflict that has affected such a vast amount of people across the world, neither there was any
other war that engaged so many conflicting sides. Historical evidences suggests, 75 to 80
million people had died during the war, which as estimated as 3% of total population during the
1940s1. Besides, the number of people, including both army and civilians, that have been
wounded or incapacitated during the war is beyond estimation. As massive as its aftermath was,
the event had severe impacts on all possible aspects of human life, including society, politics,
economy, health as well as environment, and till date, is a relevant issue in the history of global
politics and international relations. Given the extent of the severity and expansion of the
incidents, many scholars prefer to term it as the first global event of the human history. To this
end, the present essay will attempt to examine what impact has the World War II on a global
scale. To find the answer to the central question, it will explore the background, consequences
and outcomes of the World War II and analyse why this war is considered as the first global
event.
Background
The term ‘world war’ was first used in English language by a Scottish newspaper The
People’s Journal in 1848. It asserted that “A war among the great powers is now necessarily a
world-war."2 Later, it is also used in by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in a series of articles
named The Class Struggle in France published in 18503. Both the usage indicates the
engagement of principle powers or states in the world in a widely expanded armed conflict as
demonstrating world wars. In this sense, the World War II was essentially appropriate in its
1 Weinberg, Gerhard L. A world at arms: A global history of World War II. Cambridge University Press, 1994.
2 Hynes, Samuel. A war imagined: the First World War and English culture. Random House, 2011.
3 Marx, K. and Surprenant, C., 2000. The class struggle in France.

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coinage, as it involved more than 30 countries in direct armed engagement, and employed more
than 100 million people in direct combat, economic, scientific, technological as well as
governance-related tasks. The First World War that took place during 1914-1918 was also
considered as a global phenomenon, resulting in the second industrial revolution and
globalization4. However, In comparison to the World War I, the Second World War was more
extensive and impactful, given the amount of great forces that allied during the conflict. The
sovereign countries that have the capability to exert their influences on a global scale are
considered as great forces. They eventually have stronger economic, technological, military,
diplomatic and civilian resources5. As contrasted to the World War I, WWII had more conflicting
parties engaged in the process and impacted almost the entire world through its aftermath. It
included genocides and massacres by Holocaust, premeditated deaths by starvation and
strategic bombing6. Also, it was the first and only historical event where nuclear weapons were
used in war. Moreover, disasters caused by deaths, injuries, diseases, economic breakdowns
and infrastructure damages had incapacitated the world, including those who were not even a
direct part of the war, for many upcoming years. It has been opined by many historians and
social scientists that the whole world became a party to the World War II, voluntarily and
involuntarily7.
The Course of the War
The war was arguably initiated by Hitler’s Poland invasion on 1st September, 1937.
Subsequently, as retaliation, the United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany by
forming an alliance of states. However, through a series of treatise and campaigns from 1939 to
4 Tate, Trudi. Modernism, History and the First World War. Manchester University Press, 1998.
5 Weinberg, Gerhard L. A world at arms: A global history of World War II. Cambridge University Press,
1994.
6 Moses, A. Dirk. "The Holocaust and genocide." In The historiography of the Holocaust, pp. 533-555.
Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2004.
7 Merriam, Ray. World War 2 In Review: A Primer. Lulu Press, Inc, 2017.

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1941, Germany gained control on majority of the European continent, and formed the Axis
alliance with Italy and Japan under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August 19398. At that period,
Japan was aiming to dominate the Pacific region along with Asia, and was in a perpetual war
with China. At this point, they joined Germany in an attempt to gain control over the Asia-Pacific
region. Following the Fall of France in 1940, the early war was fought between the British
Empire and the European Allies of the Axis Alliance. Subsequently, the aerial Battle of Britain,
War in the Balkans, the Battle of the Atlantic and the Blitz followed. Further, with the infamous
Pearl Harbour attack, the USA declared war on Japan, supported by the UK. As a response, the
Axis Alliance declared war on the USA, as showing solidarity to their Japanese ally. Soon, two
opposing military alliances were formed, namely the Allies and the Axis, involving almost 30
great forces and ensued a great war of all times. The war lasted from 1939 to 1945, making it
the longest global war in history. As the war culminated, Japan lost the Battle of Midway,
whereas Germany and Italy were defeated in North Africa. As a result of a series of losses, the
Axis was compelled to retreat from all its vantage points. Finally, in a decisive battle, Germany
accepted defeat in Stalingrad, marking the end of the World War II. As Adolf Hitler committed
suicide, Germany unconditionally surrendered on 8th May 19459.
As a consequence of the win over the Axis forces, the Allies established occupation in
Germany and Austria. Subsequently, Germany was divided into Eastern and Western
occupation blocks controlled by the Soviet Union and the Western Allies10. An extensive
denazification program was undertaken in Germany eventually led to the Nuremberg Trial that
prosecuted the Nazi war criminals11. Austria became a neutral state, non-aligned with any
8 Fuller, M.G.J., 2018. The Second World War, 1939-45: a strategical and tactical history. Pickle Partners
Publishing.
9 Lyons, Michael J. World War II: A short history. Routledge, 2016.
10 Ahonen, Pertti. "Germany and the Aftermath of the Second World War." The Journal of Modern
History 89, no. 2 (2017): 355-387.
11 Boyko, M., and O. Ivanov. "Realization politicians of denazification of Germany in the American area of
occupation (1945-1949). European historical studios. № 10." (2018): 63-81.

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political bloc. Japan, on the other hand, was occupied along with its territories by the USA and
the Soviet Union12.
Outcomes of the World War II
Undeniably, the war cost the world heavily on both resources and lives. The most
significant aspect of this global war is that it blurred the line between the civilian and military
resources in terms of war efforts. All the great powers, including the USA, the UK, France, Italy,
Germany, Japan and many more, threw in and human recourse in the war effort13. It claimed
lives of more than 75 million people across the world, including 6 million Jews who died in the
concentration camps during Holocaust14. This is the highest number of deaths recorded in
history of human civilization. Additionally, millions of people were injured and lost their homes,
properties and livelihoods. Thousands of children were orphaned. War crimes and other form of
military tortures tormented the civilians. The war also caused a series of diseases and ailments,
among which the use of nuclear weapon purportedly has its effect on the environment and
health of Japanese people till date15.
The war had a lasting impact on world politics as well. Since 1945, no developed
countries have fought each other, except for the civil wars assisted by foreign forces16. The
world leaders also came in agreement regarding a comprehensive program to maintain world
peace to avoid such dangers in future. To this end, the Allied forces formed the United Nations
in 1945, and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 as a common
standard for all the member countries17. The most significant impact of the World War II was
12 Stourzh, Gerald, and Wolfgang Mueller. A Cold War over Austria: The Struggle for the State Treaty,
Neutrality, and the End of East–West Occupation, 1945–1955. Lexington Books, 2018.
13 Freemann Jr, Richard Z. A Concise History of the Second World War: Its Origin, Battles and
Consequences. Lulu. com, 2019.
14 Katz, Steven T. "The uniqueness of the Holocaust: the historical dimension." In Is the Holocaust
Unique?, pp. 55-74. Routledge, 2018.
15 Reischauer, Edwin. Japan: The story of a nation. Knopf, 2020.
16 Black, Cyril. Rebirth: A political history of europe since world war II. Routledge, 2018.
17 Rahman, Zulkanain Abdul. "THE LABOUR PARTY AND THE FORMATION OF THE UNITED
NATIONS IN 1945." SEJARAH: Journal of the Department of History 15, no. 15 (2017).

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arguably the rise of Soviet influence in the Eastern Europe and the spread of communism18. The
post war division of the world also gave way to the formation of two international military
alliances, the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact and the US-led NATO. Thus, the centre of world power
also visibly shifted from the colonial Europe to two newly formed global powers, namely the US
and the Soviet, paving way for the perpetual competition and seeding the upcoming Cold War19.
Conclusion
In the light of the extension and aftermath of the World War II, it can rightfully be
attributed as the first global event of human history. All the countries with considerable political
and military power were involved in the conflict, while engaging most of their colonies and
dominated territories in the process. Even the consequences of the conflict have a deep and
long-lasting impact on the world politics and international relations till this date. The current
human rights and peace keeping frameworks are also an outcome of the post-war programs.
Hence, it can be argued that the World War II has an impact on the entire world, making it the
first global event of history.
18 Lyons, Michael J. World War II: A short history. Routledge, 2016.
19 Keegan, J., 2010. The Battle for History: Refighting World War Two. Random House.

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References
Books
Black, Cyril. Rebirth: A political history of europe since world war II. Routledge, 2018.
Freemann Jr, Richard Z. A Concise History of the Second World War: Its Origin, Battles and
Consequences. Lulu. com, 2019.
Hynes, Samuel. A war imagined: the First World War and English culture. Random House,
2011.
Keegan, J., 2010. The Battle for History: Refighting World War Two. Random House.
Lyons, Michael J. World War II: A short history. Routledge, 2016.
Reischauer, Edwin. Japan: The story of a nation. Knopf, 2020.
Stourzh, Gerald, and Wolfgang Mueller. A Cold War over Austria: The Struggle for the State
Treaty, Neutrality, and the End of East–West Occupation, 1945–1955. Lexington Books, 2018.
Tate, Trudi. Modernism, History and the First World War. Manchester University Press, 1998.
Weinberg, Gerhard L. A world at arms: A global history of World War II. Cambridge University
Press, 1994.

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Articles
Fuller, M.G.J., 2018. The Second World War, 1939-45: a strategical and tactical history. Pickle Partners
Publishing.
Katz, Steven T. "The uniqueness of the Holocaust: the historical dimension." In Is the Holocaust Unique?,
pp. 55-74. Routledge, 2018.
Merriam, Ray. World War 2 In Review: A Primer. Lulu Press, Inc, 2017.
Moses, A. Dirk. "The Holocaust and genocide." In The historiography of the Holocaust, pp. 533-
555. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2004.
Rahman, Zulkanain Abdul. "THE LABOUR PARTY AND THE FORMATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
IN 1945." SEJARAH: Journal of the Department of History 15, no. 15 (2017).