World War II Outcomes

Image of defendents at Nuremberg Trials.

Defendants at Nuremberg Trials.
Top left, Hermann Goering, Hitler's second in command.

After World War II ended, the true extent of crimes perpetrated against humanity by the Germans and the Japanese were exposed to the world. The brutality that these 'civilized' countries had engaged in because of the "inferiority" of those brutalized shocked the world. As they had done at the end of World War I, the victorious allied powers sought to end the war in such a way that World War II truly would be the last of the world wars.

Had the world's leaders learned anything from how they settled World War I? The Treaty of Versailles is commonly listed as one of the primary causes of World War II. What could the allies do to avoid the mistakes of the past while punishing those responsible for crimes against humanity? More importantly, what could they do to help prevent future wars?

Essential Questions

  • What were the outcomes of World War II?
  • What were the war crimes trials?
  • How did the Allies promote reconstruction of the defeated powers?
  • What were the international organizations created after World War II?