[Punam and Akshata are the students of grade 10. They are discussing about the second world war during their lunch time.]
| Akshata: | I had to leave the class to participate in speech competition when second world war was taught. Would you tell me the cause of this war in brief Punam? |
| Punam: | Why not? After almost 20 years of the first world war, second world war started on 1st September 1939 A.D. The main cause of it was the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was unhappy with the treaty. So to take revenge, It started preparing for the war. Dictator like Hitler (Germany). Mussolini(Italy) and Francisco (Spain) came into rise. Their alliance became another prominent cause of war. |
| Akshata: | What were other causes for the war? |
| Punam: | Groupism started again by Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain. In a counter attack, France also formed an alliance with powerful countries like USA, Russia, Britain etc. There occurred stress between communist east (Russia) and capitalist west ( USA and others). Economic crisis made thousands of youths unemployed. Unemployed youths were ready to get involved in the war. |
| Akshata: | And, League of nations was there? Didn't they do anything? |
| Punam: | No Akshata! League of Nations Did not have its peace force. Japan, Germany and Italy started preparing for the war giving up its membership. League of nations failed due to lack of unity and mutual cooperation. Finally, Germany demanded Poland to give Danzing and Polish Corridor. Poland refused its proposal as Poland had been using these place of Germany since the treaty of Versailles. So, Germany attacked Poland at 5:30 am on 1st September 1939 AD which was the beginning of the world war II. |
| Akshata: | What happened then? Please tell me Punam. |
| Punam: | Terrible fight took place between the two sides Germany and its side was victorious till first three years. Meanwhile, Japan bombarded on American fleet at pearl Harbor, at Hawaii island of the USA on 7th Dec. 1941 AD. This is known as the Pearl Harbor incident. The USA declared war against the Axis power of Germany from the next day. About 42 countries jointly attacked on Italy. Italy lost the war in 1943 AD. After that 44 countries attacked on Germany. In April 1945, Even Germany surrendered. The USA dropped Atom bobs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki of japan as revenge of pearl harbor incident. Japan surrendered unconditionally after this incidents and the war came to the end. |
| Akshata: | Can you tell me about the consequences as well? |
| Punam: | About 20 million people were killed in the second world war. It is estimated that about 1.1 Trillion dollars was spend in this war. Russia and USA emerged as the superpower. Russia led communist east while USA led capitalist west. Cold war began between these powerful blocs. Colonialism ended in the world. The most positive aspect was the formation of the UNO on 24th October, 1945 A.D. |
(Bell rings. Akshata thanks Punam with the agreement to talk about the role of Nepal in the world war II, The next day , both of them go to their classroom.)
