World War II was a war that truly did affect all parts of the globe. From the United States to Indochina, it is difficult to argue that any one country was not affected by the war in one way or another. However, what was perhaps the biggest shift following the war, on a global scale, was the decolonization of territories by Western powers across the world. As the war came to a close, many previously occupied lands sought their independence. For example, in French Indochina, the Vietnamese fought a bloody war that lasted until 1954 when the French were defeated in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu a peace treaty was finally signed.
Another large movement towards independence took place in Algeria. During the Algerian war, which lasted about seven years, the Algerian people fought for independence against the French intruders. However, the French put down the Algerians through extremely brutal tactics which led to a lowering of French prestige abroad. Then, in 1962, a referendum was passed which granted independence to the State of Algeria.
Nearly all of the nations which sought independence were eventually granted it. This even applied to India, the crown jewel of the British Empire. As the Second World War came to a close, European occupied countries all over the globe began to seek independence and the European invaders simply did not have the resources, or even the will, to hold on to their prized acquisitions. This led to the European countries abandoning many of their overseas territories. This however, led to turmoil in many parts of the world, specifically Africa and the Middle East. Turmoil in these regions continues to be a problem to this day.
Pictured here is a map of the all the lost territories by European powers following the Second World War. As you can see, the European nations lost nearly all of their possessions during the postwar period.
It was interesting to read that France used many tactics to suppress the Algerians and it is also important that people finally began to see the European conquerors as brutal as opposed to the actions being seen as a way of fulfilling “the white mans burden.” I enjoyed that your post touched on the fact that following World War II many countries lost their colonial possessions. Do you think this would have been possible if the war had not occurred?
Once again this is another great visual aid, It really helps show the transformation from the Post War period. I like how this one too includes Indochina specifically as well as Asia as a whole. I like how you mentioned that the abuse infected upon the native Algerians by the French did not go un-noticed and therefore many other nations saw this. In an age where colonization would theoretically work due to instant communication and the need for goods higher while shipping costs were possibly declining makes the loss of the colonies even deeper.
It is astonishing to see the quick destruction of the empires that used to rule the world. In just a few years after WWII, the entire map of the world was changed. I can’t really imagine a map with France and England covering half the globe, in places where I would’ve had no idea that they controlled. Great Post!
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