Get textual answers, explanations, solutions, notes, extras, MCQs, PDF of Chapter 6 The Second World War and its Aftermath: WBBSE Class 9 History (English medium). However, the educational materials should only be used for reference, and students are encouraged to make necessary changes.
| Select medium |
| English medium notes |
| Bengali medium notes |
Summary
After the First World War, many countries in Europe tried democracy. People hoped for an age where countries governed themselves through elected parliaments. By 1920, most European nations, except Russia, were democratic. However, this did not last long. Within twenty years, dictatorships took over in many places. One person or one party held all the power. Democracy seemed to be failing. Democracies value open discussion, compromise, individual freedom, and voting rights. But economic problems like inflation and the Great Depression caused hardship. Social and racial conflicts also created instability. Political parties struggled to handle these crises. Some new constitutions, like Germany’s Weimar Constitution, even gave leaders emergency powers that could weaken democracy. Strong, popular dictators emerged, while democratic leaders seemed less effective.
Fascism and Nazism became powerful ideas. Fascism, seen clearly in Mussolini’s Italy, involved aggressive nationalism and racism, support from the masses, a single powerful leader, and aiming for economic self-sufficiency (autarchy). National frustration after World War I helped these movements grow. For example, Italians felt their victory in WWI was a ‘mutilated victory’, meaning they didn’t get the rewards they expected. Nationalism acted like a ‘springboard’, a starting point, launching Fascism. People feared socialism, and Fascist parties promised to stop it, gaining support from middle and upper classes. Dictatorships grew because many people lost faith in slow democratic processes and wanted strong, decisive action, a kind of ‘New Order’.
Britain and France tried a policy called appeasement towards Hitler’s Germany. They hoped to avoid war by giving in to some of his demands. They did not object when Germany rearmed or united with Austria. They signed the Munich Agreement, allowing Germany to take part of Czechoslovakia. But appeasement failed; Hitler soon took the rest of Czechoslovakia. World War II began on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France then declared war on Germany. The main sides were the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) and the Allied Powers (Britain, France, later the Soviet Union and the USA).
The war started with a period called the ‘Phony War’, where little fighting happened on the Western Front. It was called ‘phony’ because it seemed like a fake war at first. Germany then used fast attacks called Blitzkrieg, or ‘lightning war’, to conquer much of Western Europe, including France. Germany tried to defeat Britain through air attacks in the Battle of Britain but failed. Hitler then broke his agreement with the Soviet Union and invaded it in 1941. The Soviets fought back fiercely. Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, bringing the USA into the war. The USA’s massive production of weapons and supplies greatly helped the Allies. Key turning points included Allied landings in Italy and the D-Day invasion of France in 1944, which pushed German forces back.
The Axis powers eventually collapsed. Italy surrendered first, and Mussolini was killed. Germany surrendered in May 1945 after Hitler took his own life as Allied forces closed in on Berlin. Japan surrendered in September 1945 after the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The war caused immense destruction but also led to major changes. Fascism was defeated. Science and technology advanced rapidly, leading to developments like nuclear weapons but also contributing to peace by making war too horrifying. The USA and the Soviet Union emerged as the world’s two superpowers. Many colonies in Asia and Africa gained independence. The war was truly global, affecting nearly every part of the world. It showed the dangers of aggressive nationalism and led to efforts towards international cooperation.
Textual Questions, Answers (Oriental)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The type of government in Europe in the 1920s was :
(a) Dictatorship
(b) Anarchy
(c) Democratic
(d) Monarchy
Answer: (c) Democratic
2. One of the causes of the World War II was :
(a) European liberalism prior to 1939
(b) The expansionist policy of Nazi Germany
(c) Parliamentarian government in European countries
(d) Strong democracies in Europe
Answer: (b) The expansionist policy of Nazi Germany
3. The primary cause of the US participation in the World War II was ?
(a) Hitler’s invasion of Poland
(b) Declaration of war against Germany by Britain and France
(c) Japanese attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbour
(d) Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union
Answer: (c) Japanese attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbour
4. Which of the following was an instance of the Anglo-French policy of Appeasement?
(a) The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
(b) Hitler’s occupation of Sudetenland
(c) The Munich Pact
(d) Hitler’s attack on Poland
Answer: (c) The Munich Pact
Very-short Answer Type Questions
4. What was the Corfu incident?
Answer: The Corfu incident was a diplomatic and military crisis that occurred in 1923 between Italy and Greece.
5. Which political ideal encouraged aggressive nationalism?
Answer: Fascism encouraged aggressive nationalism. Nationalism was the springboard of Fascism, and aggressive nationalism and racism were characteristics of fascism. The idea of a political ‘New Order’, based on authoritarian rule, also gained prominence and encouraged alternatives to democracy like Fascism and Nazism, which exemplified aggressive nationalism.
6. Invasion of which country precipitated the World War II?
Answer: The invasion of Poland by Germany on 1 September 1939 precipitated the World War II, making a worldwide conflict inevitable.
7. Which city of Britain suffered great damage due to the Nazi air attack?
Answer: London suffered great damage due to air strikes by the Nazi Luftwaffe.
8. Which Pact signed in 1939 had an additional secret clause?
Answer: The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, signed in August 1939, had an additional secret clause. This clause, kept secret until the end of the war, allowed the division of eastern Europe into spheres of influence for the two powers, the Soviet Union and Germany.
Short Answer Type Questions
9. When was the Weimar Republic established?
Answer: The Weimar Republic was officially established in August 1919, following Germany’s defeat in the First World War
10. What was the springboard of Fascism?
Answer: Nationalism was the springboard of Fascism.
11. What led Britain and France to declare war against Hitler’s Germany?
Answer: Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939 in retaliation for her attack on Poland, which occurred when Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939.
12. Why did the Soviets adopt scorched-earth policy against the Nazi invaders?
Answer: By adopting a scorched-earth policy and guerrilla tactics, the Soviets did not allow the Nazis to utilize the resources in the conquered area for their further conquests.
Long Answer Type Questions-I
13. Why would you say that Europe was on the brink of war in 1939?
Answer: By 1939 Europe was on the brink of another war. The causes leading to the hostilities included (a). Failure of the peace talks and initiatives at the end of the First World War (b). The expansionist policy pursued by Nazi Germany under the leadership of Hitler. (c). The policy of appeasement followed by Britain and France, and (d). The policy of isolationism followed by the USA. By the Munich Pact (1938), signed by the representatives of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, the occupation of Sudetenland (a part of Czechoslovakia) by Germany was agreed upon. Britain and France hoped that the agreement would put an end to Hitler’s territorial ambitions and demands. In fact, by the Munich Pact Hitler promised that he would discard war as a means to settle political disputes. With this belief Chamberlain, the then British Prime Minister, claimed that another world war had been avoided. But this was not to be. Soon it became clear that Hitler had bluffed all concerned when in March 1939 Hitler occupied entire Czechoslovakia. The seize of Czechoslovakia by Hitler alarmed the British and the French. They feared that Hitler would next annex Poland. Hence the British and French governments promised to stand by the Poles (people of Poland) in case of an attack from Germany.
14. What was the ‘Phony War’ during the World War II?
Answer: The period between the start of the World War II in 1939 and the German onslaught towards the West in 1940 came to be called the ‘Phony War’. During the period Hitler’s Soviet Russian ally invaded Poland in the east and the German troops in the west. As a result Poland quickly collapsed. On the other hand, the Allied strategy aimed only at holding off German pressure on Polish front. Indeed, the Allies missed the golden opportunity in striking Germany along the Siegfried Line where German defense system in her West was relatively weak. Thus for eight months there was a total inactivity of the Allies on the Western front which has won the contemptuous description of the ‘Phony War'(meaning ‘fake’ war). During this period the Allies instead of launching an offensive stood on the defensive behind the fortification of the Maginot Line.
15. Write a short account of the German attack on the Soviet Union.
Answer: Frustrated in his hopes of conquering Britain, Hitler again turned to the East. Ignoring his Non-Aggression Pact he launched a surprise assault on the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. The Nazi divisions cut through the Russian defenses and moved deeply into the Soviet Union. Victory after victory was won. But despite German calculations the major cities like Moscow and Leningrad did not fall. By the end of 1941 the Soviet Union was definitely weakened but not crushed. Having failed in the first violent attacks to destroy the Soviet Union the German armies were stretched far forward in hostile territories. Supply problem relating to provisions and arms became severe and with harsh winter setting in Russians began to launch counter offensive. At the initial stage Hitler was successful in his attempt. But soon the table was turned against him as Hitler grossly underestimated the strength of the Soviet Red Army. By adopting a scorched-earth policy and guerrilla tactics, the Soviets did not allow the Nazis to utilize the resources in the conquered area for their further conquests.
16. What were the contributions of the USA in the World War II?
Answer: The American government stepped up its aid to Britain on a massive scale. Despite Pearl Harbour the US President Roosevelt insisted in giving priority to the European theatre of the global conflict. For, America’s huge production potential was always likely to ensure defeat of the Axis. The US economy was fully mobilized to produce huge quantity of weaponry including tanks, merchant shipping and aircrafts. Besides, about 1.5 Crore of men and women were enlisted in the war effort. It has been pointed out that the American entry into the war had another major consequence. It marked the decline of Europe which became more and more dependent on decisions made in Washington.
17. Would you say that the World War II was a truly a ‘global’ war?
Answer: The Second World War is called the really ‘global’ war for the first time. This is because of the simple fact that it was the only war fought on most of the inhabited parts of the earth. Over 90 million (900 Lakh) combatants were mobilized of which war dead ranged from 40 to 60 million (4 to 6 Crore). However, the Second World War was truly ‘global’ in the sense that it had started as a European war with invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany. Within days Britain and France formally declared war as Germany attacked the country. In 1941 Yugoslavia, Greece and the Soviet Union were engulfed into the war due to German invasion. The war spread to Asia due to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbour that drew the USA into war against the Axis powers. The Japanese involvement in the war resulted fighting in Burma (present Myanmar) and much of South-east Asia and the Pacific. From 1942 onwards the war also spread to Africa. In view of the involvement of most of the countries of the globe in the war the Second World War was truly a ‘global war’.
18. What was the Pearl Harbour incident?
Answer: Pearl Harbour in Hawaii was the main US naval base. Although there was no formal declaration of war, the Japanese airforce attacked Pearl Harbour early on 7 December 1941 sinking as many as 19 ships, destroying 188 planes and killing 2400 people. Immediately the USA declared war on Japan, and within days Germany and Italy, who were Japan’s allies, declared war on the USA. American naval losses at Pearl Harbour gave an advantage to Japanese sea-power immediately after the attack. However, the strategically important aircraft carriers remained undamaged as these were not in the harbour at that time.
Long Answer Type Questions-II
19. Write how democracy was under strain between the two World Wars.
Answer: Democracy everywhere in Europe soon came under severe strain between the two World Wars. The causes may be described as follows:
- Economic crises included inflation in the post-War Europe.
- The Great Depression led to tariff barriers and disruption of trade.
- Some of the states suffered racial instability as a result of conflicting ethnic groups.
- Social disruption was caused due to growing hostilities towards the regime of different social classes.
- The economic, racial and social crises seriously impacted the political parties in different democracies. In such a state of affairs what was needed was a stable political framework to restore firm resolve to preserve democracy which was missing.
- The trend away from democracy was assisted by another defect that existed in some of the new constitutions. For example, the Weimar Constitution of Germany gave the president of the Republic emergency powers as and when he needed them. Thus Germany became authoritarian under the Weimar Republic. This provided the political atmosphere for the rise of a dictator like Hitler.
- It has been pointed out by Stephen J. Lee that the weakening of the democracies was also due to the absence of any really popular statesman during the inter-war period. Contrarily, the dictators of the period had tremendous popularity. The masses were tempted by their charisma.
- Thus weakness of democracy and the simultaneous emergence of great personalities, who were opposed to democracy, paved the way for the emergence of dictatorship in Europe.
20. What was the impact of the Second World War on contemporary world history?
Answer: Despite all the suffering and loss of life and materials the Second World War was of immense consequences. As pointed out by A. J. P. Taylor despite all the killing and destructions that accompanied it, ‘the Second World War was a good war’.
- With the defeat of the Axis powers the world was relieved of the scourge of Fascism.
- The conflict also brought about certain indirect benefits. Great advances were made in science and in state planning. In Britain, for example guidelines were laid down for the creation of Welfare State and state socialism.
- Even the invention of nuclear weapons with all their potential evils has in the long run benefited mankind. By multiplying man’s power to destroy his own kind, they have made the consequences of another war so horrifying that they have been an effective instrument for the prevention of war. It thus contributed to peace.
- As the destruction of material assets was enormous Europe seemed destined for some years to endure poverty and starvation. In contrast the USA appeared immensely strong.
- Out of the Second World War emerged two superpowers, namely the USA and the Soviet Union. It became clear after 1945 the two superpowers would enjoy a preponderant influence in world affairs.
- One of the most important changes that took place after 1945 was the appearance of a large number of new, independent states, most of them in Asia and Africa. The colonial empires of Britain and France disappeared. In their place new nations, such as India, Pakistan, Algeria, Nigeria and a host of independent countries emerged.
21. Write about the technological changes in war weaponry during the Second World War.
Answer: Technology played a crucial role in the course of the World War II and determining its course and outcome. In the beginning the combatants fought with technology that had remained mostly unchanged from World War I. However, within six years, between 1939 and 1945, technology experienced a rapid advance. Scientists were engaged by the both sides for the improvement in the technology in the war weaponry.
- In the European Theatre of the World War II air attacks became crucial throughout the war. It was possible for the German armies to overrun Western Europe with great speed in 1940 due to the use of aircrafts of improved technology.
- The Soviet JS-3 or the German Panther tank outclassed the best tanks used in the initial stage of the war.
- In the navy the battleship, long seen as a dominant element of sea power was displaced by the technological innovation of the aircraft carrier.
- The amphibious tanks, amphibious trucks, Higgins boat and many others were the new generation of weaponry developed during the war.
- Development in machine-gun technology culminated in the production of MG42 which was of an advanced design.
- The most dreaded and deadly weapon invented and devised during the World War II, however, was the Atom Bomb, and henceforth our age has come to be called the Nuclear Age. During the Second World War scientists on both sides were busy inventing weapons. Their motive was to invent such weapons that were more destructive than anything that the world had ever known. Apart from the technological changes that increased the effectiveness of the weaponry the German invented long-range rockets and flying bombs which needed no pilots. These were radio-controlled. These could land on the targets like cities where thousands of civilians — innocent men, women and children lived. But the most terrible weapon of all was the Atom Bomb, finally developed in the USA. This was a terrible weapon, thousands of time more destructive than any ordinary bomb. The Atom Bomb explodes using the energy that is produced when an atom or atoms split. One Atom Bomb is sufficient to destroy a whole town.
22. How aggressive nationalism has been a threat to internationalism.
Answer: Broadly speaking nationalism includes identical sentiments over allegiance to the state, traditional cultural heritage, unity among the people, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Nationalism in itself is not antagonistic to other fellow nations. But when it assumes an aggressive posture it may prove suicidal. In this regard the Nazi regime of Germany may be an example. As against ‘aggressive nationalism’ emerged the phenomenon of internationalism. Internationalism is a practice of politics based on cooperation or harmony among nations. Internationalism recognizes the right of all nations of national sovereignty, security and self-determination. It also includes cultural peace, socio-economic progress and right to defend country’s borders against external aggression. Aggressive nationalism is thus a threat because it opposes the cooperation, harmony, and mutual respect for sovereignty and security that define internationalism. It is worthy of mention here that the recent spate of international terrorism is a danger to the spirit of internationalism. The trend can only be eliminated if all the nations of the world stand united against the menace.
Extras
Additional MCQs
1. What slogan guided the post-First World War remaking of Europe?
A. Balance of power
B. Self-determination
C. Collective security
D. Popular sovereignty
Answer: B. Self-determination
50. Which historian described the Second World War as “a good war” despite its destruction?
A. A. J. P. Taylor
B. Stephen J. Lee
C. R. J. Overy
D. Winston Churchill
Answer: A. A. J. P. Taylor
Additional Questions, Answers
1. What were the characteristic features of a democratic state?
Answer: The characteristic features of democracy include open-minded critical enquiry and ‘mutual regard and compromise’. The opposition functions as a legitimate partner of the democratic system. Democracy refuses to go by one party rule and recognizes ‘individual liberty’. Democracy also envisages extension of voting right (suffrage) and strengthening the powers of representative institutions like parliament.
33. What were the characteristics of fascism and how did they contribute to its appeal in inter-war Europe?
Answer: The characteristics of fascism were as follows:
1. Aggressive nationalism and racism
2. Mass support
3. The leader principle
4. Undecided relationship with socialism
5. Autarchy (economic self-sufficiency)
Nationalism was the springboard of Fascism, stemming from a profound sense of frustration in countries like Germany and Italy after World War I; this national frustration was a major factor that paved the way to the rise of Fascism. Fascist movements won support from every class because the Fascist ideas seemed new and patriotic, attracting common people including the youths and the middle class unlike other parties. Soon after the war, charismatic leaders began to emerge, becoming a focus of loyalty, especially in Germany during a period of insecurity. Furthermore, at a time when democratic institutions failed, many Germans and Italians wanted to feel that there was a strong hand at the helm. Fascism also appealed to the European middle and upper classes out of fear of socialism; the threat of the Bolshevik Revolution scared them, and they became supporters of the Fascist parties which promised to contain the socialist threat.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
Get notes of other boards, classes, and subjects
| Notify change in syllabus/books | Share PDFs of books, get benefits |
| Request notes not available now | Share PDFs of question papers |