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FOCULTY: EDUCATION

STUDENT’S NAME: ASUNTA AWUT MAYAR MALAUL

REG.NO: 19BAED01540

COURSE: THE 20TH CENTURY, THE YEAR OF CONFLICTS

CODE NUMBER: HIS 3202

LECTUER: MS. MARY FRANCES ZALWANGO

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 05/08/2021

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No. 3. (a) The Economic slump refers to a sharp decline in business activity, trade, or market values. It is a situation of
inactive, reduced economic activities, very little money supply in the economy, the opposite of monetary inflation and
low purchasing power. It was a situation characterized by a slump recession in the level of economic activity from, a
period of boom. It was characterized by steady fall in price levels, cut down on production and factors of production,
steady, unemployment, acute poverty, collapse and closure of banking institutions, fall in stock market values; leading
to total stagnation in the whole economy. It started from the Canadian agriculture sector and spread to other sectors and
later spreading to the USA and by 1929 it engulfed Europe and the whole world. This economic crisis was caused by
factors related to economic, social and political sectors as discuss below:

CAUSES

The effects of World War I: The First World War left world economies devastated. The war destroyed industries, ships,
farms and gardens. This had a negative impact on the level of production, purchasing power and trade. Trade declined
because countries were left so poor so they could not import large quantity of agricultural products. Thus, there was low
level of imports and consumption which explain that there was a severe depression in USA that were the great producers
of commodities in the inter war period. The war led to revival of industrial and agricultural sectors which led to
competitive production among European powers whose outputs flooded or saturated the world market hence economic
slump (Feinstein, C. H., et al 1997).

The Gold standard system with which many European countries operated: Under this system, each economy was
supposed to have the total amount of its money in circulation exactly equivalent to the total value of Gold in its reserves.
This limited money supply and therefore effective demand in countries which had very little Gold yet they could not buy
more. When America began demanding the payment of her loans in terms of Gold, the indebted countries. For example,
Britain, Germany, France and Austria had to reduce their money in circulation as more and more of their gold went and
were locked in America. This left gold reserves in most European countries empty and caused financial crisis that gave
rise to economic slump.

The policy of Protectionism pursued by some countries affected international trade and caused the slump especially in
America in the inter war period: Throughout 1920s, USA in particular pursued discriminative economic policies against
world economies protected her industries by charging high import duties while it exported her products abroad. This
forced other nations to react in the same way not only against America but later against one another. This restricted free
international trade leaving most economies flooded with surplus products in home markets, industrial break down, laying
off of workers and fall in income, all this led to low prices hence the slump.

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Over production and under consumption also led to the economic slump: In the 1920s American industry became very
productive. By 1929 American factories of goods for example, cars, telephones, refrigerators, radios, washing machines
and this rising productivity led to enormous projects. However very few people like 5% earned 33% of all personal
income in 1929 yet the majority were suffering. Thus most families were too poor to buy the goods produced, as a result
producers could not sell all that they had and so they had to cut back their orders. Factories had to cut down production
and lay off workers. These actions started a down ward economic spiral leading to the slump. In addition, there was
increase in installation buying. With time many people owed thousands of dollars in installments. When they could not
pay their debts they stopped buying. Factories had to cut back production and unemployment once again arose leading
to the economic slump (Feinstein, C. H., et al 1997).

The collapse of the world stock market. Many Americans were also into buying stocks that is, shares in the ownership of
corporations on credit. An investor could pay only a fraction of the cost of the stock and use credit for the rest. If the
stock rose, he could sell and make profits even after paying the borrowed money. As more money was invested in the
stock market, stock prices soared. However in October 1929 stock prices began to fall sharply. Investors hurried to get
rid of their stock while it was still worth. By November they were selling for half. Thousands of investors those that had
bought stock on credit were wiped out financially. The losses on Wall Street swept away fortunes among the upper class
and consumer spending dropped sharply.

The closure and collapse of the prominent world stock market of USA on 14th October, 1929, paralyzed world economies
and contributed to the slump. It made America unable to lend any more loans and she began to demand for the ones that
had been lent. It affected banking institutions to the extent that over 4,200 banks were closed between 1927 -1932. This
affected people’s savings and reduced the purchasing power. Industries could not be bought and so they also closed down.
This led to more unemployment, surplus products, low purchasing power and consumption that depressed prices-levels
down wards.

Speculation by prominent politicians about the slump in different countries: Political economic announcements made by
prominent politicians through respected newspaper; plus the rumors of speculators aroused economies panic which
paralyzed and disorganized economic activities. Even before the actual slump could reach. For instance, following a
statement about the collapse of the prominent world stock market Wall Street, USA on 24th October, 1929, European
economies suddenly froze. Under economic hysteria businessmen rushed to withdraw their monies from banks, investors
cut down production, laid off workers and the crash took full shape.

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Failure of the League of Nations, to implement necessary economic policies, necessary for free trade: It failed to ensure
free trade among its members and that is why America and other nations persuaded a protectionist policy that gave rise
to the economic slump. It also failed to come up with clear ways of handling currency in circulation which was determined
by the Gold reserves that created a rigid economic situation. It failed to come up with a clear policy on debt recovery and
repayment. This made USA drain the economies of other countries hence the slump.

The slump was escalated by the payment of war reparations that was imposed on German and her allies: Besides,
Germany and her allies were allowed to pay for the reparations in form of cattle, chemical, ships, agricultural and
industrial products. On top of this Germany and her allies were neither free to export or import goods to and from other
European powers. This affected trade between Germany and her allies and victorious powers of World War I which led
to the slump. Germany and her allies resorted to borrowing loans from USA. This created a vicious circle where money
flowed from USA, to the defeated powers, to the victorious powers who also paid it back to USA. This made trade and
other economic activities to decline and almost came to a standstill, which made the slump inevitable.

The American loans scheme also led to the economic slump. During the world war one, European countries borrowed
huge loans to finance the war and reconstruct their economies. After the stock market crash, American investors began
to call back their loans to cope with the crisis at home. This was a hard blow to the economy of Europe. Because of their
war debts and dependence on American loans, Germany and Austrian were hit hard. The large Austrian bank, the
creditanstalt, failed starting a financial panic in central Europe. As in the US this crisis began a down ward spiral in the
economy. When USA pressurized for repayment of her loans plus interest in form of gold. This created an economic
situation where huge amounts of money flowed from the indebted countries of USA not in exchange which led to the
slump.

Economic slump was also caused by over population: After the World War I, there was rapid population increase in USA,
France, German, and USSR among others. This was not counter balanced by economic development, overcrowding. The
purchasing power of the unemployed was zero yet the governments were incapable of providing unemployment benefits
and welfare services. This left surplus products unsold and reduced government revenue thus causing economic slump.

The widespread unemployment in most countries led to the economic slump: This resulted from the demobilization
process after World War I and the closure of industries during the economic crisis. By 1929, unemployment in most
countries was high. For example in Britain it stood at 1 million, while Germany had about 6 million. The purchasing
power of the unemployment population was low due to lack of income. This left the industrial and agricultural output

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unsold in most countries. It therefore forced the collapse of more industries and agricultural sector, rendering European
economies inactive hence the slump.

The economic slump was also caused by political instabilities: The 1920s was a turbulent period characterized by chaos,
discontent, revolutions, and poor diplomatic relations. In Russia there was a civil war between the communists and
counter revolutionaries. This affected trade with other European countries. In Germany, there was instability promoted
by Hitler and the Nazis. In Italy, Mussolini was having hard time from opposition. There were labor grievances, strikes,
tensions which hindered economic growth leading to the economic slump in 1929.

The excess production of American formers: during the 1920s American farmers also became increasingly productive.
Scientific farming methods and new farming machinery dramatically increased the yield of crops per acre. Farming
became more like industry and farmers became more dependent on the market prices of wheat, corn and pork. However
they were producing more food that the people would buy. At the same time American farmers faced competition from
abroad. Countries such as Australia and Argentina were exporting large amounts of grain and European farmers were
increasing production too. As a result, worldwide surplus of agricultural products drove prices and profits down. Unable
to sell their crops at profit farmers could not pay their loans, thus causing many farms to fail. These bad debts weakened
banks, forcing some to close hence economic slump (Mitchell, B. 2017).

Widespread income inequalities and poverty in most European countries such as Italy, Germany, Britain and France
reduced the purchasing power. Although most countries had achieved sound economic boom in Agriculture and industry,
little had been done to increase the social and economic welfare of the people. Money was concentrated in the hands of
the few people while the majority had almost no money to buy commodities. This led to low demand, low production
and hence economic slump.

No. 3 (b) the consequences of the economic slump in the World include

Positive consequences:

The gold standard system was abandoned except in France, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium. Most European countries
converted their gold reserves into foreign exchange. This was aimed at improving the terms of trade and correcting
inequalities that has arisen from exchange rate. This was aimed at improving the terms of trade and correcting inequalities

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that had risen from exchange rate. This revived international trade since it opened way for countries without gold deposits
to freely participate in trade

It led to adoption of new economic policies and agencies to fight the depression for example there was formation of
regional groupings that emerged in order to try and fight economic depression but with little success for example the
Oslo Group of Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Netherlands was formed, International labor organization
was established by the League of Nations.

It led to the rise of economists such as J.M Keynes who analyzed the causes of the depression and advanced solutions to
end it. Keynes for example put forward the popular Keynesian theory of unemployment in which he analyzed that
unemployment is caused by a fall in aggregate demand for goods and suggested measures to increase aggregate demand
like reducing taxes, expansionist, monetary policies etc. These ideas were utilized by governments especially in Germany
to end the depression, which made Keynes a prominent economist.

It gave rise to new leaders. In America Howard rose to power and FD Roosevelt with their prominent reform policies.
For example, the New deal. In Britain Church hill rose to prominence, Hitler in Germany, Hirohito in Japan. Each of
these leaders had a roadmap for his country out of the depression. It also promoted international diplomacy in order to
seek solutions for the depression. In the 1930s World economic conferences that there aimed at mitigating the economic
depression organized.

Negative consequences:

Economic slump shattered international trade. It left countries flooded with surplus products in narrow domestic markets
due to low purchasing power. This forced countries to resort to protectionism as a way of protecting domestic markets
against foreign competition. International trade dropped by 65% consequently, the level of imports and exports were
reduced which brought international trade to almost a stand still.

Economic slump led to collapse of industries and other production sectors due to low prices, narrow domestic markets
and absence of free international trade. Between 1929 – 1932 World manufacturing production fell by 38%, there was
low purchasing power and poor industrial performance which led to low investment and low standards of living for
people. The banking institutions closed because they run out of money for example Austrian central bank in 1930, central
bank of Germany, stock markets.

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The economic slump led to widespread unemployment in most European countries due to the collapse of industrial,
agricultural and other employment sectors. The surplus output and low demand made the industrial, factory and land
owners to lay off workers thus leading to high unemployment. Unemployment rates skyrocketed to record levels and the
jobless people began to demand economic and political changes. In USA for example the number of unemployed rose
from 1.5million in 1929 to 5 million in 1930, to 9 million in 1931 and 13 million in 1932, in Britain unemployment went
to over 1 million, over 3 million in France and over 10 million in Germany.

The slump led to break down of international relations amongst countries. European countries hated USA for her policy
of economic nationalism and isolationism that escalated the depression. Anti US feelings intensified as USA pressurized
the indebted countries to repay her debts. In Europe, poor relations developed between the victor powers and defeated
powers as the victor powers continued to demand for war reparations from defeat powers. For example when France
faced economic problems the French sent an army to take possessions of the German coal mines and steel mills along
the Ruhr River. The occupation increased national tensions in Europe. It destroyed international cooperation as countries
pursued self-sustaining national policies and protectionism.

The slump contributed to political unrest and rise of dictators in Germany, Italy, Spain and other European countries.
Mass unemployment, poverty poor standards of living made the people to lose trust in democratic leaders and embrace
radical leaders. The depression brought anti-democratic groups to power in some countries. In Germany, the depression
effects undermined the Weimar Republic and contributed to rise of Hitler and Nazism to power, General Franco in Spain
in 1936. In Italy the liberal democratic government gave away to fascism under Mussolini who conquered territories
abroad e.g. Ethiopia to solve problems caused by the depression. In France there were groups that wanted to end
democracy and set up a dictatorship. They frightened the moderates and radicals who united to form a coalition the
popular front which passed a series of reforms to help the workers. In many states of like Italy, Poland, Yugoslavia, the
leaders used force to suppress the popular uprisings caused by economic hardships which promoted authoritarianism.

The economic slump undermined the performance of League of Nations in Europe. It weakened the economic status of
member states which made the LON member states bankrupt and unable to finance her activities. It also made powers
like Germany, Italy and Japan to resort to aggression as a way of addressing the economic hardships. This undermined
the role for LONS in maintaining world peace. Partly due to the depression, Germany and Japan withdrew their
membership from LONs which weakened it.

It facilitated spread of communism in a bid to find solution to the crisis especially in Eastern Europe and America. The
sufferings caused by the slump made the people to develop hatred against liberalism, democracy and capitalism that were

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accused of causing the depression. On contrary, Russia that had adopted communism in 1917 was not affected much by
the depression and this facilitated the spread of socialism in Eastern countries of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania
and Poland. In America, there were radical political movements that started advocating for socialism. They played a vital
role in organizing workers, blacks, whites to fight racism and capitalism. However, this sowed seeds for the outbreak of
cold war.

The slump laid foundation for the outbreak of World War II in 1939. It led to the rise of dictators whose ambitions were
to destroy western democratic governments and socialism. This was responsible for the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo axis alliance
against western democrats that created tension and led to the World War II. The depression made powerful countries to
resort to aggression against weaker states as a way of getting raw materials and securing markets. This is partly why
Hitler invaded Poland in 1899 that sparked off World War II.

The Banks had also been caught in the economic boom of the 1920s.To stay in business they demanded people to repay
loans. Few banks could collect the amount they had been loaned. By 1933 a third of the World’s banks had closed.
Therefore the depression led to the closure and collapse of financial institutions. It created panic and speculation that
made millions of people to withdraw their saving from banks with a belief that their cash would be safer at home. This
left the banking institutions without money and consequently many banks were closed down. In USA about 9000 banks
were closed and around 9 million people lost their savings, the Austrian Central Bank closed in 1931, stock markets
collapsed.

Economic slump led to severe poverty that affected mostly agricultural and industrial states due to fall in prices of
commodities: Millions of people in Europe and USA went hungry and starved to death despite the existence of surplus
goods. Many families could not afford the basic necessities of life like shelter, medical care and education. The working
conditions worsened for the workers leading to poverty, social unrest and the deterioration in the standards of living.

Economic slump promoted imperialism as a way of diverting mass discontent against existing governments, countries
resorted to foreign conquests. Mussolini invaded Ethiopian in 1935 as a means of solving the depression. Hitler invaded
and annexed Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland in order to create employment for German citizens and collect revenue
in order to correct her domestic problems. Japan equally invaded Manchuria in 1935.

Inclusion, it should be noted that, the economic slump had more negative side than the positive, in a way it destroyed
international relations, the slump opened way for rivalry, jealousy and hatred among Europeans powers and outside
Europe.

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No. 4. (a) Biography of Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was an Austrian, born on 20th April, 1889 in the Austro-Germany boarder of Broundal. His father Alois
Hitler was a minor customs official in Austria. In 1902 his father died and in 1907 his mother also died. Hitler did not
get proper education on account of his poor background and being a total orphan Hitler quit school at sixteen and went
to Vienna. His ambition was to become a fine artist but this was frustrated when he failed to join the Vienna academy of
fine art in 1907 for lack of talent. Hitler lived a poor lonely, life as a sign painter, day labourer, doing odd jobs and street
begging, supplemented by pocket money, plus the Austrian’s allowance. He hated Marxism, associating it with the Jews.

Most of Hitler’s ideas and attitudes crystalized in Vienna. He eagerly read books on German History and mythology. He
favoured writers who called the Germans a Master race with the right and duty to conquer other people. Slavic people,
Latin people and Jews were labelled inferior.

He joined Germany force in 1912 and when World War I broke up in 1914, he joined the army and spent 2 years on the
frontline at the end of which he had risen to a rank of corporal with an iron cross award for bravery. When the war ended
in 1918 he was in hospital under treatment for gas poisoning. So he did not witness the collapse of his army. Hitler was
very disappointed with the defeat and humiliation of Germany in the First World War.

His views were that Germany was not defeated due to her military weakness, but was stubbed in the back and betrayed.
Demonstrating an extraordinary talent as a public speaker and organizer. Hitler later joined the National Socialist
Germans workers party which was later renamed Nazi which made him its leader in 1920. The party adopted the Swastika
or bent cross at its symbol. They also set up a private army called storm troopers. By 1921 Hitler’s success as an organizer
and speaker had won him the role of leader of the Nazi party. He attempted the coup against Weimer government in
1923, but failed and got sentenced for 5 years imprisonment, although released after less than 9 months. He dreamed of
a Great German Empire that would stretch across Europe and deep into the Soviet Union. While in prison Hitler wrote
his book Mein Kampf (My struggle) which later became the guide book in Nazism.

In this book he set forth his views on the superiority of German and inferiority of other people and decadence of
democracy. He made racist thinking a basic doctrine of the Nazi ideology as he claimed that the Germans were a master
race and other people inferior races. During the mid-1920s Nazism declined. However during the depression many
German came to think that they had to choose between communism and Nazism. Many chose Nazism and their party
became the largest though not a majority.

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By the end of 1932, viewing the Weimer Republic as inefficient and weak, a group of influential industrialists, land
owners, bankers and politicians conspired to put Hitler into power, thinking he could establish a government that would
suit their interests and restore prosperity. They believed they could control Hitler and use him but they were mistaken
and millions paid for the mistake. In January 1933, these influential Germans persuaded Paul Von Hindenburg the 86
year old president of the Weimar Republic to make Hitler Chancellor. Hitler’s first act as a chancellor was to hold
elections in March 1933. Shortly after the voting, on February 27th the Reichstag building was set on fire and Nazis
blamed the communists. By instilling fear of the communists the Nazis won majority of seats and the presence of Nazis
storm troopers at voting centers intimidating many voters. The New Reichstag gave Hitler powers of an absolute dictator
and turned Germany into a totalitarian state. He proclaimed the third Reich as the third great empire in German History
to last 1,000 years. He took orders from no one.

No.4 (I) the factors led to the rise of Adolf Hitler to power in Germany include:-

The weakness of the Weimar Republic – it was unpopular because it was based on democratic principles not desired by
all Germans. The German had a strong tradition for authoritarian government. Worse still the republic failed to secure
better terms from the powers in 1919 Versailles treaty. Movements like Nazism and leaders like Hitler often succeeded
when times are hard and people are unemployed, hungry, insecure and restless. From 1919-1924 the Weimar Republic
faced one crisis after another (Hall, T. E., & Ferguson, J. D. 2009).

The traditions of the German towards dictatorial leadership helped Hitler rise to power. Most Germans had no respect
for democratically elected governments like Weimar Republic. They were convinced that democratic governments were
a failure and welcomed the idea of a strong leadership. Nazism had appeal for the majority and they believed Hitler would
protect them from those who might turn Germany into a Marxist state. They had strong belief for authoritarian
government led by powerful army officers and men like Von Ron, Bismarck, and Kaiser William II. Therefore many
Germans supported Hitler in the elections believing that he would give them security and military glory.

The effects of World War I and the harsh terms of 1919 Versailles settlement over Germany created circumstances for
Hitler’s rise. The war left German weakened economically. In addition, the 1919 Versailles settlement condemned
Germans as the sole cause for war and imposed heavy reparation that caused profound socio-economic strain to the
Germans. The Weimar Republic was criticized and accused as traitors. Rumors that Germany had not been defeated but
betrayed by the Republic who urged peace. Nationalist and militarists wanted to reject the treaty of Versailles, rebuild
the army which the treaty forbade and restore Germany to a position of power in World affairs. They believed that the

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Weimer Republic had to be destroyed if these goals were to be met. This generated mass hatred to the Weimar Republic
which accepted the terms. Hitler’s Nazi based on this to denounce the Versailles settlement; promising to liberate the
Germans from such misery through Nazi government leadership. This attracted the middle class, jobless youths and
industrialists, making his Nazi stronger by 1933.

The economic depression of 1929-1935 created conditions which favoured Nazi growth for Hitler’s rise. Before the
depression (1924-1929) Hitler’s Nazi party had lost popularity and seats in the Parliament from 1000 by 1929. During
the depression, the Nazi got popularity with more followers as Hitler emphasized that such economic misery was due to
the Versailles, settlement which crippled the Germany economy, leaving 6,000,000 unemployed. By 1929, Germany was
also hit by the depression. Trade declined, banks collapsed, factories closed down, prices of stocks and bonds fell
drastically, unemployment increased with over six million without jobs and inflation made currency worthless. Hitler
stressed how Germany needed a strong government which denounced Versailles treaty settlement; the world powers and
the regain German’s market, colonies and the rich territories taken. If the Germans were to survive professionals, traders
and civil servants now looked to Hitler and Nazi as the answer contributing to his rise.

Hitler’s personal talent. He was gifted with oratory skills, a spell binding speaker. It is what made the Nazi to appoint
him as their leader in 1920. Hitler possessed tremendous energy and remarkable will of power as one observer remarked
“He would begin a speech in a normal voice, getting louder and louder as anger swelled up. His face would puff with
fury, his voice rise to a screech and his hands flail the air. Then, he would suddenly stop, smooth his hair and look quite
calm again.” He was the most powerful demagogic orator the 20th century has produced. He exercised over vast numbers
of the Germans a hypnotic power which he used to exploit their grievances and arouse their national feeling. Hitler issued
propaganda that gave simple explanations for Germany’s problems. It showed him as the leader who would bring
Germany out of chaos. He repeated what he wanted people to believe. He gave them an enemy to hate, a cause to fight
for and a leader to obey. He played on their emotions with his spell binding speeches and used violence to impress them
with the power of the Nazi party (Hall, T. E., & Ferguson, J. D. 2009).

His mobilization skills through Nazi rallies attracted many Germans. The Nazi uniform, the matching slogans, combined
with powerful violence attracted German ex-soldiers, the jobless, idlers, middle class, industrialist and professionals with
full hopes that Hitler would offer something to the suffering. On the other hand, Hitler’s own writings and the Nazi’s 25
point programme calling for German nationalism, elimination of Jews, territorial expansion, improving the poor and
lower middle class, repudiation of the Versailles treaty, Agrarian reforms, prohibition of land speculations, attracted mass
support to the Nazi movement thus its rise to power. While in prison, in 1923 Hitler wrote his book “Mein Kampf

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dignifying the “Aryan race”, outlining plans for the 3rd German Empire. All this convinced the Middle class and the
jobless poor how Hitler could offer real solutions compared to the incapable Weimar politicians, thus his rise to power.

The role of Nazi storm troopers or SA Sturmabteilung. This was the Nazi and terrorist squads organized by Hitler’s
supporters like Roehm. They paraded everywhere; perpetuating violence to weaken and destroy the communist and
socialist opponents, discredit the Weimer Republic and leave the Nazi unchallenged. Young men without jobs joined the
storm troopers. They gained a feeling of close fellowship and intense dedication to a cause, the greatness of Germany.
“For us National Socialism is an idea, a faith, a religion.” Actually in the 1932 parliamentary elections; presence of the
Nazi storm troopers at voting centers intimidated many voters who ended up voting for the Nazi representatives, giving
Nazi 170 seats. So they used violence, terror and intimidation to suppress and eliminate opponents and competitors among
the Germans. Later it was replaced by a handpicked and disciplined organization known as SS that is,Schutzstaffein. The
SS became the security policy of the Nazis and grew into the principal agency for enforcing Nazi rule during the years
of Hitler’s ascendancy. It formed the special division which spearheaded its campaigns.

The communist threat played a significant role in the rise of Hitler and Nazism in Germany. By 1934, German was an
industrious state and German industrialists had a lot of influence in the German affairs. On the other hand communism
had also grown strong among the workers who were being exploited by the capitalists. The communists advocated for
nationalization and redistribution of wealth. Hitler strongly opposed this and promised to protect properties of private
individuals. This gained him support from the middle class, wealthy landlords, and industrialists who were threatened by
a communist revolution. They used this wealth to finance the Nazi party, which greatly strengthened the party and made
it able to mobilize and win more seats in the parliament. At the same time the fear of a communist revolution helped
Hitler to rise to power as Western democracies feared that the communist Soviet Union was a greater threat than Nazi
Germany. However during the 1930s it became obvious that fascism was a far more immediate danger.

The party had a unifying appealing ideology. Hitler used the Nazi party as a stepping stone for his rise to power: He
drew Nazi party members mostly from ex-servicemen soldiers of World War I. The ex-soldiers men supported Hitler
because they wanted him to rise to power and address their needs such as retirement benefits and compensation to those
who were maimed in the war. These ex-soldiers within the party formed a small force that used to protect speakers. Thus,
Hitler used the Nazi party to command great respect and popularity, which force President Hindenburg to appoint him
chancellor. This opened his chance to power (Hall, T. E., & Ferguson, J. D. 2009).

The territorial provisions, the Versailles which detached large German population from German and gave them to
Poland, Czechoslovakia, the League of Nations as free countries. This aroused extreme anger and frustration among the

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German nationalists and the determination to reverse the treaty and reunite German. The Nazi party exploited this
sentiment on its program to grow. The promise of a living space for the future German generation in the Eastern European
lands contributed to the hope and unity of all German in Nazi.

The death of President Paul Von Hindenburg in 1934 was a blessing in disguise for Hitler’s rise to power: His death left
the post of the President vacant which Hitler added to himself, as he became head of the state and commander of the
armed forces. This was instrumental in determining Hitler position as full minister of German. Otherwise if Hindenburg
had not died, there would have been no political vacuum and Hitler would possibly not have been the President in 1934.

No.4 (ii) the following are the tactics used by Hitler to maintain himself in power

Banning of political parties: As a dictator Hitler banned all opposition parties, beginning with the Social Democrats party,
the Catholics party and finally the monarchists were outlawed. This left his Nazi party as the only legal party in Germany.
He used suppressive policies to eliminate his real and potential enemies. For example, set up special prison (concentration
camps) to jail and torture all those with anti-Nazi leaders. In the process idea of socialists democratic and other identified
Nazi enemies got locked up in the prison. In 1934 he ordered a purge of his own storm trooper whose rough tactics
appeared threatening to army and business leaders. Hitler’s own guards arrested and shot about 1000 officers. The Nazi
secret police also ensured everyone obeyed Hitler.

The Nazi’s used propaganda to retain control and consolidate themselves in power. The government controlled the press
broadcasting literature, drama, music, painting and film. He censored the press to keep the Germans ignorant of his
weakness. Only articles that favoured Nazism were allowed to be published but those with anti-Nazi-ideas were blocked.
Internal opposition would not gain ground and survival due to lack of communication. He suppressed public opinion
through censoring the press, broad casting, public films and some leaders wanted to return to worship of old Germanic
gods. Even Christian clergy were warned never to criticize Nazi party while preaching.

Hitler also used education to consolidate Nazi philosophy and gain more support. He captivated Germany youths. For
example, parents where discouraged to take their children to religious funded schools but to public schools. While all
children had to register with and join Hitler’s youth groups association and brought up according to Nazi doctrines that
is, Boys were taught militarism from early stage to defend Germany, while girls prepared for motherhood as strategy to
create huge army force for Germany. The young generation completely loyal to Nazism emerged with no threat to Hitler’s
power. Teachers and professors had to sign an oath promising never to teach; anti-Nazism.

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The Nazis had used propaganda to come to power and they used the same to strengthen their hold on the German people.
The radios, newspapers, magazines, film, books, art and school were used to impress Nazi beliefs on the German people.
Young people were made to feel proud of joining the Hitler youth. The Nazi banned books that praised democracy or
denounced war. History was re-written to fit Nazi views and science books described the superiority of the German race.
The Nazis destroyed forbidden books in huge bonfires. The art and music of Nazi Germany reflected Hitler’s taste. He
condemned all modern art favoring classical and romantic styles. In music he had passion for the operas which were
based on German myths.

In 1934 Hitler through the Nazi grand council, passed the enabling Act. The Act gave Hitler powers to make any changes
in the law or the constitution as he may so wish in the Germany people’s interest even without consulting the parliament,
for the next four years. It were through such an enabling Act that Hitler passed several absolute orders to Nazify Germany.
Therefore the act was the legal basis for Hitler’s dictatorship.

He persecuted the Jews who made up about 1% of the German population. They included many distinguished people
who had contributed to German’s international renowned. For example, Albert Einstein, yet Hitler labeled the Jews as
inferior, unfit to be part of the Nazi Empire. In 1935 he passed the Nuremberg laws depriving Jews of German citizenship.
They were not allowed to fly the German flag, to write, to publish, to teach, to work in hospitals or in banks or to sell
books. All Jews were required to wear a yellow Star of David to identify themselves. They lost their citizenship, were
forbidden to hold government jobs, own businesses carry on their professions. Stores refused to sell to them, landlords
refused to rent them houses. Many fled Germany and left behind their money and property. On November 10th 1938
gangs of Nazis set fire on synagogues and vandalized Jewish homes and stores. Many were killed and thousands arrested.
Many Jews were imprisoned in concentration camps. For the Nazis, the final solution was genocide the murder of an
entire people. Jews were rounded up, loaded into cattle cars and shipped to death camps. Many were herded into gas
chambers. Other were beaten, starved and others were victims of cruel medical experiments. The systematic murder came
to be called the Holocaust.

His foreign policy with programmes followed by the Germans attracted support to his government. For example, policy
programme to denounce and violate the 1919 Versailles settlement, withdrawing Germany membership from the League
of Nations in 1933, re-arming Germany despite the Versailles settlement order against Germany re-armament, launching
an expansionist policy to create a 3rd German Reich. This aroused German nationalistic feelings with growing mass
support Nazi government. In the end however, this aggressive foreign policy sparked off World War II which came with
events that forced him out of power and so terminated his existence in 1945.

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Hitler centralized and vested in himself all authority over German affairs. He dissolved the past administrative structure
and created his own with himself as the highest political figure. He appointed his loyal friends and relatives and fellow
veterans to administer on his behalf. In the up-country districts they worked according to his orders and policies for they
were responsible to him as the appointing authority.

Economically, Hitler reduced the pre-1933 socio-economic problems and hardships which earned him more support from
Germans. He modernized agriculture and farmers were well paid. New industries were setup and technical institutions
were established to provide skilled man power. To many Germans the government was solving the country’s problems.
The government aided business, started a program of public works and secretly built armaments on a large scale.

He moved workers around the country to places where jobs existed. Hitler also conditioned foreign countries to buy
German products by refusing cash transactions and accepting barter trade. These measures reduced unemployment,
inflation, famine and starvation that characterized German before Hitler’s rise to power. By 1937 after four years of Nazi
rule, unemployment had fallen from six million to less than one million. Workers standards of living rose and prosperity
brought loyalty of both the common people and industrialists. By 1938 the Germans were happy, businesses were thriving
and the armed forces had been rebuilt. Hitler had made the world take note of the new Germany.

Hitler built a strong army that was used against international and external enemies. He ruled through his secret police,
the black shirted. Gestapo who pledged absolute loyalty to the leader. The agents of Gestapo had powers to arrest and
put suspects in concentration camps without trial. Many were frightened into silence. Gradually he changed the storm
troopers into a national highly disciplined and unique equipped army. By 1939 he had revived Germany military
superiority which had been destroyed in World War 1.

In conclusion, Hitler was a great dictator who was very arrogant and did not hide his thirst for war, which led him to kill
the masses without discrimination. Hitler and his Nazi movement will always be remembered in Germany, Europe and
in the world.

No. 5 the Second World War is the most disastrous war in the history of mankind. In a real sense, it is the greatest war
that mankind has ever experienced. In the war, the axis powers where defeated in 1945 and allied powers came out
victorious. The war affected all aspects of human life as well as international politics of that time and the present
generation. Generally, the war had positive and negative consequences on the world politics. Both in the social, political
and economic structures of the world, some of which can be traced up to the present era.

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Positive consequences of World War II

It led to the defeat and downfall of the great military dictators of Europe: for instance, the pressure of war forced Hitler
to commit suicide, while Mussolini was assassinated by his own soldiers towards the end of the war. This marked the
end of Nazism and Fascism in the history of Europe. Militaristic leaders in other areas like Japan and Spain, were also
overthrown. This undermined dictatorship and paved way for democratic governance in Europe.

On the other hand, the war led to the liberation of states that were victims of aggression of the axis powers. The defeat
of Germany and her allies was immediately followed by granting independence to smaller states like Poland, Hungry,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Ethiopia the had been under German and Italian rules. This was done by the allied
powers during and after the war. A number of Germans, Italians and Japanese who had settle in such conquered territories
were expelled to the mother land after the war.

The war contributed to the growth and spread of women liberation movements. During and after the war many women
became widows and assumed leadership of their homes. During the war factory owners hired and trained more women
than ever before. By the end of the war in 1945, 6 million women were working in war related jobs. They piloted airplane
wings, molded tank treads, harvested crops and did thousands of other tasks. Many women assumed positions in the civil
service and industries which strengthened women liberation movements aimed at restoring equality between men and
women and thus eliminating discrimination against women.

World War II facilitated rapid scientific and technological development in the world. It experienced the use of atomic
bombs the first example of a nuclear weapon that is, weapon that get their power from reactions involving the nucleus of
an atom. One writer describes the destructive power of the atomic bomb, “First came a heat flash that could burn, blind
and kill. Later weeks after the blast, came radioactive fallout that spread sickness and slow death.” This was made by a
Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany named Albert Einstein and refugee from Fascist Italy named Enrick Fermi. In 1949
the Russians also tested their first atomic bomb, which Church hill called “a balance of terror.” He meant that both
countries would be so terrified of destruction that they would avoid war. In 1952 American scientists produced a more
destructive nuclear weapon, the hydrogen bomb; the Soviets tested theirs in 1953. In a contest that came to be the Arms
race many powers continued to compete in making larger nuclear weapons for national defense. They also invested in
research and development in medicine to alleviate diseases.

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World War II led to the decolonization process in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The colonized people of Africa and
Asia who participated in the war returned with determination to free themselves of colonialism. And since the war had
weakened the military and economic strength of Britain and France changed their ideas towards colonialism, the wind of
decolonization spread to many countries and so the colonized regained their political independence.

World War II led to the formation of United Nations Organizations in 1945 to replace the dis-credited League of Nations.
It was dedicated to promoting peace, co-operation and human rights. It has tried to promote economic, political and social
harmony through its agencies like UNHCR, WHO, ILO, WFP, UNICEF among others. As it has been noted the UNO
has tried to maintain peace Worldwide.

World War II transformed the attitude of Western Europeans demanded that political democracy should be translated
into economic and social welfare hence the formation of the European Economic Community in 1958 (EEC) that later
became the European Union. This has promoted trade, economic development and political stability as it replaced the
spirit of competition.

The war contributed to the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel in 1948. The world was horrified by the Nazi
crimes against the Jews during the War. The Nazi killed over 6 million Jews and as a result the Jewish nationalists
supported by the UNO partitioned Palestine and established Israel as a permanent home for Jews. The creation of Israel
has continued to influence European foreign policy especially of Britain Germany, France and the United States towards
the Middle East.

Negative consequences:

The war led to mass loss of lives unequalled in human history. About 25 million combatants died on the battle field, 30
million civilians lost their lives for example when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December, 1941 in US more
than 3,000 sailors and marines were killed; Likewise hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians died in bombing raids,
zones under Japanese control, many American and Filipino soldiers were taken prisoners in April, 1942 and thousands
died of hunger, thirst, torture and disease on the death marches to Japanese prison camps.

In addition, Hitler’s government turned the machinery of war against whole groups of civilians especially Jews. At the
beginning of 1941 Hitler began a program of genocide - the killing of an entire people. Millions of Jews fell under Hitler’s

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power. Nazi officers arrested whole families of Jews simply because they were Jews and crammed them into rail road
box cars to concentration camps tightly guarded by a special Nazi army unit the SS. Those who were healthy were forced
to provide labour. Others like babies, aging grandparents were either shot, bayoneted or gassed. Those to die were herded
into a chamber called a shower room. They then dropped a crystallized prussic acid, into a death chamber from a small
opening. It took 3 – 15 minutes to kill the people in the death chamber, depending upon the climatic condition. In such
ways Nazi officials killed thousands of people a day. Before World War II there were about 11 million Jews in Europe.
By the end of the war 6 million had been deliberately murdered by the Nazis. Today this horrible destruction is known
as the holocaust. The atomic bomb that hit the Japanese cities killed over 120,000 people.

The war led to massive destruction of property as towns and infrastructures were destroyed. For example when Germany
attacked Poland in 1939 their rail roads, telegraph centers and factories were destroyed when the Japanese attacked
Hawaii in 1941 they blew up 200 American planes, damaged American battleships. The Japanese cities of Hiro Shima
and Nagasaki were also destroyed when the Americans released the atomic bomb. Consequently there was economic
decline since agriculture, trade, industry, communication lines and industries were destroyed. This led to famine, misery,
unemployment, inflation, poverty to millions of people. It led to economic decline due to these destructions which
compelled most of them to rush to USA for economic aid after the war.

World War II changed the position of Europe in balance of power in the world. Before the war the pivot of international
events in politics, diplomacy, and economy was in Western Europe that is, London, Vienna and Paris among others.
After World War II the driving spirit behind international affairs shifted to either Washington, New York in US or
Moscow of Soviet Union. By 1945 the US had the biggest navy, best equipped army and air force in the world. It was
the only country to possess the war’s most formidable weapon the atomic bomb. It was true that no country had ever
emerged from a war so prosperous. In 1947 the US produced half of the world’s manufactured goods 57% of its steel,
43% of its electricity, 62% of its oil. Never before in history had so large a percentage of the world’s wealth been
concentrated in a single country. Like the US, the Soviet Union emerged from the war as a nation of enormous economic
and military strength and it was second in power only to US. Generally after World War II the United States and the
Soviet Union emerged as the most powerful countries in the World.

The end of World War II gave birth to the cold war. This was because the leaders of the two super powers, that is. USA
had different post war aims and deep rooted ideological differences of capitalism and communism which assumed the
position of rivalry until 1991. While the rivalry between the two stopped short of direct warfare, they competed

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politically, economically and militarily. They also took opposite sides in regional conflicts around the world from Korea,
China and Africa among others, which led to the tension in Europe and other parts of the world. In addition the cold war
divided the world into two military alliances and political camps, such as (NATO) North Atlantic Treaty Organization
led by USA and Warsaw Pact led by USSR. NATO was formed in 1949 by capitalists’ states in San Francisco in USA
while Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955 by the communist states led by USSR.

The war led to the defeat of Germany and her allied Italy, Japan, that is, the axis powers by the allied powers of Britain,
France, USA and their allies. It is this defeat of the axis powers that led to the down fall of the dictators of the world. In
Italy the Italians forced Mussolini to resign and on July 1943 he was placed under house arrest. In April 1945 he was
assassinated. And the new Premier Pietro Badoglio renounced his country’s pact with Hitler and urged the Italians to
fight the Germans in every way, everywhere and all the time.” On April 30th 1945 Hitler killed himself as the thought of
being defeated were too much for him and thereafter on May 2nd 1945 Germany surrendered to the Soviet Army. On 7th
May 1945 the Germans surrendered unconditionally. In Japan after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
Japan’s Emperor Hirohito urged his generals to surrender as he said “I cannot bear to see my innocent people suffer any
longer.” The formal surrender took place on 2nd September, 1945.

Generally the war led to displacement of people in many parts of the world and this created problems to resettle and
repatriate these refugees. Most of the displaced were kept in refugee camps where life was miserable and conditions were
alarming prisoners of war and political prisoners were sent to labour camps in Germany were they died of diseases,
hunger and mistreatment.

The war led to the division of Germany into two. The victors of World War II realized that both World Wars were caused
by German’s aggression because of her economic and political strength. So it was agreed that Germany should be
permanently divided to prevent its ever making war. Roosevelt of US and Church hill agreed to divide Germany into four
zones i.e. the US, Britain, France and USSR were each to control a zone. In 1949 Britain, France and USA allowed their
zones to join and become the German Democratic Republic i.e. East Germany. East Germany became communist and
West Germany – capitalist and were divided by the Berlin wall until 1991 which marked the end of the cold war.

No. 7. (a) Introduction

After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the most powerful countries in the world.
Rivalries between these two super powers created an atmosphere of tension and suspicion which stopped short of direct

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warfare that came to be known as the ideological conflict. It involved the establishment of a number of Soviet –backed
communist governments in Eastern Europe and in response the United States adopted policies designed to control the
spread of communism both in Europe and elsewhere. They formed defensive alliances, took up opposite sides in regional
conflicts around the World and began to build up arms, however their leaders sought ways to lessen the risk of actual war
but also competed politically, socially and military (Maier, C. S. 1977).

The ideological conflict was a global state of affairs that developed after 1945 where western European countries led by
US nursed secret suspicions, hostility and hatred against Eastern Europeans led by the Soviet Union. Diplomatic
aggressions, political manoeuvers of malice and sabotage for individual selfish advantage were the characteristics of the
time. The war time allies changed to unfriendly rivals. Their rivalry which was neither true peace nor outright war was
called the ideological conflict where there was no actual fighting but it was serious and deadly.

Causes of the ideological conflict include:-

The success of the Russian revolution: Since the fall of Tsardom after the 1917 Russian revolution, western powers and
USA held fanatic dislike for communism and tirelessly tried to see its demise. They hatched a plan to suffocate the young
communist Russia such that they even ignored Germany as she rearmed to destroy communist. In the Munich conference
they encouraged Hitler to destroy communist Russia. The Russian discovery of the implication of the Munich deal made
them reluctant to join the allies at the beginning of the war in 1939. Even when she joined them, she knew she was trading
with enemies. Throughout World War II Russia was busy preparing to counteract the capitalist countries because she
knew their unity against communism. She occupied most of the areas that fell in the hands of the allied forces so that she
could take big territories with a large population to make a formidable army. By 1945 USSR had the largest army in the
World, hardened by nearly four years of combat. Stalin, the dictator for the USSR feared another war. To protect its
political and economic system, the Soviet Union used its military strength to establish control over Eastern Europe.
Therefore, by sparking off the ideological conflict, Russia had all these as a strategy for her political strength as she knew
that she was no longer on good terms with western countries having gone communist (Maier, C. S. 1977).

In addition, the spread of communist and the rise of communist parties and government played a role in the post war
reorganization of many Eastern European countries. By the end of World War II, Soviet troops occupied the countries of
Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Eastern Germany. With the support of the Soviet army,
communists won powerful posts in Eastern European governments. By 1948 communist governments were in power in
Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. These countries dominated by Soviet Union were called Soviet

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satellites (a Satellite is a country whose policies are dictated or heavily influenced by another country). Fearing more
Soviet expansion in Europe the West reacted strongly to communist activity in Turkey and Greece. When in 1945 Stalin
demanded that Turkey allow the Soviet Union to set up military bases near the black sea and in Greece communist backed
forces were gaining an upper hand. Britain supplied military and economic aid to both Greece and Turkey when she
could no longer afford such aid she appealed to USA to take the lead in halting the spread of communism hence the
ideological conflict (Maier, C. S. 1977).

The Truman doctrine. The American policy towards communism came to be called the Truman Doctrine. The US
president Harry Truman announced a new American foreign policy which came to be known as the Truman Doctrine.
President Truman agreed with church hill that communism was a spreading threat in Europe and so he favoured a vigorous
policy of containment. Its aim was to contain or limit communist government to those countries where they already
existed and to prevent communism from being imposed by force in other nations. He asked the Congress that military
and economic aid be sent to Greece and Turkey and to any country that requested help in resisting communist.

As it was Congress approved 400 million dollars and American aid proved vital in defeating the communist rebels in
Greece. Therefore, Greece remained part of Western Europe politically though it lay in the East geographically. The
Truman Doctrine became the basis of the ideological conflict as it frustrated Russia who had prophesied the collapse of
capitalism especially when the Italian communist party dominated Italian politics, the French communists had equally
become stronger in France. With the Truman Doctrine ended the unity of the war time allies and beginning of outright
political hostility called the ideological conflict.

The Marshal Aid plan: In the late 1940s communism seemed to threaten Western Europe where shaky economies and
political unrest seemed to make countries easy targets for communist takeovers. Countries needed aid to survive to post
war period without economic collapse. The US offered its help in the rebuilding of Europe and stop communism. In June
1947, Secretary of state George Marshall proposed a generous program of economic assistance for Europe. As he said
“Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty desperation and chaos.” In 1948
Congress approved the European Recovery Program called the Marshall plan. For a period of 5 years the plan provided
more than 13 billion dollars in food, fuel, manufactured to countries in Europe and by 1952 a new era of prosperity had
to come to Western Europe. There were no strings attached and beneficial countries were to cooperate rather than
compete with one another. In turn the plan also benefited the US as American farms and factories raised production to
record levels.

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The establishment of the Cominform. Much as the Marshall plan also offered aid to countries of Eastern Europe including
the Soviet Union. However, USSR turned down the aid and forced the Satellites to do likewise. To counter Western
influence USSR set up the Cominform in October 1947. The purpose of the Cominform was to spread communist
propaganda within the Soviet bloc, loyalty to world communism and directed the work of communist parties. In 1949 the
Soviet Union set up of economic aid and Co-operation among the communist countries. It was called Comecon (Council
for Mutual Economic Assistance). However, they were unable to achieve economic growth as it was in Western Europe.

The iron curtain speech. The announcement effect of Churchill Winston’s iron curtain speech cultivated a condition for
ideological conflict. The Soviet Union stopped contacts between its satellites and Western nations. Trade with the West
was discouraged. Western newspapers, books and radio programs were banned in the Satellite nations. The Western
world viewed these developments with uneasiness. The fears were expressed in 1946 by Winston church hill at West
Minister College.

To Church hill, Europe was divided into two political regions. That is, a democratic Western Europe and a communist
Eastern Europe. The phrase iron curtain came to stand for the division of Europe. The Russian interpreted this as a
declaration by Western countries of a blockade on Russia. This caused more tension leading to the ideological conflict.

The conflicting attitudes over post war future Poland. Diplomatically, tension between USA and USSR was made bitter
by their conflicting attitudes over the post war future of Poland. US and Britain wanted Poland to be free from any outside
influence especially Russia, but USSR had intentions of occupying Poland. The Soviet army already controlled most of
Poland and had set up a pro-Soviet government there. Stalin wanted recognition of a communist government as he said.
“Throughout history, Poland has always been a corridor for attacks on Russia, it is not a question of honor but one of life
and death,” Therefore the US struggled to block Soviet expansion into Poland on one hand and the Soviet determination
to forcefully occupy Poland made the ideological conflict inevitable.

The Arms race. The Arms race also became an important element in the tensions between USSR and the USA. Each
nation tried to develop weapons so powerful that the other would not dare attack. It started with the dropping of atomic
bombs at Hiroshima and Napasaki in Japan by USA. The general feeling was that USA was the strongest nation. In 1949
the Russian tested their first atomic bomb. In 1953 tested a hydrogen bomb. Both developed rockets that carried nuclear
war heads. In 1954 the USA launched the first nuclear submarine, armed with atomic missiles. By 1957 the Russians’
had developed intercontinental ballistic missiles, rockets that could reach any part of the world. Both superpowers
possessed such weapons which led to the situation church hill called balance of terror. He meant that both countries

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would be so terrified of destruction that they would avoid war. Knowing that such a race might end in worldwide disaster
leaders in both countries also searched for ways to limit arms manufacture that could lead the world into another war.

Rise of military alliances. The alliance system that emerged after World War II also led to the ideological conflict. In
1949 the US joined Canada, Britain, Belgium, France, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal
to form the North Atlantic Treaty, Organization (NATO). They pledged to support one another in case of a war and
Turkey joined NATO and West Germany joined in 1955. As part of NATO’s security system America troops, planes and
nuclear weapons were to be stationed in Western Europe. NATO had a standing military force of more than 500,000
troops.

USSR saw NATO as a threat. In 1955 as a counter measure to the NATO alliance, the Soviet Union signed a mutual
defense pact with Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania. This agreement,
lead to formation of the Warsaw Treaty Organization or WarSaw Pact which provided for Soviet troops to be stationed
in each satellite countries under the leadership of a Soviet commander in Moscow. Therefore, the conflict, tension, rivalry
between these two major alliances led to the ideological conflict.

The demise of compromising leaders. The death of Roosevelt and Churchill and the rise of uncompromising leaders like
Stalin Clement Atlee, Truman led to the worsening relationship between the West and East. They were highly suspicious
of each other and their relation became less friendly and contributed to the outbreak of the ideological conflict.

The weakness of the UNO: The UNO from its inauguration drifted the World into the ideological conflict. It failed to
stop the arms race and rise of military alliances. Much as USA was prepared by the end of World War II to withdraw all
its military organizations in Europe and even disband it. However, the Soviet Union instead strategized to spread her
expansionist program. So US abandoned her plan and embarked on military build up to check Soviet aggression and this
led to the ideological conflict.

Press Propaganda. The press propaganda between the West and East also contributed to the outbreak of the ideological
conflict. The press included BBC, VOA, and Radio Moscow among others worsened the crisis. In addition, the
ideological conflict was made eminent by George Kennedy’s long cable to the USA department of state in which he
described Moscow’s attitude to the west as that of hostility. He urged the US to give immediate but equal treatment to
the Soviet. This Telegram acted as a basis on what the Truman’s doctrine was formulated as he said “We shall contain
Russia, until Russia changes, ceases to be our rival and become our partner”. This was followed by aid to Turkey and
Greece where Britain was withdrawing after failing to withstand the communist challenges.

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Failures of the Yalta, Potsdam Conferences. These conferences were intended to find out how best to administer
Germany at the end of the war. Unfortunately, various powers had divergent intentions and attitudes. The Soviet Union
wanted to spread communism in such countries, while Britain intended to set up democratic government, France wanted
to establish army fronts there, while US thought they should start by improving their economies. Consequently, each
power started effecting different programs in its area of occupation when the western powers joined hands Russia felt
justified to meet the challenges which resulted into the ideological conflict.

The establishment of the people’s Republic of China. This increased the tension between the communists and capitalists.
After World War II some Chinese turned away from the belief in Western style democracy and instead turned to the ideas
of communism. After the World War II, between 1946 -1949 a civil war broke out between the nationalists led by Chiang
backed by Japan and the Western powers against the communists led by Mao Tse-tung supported by the communists. By
1949 after the many defeats Chiang and other nationalists fled to the Island of Taiwan. On 1 st October 1949, Mao-Tse-
tung declared the establishment of a new government the People’s Republic of China. The US refused to accept the
People’s Republic of China as China’s true government. After Chiang fled to Taiwan, the US helped him set up a
nationalist government called Taiwan the Republic of China which continued to represent China in the UN until 1972.
Why the US continued to support Chiang lies in the ideological conflict. To an American government locked into a bitter
struggle with Soviet Union, Mao’s victory was a step forward in a communist campaign to conquer the world which had
to be checked.

The desire to control the world economic resources and desire for power or supremacy led to the ideological conflict:
USA and USSR rivalled to acquire raw materials for their industries, market for their manufactured products and areas
for investment in the various parts of the world. This caused tension between the two superpowers leading to the cold
war.

No.7 (b) Impact of the ideological conflict on the World up to 1990;

The ideological conflict brought positive and negative political, social and economic consequences not only in Europe
but the entire world up to the present era.

Positive consequences

The ideological conflict led to the spread and consolidation of communism in Eastern Europe: Russia was alarmed by
the growing thread of western powers led by USA, and hurried to strengthen her influence in the East. By 1949 she

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succeeded in setting up communist government in the Eastern states of Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia,
Czechoslovakia and Albania. Russia aimed at using these states as sate light sates on her western frontiers against the
west in an event of war.

Ideological conflict created military balance of power in Europe: the tension and conflicts it caused prompted USA and
USSR to venture in to the manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction such as atomic, biological and nuclear weapons.
Thereafter, USA brought western powers under her control through NATO of 1949. While USSR did so to the eastern
countries through the WARSAW PACT of 1955. This led to the emergence of USA as a super power in Western Europe
and USSR as a dominant power in Eastern Europe. It should be noted that possession of sophisticated weapons by USSA
and USSR made outright military confrontation too risky and that explains why both states resorted to proxy wars using
other states (Lützén, K. 1990).

The ideological conflict also led to formation of non-align movement: this was done by the states that wanted to be neutral
in the ideological conflict. The non-Align movement was form at the Bandung conference in April 1955 for Asian and
African countries the conference was spearheaded by Nehru of India and sponsored by the government of India, Pakistan,
Burma, Indonesia and Ceylon (Lützén, K. 1990).

It also impacted on the decolonization of large part of Africa and other races that were still under colonialism: the need
popularized capitalism and communism made the western and eastern blocs to provide both military and financial support
to liberation movements that were fighting for independence. USA and USSR pressurized the then colonial masters to
decolonize their colonies, and decolonization was what USA used to grant aids under the Marshall aid Plan. On the hand
USSR popularized the Kharl Max’s that imperialism was the highest stage of capitalism and supported political
movements that were aimed to uprooting colonialism. For example, he Mau-Mau and FERLIMO. All these strengthen
liberation movements that forced colonial powers to grant independence to their colonies.

There was increased flow of foreign aid to the member countries of the two camps due to ideological conflict: USA
assisted Western Europe through the Marshall aid Plan as a reward for accepting capitalism. While Russia assisted
Eastern through Molotov plan and COMECON for being loyal to communism. These ideology based foreign Aid were
extended to the third world countries by USA and USSR as long as their political ideologies were adhered to. All
assistance contributed to the economic recovery of the some parts of the world after the Second World War.

The ideological conflict led to the revival of the alliance system. Due to the tension and mistrust between the two blocs.
Both the US and the Soviet Union feared that the Cold war would turn hot and so both met the threat of war by organizing
alliances. In April 1949 the Western nations formed a mutual defense pact, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The

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NATO agreement provided that an armed attack against one or more of its members shall be considered an attack against
them all. The Soviet Union saw NATO as a threat. In 1955 the Soviets developed an alliance the War Saw Pact Which
United the USSR and the Eastern European countries.

Economic integration based on political ideologies was encouraged: The statesmen from several countries advocated for
the formation of a European integration that would improve the people’s standard of living and lessen international
conflicts. In 1951 six Western European countries formed the European Coal and steel community. Members abolished
all tariffs on coal and steel and set common price levels for exports. In 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, they created the
European Economic Community (EEC) also called the Common Market. This was to encourage trade by eliminating
trade barriers by ending tariffs and import quotas (an import quota is a limit that one country sets on the amount of goods
that may be brought in from another country). They also agreed to charge the same import duties and allowed workers to
travel freely among member countries. It was a success as it fostered a spirit of international cooperation in Western
Europe. While encouraging economic cooperation, the countries of Western Europe maintained their unique identities.

On the other hand, it promoted and protected the trade and economic welfare of capitalist and communists states. In 1948,
the organization for European economic corporation (OEEC) was established to work out the strategies of implementing
the Marshall Aid Plan. It was open to other members who joined it and transformed it into European Economic
Community (EEC) in 1957. In 1954, the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) was established by Thailand.
Pakistan, Australia, and Philippines with support from Britain and France to fight communists influence and Russian
expansion. These organizations though were formed on ideology were able to enhance economic corperation and
integration, which promoted socio-economic development (Lützén, K. 1990).

The ideological conflict promoted education indirectly: USA and Soviet Union embarked on an intensive mobilization
programme as a strategy to strengthen their political ideologies and undermine each other. They competed in awarding
scholarships for students to study in their countries. Such students were interdoctrinsted with either communist or
capitalist political ideologies, which they were supposed to promote on returning to their countries of origin. Such
students and countries got accidental benefits from ideological conflicts.

There was space exploration in an attempt by USA and USSR to suppress and threaten each other: Russia kick started
the space exploration when she successfully launched the Sputniks I in October and II in November into the space. USA
reacted by launching explorer I in January 1958 and Vanguard I in March of the same year. On September and October
1959, Russia sent Rocket Lunik II and Lunik III respectively into the moon. These adventures were to counteract the
American pioneer V satellite that was earlier sent to the sun in March 1959. In 1961, Yuri, Gagarin of Russia and

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Arnstrong of USA made further successful adventures to the space. It is important to stress that all these efforts for space
exploration were done on rival basis because of the ideological conflict.

Negative consequences:-

There were political unrest as a result of indirect military confrontation between USA and Soviet Union in different parts
of the world: USA and Soviet Union sponsored capitalists and communists respectively to rise to power in an attempt to
spread their ideologies. For example, America supported South Korea in the Korean war of 1950-1953. In the Chinese
war of 1949, America supported Chiang Kaishek. While Russia supported Mao-Tes-Tung. Such support and counter
support by America and USSR was also evidenced in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Vietnam, coups in third world
countries and Arab-Isreali conflict which were very destructive military adventures.

The ideological conflict led to international conflict and terrorism sponsored by the two antagonistic camps: the two
super powers used suicide bombers, high jacking of planes and ships, kidnapping and assassinations to eliminate their
real and assumed enemies. These were common in the Middle East, Kashmir, and Africa. It was under these
circumstances that Samora Macheal and Indira Gandhi were assassinated. These always resulted into death of innocent
people and unnecessary loss of property.

The possibility of the ideological conflict graduating into hot war led to revival of arm race: Russia went back to her five
year plan of heavy industry and armaments. USA and the West reacted by speeding the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
There was also increased research in scientific hardware, nuclear science and rearmament in Europe. These led to the
production of weapons of mass destruction such as atomic, biological and nuclear weapons in preparation for actual war
with rival camp. For instance, in 1953, USA produced hydrogen bomb that was twice more powerful than atomic bomb.
And Russia also produced one the in 1953. By 1960, both USA and USSR had produced intercontinental ballistic missiles
that were cpapble of carrying atomic bombs to all parts of the world. Both powers also embarked on space exploration
to bully and out compete each other. All these led to fear, jealousy and tension that became a constant threat to world
peace and stability.

Alliance system was also revived as a result of the ideological tension: after the Second World War, USA formed NATO
in 1949 as a defensive tool against communism and its threats to the west. The Soviet Union on the other hand reacted
by forming WARSAW PACT in 1955 as a counter measure to NATO and the threats of capitalism from the western
powers. There were also economic organizations like EEC, OEEC, SEATO and Arab league among others. They were
based on either capitalists or communist’s ideologies. These alliances created fear, suspicion and antagonism that
hindered cooperation amongst European powers.

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The formation of secret international spy network and organization were a consequence of the ideological conflict. These
spies were used to leak out military secrets and technology between the two antagonistic camps. For example, USA used
the CIA and FBI. While USSR used KGB and Cominform or communist information bureau, and Israel used MOSSAD.
These international spy networks an organization played a significant role not only in the American-Russian affairs but
the whole world.

The ideological conflict weakened UNO and was partly responsible for its failures by 1970: UNO was formed to create
and maintain peace amongst the people of the world, this was made very difficult because USA and USSR that were key
players hijacked the role of UNO and divided the world into two conflicting camps. For instances, the ideological
differences between USA and USSR hindered the success of the security council since America and Russia were the
prominent members of the security council, they use their veto powers to promote their political ideologies.

The survival of dictatorship in Africa and elsewhere was partly due to the support from either communist or capitalist
blocks: this was done as long as these ideologies were implemented. For instance, USA, Portugal, Britain, France and
Italy supported apartheid regime in South Africa because it was a symbol of capitalism. Russia supported Fidel Castro in
Cuba because of his pro-communist policies.

Huge chunks of money was wasted during the course of ideological conflict: tension generated by the ideological conflict
and the possibility of it graduating into a hot war created panic in the western and eastern blocks states. This led to
excessive investment in arms for offensive and defensive purposes. There were also heavy spending in intelligence
networks such as CIA and KGB, space exploration, support to dictators and funding rebellions in the world. It is estimated
that the amount of money squandered during the ideological conflict could finance the budgets of the developing nations
for than one financial year. All these drained the financial resources of the western and eastern bloc states and contributed
to socio-economic problems such as unemployment, inflation and poverty. Thus, one can argue that the ideological
conflict made Germany to be partitioned and turned into a theatre of conflict between the eastern and western block
states.

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REFERENCE:

Lützén, K. (1990). Moral sensing and ideological conflict: aspects of the therapeutic relationship in psychiatric
nursing. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 4(2), 69-76.

Maier, C. S. (1977). The politics of productivity: foundations of American international economic policy after World
War II. International organization, 31(4), 607-633.

Hall, T. E., & Ferguson, J. D. (2009). The Great Depression: an international disaster of perverse economic policies.
University of Michigan Press.

Feinstein, C. H., Temin, P., & Toniolo, G. (1997). The European economy between the wars. OUP Catalogue.

Mitchell, B. (2017). Depression Decade: From New Era through New Deal 1929–1941. Routledge.

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