Eleanor Finch
Diplomacy played a significant role in shaping the events of World War II, with its impact felt both during and after the conflict. The diplomatic landscape of the war was complex, involving the major powers of the time, including the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, and France, as well as other nations around the world. The war brought about a shift in global power dynamics, with the United States emerging as an economic powerhouse and a dominant force in international relations. The diplomatic goals of the Allies, particularly the US, Britain, and the Soviet Union, evolved as the war progressed, influencing their strategies and decisions. As the war neared its end, diplomacy focused on defining the structure of the postwar world, including the future of Europe, Asia, and the spread of communism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The US entered WWII | After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 |
| The Soviet Union joined the war | June 1941 |
| The US authorized the OCIAA | July 1941 |
| The Grand Alliance | A three-way relationship among Churchill, Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin |
| The US stepped up diplomacy | After it entered the war in December 1941 |
| The Soviet Union's diplomatic goal | To win support against the German invasion |
| Moscow's satellite states | Poland and East Germany |
| Britain's diplomatic goals | Defeat the German threat, maintain British roles in Central and Eastern Europe, preserve the British Empire |
| Britain's allies | The Commonwealth Dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) |
| Britain's declaration of war | After Germany invaded Poland in September 1939 |
| The US's diplomatic, financial, and material support | Started in 1940, especially through Lend-Lease, which began in 1941 |
| The US's economic power | By 1945, the US was manufacturing more than half of the world's produced goods |
| US exports | Made up more than one-third of total global exports by 1945 |
| US gold reserves | The US held roughly two-thirds of the available gold reserves by 1945 |
| Post-WWII diplomacy | Focused on the Cold War with the Soviet Union and other communist nations |
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What You'll Learn
The US and the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union's primary diplomatic goal was to gain support in defending against the massive German invasion. With victory in sight by 1944, the Soviet Union began establishing satellite states in Poland and East Germany. The US, on the other hand, aimed to prevent Nazi Germany from controlling the economy of South America and established the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (OCIAA) to counter German and Italian propaganda in Latin America.
During the war, several issues threatened the US-Soviet alliance. One significant disagreement was over the opening of a second front in the West, as Stalin's troops were struggling to hold the Eastern Front. The Soviets also refused to aid the Polish Home Army during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. Despite these tensions, the alliance held, and the Soviet Union's efforts on the Eastern Front were critical in achieving victory over Nazi Germany.
After World War II, the US and the Soviet Union entered a Cold War marked by ideological, political, and economic rivalry. The US used diplomacy to promote democracy and halt the spread of communism, which it saw as a threat to free trade and individual freedoms. The division of Germany and Berlin symbolized this Cold War tension, with the US and its Western allies occupying West Germany and West Berlin, while the Soviet Union occupied East Germany and East Berlin.
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The Grand Alliance
The Soviet Union, which initially had a non-aggression pact with Germany, joined the Grand Alliance after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. The United States, which had been providing material support to the European Allies since September 1940, entered the war in December 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Despite their alliance, the members of the Grand Alliance did not share common political aims and did not always agree on how the war should be fought. The Soviet Union's primary diplomatic goal was to gain support to defend against the massive German invasion. With victory in sight by 1944, Moscow began creating satellite states, starting with Poland and East Germany. The United Kingdom aimed to defeat the German threat, maintain its roles in Central and Eastern Europe, and preserve its empire. The United States, led by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, sought to counter the perceived threat of German subversion in South America and promote democracy and anti-communist sentiment in Latin America through cultural diplomacy.
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The role of the British Empire
The British Empire played a significant role during World War II, with Britain relying heavily on its colonies and dominions for military support, resources, and manpower. In 1939, the British Empire, along with the Commonwealth, controlled 25% of the world's population and 30% of its landmass. This vast empire provided Britain with the much-needed advantage in the war, despite its initial weak military position compared to Germany.
When the UK declared war on Nazi Germany in September 1939, it controlled numerous crown colonies, protectorates, and India, and maintained strong ties with the Dominions of Australia, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand. These Dominions, along with the UK, formed the Commonwealth, and all entered a state of war with Germany, with the exception of Ireland, which remained neutral. The British Empire's military contribution was critical to the Allied war effort, with nearly 15 million serving men and women fighting against Axis forces across multiple theatres of war.
The Indian Army, in particular, played a pivotal role by providing approximately 2.5 million soldiers who fought in Burma, North Africa, Italy, and East Africa. Other colonies, such as Cayman Islands, also contributed, with about two-thirds of their adult male population serving in the British Royal Navy or Merchant Navy. The Commonwealth forces were also instrumental in North and East Africa, participating in the invasion of Italian-controlled Libya and Somaliland.
However, the British Empire faced setbacks as well. The Battle of Singapore in 1942 resulted in the fall of Singapore to the Japanese and the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history, with about 80,000 British, Australian, and Indian troops becoming prisoners of war.
Despite these losses, the British Empire emerged as one of the primary victors of the war, regaining all colonial territories lost during the conflict. Nonetheless, the war had taken its toll, leaving the Empire financially, militarily, and logistically exhausted. The rise of nationalist sentiments in its colonies, particularly in Africa and Asia, also contributed to the gradual dissolution of the British Empire through decolonization in the latter half of the 20th century.
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The war against Japan
In the lead-up to World War II, the United States watched with concern as Japanese forces clashed with Chinese forces, throwing the two nations into full-scale war. The United States opposed Japanese incursions into China and the rise of Japanese militarism in the region, especially after the Japanese Army bombed the U.S.S. Panay, killing three Americans. However, the United States continued to avoid direct conflict, and an uneasy truce held until 1940. As the situation escalated, President Franklin D. Roosevelt formalized U.S. aid to China, providing credits for the purchase of war supplies. Simultaneously, the United States began tightening restrictions on Japan, moving towards an embargo on militarily useful items.
In response to these developments, Japan's political leaders sought greater security by establishing the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" in 1940, signalling their intention to drive Western imperialist nations from Asia. Japan also signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, linking the conflicts in Europe and Asia, and a Neutrality Pact with the Soviet Union in 1941, indicating their military's move into Southeast Asia. These actions, along with the attack on Pearl Harbor, pushed the United States towards full-scale war with Japan.
After the defeat of Japan in World War II, the United States led the Allies in the occupation and rehabilitation of the country. General Douglas MacArthur enacted widespread military, political, economic, and social reforms. The Allies punished Japan for its past militarism and expansionism through war crimes trials and by dismantling the Japanese Army. To prevent future remilitarization, former military officers were banned from political leadership, and non-defensive armed forces were eliminated. The Japanese economy was transformed into a free-market capitalist system, with land reforms benefiting tenant farmers and reducing the power of wealthy landowners. The occupation policies aimed to address economic weaknesses and control inflation, with the outbreak of the Korean War providing an opportunity to address the shortage of raw materials by making Japan the principal supply depot for UN forces.
In the post-World War II era, Japan and the United States developed a strong military alliance, with Japan relying on American military strength while minimizing its defence forces. Japan also emphasized economic diplomacy, experiencing unprecedented economic growth by taking advantage of U.S.-backed free trade schemes. This period saw a dramatic expansion of Japanese exports to the United States, particularly in automobiles and consumer electronics, making Japan the world's second-largest economy after the United States.
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The future of Germany
The Soviet Union's initial diplomatic goal was to win support against the German invasion. Once victory was in sight, Moscow began creating satellite states in Poland and East Germany. The United States and the Soviet Union became adversaries over how to rebuild war-torn Europe, with the Soviets occupying East Germany and East Berlin, and the Western Allies occupying West Germany and West Berlin. In June 1948, the Soviets attempted to seize control of West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift, a massive campaign to drop food and supplies to West Berliners.
The United States, having emerged as an economic powerhouse by the end of World War II, manufacturing more than half of the world's produced goods and holding roughly two-thirds of the available gold reserves, had new responsibilities. American leaders' actions now had long-reaching repercussions across the globe. The US used diplomacy to promote democracy and combat the spread of communism, which it saw as a threat to free trade, free elections, and individual freedoms.
Britain, meanwhile, sought to maintain its role in Central and Eastern Europe and preserve the British Empire. The British dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa all joined Britain in declaring war on Germany, but no other nations joined their cause. Britain and France coordinated a joint military strategy through the Anglo-French Supreme War Council until France surrendered in June 1940, after which Britain and its Empire continued the war against Germany alone until June 1941.
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Frequently asked questions
The US entered World War II when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The US gave strong diplomatic, financial, and material support to Britain, especially through the Lend-Lease programme. President Franklin D. Roosevelt also authorized the creation of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (OCIAA) to counter German and Italian propaganda efforts in Latin America.
Britain's main diplomatic goals were to defeat the German threat, maintain its roles in Central and Eastern Europe, and preserve the British Empire. Britain also coordinated a joint military strategy with France through the Anglo-French Supreme War Council.
By 1945, the US had become an economic powerhouse, manufacturing more than half of the world's produced goods and holding roughly two-thirds of the available gold reserves. This new position brought new global responsibilities and influenced the postwar global order.
After World War II, the US and the Soviet Union entered a ""Cold War"" characterised by ideological differences and rivalry. The US used diplomacy to promote democracy and counter the spread of communism, which it saw as a threat to its interests.
