Clash of Civilizations: Conflicts of the Twentieth Century - Essay Example

Clash of Civilizations: Conflicts of the Twentieth Century International conflict in the 20th century was a new breed. The first conflicts featured soldiers on bikes and horses, while the latest use rockets and nuclear weapons. Advancements in transportation and communication in the early 1900s began to make the world a smaller commercial place. Those advancements created new perceived needs and new ways for aggressive nations to meet those needs. As a mad-scramble for weapons and empire ensued, the world would see not one, but two multi-national conflicts, followed by an ideological war pitting democracy and capitalism against communism. Through World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, the nations of Germany and Japan played critical roles. The nation of Germany played a major role in the conflicts of the 20th century. Both World Wars and the ensuing Cold War would all be heavily flavored by Germany, its goals, and its leaders. In the years before World War I, Germany's nationalism reached full tilt. The Germans were proud of their empire, military, and industry. They were keen to defend their empire against others, especially the British, who were shocked to find Germany's industrial output topping their own. In 1905 and 1911, competition for colonies brought France and Germany to the brink of war. Diplomacy prevented the outbreak of war then, but Germany did gain some territory in central Africa (Blum, Cameron, and Barnes, 1970, 320). Militarism in Germany also helped drive the world closer to war. The public viewed war with romantic eyes, and the notion of Social Darwinism suggested that, if a nation could become powerful enough to take what it wanted, then it ought to have it. As nations spent more and more money to create grand fighting machines, it must have seemed almost a shame to them to have no excuse to use them - much like a new yellow belt in a Tae Kwon Do class who is eagerly waiting for the school bully to give him an excuse to practice his martial arts. Germany's army and navy swelled in size to protect its empire and homeland, and other nation's reacted accordingly. Germany's military leadership encouraged aggression. Helmuth von Moltke, a high-ranking strategist, declared, "The German people must be made to see that we have to attack because of enemies' provocation. . . . [W]ar must seem like a deliverance from the great armaments, the financial burdens, the political tensions. . . ." (Snyder, 1960, 377) Germany's participation in the alliance system also helped create the conflict of World War I. Kaiser William II encouraged Francis Joseph to take a firm stand against Serbia. The alliance system affected the nations of Europe and America, too. What should have been a small, localized conflict turned into a deadly contest between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy on one side, and France and Britain (and eventually the US) on the other side (Unger and Unger, 1990, 257). Germany's role in World War I had direct effects on Americans. Unrestricted submarine warfare by the German's helped draw America into the war. Americans on European vessels such as the Sussex and Lusitania would be killed while crossing the Atlantic. (They had been warned not to cross on those European ships, but this detail is often omitted in our national memory). America would be "threatened" from the south as German leaders encouraged Mexico to launch an attack against the US to regain its land lost in the Mexican-American War. The Zimmerman note sought to bring Mexico into the war. Germany forced America to decide between isolationism and a defense of democracy (Unger and Unger, 1990, 145). Likewise, Germany's role in World War II is hard to overstate. They were well-equipped for war, with plenty of material resources and a new leadership that captured public attention. Taking advantage of political instability and a fear of communism, Hitler speeded the rise of the Nazi Party. Concentrating on the unfairness of the Treaty of Versailles, the Jewish "problem," and a bad economy, Hitler created a totalitarian government in Germany that mirrored those in Japan and Italy (Blum, Cameron, and Barnes, 1970, 422). As Japan and Italy invaded neighboring territories without meaningful response from the League of Nations, Hitler became bolder. He annexed Austria and some of Czechoslovakia, and then took Poland by force. Although world leaders focused on appeasing Hitler, it became clear that he would not willingly stop his expansion of the German empire. He formed an alliance with Italy and Japan that would help draw much of the world, including the US, into another world conflict (Stokesbury, 1980, 55). Germany's role in World War II had major implications for the rest of the world. First, it drew combatants from around the globe: Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Secondly, it ended the economic depression in the US as FDR focused the industrial might of America on the war, and as the labor supply dwindled while men signed up to fight. FDR's New Deal had kept America afloat during the 1930s, but the war provided the economic stimulus needed for full recovery (Unger and Unger, 1990, 277). It also forced the US to examine its commitment to providing a home for "the wretched refuse." The well-known case of the SS St. Louis continues to stain this chapter of American history. With nearly 1000 Jews fleeing Hitler's wrath, the ship tried to land in the US. Though Roosevelt was somewhat willing to accept some refugees, Southern Democrats were mortified at the thought, and threatened to withhold their support from FDR's several other projects if he allowed the Jews to disembark in the US (Stokesbury, 1980, 116). World War II had other effects. Truman decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan to end the war in the Pacific, giving America a place in history as the only nation to unleash such a powerful weapon on an enemy. It also set the stage for a Cold War - an ideological struggle, chiefly between the US and the USSR, that would force nations to choose sides and often fight each other as proxies (Divine, 1975, 1). After World War II, the Allies - the US, France, Great Britain, and the USSR - divided Germany into four zones of occupation. The USSR had lived in fear of Germany throughout the century. After signing a Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin, Hitler attacked the Soviets anyway. Worried about a rearmed Germany threatening them again, the USSR dismantled much of Germany's factories and took many of their resources to help rebuild their own country. The US, France, and Britain united their zones and encouraged the German people to rebuild their economy and nation. This became West Germany (Unger and Unger, 1990, 312). The Soviet zone became East Germany, and, in an attempt to seal out Westerners, Stalin closed all the roads and rail lines to West Berlin, located in the heart of East Germany. In response, the Western powers organized an airlift that provided over 2 million tons of supplies to stranded West Berliners. The West had won the standoff, but resentment between the USSR and the US increased as a result of the conflict (Divine, 1970, 20). Just as Germany had a large part in the start of the Cold War, it would have a role in its demise. For decades, West German leaders had worked to diminish tensions with communist neighbors in the east. It was a difficult task because the US and USSR were the chief combatants in the Cold War and drew allies to their sides just as the aggressors in World War I and World War II had done. The decline of Soviet communism allowed West Germany to finally oust East German communist leaders, and East and West Germany were finally reunited. With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakup of the USSR, the Cold War would be over (The Berlin Wall). Germany played such a large role in the conflicts of the 20th century partly because it mishandled its drive for empire. In fact, America had been involved in a similar search for new territories, a point driven home by wars against Spain and Mexico. After Manifest Destiny helped America span from the Atlantic to the Pacific, it turned its eyes elsewhere for more land and resources. Many critics, at home and abroad, criticized America's expansion. But America differed because it handled its drive for territory in ways that ultimately did not cause multi-national conflicts. Like a child testing the resolve of its parents, America backed off when it needed to, but Germany kept pushing until the nations of the world had no choice but to respond. Japan, too, had important influence on the major conflicts of the 20th century. In World War I, Japan found itself allied with the Triple Entente, as Western leaders called for Japan's navy to help secure shipping lanes in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Japanese saw in World War I a chance to boost its world image and to gain influence in China. Japan declared war on Germany in 1914, quickly putting the hurt on German's Far East empire and also launching the first naval air raids of modern warfare. The Japanese navy continued to provide assistance to the British, and, when America entered the war in 1917, they found themselves allied with the Japanese (Blum, Cameron, and Barnes, 1970, 331). Japan worked to boost its influence over China during World War I. It introduced an act that would have essentially made China a protectorate of Japan, but had to back off because of world condemnation of the demands. Japan became a major supplier of war material for Europe, and the booming wartime economy became diverse and strong. Exports rose quickly, and Japan became a creditor nation (Blum, Cameron, and Barnes, 1970, 333). In World War II, Japan played a major role by strengthening an aggressive, nationalist environment and by directly bringing the US into the conflict. As an island nation, Japan's resources are limited, and it can not peer without envy toward the rich lands of China. In 1931, Japanese troops invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria. Within weeks, Japan took over the richly-resourced land which is about twice as large as Texas (Unger & Unger, 1990, 254-255). The League of Nations was charged with settling such disputes and preventing more world wars. It sent representatives to investigate the situation in Manchuria, and came back with condemning reports about Japan's conduct and a demand that it withdraw. Japan simply withdrew from the League of Nations. Italy and Germany, other active empire builders during this time, could not help but notice the lack of consequence for Japan's actions, and became emboldened themselves (Stokesbury, 1980, 44). Japan directly drew the US into World War II with its Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. FDR had steered a course of isolationism as long as possible, then began to support the Allies through the Lend-Lease Act. Meanwhile, Japan had accrued a huge empire, covering Korea, Manchuria, French Indochina, and much of Micronesia. With solid provocation, the US became involved in the fight against Germany, Italy, and Japan (Unger and Unger, 1990, 268-269). Japan's involvement had specific impacts on the US. First of all, it dictated that America wisely use its vast, but limited, military resources. There were fronts in Russia, Western Europe, and Africa to defend, so an invasion of the Japanese empire would have to wait until the Allies took back Europe. Japan made the US prioritize its World War II goals. It also forced the US into a difficult moral decision. As the European war ended, American soldiers went "island hopping" across the Pacific to reclaim the empire Japan had forcibly assumed. It became clear that an invasion of the Japanese mainland would cause tremendous loss of life on both sides. When President Truman learned of the awesome weapon that resulted from the Manhattan Project, he calculated that dropping atomic bombs on Japan would save many lives at the cost of others. Truman was forced to order two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, 1945. Emperor Hirohito, seeing the devastation that was brought to his people and fearful of more, surrendered (Unger and Unger, 1990, 288). During the Cold War, Japan was occupied by US forces led by General Douglas MacArthur. The US was mindful of the devastation that blighted Europe after World War I. As the US turned inward, political and economic disarray in Europe fostered the rise of totalitarian leaders and created the nationalistic, imperialistic environment that led to World War II (Divine, 1975, 4). American officials were determined to not let that happen again. For seven years, MacArthur helped rebuild Japan's economy and government. He demanded a new constitution that provided for woman suffrage and basic freedoms (Grantham, 1985, 59). Japan and the US each benefited from their Cold War relationship. Since it was not allowed to raise an army, Japan relied on the US to protect it from aggressors. This allowed it to concentrate on its economy. The US had a strong ally in the region in Japan, close to China, a Communist threat. This presence allowed it to advance its "containment" for decades. A 1950 treaty allowed for American military bases in Japan. The Korean War would provide a huge impetus to the Japanese economy (Weisberger, 1985, 314). It is interesting how war makes friends of enemies, and that the reverse is true, also. During World War I and the Cold War, Japan was an ally to the Western powers, though it had its own agenda. In World War II, the USSR was an uneasy ally of the US, and then became our most bitter ideological enemy. Later, the Soviets would become good friends with America, although recent events show that the relationship is easily strained. This shows how fluid is our foreign policy. The 20th century will be remembered for many things, including its major conflicts. In World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, Germany and Japan made their influence felt. Their actions would impact the US and the world. References Blum, J., Cameron, R., & Barnes, T. (1970). The European world since 1815: Triumph and transition. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company. Divine, R. (1975). Since 1945: Politics and diplomacy in recent American history. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Grantham, D. (1987). Recent America: The United States since 1945. Arlington Heights, IL: Harlan Davidson, Inc. Newseum. (n.d.) The Berlin wall. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from http://www.newseum.org/cybernewseum/exhibits/berlin_wall/index.htm. Snyder, L. (1970). The war: A concise history, 1939-1945. New York: Julian Messner, Inc. Stokesbury, J. (1980). A short history of World War II. New York: William Morrow and Company. Unger, I., & Unger, D. (1990). Twentieth century America. New York: St. Martin's Press. Weisberger, B. (1985). Cold War, cold peace. New York: American Heritage Library. Read More