WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History Chapter 6 The Second World War And Its Aftermath LAQs

WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History  Chapter 6 The Second World War And Its Aftermath Long Answer Questions

Question 1. Why was a democracy under strain before the outbreak of the Second World War?
Answer: Most of the European countries had established democratic governments after the end of the First World War but this success of democracy was short-lived and soon there were severe constraints on democracy.

Many factors contributed to this situation –

1. The socio-economic crisis that took place in Europe after the First World War destabilized the democratic governments as they failed to steer their nations from the financial stress.
2. The democratic governments that were established in different countries lacked experience suffered from inherent weakness and naturally failed to gain the confidence of the people.
3. There existed certain demerits within the constitution of the democratic governments.
4. The emergency power that was vested upon the Presidents to safeguard the constitution was wrongly used by the representatives of the Government (the Weimar Republic misused this power) and thus paved the path for the rise of an alternate authoritarian government.
5. The Great Economic Depression of 1929 affected the European economy to a large extent and gave rise to problems like shortage of food and essential commodities, inflation, and unemployment problem which the democratic government failed to resolve.
6. Taking advantage of this situation both the Nazis and the Fascists of Germany and Italy tried to draw the support of the common people.
7. The failure of the League of Nations and the aggressive attitude of Germany under Adolf Hitler was another important cause that led to the rise of dictatorship and relegated democracy to the background.
8. Lastly, one cannot ignore the fact that there was a complete absence of any popular democratic ruler during this time; on the contrary, the ‘European Dictators’ like Adolf Hitler were extremely popular and charismatic which allured the masses.

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Question 2. What were the main causes of conflict between Fascism and Nazism with Democracy?
Answer:

The main causes of conflict between Fascism and Nazism with Democracy

The Second World War witnessed the conflict of two contradictory political ideologies – Fascism and Nazism versus Democracy. The characteristic feature of democracy was an open-minded critical approach that recognized individual liberty, unlike the totalitarian or dictatorial form of government.

1. The Treaty of Versailles crippled Germany and Italy failed to reap many advantages from the settlements that were made after the First World War. This resulted in an economic, social and political crisis which developed Nazism and Fascism in Germany and Italy.
2. England, France, and America were staunch supporters of the principles of democracy while Germany and Italy upheld the principles of autocracy in the form of Nazism and Fascism. the supporters of Democracy from the very beginning tried to establish the supremacy of this principle.
3. The leaders like Hitler and Mussolini wanted to establish their dictatorial rule based on the principle of a new and unified national or racial community.
4. Both Fascism and Nazism mocked bourgeoisie values and put forward the Spartan ethics of self-denial, austerity and subordination to the nation or the leader of the nation.
5. Even the Soviet Union was against the dictatorial rule of Germany and Italy and joined hands with the democratic nations. In a situation like this, the war became inevitable.

Question 3. State the similarities between Fascism and Nazism.
Answer:

The similarities between Fascism and Nazism

One of the most significant events after the First World War was the establishment of dictatorial governments in some of the countries of Europe.

• Challenged by poverty, inflation and other economic factors along with political instability Italy saw the rise of Fascism under the leadership of Benito Mussolini in 1919.
• The inefficiency of the Weimar Republic, the economic crisis and allied factors allowed Adolf Hitler to exploit the situation to his favour and consequently, there was the rise of Nazism in Germany.
• Both Fascism and Nazism were against the ideologies of Communism and drew support from every section of the society. Fascism and Nazism were anti-democratic and wanted to establish a totalitarian state controlling every machinery of the state.
• Both Fascism and Nazism limited the freedom of people and emphasized aggressive nationalism and racism. Fascism and Nazism both wanted to establish a self-sufficient country and both ideologies wanted to establish themselves as a formidable military power in Europe.
• Despite the criticisms that are attached to both these concepts of Fascism and Nazism, they were able to motivate the people of Italy and Germany for a brief period.

Question 4. How far was the League of Nations responsible for the outbreak of the Second World War?
Answer: The League of Nations was established in 1920 with the primary aim of preventing any armed conflict and promoting international peace and cooperation.

• But within a few years, it became evident that the League was not efficient enough to resolve international disputes through peaceful discussions and negotiations and it is argued that the failure of the League of Nations was one of the factors that contributed to the outbreak of the Second World War.
• The League of Nations failed to play any role in many of the conflicts that led to the Second World War— like the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, the Spanish Civil War, the Sino- Japanese War of 1931, and the German aggressions.
• When Germany disregarded the clauses of the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact the League failed to render any strong opposition.
• Other general weaknesses of the League were the League had no army, navy or airforce of its own and military sanctions were left to the discretion of the members without military punishment, the aggressors could not be controlled; economic sanctions too the League needed the support of the great powers.
• The League even failed to take any step when the dispute arose between France and Germany at the Disarmament Conference. The power of the League was also limited by the refusal of the USA to join it.
• Finally, the Policy of Appeasement that was followed by Britain and France towards Hitler led to the failure of the League of Nations and fanned the imperialist aspirations of Hitler.

Question 5. Write a note on the Anglo-French policy of appeasement.
Answer:

Anglo-French policy of appeasement

The term ‘Appeasement’, is a foreign policy of pacifying an aggrieved country through negotiation to prevent war.

• Britain and France followed this policy of appeasement towards Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in the 1930s which was one of the causes of the outbreak of the Second World War.
• The first instance of Anglo-French appeasement was the Anschluss union of Austria with Germany, which violated the Treaty of Versailles (1919).
• The British Prime Minister Chamberlain and the French Prime Minister Daladier felt that Hitler’s aspirations were limited and by acceding to few of his demands they could avert a big confrontation; with this view in mind, they kept silent when the German-Italian-Japanese Axis disregarded the clauses of the Versailles Treaty, German militarization and seizing of Rhineland.
• As a result of the Policy of Appeasement the Allies even signed the Munich Agreement in 1938 which compelled Czechoslovakia to cede Sudetenland to Germany. A similar attitude was displayed when Japan occupied Manchuria and Italy annexed Abyssinia.
• It is believed that if Hitler and Mussolini were thwarted rightfully at the beginning the situation would have been different for the entire world.

Question 6. Write a note on The Munich Pact (1938)
Answer:

The Munich Pact (1938)

The Munich Pact or Munich Agreement was signed on 30th September 1938 between Adolf Hitler the Nazi leader of Germany, Benito Mussolini the Fascist leader of Italy and the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Daladier.

• This agreement permitted Germany’s annexation of the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia, where about three million people were of German origin.
• By the terms of the agreement, Germany occupied four border provinces of Czechoslovakia and even compelled the Czech Government to release all the political prisoners of Sudetenland.
• Most of Europe celebrated this agreement because it prevented the outbreak of a war. Hitler announced that it was his last territorial claim in Europe, and the choice seemed to be between war and appeasement.
• But this agreement encouraged Hitler to make more territorial demands and finally, when Hitler invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, Britain and France could no longer follow the Policy of Appeasement and declared war against Germany. Hence the Second World War commenced.

WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History  Question 7. What do you mean by the term “Anschluss “?
Answer:

Anschluss

The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938 is known as the “Anschluss ” or the ” Anschluss Osterreichs”. Austria was excluded from the unification of Germany by the Prussian-dominated German Empire in 1871.

• Following the end of the First World War, the newly formed Republic of German-Austria tried to form a union with Germany but The Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Versailles forbade the union of Germany with Austria.
• There had been strong support from people of all backgrounds in both Austria and Germany for the unification before “Anschluss ” The idea of unification was attractive to both the political Left and Centre in Austria as they were deprived of territories it had ruled and facing a severe economic crisis after the dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy.
• After 1933 the idea of unification found favour with the Nazis who sought to incorporate as many ethnic German ( Volksdeutsch } as possible into Greater Germany.
• In early 1938 under pressure from the unification activists Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum for unification but Hitler threatened an invasion and forced him to resign.
• On 12th March the Wehrmacht (German Army) crossed the border unopposed to great cheer and a plebiscite held on 10th April officially ratified the annexation of Austria by the Reich.

Question 8. How was the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis formed?
Answer: Rome, Berlin, and Tokyo represented Italy, Germany and Japan and these nations fought against the Allies in the Second World War. The origin of this Axis had its source in the aggressive policies that were implemented by Germany and Italy.

• The support of Hitler to Mussolini during his annexation of Abyssinia and their joint assistance to General Franco during the Spanish Civil War marked the friendly relations between the two dictators of the period.
• The opposition to the League of Nations by Italy and Germany and the Anglo-French attitude were other factors responsible for the growth of the Axis Powers.
• A bilateral agreement was concluded between Japan and Germany in 1936 known as the Anti-Comintern Pact in which they promised to help each other if attacked by the Soviet Union.
• Italy also joined Germany and Japan on 6 November 1937 and agreed to help each other in case of an attack by any Fourth power. Thus the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis was formed which was supposed to last for ten years.

Question 9. Briefly describe the Battle of Britain.
Answer:

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain was the first major military campaign during the Second World War that was fought entirely by the air forces- the Royal Air Force (RAF) of Britain and the Luftwaffe of Germany.

• The Battle of Britain lasted from 10th July 1940 to 31st October 1940. The main objective of the German force was to force Britain to agree to a negotiated peace settlement.
• Initially, the Luftwaffe targeted the coastal shipping convoys, ports and shipping centres but later it shifted the attacks to the RAF airfields and radar installations.
• As the war advanced Luftwaffe not only targeted the factories that produced aircraft and strategic infrastructure it also used terror bombing in London and port cities and on the civilians.
• In September, the RAF night raids disrupted the German preparation of converted barges and Luftwaffe failed to succeed against the RAF which compelled Hitler to postpone and cancel his Operation Sea Lion- the code name he used for the invasion of Britain.
• The continued night bombing of Britain by the Luftwaffe was known as the Blitz and Germany’s failure to destroy the British air force was a major German defeat and a significant event in the Second World War.

Question 10. what is known as the “Blitz”?
Answer:

Blitz

The German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in the years 1940 and 1940 is known as “The Blitz”. The term was used by the British Press and the meaning of “The Blitz ” in German is “lightning”.

• Towards the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940, the Germans conducted mass air raids on towns and cities, Industrial targets beginning with raids on London.
• The Luftwaffe ( German Air Force ) wanted to draw the Royal Air Force( RAF ) into a battle of annihilation by attacking London as per the policy adopted by Hermann Goering, the Reichsmarschall and Adolf Hitler.
• From 7th September 1940, London was bombed by the Luftwaffe systematically for 56 days of the following 57 days and nights. Industrial Centres like Birmingham, Manchester and the port cities of Bristol, Cardiff, Portsmouth, and Plymouth were also targeted.
• However, the bombing failed to demoralise the British or do much damage to the war economy, the eight months of bombing failed to do any harm to the British War production which continued to increase.
• The German Air Offensive failed as it failed to develop a methodical strategy for destroying the British war industry.

WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History  Question 11. Give an account of the Battle of France.
Answer:

Battle of France

The German Invasion of France and the Low Countries and the subsequent defeat of France and the Allied forces is known as the Battle of France.

• Following the declaration of war in September 1939 by France the French had started a limited offensive in Saar Region but were soon back in their starting lines.
• The Germans started their “Blitzkrieg” or “Lighting War ” in May 1940 on the Western Front by a surprise push through the Ardennes and then along the Somme Valley and surrounded the Allied Units.
• British, Belgian and French forces were pushed back to the sea by the German forces where the Allied units were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in Operation Dynamo.
• The remaining sixty French Divisions and the two British Divisions tried to stop the German attack on the Somme but failed in front of the German combination of air superiority and armoured mobility.
• Paris was occupied on 14 June after the German tanks outflanked the “Maginot Line ” and pushed deep into France. The Second Armistice of Compiegne was signed on 22nd June and the neutral Vichy government led by Marshall Petain was established.
• Germany occupied the North Sea and Atlantic Coasts of France and its hinterlands while the Vichy Government retained the territory in the South till the time France was liberated by the Allies in 1944.

Question 12. How far was Hitler responsible for the outbreak of the Second World War?
Answer: In 1933, Adolf Hitler the leader of the Nazi Party was appointed as the Chancellor of Germany and the first six years of his rule resulted in rapid economic recovery from the Great Depression, the abrogation of restrictions imposed on Germany after the First World War and annexation of territories inhabited by millions of ethnic Germans.

• All these earned Hitler great popular support who now began to reorganize the German army with the view of violating the humiliating Versailles Treaty and the Locarno Pact and seizing the Rhineland and recovering the Saar region.
• He sought ‘Lebensraum’ or living space for the German people in Eastern Europe which was considered as one of the primary causes of the Second World War. He entered into a Non-Aggression Treaty with Poland in 1934 with the sole purpose of alienating Poland’s relationship with the anti-German nations of Europe.
• In 1937 the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis was formed which disturbed the balance of power in Europe. Prompted by the need of the hour Hitler even entered into a Non -non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union in 1939.
• Hitler violated the treaties and promises on purpose and not only did he annex Austria taking advantage of the Anglo-French Appeasement Policy he even dishonoured the Munich Agreement of 1938 and annexed Czechoslovakia.
• Finally, his attack on Poland on 1st September 1939 disregarding the Anglo-French warning provided the immediate cause of the outbreak of the Second World War.

Question 13. Write a note on D-Day
Answer:

D-Day

The Normandy landings and associated airborne invasions by the Allied forces against Nazi-occupied Europe that took place on 6th June 1944 is known as D-Day.

• The amphibious assault involved around 5000 vessels and nearly 1,60,000 troops crossed the English Channel which was preceded by a 1200-plane assault. It was the biggest seaborne invasion in history under the leadership of General Dwight D. Eisenhower the Supreme Allied Commander.
• The Normandy sector was divided into 5 sectors with Americans landing on the Omaha and Utah beaches, the British at the Sword and. Gold beaches and Canadians at Juno Beach.
• The Allied forces came under heavy fire from the gun emplacements and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles like wooden stakes and metals. On the first day the Allies failed to achieve their objectives but held on to a foothold on the beaches.
• They expanded their foothold and captured the port of Cherbourg on 26th June and the city of Caen on 21st July repulsed a counterattack by the Germans and trapped them in the Falaise pocket.
• The liberation of Paris followed on 25th August which marked the close of Operation Overlord or D-Day.

Question 14. What do you know about the Potsdam Conference?
Answer:

Potsdam Conference

The Potsdam Conference that was held in the city of Potsdam in Germany took place from 16th July 1945 to 2nd August 1945 and was divided into two parts; the first part was attended by Truman, Stalin and Churchill.

• After his defeat in the election, Churchill was replaced by Atlee in the second part. The decision to drop the atomic bomb was also taken in the first part of the conference.
• This conference witnessed the rise of Russian authority in international politics. Harry S. Truman understood this but continued to gang up against Russia at that time.

The primary aims of the conference were

1. The establishment of the post-war order
2. The issues related to peace treaties
3. How to counter the effects of the war.

The Allies issued a statement stating that ‘ Germany would undergo ‘Five Ds’- demilitarization, denazification, democratization, decentralization, dismantling and decapitalization.

• It was decided to abolish all the Nazi Laws as they were unacceptable in a democratic country. Both Germany and Austria along with their capitals Berlin and Vienna would be divided into four zones.
• The Nazi war criminals were to be put on trial at Nuremberg and all the annexations that Germany made in Europe were decided to be reversed. (Sudeterland, Austria, Alsace-Lorraine, Westernmost regions of Poland).
• The judicial system was reorganized, and the freedom of speech, press, religions, and the formation of trade unions were permitted by the Allies.

WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History  Question 15. Why did the USA join the Second World War?
Answer: At the outbreak of the Second World War USA adopted the policy of neutrality following the Neutrality Act of 1937. But later the circumstances changed as taking advantage of the war, Japan became a dominant power over the Pacific Ocean regions and the Far East.

• The aggressive foreign policy of Japan was not liked by the USA who wanted to arrive at an understanding of the imbroglio and took the initiative to meet the Japanese representatives at Washington.
• While the conference was in progress, on 7th December 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbour in the Hawaii Islands.
• In this surprise attack by the fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers launched from the aircraft carriers Japan sought to deal a severe blow to the US Naval fleet and succeeded in destroying several battleships, destroyers and light cruisers along with a large number of aircraft.
• The number of U.S. casualties that amounted to death was 2,335 and 1,143 were wounded. On 8th December 1941, the U.S. Congress declared war against Japan and thus marked the entry of the USA in the Second World War.

Question 16. What do you know about the bombing by the USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Answer:

The bombing by the USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The Second World War in Europe ended after Germany signed the instrument of surrender on 8th May 1945 and the Allies now focused on the Pacific Theatre and demanded the unconditional surrender of the Imperial Japanese armed forces. (Potsdam Declaration July 1945).

• Japan ignored the ultimatum and it was decided by the Allies to drop atomic bombs on four Japanese cities. On 6th August 1945, the USA dropped a uranium gun-type bomb code-named Little Boy on the industrial Japanese city of Hiroshima.
• Three days later on 9th August 1945, the USA again dropped a more powerful plutonium implosion bomb code-named Fat Man on Nagasaki. The bombs had a devastating impact—killing 78000 civilians in Hiroshima and 40000 civilians in Nagasaki.
• A large population continued to die in the months to follow due to the effects of burns, radiation and other injuries. Ultimately on 2nd September 1945, Japan signed the instrument of surrender which officially ended the Second World War.

Question 17. What was ‘NATO’ and ‘WARSAW PACT’?
Answer:

‘NATO’ and ‘WARSAW PACT’

An ideological conflict arose between the capitalist USA and the communist Soviet Union towards the end of the Second World War which is termed the ‘Cold War’.

• A rivalry developed between the USA and the Soviet Union on the question of assuming leadership of the world giving birth to ‘NATO’ and ‘The Warsaw Pact’.
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO formed an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries in 1949.
• NATO had a collective defence system which allowed its independent member states to agree to mutual defence in case of an attack by any external party.( For example The Red Army)
• The Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO) which was commonly known as the Warsaw Pact was signed between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republics of Central and Eastern Europe in May 1955.
• It was created in reaction to the integration of West Germany into NATO and also by the desire of the Soviet Union to maintain control over the military forces in Central and Eastern Europe.

Question 18. What was the result of Germany’s invasion of Russia?
Answer:

The result of Germany’s invasion of Russia

Adolf Hitler of Germany violated the Russo-German Non-Agression Pact of 1939 and launched Operation Barbarossa or the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, during the Second World War.

• At the initial stages, the Nazis had great success capturing about 800,000 square kilometres of the Russian territory but this success was short-lived due to the wrong strategy of the German forces.
• The Soviet counter-offensives under the leadership of Marshal Zhukov and his Red Army, the severe Russian winter and the unpreparedness of the German military force for such a huge enterprise turned the course of events, leading to the failure of Hitler’s army.
• This disastrous Russian campaign marked the ‘Beginning of the end’ for Nazi Germany. This incident inspired the Allied Powers and the countries which were occupied by Hitler rose in new vigour in their fight against Germany.
• On 6th June 1944, USA, Britain and France launched Operation Overlord which led to the establishment of a strong foothold of the Allies on the French coastline and the decline of Nazi Germany. Faced by the twin attacks of the Red Army and the Anglo-French forces Germany ultimately signed the instrument of surrender on 8th May 1945.

WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History  Question 19. Write a note on the Abyssinian Crisis.
Answer:

Abyssinian Crisis

Italy under their ruler Benito Mussolini adopted a policy of aggression against Abyssinia in the period between 1934 and 1937 giving rise to the diplomatic crisis which was known as the Abyssinian Crisis.

• It started with the Walwal Incident of 1934, which led Mussolini to attack Abyssinia in October 1935.
• Italy’s attack on Abyssinia was prompted by her desire to take revenge for her defeat in the Battle of Adowa in 1896, the ‘lebensraum’ or creation of living space for the increasing Italian population and to procure raw materials as well as a market for her industrial production.
• Haile Selassie the Emperor of Abyssinia fled due to Italy’s aggression and internal problems. This second Italy-Abyssinian war marked Italy’s withdrawal from the League of Nations and developing strategic political relationship with Nazi Germany.
• As a result of Mussolini’s annexation of Abyssinia, his popularity among his countrymen increased. However, the League of Nations was discredited in its purpose of promoting international cooperation and peace.
• Further, Mussolini’s annexation of Abyssinia provided Hitler with the courage to violate the clauses of the Treaty of Versailles and later in 1937, Germany, Italy and Japan formed the Axis Powers in Europe.

Question 20. What were the most destructive weapons used in the Second World War?
Answer:

The most destructive weapons used in the Second World War

The Second World War saw much technological advancement in the weapons used by both the Allied and the Axis powers.

• During the Second World War, the world’s first Jet Fighter ME-262 was developed by Nazi Germany which was more heavily armed than any other Allied fighter of that day. The Avro Lancaster Bomber used by the Royal Air Force became the most important heavy.
• British bombers during the war and Lancaster made a total of 156,000 sorties and dropped over 608,000 tonnes of high explosive bombs and 51 million incendiary bombs during the war.
• The Katyusha Rocket Launcher was developed by the Soviet Union that launched multiple rockets at the same time from the back of a vehicle and was able to wreak havoc on the enemy troops in a matter of seconds and also caused psychological terror, thus giving it the name of “Stalin’s Organs”
• The VI Flying Bomb developed by Nazi Germany was the earliest Cruise Missile in the world, which was used in the terror bombing of London during the war, later the V2 Flying Bomb was also developed creating the two most powerful weapons of mass destruction.
• The T-34 Tank developed by the Soviet Union during the Second World War was the most effective, efficient and influential tank and had an unprecedented combination of firepower, mobility, protection and ruggedness.
• The 88 mm Gun developed by the Nazis was an anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun which was used to devastating effect and was known as the “Flak “, the very name caused terror in the hearts of its enemies.
• The most important and destructive weapon used in the Second World War was the Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which caused destruction that the world had not seen before and marked the beginning of the Nuclear Age.

Question 21. What were the main Theatres of war in the Second World War?
Answer:

The main Theatres of war in the Second World War

The main Theatres of war in the Second World War were as follows European Theatre, Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern theatre, Pacific Asian Theatre, Other Theatres, Naval War and Air War.

• The European Theatre comprised the Nordic Front, Western Front and Russian Front and some of the main wars fought in this Theatre were the Invasion of Denmark and Norway, the Battle of France, the Battle of Normandy, the Central Europe campaign, the Battle of Poland, Eastern Front and the Battle of Berlin.
• The Mediterranean, Africa and Middle East Theatre was characterised by the East Africa campaign, and North Africa campaign. Battle of Greece, Battle of Crete and the Italy campaign. The Pacific Asian Theatre comprised the Pacific War, the Burma campaign, China Burma and India Theatre, Japan and the Soviet-Japanese War.
• The other Theatres of war were the Arctic, Antarctic, Madagascar and West Africa. The Naval war was fought in the Battle of the Atlantic, Battle of the Indian Ocean and Arctic Convoys were a very crucial part.
• The Air Wars were fought over the Battle of Britain, The Strategic Bombing Campaign and the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Question 22. Why was the Second World War known as the global war?
Answer: The Second World War that took place in the years between 1939 to 1945 was fought on most of the inhabited parts of the world covering land, water and air.

• It was widespread covering most of the nations—starting with the invasion of Poland by Germany it involved Britain and France, and engulfed Greece, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union in the war by 1941; the war even spread to Japan (Asia) and the USA because of the Pearl Harbour incident, involved Southeast Asia and Pacific, and by 1942 the war even reached Africa; this war reached even the remotest parts of the world Like the Arctic and Antarctica.
• The Second World War was extremely destructive and devastating— the major participants of the war used all their resources- economic, industrial and scientific behind the war effort and even crossed the distinctions between the civilian and military resources.
• It was one of the deadliest events in the history of mankind that led to about 70 to 85 million fatalities; thousands were killed in genocides, starvation, massacres and diseases.
• The use of aircraft, atomic bombs and nuclear weapons played a significant role in the war destroying lives and properties across the world. The Second World War changed the political alignment and the social structure of the globe.
• It rendered nearly 20 million people homeless, destroyed around 50% of the resources of France, caused 30% destruction of Southern Italy and a disastrous situation for Japan which suffered from the attack of atomic bombs; other countries like Russia also suffered greatly.
• The Second World War led to the establishment of the United Nations, this war freed the world from the Fascists and the Nazis no doubt but at a very high price.

Question 23. How did the Second World War give rise to sovereign States?
Answer: The Second World War had far-reaching impacts on the contemporary history of the world. It witnessed the decolonisation process of dismantlement of the colonial empires that were established before the First World War.

• During the Second World War, Britain, France, USA used their colonies for the supply of raw materials, manpower and other reasons with the assurance of granting their freedom at the end of the war.
• But as they tried to move away from their promise after the end of the war, nationalist movements gained momentum in various countries of Asia and Africa. India won her independence in 1947, Burma in 1948, and Sri Lanka in 1947. Indonesia, Morocco, Kenya and others also gained their independence after the Second World War.
• After the Second World War, the newly independent countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America came to be known as the ‘Third World’ and they formed the ‘Non-Alignment-Movement’ under the leadership of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Question 24. Why is aggressive nationalism regarded as harmful?
Answer: The term Aggressive Nationalism came into vogue in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. This narrow-minded and self-centred nationalism emerged in Europe after the fall of multiracial nations and the creation of single unified nations.

• When nationalism becomes competitive and aggressive it takes such a horrifying form as was seen in Germany and Italy during the leadership of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
• Both these leaders used their race and nation as instruments of aggressive nationalism. Aggressive nationalism leads to imperialism, racial discrimination, antagonism towards other nations and many such evils.
• It deters the development of internationalism and prevents the nation from going beyond its limits. Rabindranath Tagore, the great poet and philosopher of India, stated that one must get rid of the narrow self-interests of aggressive nationalism and help to promote internationalism.

Question 25. Discuss the causes of the Second World War.
Answer:

The causes of the Second World War

Considerable discussions were made by historians regarding the causes of the outbreak of the Second World War on 1st September 1939 due to Germany’s attack on Poland and subsequent joining in the war on the side of Poland by Britain and France.

• This war which was one of the deadliest events in the history of mankind continued for six years and ended on 2nd September 1945. If Germany’s attack on Poland on 1st September 1939 provided the immediate cause of the war other prior, events had also paved the path of this outbreak.
• The rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism in Germany, Sino-Japanese conflicts, Benito Mussolini’s annexation of Abyssinia and Germany’s success in achieving a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union to divide territories of Eastern Europe between them were major incidents that had to be taken into account.
• The unjust and humiliating terms of the Treaty of Versailles which crippled Germany both economically and militarily provoked strong feelings of retaliation among the Germans.
• The gradual decline of Democracy or democratic form of Government in Europe from the 1930s and the subsequent rise of the dictatorial regimes of Hitler and Mussolini was a significant cause behind the outbreak of the Second World War.
• The Policy of Appeasement followed by the two world powers Britain and France only fanned the imperialist ambitions of Germany, Italy and Japan. If Chamberlain and Daladier thwarted Hitler and Mussolini right from the beginning then, such a huge confrontation could have been avoided.
• The weakness and failure of the League of Nations which was formed to promote international cooperation and peace was yet another cause. The rise of dictatorship in Europe frustrated the peace-making role of the League as it was unable to control aggressive nations like Germany, Italy and Japan.
• The lack of coordination and unity of thought between England and France also allowed Hitler to strengthen himself. Britain and France also failed to adopt a strong diplomatic stance to form a military alliance with the Soviet Union.
• Hitler taking advantage of the situation struck a better deal with Stalin and concluded the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact in August 1939. Finally, the formation of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis in 1937 and the signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938 set the stage for the outbreak of the war.

Question 26. Briefly state the timeline of the Second World War.
Answer:

The Timeline of the Second World War

• Twenty years after the First World War (1914 to 1918) the Second World War broke out on 1st September 1939.
• 1st September 1939- Germany attacked Poland and the Second World War commenced with the capturing of Warsaw within 15 days.
• 3rd September 1939- In favour of Poland England and France declared war against Germany.
• 17th September 1939- Invading from the East, Russia captured the whole of Poland within 30 days and soon there was a division of Poland into East and West which were occupied by Russia and Germany respectively.
• 30th November 1939- Russia occupied East Finland and was expelled from the League of Nations.
• 9th April 1940- Germany attacked and captured Norway and Denmark.
• 10th May 1940- Germany attacked Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg.
• In June 1940 the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were annexed by Russia; Italy also joined by declaring war against France
• The combined armies of Germany and Italy attacked France defeated her and the Germans entered Paris on 14th June 1940.
• 10th July 1940- The Battle of Britain began.
• 8th August 1940- Germany started bombing in England
• 25th August 1940- British air raids on Berlin started
• 21st November 1940- France surrendered to Germany.
• 22nd June 1941- Germany attacked Russia
• 30th July 1941- Russia joined the Allied forces
• 7th December 1941- Attack of the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii by Japan
• 8th December 1941- USA joins the Second World War.
• 13th June 1943- Germany began the U-boat offensive against the USA.
• 3rd July 1942- Germany took Sebastopol.
• 13th September 1942- The Battle of Stalingrad began
• 11th November 1942- Germany and Italy invaded unoccupied Vichy France.
• 9th January 1943 – Von Paulus surrendered to the Russians at Stalingrad
• 10th July 1943- Under the leadership of Genera! Montgomery of Britain and General Patton of USA Sicily was occupied.
• 25th July 1943- The Fascist leader Benito Mussolini was arrested by Marshal Badoglio ending Fascist rule in Italy.
• 3rd September 1943- Italy surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces.
• 4th June 1944- Rome was captured by the Allied forces.
• 6th June 1944- Operation Overlord; D-Day or Deliverance Day celebrated
• 25th August 1944- The Allied Army freed Paris
• 4th to 7th February 1945- Yalta Conference.
• 2nd May 1945 – The Red Army of the Soviet Union occupied Berlin
• 7th May 1945- Unconditional surrender of all the German forces to the Allies
• 8th May 1945- VE Day
• 17th July to 2nd August-Potsdam Conference
• 6th August 1945 – Atom bomb dropped at Hiroshima
• 9th August 1945- Atom bomb dropped at Nagasaki
• 2nd September 1945- Japan signed the instrument of surrender and the Second World War ended.

Question 27. What were the causes of the defeat of the Axis powers in the Second World War?
Answer:

The causes of the defeat of the Axis powers in the Second World War

The Second World War (1939 to 1945) was fought between the Allied Powers comprising England, France, Soviet Union, USA and China and the Axis Powers comprising Italy, Germany and Japan.

• Some causes ranging from the tactical errors of the individual Axis powers to the economic disadvantage of the Axis powers contributed to their defeat in the Second World War.
• Each of the three major Axis powers made certain tactical mistakes which weakened them— Operation Barbarossa the invasion of Hitler on the Soviet Union spelt disaster for him.
• Hitler underestimated the strength of the Soviet Union and the combined forces of Russia’s Red Army, the severe Russian winter against the ill-equipped German army signalled the ‘Beginning of the end’ for Nazi Germany or the Axis Powers.
• Mussolini’s invasion of Greece was successful but it resulted in the diversion of troops and caused delay in the invasion of Russia. The third tactical error was the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbour.
• The attack yielded limited success but made the Americans amass their military power and join on the side of the Allies targeting Japan. The Axis Powers were no match to withstand the combined attacks of powerful nations like Britain, the USA and the Soviet Union.
• The leaders of the Axis Powers like Hitler and Mussolini were gradually losing their popularity in their own countries. The people living in the territories conquered by the German army could no longer tolerate the harsh treatment of the Nazis and opposed them.
• The intrigues among the German Generals, the suspicious nature of Hitler who not even trusted his lieutenants like Himmler and Goering and his overpowering nature also contributed to the fall of the Axis Powers.

The Axis Powers also suffered from inherent weaknesses. Italy was more a burden to Hitler than a strength and Spain under General Franco was a member of the Axis Powers no doubt but it refused to take part in the war. Thus Germany was left alone to take the entire challenge.

• Moreover, the Allied Powers who were staunch supporters of Democracy and wanted to rid the world from the evils of the authoritarian rule of Fascism and Nazism received great support and sympathy from a large majority of the world population.
• Another reason for the defeat of the Axis Powers was due to Germany’s fixation on what Hitler referred to as ‘wonder weapons’; Germany produced several powerful weapons but its nuclear project was disjointed and unsuccessful.
• The final attack that ended the Second World War was the USA’s dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It can therefore be argued that the unavailability of atomic bombs at their disposal brought about the defeat of the Axis Powers in the Second World War.

Question 28. What was the impact of the Second World War on contemporary history?
Answer:

The impact of the Second World War on contemporary history

The Second World War which lasted from 1939 to 1945 was one of the deadliest military conflicts in the world. This war had a far-reaching impact on the whole world.

• The end of the war witnessed a global tragedy as millions of people died and millions became homeless. It brought about the downfall of the European economy and much of the European industrial infrastructure was also destroyed.
• The end of the Second World War ushered in a new era which saw the decline of the European colonial empires on one hand and the rise of two superpowers the Soviet Union and the United States of America on the other hand.
• The end of the Second World War saw the emergence of ideological conflicts between the two superpowers the capitalist USA and the communist Soviet Union. This was known as the Cold War.
• Europe was divided into two blocs under such a situation- the US-led Western Bloc and the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc. In the period after the Second World War Russia spread its influence on Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania.
• The USA also spread its influence on Western Europe through the Truman Policy and Marshall Plan. Some of the nations stayed out of the Cold War through the Non-Aligned Movement.
• The war also led to the nuclear arms race between the two superpowers which made them adopt the policy of a ‘mutually assured destruction’ standoff. The end of the war also increased the rate of decolonization, freedom movements gathered momentum in various countries of Asia and Africa.
• Between 1945 and 1960 around 40 countries including India fought against colonialism and gained independence. After the Second World War, the leaders of the world formed the United Nations Organization or U.N.O on 24th October 1945 to solve global problems through peaceful negotiations.

WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History  Question 29. Make a comparative study between the First World War and the Second World War
Answer:

Question 30. Write a note on the Yalta Conference.
Answer:

Yalta Conference

The Yalta Conference which was code-named Argonaut and Magneto was also known as the Crimea Conference. It was held between the 4th and 11th of February 1945 and was the second of the three major conferences among the Big Three.

• The leaders of political heads of the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Soviet Union met at the conference to discuss matters related to the postwar reorganization of Germany and Europe.
• At the conference, the UK was represented by Winston Churchill, the USA by Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Soviet Union by Joseph Stalin. The Yalta Conference was preceded by the Tehran Conference in 1943 and followed by the Potsdam Conference In 1945.
• It was also preceded by the conference in October 1944 where only Churchill and Stalin discussed Western Europe and Soviet spheres of influence. This conference was not attended by the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the Yalta Conference of 1945, certain important decisions were made.
• Britain, the USA and the Soviet Union decided that after the surrender of Germany, she would be divided into four sectors and each of the powers would occupy one sector.

Similarly, the capital city of Berlin too would be divided into four parts.

The conference aimed to construct a post-war peace that represented not just a collective security order but a plan to give self¬determination to the people who earned liberation in post-Nazi Europe.

However, within a very short period and the rise of the Cold War that divided the continent ideologically, the Yalta Conference became a subject of great controversy.

WBBSE Class 9 Fundamentals Of History  Question 31. What do you know about the qualitative and quantitative changes that were brought about by the destructiveness of the Second World War?
Answer:

The qualitative and quantitative changes that were brought about by the destructiveness of the Second World War

The Second World War one of the deadliest events in the history of mankind involved virtually every part of the world during the six years between 1939 and 1945.

• Around 70-85 million people lost their lives in this war making it the bloodiest conflict as well as the largest war in history. There is no real statistical measurement of the human and material cost of the Second World War.
• It is estimated that around $ 1,000, 000, 000,000 was spent by the governments of the nations who participated in the war. But this figure appeared nothing when compared to the human misery that the war had inflicted.
• The physical suffering, the dislocation of people and their economic losses or the physical destruction of property was enormous. The national property of many of the countries was destroyed. The highest destruction was in Russia where many cities and industrial areas were also ruined.
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the hardest hit in Japan and a large number of Japanese people became homeless. Britain and France too suffered from the destruction of thousands of houses and roads.
• The scientists on both sides spent hours inventing more and more powerful and destructive weapons during the Second World War. But it was the invention of nuclear weapons that changed the nature of the war making it fatal and destructive.
• The Second World War ended with the dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the USA in August 1945—marking the beginning of the nuclear age in International Politics.
• It was for the first time in the history of the world that human beings found the means to destroy the whole world.

Question 32. What was the role played by the USA during the Second World War?
Answer:

The role played by the USA during the Second World War

A large majority of Americans felt after the First World War that participating in international politics was a mistake and advocated a policy of isolation. Accordingly, the USA maintained a policy of neutrality during the Second World War when it broke out on 1st September 1939.

But as Fascism and Nazism raised their heads USA was alarmed and when Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941, the USA broke its neutral position and invaded Japan on the following day 8th December 1941.

• The US President Roosevelt had the desire to give up the Policy of Neutrality and play an active role in world politics. The fall of France in 1940, the German air raids on England and the spreading of the war alerted the USA who feared a possible attack by Hitler of Germany.
• This led the USA to deviate from her original stance on Neutrality. A system of conscription was introduced and all American youths between the ages of 21 to 31 were to take military training and join the army.
• To prevent the activities of the Nazis or a possible invasion the Good Neighbour Policy was adopted by the USA to receive the cooperation of the Latin American countries.
• A treaty was signed with Canada also for defence and the USA also built military garrisons on Bermuda and Newfoundland.
• Before these in 1939, the USA amended the Neutrality Act and decided to sell weapons and other military equipment to the Western Democratic Countries to help the Allied Powers and this was known as the ‘Cash and Carry’ policy.
• 1941, the U.S. Senate passed the ‘Lend-Lease Act’ that permitted the USA to supply fighter aircraft, weapons and warships to the Allied forces and earned her the title ‘Arsenal of Democracy’.
• The USA also adopted ‘Shoot -at sight orders on German submarines and warships that were passed by the USA angered by the frequent attack on the US merchant navy by the German submarines.
• As the American military relationship with the Allied Powers strengthened her relationship with the Axis Powers deteriorated. Finally, the incident of Pearl Harbour led the USA to join the war on the side of the Allies.
• The Second World War ended with the dropping of the atomic bombs by the USA on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the nuclear attack on Japan left her with no other option but to sign the instrument of surrender on 2nd September 1945.

Question 33. Write a note on the “Pearl Harbour” Incident –
Answer:

“Pearl Harbour” Incident

The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service conducted a surprise military attack on the United States ( a neutral country at the time ) against the Naval Base at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii on Sunday morning December 7,h 1941.

This attack came to be known as the “Pearl Harbour “incident. Tensions between the two nations started with the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria in 1931, and events such as the attacks on USS Panay, the Allison incident and the Nanking Massacre led to further tensions.

• US President Franklin D Roosevelt sought to increase the military presence by moving the Naval Bases from San Diego to Hawaii and ordered a military build-up in the Philippines keeping in mind the aggressive nature of Japan during that time.
• The Pearl Harbour attack was intended to be a preventive strike to keep the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with Japanese military actions against the overseas territories of the United Kingdom, USA and Netherlands in Southeast Asia.
• Japan hoped that the attack would undermine American morale so that the US Government would be forced to compromise peace with them. The attack took place before any formal declaration of war by Japan and the formal declaration was not delivered to the US until a day after the attack.
• The Japanese Task Force of six aircraft carriers under the leadership of Isoroku Yamamoto – Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku set sail from the Hittokapu Bayen route to Pearl Harbour on November 26th 1941.
• The first attack waves of 183 planes comprising Nakajima Kate Bombers, torpedo bombers, dive bombers and Mitsubishi A6M ” Zero” fighters targeted the battleships, and aircraft carriers.
• US forces in Pearl Harbour were on a state of low alert and rose to the sounds of bombs, and torpedoes falling around them and several of the battleships got hit, however, some heroic resistance was put on by the US Naval forces resulting in some loss of the Japanese aircraft.
• The second wave consisted of 117 planes including dive bombers and Zero fighters targeting the air crafts and hangars at Ford Island, Hickam Field, Wheeler Field and Barber’s Point. After the attack was over after 90 minutes, eight US Navy Battleships were damaged with four sunk.
• The Japanese also destroyed three cruisers and three destroyers along with a total of 188 aircraft on the ground. 2403 US personnel were killed and 1178 were wounded in the attack. A possible third wave of attacks never took off which General Yamamoto later regretted.
• Despite the heavy losses incurred by the US, the attacks failed to destroy the most important aircraft carriers of the Naval force as they were not present in Pearl Harbour and played an important role in the Battle of Midway which was soon to come.
• As a result of the Pearl Harbour attack the public opinion in the USA which was against participation in the war turned in its favour and America declared war on Japan and Germany thus turning the tide in favour of the Allies.
• The Pearl Harbour incident is most aptly described by the words of General Yamamoto ” I fear that we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with terrible resolve ” concerning the declaration of war by the US.

Question 34. Briefly state the technological changes that evolved during the Second World War-
Answer:

The technological changes that evolved during the Second World Wa

The Second World War saw some major technological changes in weaponry and other allied fields.

Aircraft –

• The world’s first jet-powered aircraft, the ME-262 built by the Nazis took to the skies and the British jet Gloster Meteor was also developed.
• Heavy bombers like the Lancaster Bomber of the RAF and the B29 Superfortress played a major role in the war.

Tanks –

• The development of the fearsome Tiger Tank by Nazi Germany and the highly effective T-34 Tank developed by the Soviets created a game changer in the Tank warfare.
• The American M10 tank destroyer developed during the war also played a crucial role in the war.

Small Arms –

• The Second World War saw the development of small arms like PPSh-41, PPS-42, Sten, Beretta Model 38, MP 40, M3 Grease Gun, Gewehr 43, Thompson submachine gun and the Ml Garand rifle.
• The development in machine gun technology saw the emergence of Maschinengewehr 42 (MG42) which was of an advanced design unmatched at the time.
• Submarines – The type XXI “Elekroboot” U Boat or German submarine which had a greater capacity to stay underwater came into the war and this technology changed the submarine designs for years to come.
• The Germans also used snorkel technology which allowed the submarine to operate underwater while taking in air from the surface.

Rockets –

• The world’s first ballistic missiles took to the skies in the form of the V-l and V-2 rockets fired by the Germans on London.
• Electronics, Communication and Intelligence- The code breakers at Bletchley Park in the UK developed electronic computers to break open the German “Enigma ” codes or ciphered codes. The development of radar technology was also made during this period along with ASDIC or Sonar.
• Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water, such as other vessels The airborne radar was also invented which led to the use of night fighters.

Bombs – Various new types of bombs like Cluster Bombs, Blockbuster Bombs, Bouncing Bombs, Tallboy Bombs and Bunker Buster Bombs were also introduced in the Second World War.

Vessels –

• The vastly improved Aircraft Carriers were a major factor in deciding the outcome of a Naval War in the Second World War along with superior Destroyers and Cruisers.
• The Atom Bomb-The singular most important technological advancement came in the form of the creation and the use of the Atom Bomb. US used the atomic bomb against Japan which ultimately ended the Second World War. The Atom Bomb was discovered by Robert Oppenheimer in the USA under the “Manhattan Project”

Other innovative inventions like the Leigh Light fitted in an anti-submarine aircraft, the amphibious Tank, the Higgins Boat, the Proximity fuze for shells etc were also introduced in wartime.

Medicines –  Penicillin, the world’s first anti¬biotic was produced in mass during the Second World War.

Question 35. Write a note of the “Eastern Front”.
Answer:

Eastern Front

The theatre of conflict between Nazi Germany and its allies the Finnish against the Soviet Union and Poland which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Baltics and the Balkans from 22nd June 1941 to 9th May 1945 is known as the “Eastern Front”.

• In Russia, it was also known as the “Great Patriotic War”. It was the largest military confrontation in the history of mankind. The confrontation was marked by the unprecedented ferocity in fighting, mass deportations of Jews, and great loss of life due to combat, starvation, massacre, disease and exposure to severe cold weather.
• Around 30 million casualties occurred on the Eastern Front as a whole. The outcome of the Eastern Front was decisive in determining the outcome of the operations in the Western Front, ultimately leading to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Background –Both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were not pleased with the outcome of the First World War, with Russia having to accede to substantial territory in Eastern Europe and Germany having to agree to humiliating terms in the Treaty of Versailles.

The Molotov-

• Ribbentrop Pact of Nonaggression was signed between Germany and Russia in 1939 for 10 years as Hitler wanted to turn his attention to the occupation of Poland and France and the British Expeditionary Force.
• Germany attacked Poland on 1 September 1939 marking the beginning of the war and the Soviets invaded Eastern Poland thereby partitioning Poland between Germany and the Soviets.
• Hitler from his early days had despised the Russians referring to them as inferior and believed that the Bolshevik Revolution had put the Jews in power over the mass of Slavs.
• He saw the aggression as a war between the ideologies of Nazism and Jewish Bolshevism and wanted to ensure “lebensraum” or living space for the superior “Ubermensch” German race over the “Untermenschen” the subhumans.
• He also saw the opportunity to wipe out the Jewish population in Central and Eastern Europe as a part of his ” Final Solution” for the Jews. Soviet Union on the other hand had undergone massive industrialisation under the tenet of “Socialism in one Country ” and was led by Joseph Stalin.

Operation Barbarossa –

• The Nazi onslaught on Russia began on 22nd June 1941 with panzer divisions and motorised divisions deployed from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
• Luftwaffe, the German Air Force began conducting air raids on the Soviet airfields. In front of the attack, the unprepared Soviet Army began to fall back and the Germans advanced to Ukraine, Odesa with the city of Kiev being captured.
• To derive the Germans, Stalin ordered a “Scorched Earth Policy ” and denied them the resources for the advance eastwards.

Leningrad, Moscow and Rostov-1941 :

• Hitler wanted to take on Moscow and the German forces began their attack on the capital city. The Germans began their advance to Leningrad and led siege to the city which lasted for 900 days. They also advanced to Kharkiv, Kursk, and Sevastopol and took the city of Rostov.
• The Germans got within 19 miles of the Kremlin but the advance there was halted by Russian counter-attacks and the Germans failed to take Moscow. The Germans were severely impeded by the onset of the harsh winter that had set in by that time.

Soviet counter-offensive Winter 1941: The Soviet Counter-offensive in the winter of 1941 led by Marshall Zukhov removed the immediate threat to the capital city. By April 1942 the Soviet Supreme Command agreed to hold on to a defensive position to consolidate the captured grounds.

Don, Volga and the Caucasus 1942: The 6th Army of the Germans now moved towards Stalingrad. However, the advance into the Caucasus Region came to a halt and the German offensive into Russia was over.

Stalingrad 1942 :

• The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most bitterly fought battles on the Eastern Front. The city was laid under siege by the Germans and bitter fighting took place amongst the forces in the form of hand-to-hand fighting and house-to-house fighting.
• At one point in time, the Germans almost overran the Soviet defences and reached the river Volga. The counter-attack launched by the Soviets defeated the Germans and General Paulus surrendered to the Soviets with 90,000 of his men.

Kursk -Summer 1943 :

• One of the greatest Tank Battles of the Second World War was fought in the Battle of Kursk and although no one came out as a winner, the German forces were dealt a very heavy blow.
• The German strategic offensive ended with their defence against a major Soviet counter-offensive.

Autumn and Winter 1943-44 :

• The Soviet counter-offensive started with the advance to Orel and the Germans began to fall back having inadequate defences.
• The Germans found It impossible to hold the Dnieper Line and in one move by the Soviets during the 1943¬44 campaign they captured 800 km encircling the German forces.
• The Soviets also made a lightning campaign and pushed back the Germans from Leningrad Novgorod was captured.

Summer and Autumn 1944 :

• The Belorussian Offensive or Operation Bagration, the massive Soviet attack consisting of four Soviet Army Groups totalling over 120 divisions smashed into the thinly held German lines.
• The Germans retreated on all fronts and the Soviet Army reached Poland at the time of the Warsaw uprising but did not intervene. The Soviets entered Warsaw on 17’h January 1945 after the city was destroyed by the Germans.

End of the War :

• The Soviets now entered Germany and were poised to take on the capital city of Berlin.
• The offensive to capture Berlin and Central Germany began on 16th April with an assault on the Oder and Neisee rivers. On the 29th and 30th of April, the Soviets entered Berlin.
• Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun and committed suicide along with her in his underground bunker as the Soviets completed the final steps of the Battle of Berlin.
• On 7th May 1945 German Chief of Staff, General Alfred Jodi signed the instrument of unconditional surrender for the Germans to the Allies marking the end of the war in Europe.
• In Russia, the end of the war is considered to be 9th May as per Moscow time and the day is known as Victory Day.

Effects of the War: The combined damage consisted of complete or partial destruction of 1,710 cities and towns,70,000 villages/hamlets, 2,508 church buildings, 31,850 industrial establishments, 64,000 kilometres (40,000 mi) of railroad, 4,100 railroad stations, 40,000 hospitals, 84,000 schools, and 43,000 public libraries; leaving 25 million homeless and around 30 million human casualties Seven million horses, 17 million cattle, 20 million pigs, 27 million sheep were also slaughtered or driven off.

Foreign Support and Measures:

• A strategic air offensive by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force played a significant part in reducing German industry and tying up German forces which helped the Soviets in the war on the Eastern Front.
• The Arctic convoys of supplies and the training of Red Army pilots by the Allies also helped the Soviets. The Land Lease agreement by the USA supported the Soviet Union by providing military hardware, foodstuff, chemical substances, petroleum and factory equipment.