THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD. AN IMPACT OF HISTORY

Abstract

The author touches the problem of the lessons of history upon the example of the impact of the Second World War on the contemporary world. One of these is that to stop an aggressor is possible only by collective efforts of freedom-loving powers. It was not done before the Second World War and Nazi Germany made use of it. One more lesson of history, which had hard consequences for mankind, - the policy of appeasement. It turned out to be connivance to aggressors and thus favored escalation of aggression. Its initiator – Great Britain – was striving to maintain the balance of power in Europe and make a peaceful settlement of contradictions with the revisionist states – Germany and Italy using “concessions for concessions” principle. In such a way the appeasers hoped to secure wider agreements with Hitler and Mussolini and establish long-expected peace in Europe. But these calculations turned to be based on sand. Actually, the concept of the appeasement was faulty, which supposed a reasonable dialogue with the leaders of Germany and Italy. But it was impossible to come to an agreement with the dictators on a reasonable basis, since they always staked strength higher than law. Hitler, as it is known, considered force (and, consequently, war) as quite a legitimate means of reaching aims planned. The Western powers, in their turn, more than once demonstrated passiveness in 1930s and by this making worse their strategic position and strengthening their potential enemies. As a result of all this – breaking the balance of power in Europe in favor of the Fascist states and demolition of peace. These lessons are highly important in the present conditions, when a threat of international terrorism became global. One more lesson of history – anti-Hitler coalition in the Second World War. It was formed in spite of deep contradictions among its participants – the USSR, Great Britain and the USA. But these contradictions were pushed aside, because Nazi Germany was the main threat for all. In conditions of global chaos, which is dominating in the contemporary world, the impact of history is highly relevant.