A.    War in Europe and North Africa

World War II was a global war that was fought between 1939 to 1945 in Europe and major parts of Africa. However, it is important to understand that events leading to this war started in earlier years which eventually lead to eruption of the war. Before the eruption of the war, different political leaders in different parts such as Germany, Italy, US, Japan, Ethiopia just to mention a few had different opinions. As a result of the different conflicts among the different leaders lead to forming of two opposing military alliances (Pollins, 2002).

The war started in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland on 1^st September which prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany just after two days. In 1940, Britain felt the effect as Germans went offensive on Belgium, Holland and France. In 1941, Hitler invades Russia as Blitz continued against Britain’s major cities. It is still in this year that Japan attacks Pearl Harbor as United States also enters the war.

The war was also experienced in North Africa especially in Libya where Britain and Germans could capture Tobruk interchangeably between 1941 to 1945. Tunisia was also attacked by Allies in the same year. In essence, the North African campaign had three phases: the Western Desert campaign (western Egypt and eastern Libya); Operation Torch (Algeria and Morocco); and the Tunisia campaign (Rottman, 2014).

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B.    War in the Pacific

Although major events were in Europe, it is also important to understand that there war was also eminent in pacific and had effects in Central and East Asia. The war in the pacific was started as a result of the Japanese attacking the Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The Japanese continued their attacks to Bali, Bataan and Philippines. Americans also featured in the pacific war where Bataan surrenders in the Major American defeat. Before the end of the in 1945, Americans had an attack on Luzon Island, Philippines it is also during this year that the Japanese resistance in Manila ends and their ship sunk.

LEADERSHIP

1. Political leaders

World War II was spearheaded mainly by political leaders. Some of these leaders include;

• President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Chancellor Adolf Hitler of Germany
• Neville Chamberlain
• Winston Churchill
• Hideki Tojo
• Joseph Stalin

1. Military leaders

The war also required military leadership and some of the notable leaders include;

• Bernard Montgomery
• Archibald Wavell
• Viscount Gort
• Alan Brooke

END OF THE WAR

A.     Human Cost

Second World War ended in 1945 but not short of damages and numerous deaths. In essence, the number of casualties which can be referred to as the human cost is not actually known since many deaths went unrecorded. However, it is believed that over 75 people died during the war with 40 million estimated to be civilians and other 20 million security personnel. Most of the countries affected included Germany, Ukraine and Russia.

B.      Economic Results

The world war two had major impacts on the global economy. For instance, the war resulted in two major super powers in the name of United States and the USSR.  The war also leads to major technological developments especially in aircraft and munitions leading to a halt in other sectors such as construction. In Britain, there was major rationing in several products especially in petroleum products thus hindering overall economic developments. The war was also responsible for slavery and forced labor thus leaving several North African countries short of workers. In essence, the war had detrimental effects on the overall global economy (Rottman, 2014).

C.    Atomic Legacy

The World War II resulted in the world experiencing the first atomic bomb.  This happened on August 6 and 9, 1945, when the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by atomic bombs. The bombing resulted to deaths of more than 140,000 people who included men, women and children. This lead to the beginning of the atomic age which is very relevant to the modern day lives.

Part two: Nuremberg Trials

These were series of military tribunals held in Nuremberg, Germany aimed at prosecuting prominent political and military architects of World War II.  The tribunal was tasked with trying hardcore criminals involved in the war but of them such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler had already committed suicide. It was initiated by Allied forces who hoped to bring to justice the architects of Nazi regime. Others fled to other countries while others were indicted and sentenced even in absentia (Rottman, 2014).Another tribunal was also formed in Tokyo Japan with the same idea of prosecuting prominent warlords. This tribunal served a great role in modern society as it provided a platform where humanity would be guarded by international legal shield. The trials proved that even the most powerful head of states would be held criminally responsible for crimes against humanity.

References

Current Publications: International affairs and defence. (n.d.). Retrieved March 4, 2015, from http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/lop/researchpublications/prb0211-e.htm

McMahon, M., & Harris, B. (n.d.). Retrieved March 4, 2015, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-were-the-nuremberg-trials.htm

Pollins, P. (2002). Tales of a feather merchant: A World War II allegory. Bennington, Vt.: Merriam Press.

Rottman, G. (2014). US Army Air Force. London: Osprey Pub

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