Outcome of WW2
History: KS3, topic 19.1.13
Consequences of World War Two
World War Two had seriously damaged Europe. In the aftermath of the war, Germany was split up and power fell into the hands of the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain and France.
Destruction caused by the war
- Around 50 million people died during World War Two.
- Around 7 million from Germany died.
- Around 600,000 from France died.
- Between 20 million and 27 million from the Soviet Union died.
- Around 450,000 from Britain died.
Rise of the superpowers
- After World War Two, the United States of America and the Soviet Union emerged as the ‘superpowers’.
- This meant that they were the most powerful nations in the world.
- The conflict between the two superpowers would lead to the Cold War.
Germany
- Germany was divided into two parts.
- This was to make it weaker and help rebuild the countries destroyed by the War.
- One-half was controlled by the Western Allies. The other was controlled by the Soviet Union.
- Germany would stay split until 1990 AD.
Impact on British society
- Clement Attlee (the new British Prime Minister) promised the British population a ‘Welfare State’.
- This meant that the government would give support to all of the population.
- Rationing remained in place until the 1950s AD.
The end of the British Empire
- Soon after 1945 AD, virtually all colonies in the British Empire had been granted independence.
Test yourself on Outcome of WW2
When was Germany reunified?