World War II

Although it wasn't in the continent of Europe, this photo of  U.S.  soldiers  raising a flag on top of the Japanese island Iwo Jima depicts the strugle that World War 2 brought to millions.

              After the end of World War I Germany was in a massive economical downfall through hyper inflation due to the punishment by the Allied countries toward Germany for starting the war. The allies wanted Germany to pay them for most of the losses that had occurred, and the German Reichsmark became incredibly worthless. Then the new Rentenmark was introduced in 1923 that helped stabilize the German economy. When money was back in circulation people were cautious to take out loans due to an age old prejudice against Jews. They were considered the only ones that people could take out loans with due to the Christian view that making money off of money is one of life's greatests sins and Judaism does not. Jews were then known as the "bankers" of society. Although the main reason for Germany's economic downfall was the repercussions made by the Allies, many people also believed the banks to be responsible for hyperinflation. A man by the name of Adolf Hitler noticed this and advanced on the opportunity to gain power.
              A common question about World War 2 is, "Why would the German people elect Hitler as chancellor?" Hitler did provided jobs and brought money into the economy with his plans of a major war machine, but what Hitler did best was to unite the people in hatred of jews and rapidly expanding the already existing Nazi party. Hitler called his regime the Third Rich. Hitlers plans for the war were to massively expand his regime and to eliminate those who should not be part of his new society, hence the concentration camps. The European Allies were not okay with Hitlers plan and would not stand being conquered and watching as millions were being executed in camps. The U.S. Joined soon after when the events in Pearl Harbor solidified there place in the war. The joining of the two forces resulted in the beginning of the second World War.
            Throughout the war there were many battles with tremendous death tolls. Although many of the deadly and destructive weapons used during World War I were universally banned, new and improved automatic weapons were introduced. Some of the weapons most commonly used in WWII were the Thompson sub-machine gun, the PPsh-41, the M1 Garand, the Luger P08, the Sten Gun, and the MP40. Along with the ultra destructive weapons, tanks, planes, and various forms of artillery were used as even more powerful tools of death. By the end of the war, every country had taken massive losses and a great deal of Europe was completely destroyed. Each country had lost countless numbers of soldiers along with civilians and in total, 72 million people were killed in the war along with over 6 million Jews in concentration camps. When Germany had finaly surrendered, the allies split up control of germany between the allies, which later became its own conflict. The war allowed for many advancements in technology including planes, nuclear weaponry, and eventually nuclear power. Although the world gained some out this war, the destruction it left in its path was incomprehensible.
             
                  -Sean Jarrell-Hurtado


Goodman, George. PBS, "Commanding Heights: The German Hyperinflation 1923." Last modified 1981. Accessed January 8, 2013. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/ess_germanhyperinflation.html.

Citation Brain, "World War II Statistics." Last modified 2012. Accessed January 8, 2013. http://www.statisticbrain.com/world-war-ii-statistics/.

Shakespear, Geoff. Top Tenz, "Top 10 WWII Infantry Weapons." Last modified 2013. Accessed January 8, 2013. http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-wwii-infantry-weapons.php.