◄UNIT 4 FIRST WORLD WAR AND INTER-WARSTopic 6►

UNIT 5 THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND ITS EFFECTS

  • UNIT 5 THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND ITS EFFECTS

    Key Unit competence

    The student-teacher should be able to examine the causes and the effects

    of Second World War.

    Introductory activity
       The Second World War witnessed intensification of military conflicts all
       over the World and left disastrous effects. Do research, using internet and
       reading range of written materials to:
    1. Describe the causes and the effects of the Second World War.
    2. Explain the aims, achievements and failures of United Nations

        organization.

    5.1 Causes and consequences of Second World War

    Learning activity 5.1
    Read textbooks, internet and other history books to find out the causes and

    effects of the Second World War.

    The Second World War was the war fought between the axis powers, that is,
    Italy, Germany and Japan (Berlin- Rome-Tokyo axis powers) against the allied
    powers, that is Britain, France, Russia and USA. It was the most destructive
    war that mankind had ever experienced and it started with Germany invasion of

    Poland on 1st .09.1939 and ended with the surrender of Japan in August 1945.

    The Second World War period witnessed intensification of military conflicts all
    over the World. It also witnessed the use of dangerous weapons and ended
    with weapons of mass destruction such as atomic bombs. Modern technology
    was applied during the war and it was also during this war that the World
    experienced the genocide which claimed the lives of about 6 million Jews killed
    by the Nazis under Adolf Hitler of Germany. A number of factors played a role in

    this most destructive war.

    5.1.1 Causes of Second World War
    It has been argued that the Versailles settlement of 1919 sowed seeds for the
    outbreak of the Second World War. It was signed in a vengeful mood on the
    part of the Allied powers against Germany, and it was unfair to Germany. The
    peace treaty was very unrealistic in its attempt to create a lasting peace which
    ploughed ground for the outbreak of war in 1939.This treaty was a kind of
    dictated peace. It was a dictated treaty on Germany which had no chance to
    negotiate.
    The following explain how Versailles settlement sowed the seeds of the outbreak
    of WWII:
    • It deprived Germany of every scrap of its colonies in Europe, Asia and
      Africa which caused economic hardships in Germany. This forced Hitler
       to invade Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia, hence the outbreak of
       the World War II.
    • Danzig was cut off from Germany and the country was forced to stand
       totally disarmed.
    • Allied troops were stationed in Germany, in order to enforce the
       provisions of the Treaty.
    • The Versailles treaty forced Germany to pay a heavy war indemnity
       or reparation of 6.5 billion pounds. This amount was too huge that
       Germany became weak. This forced Hitler to revenge on the powers
       that imposed the treaty on Germany. (Article 232).
    • With the article 231 of the settlement, Germany alone was held guilty
       of the war. Thus it caused hatred in the minds of the Germans and
       made Hitler to adopt an aggressive foreign policy which made World
       War II inevitable.
    • The Versailles treaty was imposed on Germany. She was forced to sign,
       she was not allowed to criticize or negotiate, and this creates a spirit of
       revenge, which prepared ground for World War II.
    • The Versailles treaty disarmed Germany unfairly. Germany’s soldiers
       were reduced from 400,000 to 100,000 men, German bases and
       weapons were destroyed yet other countries were busy rearming
       themselves. Such unfairness forced Germany to rearm and prepare for

       war.

    The revival of the arms race and failure of the disarmament policy
    also contributed the outbreak of the war.     The victorious powers disarmed
    Germany almost to the end and themselves, never did at all. This forced Adolf
    Hitler to rearm Germany to the teeth. As a result, arms race resumed among
    European states especially Britain, Germany, France and Italy. This bred tension,
    mistrust, and fear which eventually resulted into the outbreak of the Second

    World War.

    The Appeasement Policy initiated by the British prime minister, Neville
    Chamberlain who argued that another war could be avoided by pleasing
    aggressive powers like Germany. The policy was based on dialogue and
    compromise as opposed to violence as a solution to axis aggression. There was
    a general feeling that the Versailles treaty was unfair. It was due to this policy that
    no military action was taken against Mussolini when invaded Ethiopia (1935)
    and on Japan when she occupied Manchuria (1931) and when Hitler invaded
    the Rhineland (1936), Austria and Czechoslovakia (1938). Britain and France
    took no step against Germany. They instead signed the Munich agreement with
    Germany in recognition of her occupation of the Sudetenland. Chamberlain
    thought that this would serve as a reconciliatory approach between Germany
    and the signatories of the Versailles Settlement. However, these inspired Hitler
    who decided to occupy the whole of Czechoslovakia. On September 1, 1939
    Germany decided to invade Poland culminating into war because Hitler had

    refused to withdraw from Poland as He was demanded by France and Britain.

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                                                        Neville Chamberlain

                         Neville Chamberlain, prime minister of Britain immediately prior to World
                             War II, appeased Adolf Hitler’s aggression in Europe to keep his country
                              out of the war. Chamberlain’s efforts ultimately failed.

                                                    Source: Encarta Premium 2009

    Why did France and Britain use the appeasement policy?
    It was a way of avoiding war which was likely to be more devastating.

    Britain and France used their appeasement policy because they knew that they
    were unfair to Germany and Italy during the 1919 Versailles settlement.

    The League of Nations had become very weak; Chamberlain believed that the
    only way to settle disputes was by personal contact between leaders. Hence
    the use of appeasement.

    Economic cooperation between Germany and Britain would be good for both.
    Britain used appeasement policy because they feared that the dictators might
    ally with the communists which would be a threat to France and Britain, because
    they were capitalists.

    The weakening of the British economy after World War I made Britain not ready
    to be involved in other wars.

    World powers had learned from experience of the World War I because it was
    destructive, causing economic depression, loss of lives and destruction of

    industries.

    The weaknesses of the League of Nations: It failed to condemn and
    react against the aggressors of the time, hence resulting in war. The inherent
    weakness of the League of Nations inspired major powers to invade weaker
    states. For instance, Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, Johel in 1933. Japan
    even evacuated the League of Nations but no step was taken against her. Italy
    under Benito Mussolini was also encouraged to invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in
    1935. Germany under Adolf Hitler was inspired to attack Poland on September

    1, 1939, all this resulted into a world War between 1939 and 1945.

    The negative effects of the World Economic Depression (1929 –1935)
    forced many powers like USA, Britain and France to resort to the policy of
    protectionism in a bid to protect their domestic markets. This increased suspicion,
    mistrust, fear and tension and destroyed international relations between the
    world powers. Some powers like Germany, Japan and Italy resorted to the use
    of force against weaker as a way of securing raw materials and markets. On the
    other side when other countries were busy handling the problems of caused by
    the economic depression, Germany used the opportunity to rearm herself and

    became aggressive and all these generated the World War II.

    The rise of the dictators in different countries: The dictators and
    aggressors undermined world peace and led to the outbreak of the Second

    World War. The period between wars saw the rise of dictators such as Benito

    Mussolini in Italy in 1922, General Franco in Spain, Hirohito in Japan, Adolf
    Hitler in Germany in 1933. The dictators formed the Axis Alliance and started an
    aggressive foreign policy. The Allied Democratic Powers waged the war to stop
    the influence of dictators which created fear, panic, and hatred that exploded

    into war in the aftermath of German invasion of Poland.

    fd

                                          Benito Mussolini (left) and Adolf Hitler (middle) (Source: Google) , Hirohito

                                                                                          ( Right)

    The role of the press also contributed to the outbreak of World War
    II. The press exaggerated the military capacities of different powers especially
    Germany against the allied powers. This created a war atmosphere leading to

    World War II.

    The 1931–1939, Spanish Civil wars were also antecedents to the Second
    World War. In 1939, with the support of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini,
    General Franco overthrew the republican regime which was supported by Britain,
    Russia and France. General Franco decided to establish a fascist regime of
    Italian type. The war created enmity between allied and Axis powers, increased
    prestige for Italy and Germany and they gained full confidence that winning any
    war was obvious. This caused Hitler to attack Poland which immediately led to

    World War II.

    The presence of the ideological differences (Communist phobia):
    After the success of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution under Lenin and Joseph
    Stalin. Russia spread communism in Western Europe. This fear of communism
    contributed to the rise of dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, who
    promised to eradicate communism in their respective countries and were war

    mongers that eventually made World War II inevitable.

    The formation of the Rome-Tokyo- Berlin Axis (Military alliance) by
    1939: The aggressive alliance started with Italy and Germany in 1938, inspired
    Japan under Hirohito to join and the alliance became Rome - Tokyo - Berlin
    Axis. This conditioned the formation of the counter alliances. These alliances
    made the weaker states. For instance, Rome-Tokyo-Berlin axis inspired Hitler
    to invade Poland on September 1, 1939 sparking off the Second World War.
    One of causes of alliance systems include “living space but there are other factors

    vital related to resentment against western democratic countries.

    a) Germany and Italy: Rome-Berlin axis/ Mussolini said that the axis was a
       line drawn between Rome and Berlin, around which “all Europeans states
       that desire peace can revolve.
    b) Anti-comintern Pact: This pact was concluded between Germany and
        Japan and consisted of mutual support. To this pact many fascist countries
        joined: Italy, Hungary, and Spain.
    c) Pact of Steel (May1939): this alliance was signed by Mussolini (Italy)
       and Germany (Hitler). These countries decided:
    – To carry out permanent consultation for any case involving common
       interest and take measures to maintain their interests.
    – To promise full military support if any war outbreak.
    d) The Nazi-soviet pact: this was alliance secretly arranged by Germany

         and Russia a few weeks before Germany entered eastern Poland.

    tr

        Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

    In 1940, during World War II, the military alliance of Italy and Germany—the socalled
    Rome-Berlin Axis—was extended to include Japan and became the Rome-
    Berlin-Tokyo Axis. The three countries and their allies, known collectively as the
    Axis Powers, fought against the Allied Powers in the war. Here, Japanese and

    Italian emissaries accompany German dictator Adolf Hitler.

    Source: Encarta premium

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         Leaders of axis Powers

    Source: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history

    The rise and growth of nationalism also caused the Second World
    War. Germany wanted to regain her lost pride denied by the victor powers
    under the Versailles treaty using unfair terms. This was done through arms race,
    foreign invasion and alliance system. All these caused the war.
    Lastly, the Germany invasion of Poland on 1st.sept.1939 also caused
    the war.     This was the immediate cause of World War II where Hitler attacked
    Poland hoping that France and Britain would not intervene because of their
    appeasement policy. Unfortunately, Germany was given an ultimatum of 48
    hours to withdraw its troops from Poland an order which Hitler ignored, hence

    causing the Second World War.

    v

                                                              Source: https://www.google.com/

                                         url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjz3O

    Course of World War II
    – Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939.
    – England and France retaliated by declaring war on Germany.
    – Russia began invading neighboring countries.
    – After invading insignificant states like Holland and Denmark, Germany
    invaded and captured France.
    – Britain confronted the Axis powers alone.
    – The Anglo Russian pact was signed against Germany.
    – The U.S.A. entered the war when Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor in
        1941((the USA naval base in the Hawaiian Islands) on 7December
        1941). The U.S.A., Britain and Russia were pitted against Germany,

         Italy and Japan.

    – Italy surrendered unconditionally in 1943.
    – Germany did the same after it was defeated by the Allies in 1945, and
         Hitler committed suicide.
    – Japan surrendered after the two atomic bombs were dropped in

         Hiroshima and Nagasaki marking the end of the war.

    5.1.2 Consequences of World War II

    World War II produced disastrous consequences that were unparalleled in the

    history of mankind.

    • The war caused unprecedented loss of life. It was estimated that
        62 million to 76 million people died, 45 million people were wounded
        and about 21 million people were displaced from their homes.
    • The war caused large scale destruction of property. There was a
        complete destruction of fields and factories, mills and workshops and
        the houses of the civilians. Many people died and many more were

        permanently disabled.

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                                                                                               Hiroshima after atomic bomb

                                  Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=hiroshima+after+atomic+bomb+pictures

    • During the war, the Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler initiated a movement
       that aimed at wiping out the whole race of Jews. This was called the
        holocaust. This movement was part of his plan to conquer the world.
        Millions of Jews were imprisoned into concentration camps and were
        subjected to inhuman torture. The captives were even starved to death.
        Cruel experiments were performed on these helpless victims. The aged,
         the sick and the disabled were poisoned with gas.
    • The war also created an acute scarcity of foodstuff, essential
        commodities and cloth. This led to unprecedented inflation. The
        standard of living fell drastically. Since the prices shot up, life of millions
         became made miserable.
    • The war proved the moral degradation of man, for he killed

         his own species in an unparalleled scale. Nazi Germany, Fascist

    Italy and militarist Japan inflicted unimaginable cruelties upon the
    combatants, non-combatants, as well as on innocent men, women and
    children. The dropping of the two atom bombs by the U.S. upon Japan
    in August 1945 demonstrated how man was competent enough to

    wipe out the entire human race.

    b

         B-29 Superfortress

    The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a long-range bomber used by the United
    States during World-War II (1939-1945) in bombing raids against Japan.
    B-29s were used to drop atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima

    and Nagasaki, ending the war in August 1945.

    Source: Encarta premium 2009

    • World War II enhanced the prestige of the communist
       dictatorship of Russia, and enabled it to spread its control all over
       east and central Europe as well as Asia. However, democracy held its
        influence over Western Europe.
    • The World War II divided world countries into two power blocs.
        These are capitalist bloc of Great Britain, the U.S. and their allies and
        the communist bloc of the Soviet Union and her satellites.
    • The British, Dutch, French and Italian Empires were left in a
       disintegrated state. New nations like India, Pakistan, Burma and
       Ceylon were born on their ruins. Israel, Iran, Syria and Lebanon won
        political freedom from their imperialist masters.
    • Massive destruction of infrastructure, especially in France and in
       Japan due to heavy bombing of major cities.
    • Influx of homeless refugees: Most refugees were in camps of
       Western Europe. Many of them were the Jews who were running away
       from Adolf Hitler.
    • The United Nations Organisation (UNO) was formed to replace
        the defunct League of Nations in 1945 at the end of the Second World
        War. The League of Nations had become weak and failed to maintain
         world peace.
    • The production of nuclear weapons which up to the present day
        have disorganized World politics.
    • The defeat and downfall of dictators in Europe like Adolf Hitler
       who committed suicide on April 30th, 1945 and Benito Mussolini who
       was killed by his own forces on April 28th, 1945.
    • It led to the partition of Germany into two zones till 1989; East
       Germany, known as Democratic Republic of Germany was controlled
       by Russia; and West Germany, known as Federal Republic of Germany,
       controlled by USA, Britain and France.
    • The Second World War helped in the rise of African nationalism
       which led to the decolonization of Africa. The legacy of African World
       War Veterans was evident and important in the winning of independence
       in different parts of Africa.
    • The Second World War led to economic decline in Europe.
       This was due to the destruction of infrastructures, trade, agriculture,
       communication and industries. The British and French economies were
       shattered and left in shambles. This compelled most of them to rush
       to USA for economic aid. On the other side, they were not able to
       continue running vast overseas colonies in Africa and Asia. They began
        preparing them for self-determination.
    • Outbreak of the “Cold War” which was a non-violent confrontation
       between the western capitalists led by USA and eastern communists led
       by USSR.
    • The Second World War contributed to rapid scientific
       innovations and technological development. This resulted into
       production of sophisticated weapons of mass destruction.
    • The rise of Zionism (Jewish nationalism) was also influenced by the
       Second World War. Millions of Jews got their own country (Israel) in

       1948 with the division of Palestine.

    Reasons why axis powers were defeated (lost the war)
    • Numerical advantage: axis powers were few in number.
    • Germany internal weakness that made her to fail to get massive support
        at home because of dictatorship.
    • Germany did not get support from countries she had occupied before.
    • The economy of axis powers was very weak compared to that of the
       allied powers.
    • The Allied powers were much experienced in fighting on sea than the
       axis powers.
    • Hitler failed to realize the danger of winter and refused to withdraw his
       troops from the Russian territories. That is why he was easily defeated
       and this weakened military capacity of Germany.
    • Lack of foresight: The axis powers ignored the necessity of fighting
       planes. E.g. Japan concentrated on the production of battle ship which
       was defeated by the allied powers. The Germany made a mistake of
       concentrating on production of V-rockets which were defeated by war
       planes of allied powers.
    • Shortage of raw materials: E.g. oil.
    • The allied powers learned from their failure. By 1942, they knew how
       to check Blitzkrieg attacks and appreciated the importance of the air
       support and aircraft carriers. They built up an air and naval superiority
       which won the battles of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
    • Domestic opposition led to the defeat of the axis powers. Hitler faced
       opposition from the communists and liberals. Mussolini was heated in
       Italy until he was arrested and killed.
    • Poor technology compared to that of Allied powers. E.g. Britain used
       radars to detect and to bomb axis targets and planes while USA used
       atomic bombs to weaken Japan.
    • The size of the area to be covered by the axis powers with their small
       size of the population led to their defeat.
    • Determination of allied powers. They were determined to defeat the
       axis powers at all cost. Churchill “we shall fight in the seas and
       oceans, we shall fight in the air, we shall defend our island,
       whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches,
       we shall fight on the ground, we shall fight in the fields and
       streets, hill, valleys… we shall never surrender”.
    • The loss of Hitler’s colonies of Hungary, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia and
       Rumania which contained a lot of resources. E.g. oil.
    • The defeat of axis powers was caused also by the death of Mussolini
       who was killed 28th April 1945 while on 30th April 1945 Hitler committed
       suicide.
    • Allied powers had good leaders, clear-minded leaders. E.g. Roosevelt,

      Churchill, Stalin.

    • Hitler carried out purge, i.e.; he began killing some of his commanders,
      these commanders attempted also to kill Hitler but they failed. By the

       end they betrayed him.

    Application activity 5

    Examine the causes and consequences of Second World War of 1939-

    1945.

    5.2. Aims, achievements and failures of United Nations

    Organization

    Learning activity 5.2

    Using internet, textbooks and other history documents discuss the aims,
    achievements and failures of United Nations Organization and make a class

    presentation

    United Nations Organization (U.N.O)
    The World War II resulted in widespread concern for world peace. Hence the
    United Nations Organization was established after the World War II in 1945.

    The United Nations organization is an international peace keeping organization
    which was formed in the aftermath of the Second World War (1945) to replace
    the discredited League of Nations.

    It was formed to end wars and ensure permanent peace in the world as well
    as to enhance the economic and cultural development of mankind. The UNO
    charter was signed on June 26, 1945 at San Francisco in California. The
    U.N.O. started functioning from 24th October, 1945 and this is recognized as
    its date of creation. This day is therefore celebrated as the United Nations Day.
    Its headquarters was based at New York. It was formed to replace the League of
    Nations. UNO has 5 permanent members with veto powers i.e. Britain, France,

    USA, Russia, and China. UNO started with 51 nations.

    PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES

    Article 1
    The Purposes of the United Nations are:
    1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to
        take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of
        threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or
        other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means,
        and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law,
        adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which
        might lead to a breach of the peace.
    2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the
         principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take
         other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.
    3. To achieve international co-operation in solving international
        problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character,
        and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and
        for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex,
        language, or religion.
    4. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment
        of these common ends.
    5. To promote respect for human rights, dignity and freedom.
    6. To promote respect among the member nations for fundamental rights
        and freedoms of mankind by ending the differences of caste and creed.
     Article 2
    The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article
    1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles.
       1. The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of
        all its Members.
       2. All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits
           resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations
           assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.
       3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means
           in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are
           not endangered.
      4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat
         or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence
          of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of
          the United Nations.
      5. All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any
          action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain
          from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is
          taking preventive or enforcement action.
      6. The Organization shall ensure that states which are not Members of the
         United Nations act in accordance with these Principles so far as may
         be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security.
      7. Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United
         Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic
         jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such
         matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall

         not prejudice the application of enforcement measures.

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    5.2.1. The aims of the of United Nations Organization (UNO)
    • Preserving peace and eliminate war.
    • Removing the cases of conflict by encouraging economic, social,
        educational, scientific and cultural progress throughout the world,

        especially in underdeveloped countries.

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                                                                   UN security council meeting

                                                 Source: https://media.voltron.voanews.com/Drupal

    • Safeguarding the rights of all individual human beings, and nations.
    • Stopping the aggression was an issue behind the formation of UNO.
    This was because Kaiser William II and Hitler’s aggression were
       responsible for the outbreak of the first and Second World War
    • Bringing justice to those who committed crimes of war against humanity.
       For example, the Nazi and Fascists who conducted killing of the Jews.
    • Enforcing disarmament and stop arms race that was responsible for the
       two world wars.
    • Promoting political, economic and social co-operation in the world.
    • Facilitating decolonization and democratization of those nationalities
       that were dominated and oppressed.
    • Embark on/check on threats to environment which was potentially
        dangerous to mankind. Weapons of mass destruction like atomic
        bombs were used in the Second World War which destroyed flora and
        fauna.
    • Eliminating the problem of human and drug trafficking. By 1945 the
       consumption of intoxicated drugs had damaged the youth.
    • Rehabilitating and resettle prisoners of war and displaced persons
        who were made homeless by the Second World War.
    • Checking out the violation of children’s rights. There was gross abuse
       of children’s rights like child labour, corporal punishments, child neglect
       and defilement.
    • Checking out the exploitation of workers by employers especially
       capitalists. The capitalists were oppressing workers by poor payments,
       over working under poor conditions.
    • Improving on world health services and standards. World War II had
       destroyed most health centers and made medical services inadequate
       during and after the war.
    Organs of the United Nations Organizations
    There are principal organs of the United Nations: a General Assembly, a
    Security Council, an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an

    International Court of Justice and a Secretariat.

    d

    a) The General Assembly

    It is an important organ of the U.N.O. It is the chief deliberative organ. It is
    regarded as the parliament of the U.N.O. Its regular session is held once a year
    on the third Tuesday in September and continues until the end of December.
    At the start of each session, it elects a new President, 21 Vice-Presidents, and
    Chairmen of its seven main committees. Each country can send five delegates
    but has one vote only. Important decisions need two-thirds majority while
    decisions on ordinary matters are reached by a simple majority. The General
    Assembly’s chief functions are:
    • To discuss matters relating to international peace and security.
    • To promote international cooperation in economic, social, educational,
        cultural and health fields.
    • To promote the development and codification of international law.
    • To promote cooperation in the realization of human rights and
        fundamental freedoms for all.
    • To promote friendly relations among nations.
    • To discuss and make recommendations on any question affecting the
        powers and functions of any organ of the U.N.O.
    • To receive and consider reports from Security Council and other organs
        of the U.N.O.
    • To consider and approve the budgets of the U.N.O. and its specialized
       agencies.
    • To perform the functions which are concerned with international
        trusteeship system
    • To elect members of the U.N.O., the Security Council, Economic and
        Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the International Court of
        Justice.
    • To appoint the Secretary General at the recommendation of the Security
        Council.
    b) The Security Council
    The Security Council is the executive body of the U.N.O. It is the most influential
    organ of the U.N.O. The Council has 15 members. The U.S.A., Russia, England,
    France and China are the permanent members. Their support is required for
    every decision. The remaining ten non-permanent members are elected by the
    General Assembly for two years. At any one time, the ten rotating members
    must consist of five countries from Africa and Asia, two from Latin America,
    one from Eastern Europe and two from Western Europe. Each member of the
    Council has one vote. Each President holds the post for a month.
    The functions and powers of the Security Council are:
    • To maintain international peace and security.
    • To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international
       friction
    • To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or terms of
       settlement.
    • To formulate plans for the regulation of armaments.
    • To determine the existence of a threat to peace or acts of aggression
       and to recommend what action should be taken.
    • To call on the members to apply economic sanctions and other measures
       to prevent or stop aggressions.
    • To take military action against an aggressor.
    • To recommend the admission of new members.
    • To exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations.
    • To elect the judges of the International Court of Justice.
    • To recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the

       Secretary General.

    c) The International Court of Justice
    It is the chief court of the U.N.O. It has 15 judges that are elected by the General
    Assembly and the Security Council voting separately. The term of the judges is
    restricted to nine years and they may be reelected. The seat of the court is at
    Hague in Netherlands.

    It primarily functions to settle mutual disputes among different nations by peaceful
    methods. Other agencies of the U.N.O. also approach it for consultation. It may
    also resolve disputes among nations, arising on legal questions or treaties.

    d) The secretariat
    This is the office staff and it consists of 50,000 employees and they look after
    administrative work, prepare meeting, translation and information. It is headed
    by the secretary general who is appointed for a 5 year terms by the general
    assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. The secretary
    general acts as the main spokesperson of UNO, and is always at the forefront
    of international affairs trying to solve world problems.

    e) The trusteeship council
    This replaced the League of Nations Mandates commission which had originally
    come into existence in 1919 to keep an eye on the territories taken away from
    Germany and Turkey at the end WWI. Some of these mandated territories
    had been handed over to victorious powers and their jobs were to govern the
    territories and prepare them for independence. The trusteeship council did its
    job well and by 1970 most of mandates had gained their independence.

    f) The economic and social council (ECOSOC)
    This has 27 members elected by the general assembly. It organizes projects
    concerned with health, education and other social and economic matters. It
    has appointed four regional commissions (Europe, Latin America, Africa,
    Asia, and the Far Eas    t) as well as commissions on population problems, drug
    problems, human rights and the status of women.

    ECOSOC also coordinates the work of other commission and specialized

    agencies around thirty in all. Among the best known are:

    c

    Financial and economic agencies

    1. IMF: the international monetary fund. This is designed to foster-
    cooperation
    between nations to encourage the growth of trade and the
    full development of nation’s economic potential. It is headquartered
    in Washington D.C., United States of America.
    2. World Bank: the international Bank of reconstruction and development.
    The World Bank headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., United
    States of America.
    3. GATT: the general agreement on tariffs and Trade (encourage
    international trade by reducing taxes). The headquarters of the World
    Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
    4. UNCTAD: United Nations conference on trade and development.

    Encourages the development of industry in third world by pressurizing

    the rich countries into buying countries third world products. UNCTAD is
    a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United
    Nations General Assembly in 1964. Our headquarters are located
    in Geneva, Switzerland, and we have offices in New York and Addis

    Ababa. UNCTAD is part of the UN Secretariat.

    Differences between UNO and LON
    • The UN has been more successful than the league.
    • The UN spends much more time and resources on economic and social
        matter. All the specialized agencies, with the exception of ILO (1919)
       were founded in 1945 or later.
    • The UN is committed to safeguarding individual human rights, which
       the LON did not get involved.
    • Changes in the procedures of the general assembly and the Security
        Council (uniting for peace resolution) and the increased power and
        prestige of the secretary general have enabled the UN to take more
        decisive action than the LON.
    • The UN has much wider membership and is therefore a real world
        organization than the league. In 1993 membership had reached 183
        while LON never had more than 50 members.
    • The LON Covenant did not provide the states with, or did not make
       them clear over, their right to self-defense. However, this condition is
       addressed under the Article 51 of the Charter of UN, which specifies
       this right.
    • League’s Unanimity Vs UN’s 2/3rd Majority in decision making
    • The League’s covenant permitted under certain conditions its members
       to withdraw from the general membership. But the UN’s charter says
       nothing for a state opting to quit the platform, whereas a moral obligation
       still exists to continue as a member, for the collective betterment.
    • The League’s Covenant did not emphasize upon the establishment
       of regional arrangements for the maintenance of regional peace and
       security, which then leads to the collective world peace. But on the
       other hand, the UN’s Charter under Article. 52, gives a recognition, and
       even a greater recognition to the regional arrangements, and along with
       that, also directs the members formulating, devising and entering those
       regional arrangements for their regional pacific solutions, to achieve the
       solutions to their regional and local disputes on their own at first, so as
       to avoid knocking the Security Council’s doors at every now and then.
    Similarities between the League of Nations and United Nations
    • Both the United Nations and the League of Nations aimed at the pace
       and security- as their basic goals,
    • Both were voluntary associations of the sovereign states,
    • Both had an assembly with a diverse membership,
    • Both provided the states with equal rights to vote,
    • Both instituted a council with powerful states as members and both
       held a secretariat headed by a Secretary General, and indeed, both
       were very formal organizations- basing their structure and functions
       on the basic documents envisioning their codes of conduct i.e. the

       Covenant and the Charters were there absolutely.

    d

    f

    f

    5.2.2. Achievements of the United Nations Organization
    It is probably fair to say that the UN has been more successful than the League
    of Nations in its peacekeeping efforts, especially in crises which did not involve
    the interests of the Great Powers. On the other hand, it has been just as the
    League of Nations in situations where the interests of the Great Powers seemed
    to be threatened and where the Great Powers decided to ignore or defy the UN.

    The UN provides a world assembly where representatives of over 180 nations
    can come together and talk to each other. Even the smallest nation has a chance
    to make its voice heard in world forum.

    Although it has not prevented wars, it has been successful in bringing some
    wars to an end more quickly. For example, the war between Iran and Iraq (1980-
    1988) and the Gulf War in 1991.

    The UNO has done valuable work in investigating and publicizing human rights
    violations under repressive regimes like military government in Chile. In this
    way, it has slowly been able to influence governments by bringing international
    pressure to bear on them.

    Economically, the UN has promoted economic co-operation and development
    especially in the less developing countries. Trade and industry were developed
    and boosted through the UN programs like the I.M.F (International Monetary
    Fund) and the World Bank by giving short loans.

    Discrimination and abuse of women was also addressed by the UNO. The
    charter of 1948, emphasized equality between women and men which provided

    a basis for women emancipation.

    Similarly, children’s right and welfare were promoted and protected by the
    UNO. This was through funding children’s education especially the girl-child
    education and welfare in many countries of the world.

    The welfare and standards of living of workers was improved by the International
    Labour Organization (I.L.O) through its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland.
    This protected workers from exploitation.

    The UNO scored great success in settling social and economic problems of
    refugees and victims of natural disasters. By 1945, disasters like earth quakes,
    famine and floods had led to untold suffering and death of thousands of people
    around the world.

    Decolonization and democratization was achieved by the UNO through its
    trusteeship council. This facilitated the independence of Libya, Somalia,
    Namibia, Israel, Palestine, etc.

    Disarmament was one of the remarkable achievements of UNO towards world
    peace. In 1946, the Security Council set up the atomic energy commission to
    control production of atomic energy.

    The establishment of the Jewish State of Israel in 1948 was an achievement for
    the UNO. The congress system had granted the Jews citizenship that had fled
    due to persecution. But still the Jews were persecuted and massacred by the
    Nazi, Fascist and Arabs.

    Increased membership since its formation in 1945 is a clear testimony of its
    success. It was formed in 1945, with 51 member states but by 1970 the number
    had increased to 100.

    5.2.3. Weaknesses of the UNO
    The loans granted by IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank had
    some negative consequences on the development of the third world countries.
    It had strings attached that promoted political ideologies of Western capitalistic
    powers.

    Although drug trafficking was reduced but it was never eliminated completely.
    This was because the UNO did not have an effective and competent force to
    control drug trafficking.

    The UNO failed to stop cold war politics and its associated tension in Europe.
    Cold War was led by USA and USSR yet the countries were permanent

    members.

    The UNO failed to wipe out culture intolerance and racism. Though the
    UNO embarked on global sensitization campaign against racism and cultural

    intolerance but it was not fully successful by 1970.

    The UNO’s policies on disarmament, weapons of mass destruction and space
    exploration were great failures. By 1945, it was only America with the atomic

    bomb but nearly all nations by 1970 had such weapons.

    It failed to unite the once united states for example after the cold war politics,
    Germany was left divided between West and East German as well as North

    Korea and South Korea.

    In the field of politics, the UNO failed more than it succeeded. This was seen

    when veto powers began fighting against the resolution of the UNO.

    The universal declaration of Human rights (UDHR) of 1948, failed totally to
    achieve its objectives by 1970. It was not fully accepted in many states especially

    Arab states.

    The rise of neo-colonialism and its associated evils in the third world countries
    exposed the failures of the UNO. After decolonization, European powers
    resorted to neo-colonialism as an indirect means to control, exploit and oppress

    the third world.

    The UNO failed to eradicate terrorism in the world. By 1970, the world
    experienced rampart assassinations, hijack of planes, planting of time bomb

    and suicide bombing especially in Asia and Middle East.

    Why has UNO failed to achieve its aims and objectives?
    Lack of adequate funds to run the activities of the UNO. The UNO has
    enormous work to do but it entirely relies on annual contributions of member

    states which more often fail to pay.

    Lack of UNO permanent army. The UNO rely on the member states to
    provide troops and equipment for peace keeping missions. Members many
    times refuse to send soldiers or do not send enough. This undermines UN

    activities.

    The cold war that divided Europe and UNO into two bodies, that is capitalists

    and communists weakens also UNO.

    The formation of alliances which were enemies, that is, NATO and Warsaw

    Pact divided the World leading to the UNO weakness.

    Remoteness of some parts of the world has led to the failure of UNO. Some
    areas are too remote and underdeveloped with no infrastructure like roads

    or very mountainous to facilitate UN humanitarian to work.

    Existence of civil wars in some parts of the world has led to the failure of

    UNO. It is difficult to control intertribal differences.

    Ineffectiveness of sanctions of UNO has weakened it.

    Proliferation of arms and existence of weapons of mass destruction

    The rise and growth of world terrorism mostly in the middle east

    Overdependence on individual superpower countries like USA and Britain
    in terms of funds. This has made these powers to interfere with UNO work

    and manipulate it for their interest. This also undermines the UN activities.

    Application activity 5

    1. Explain the aims and achievements of the United Nations Organisation.

    2. Examine the weakness of the United Nations Organisation.

    Skills Lab
    Use a combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values you have
    acquired about the Second World War and its effects and analyze mistakes
    committed by the politicians of the time and suggest guidance to today’s

    leaders and make presentation.

    End unit assessment
    1) What were the causes and consequences of the Second World
         War?
    2) Examine the effects of Second World War.
    3) Why did victorious powers of World War II decide to create UNO
        by 1945?
    4) “Even though the United Nations organization registered many
           achievements, it has repeatedly showed its weaknesses”. Discuss

           this statement.

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    ◄UNIT 4 FIRST WORLD WAR AND INTER-WARSTopic 6►