What Role Does Nationalism Play In Ww2

In the course of history, it is sometimes difficult to define monumental moments. Usually, it is not until many years later that specific actions and events become essential and highly influential pieces of the larger picture. It is the same with World War II. In hindsight, it is possible to look back and proclaim that although nationalism, colonialism, and communism all played important roles in World War II, nationalism was the most critical in acting as a casual factor and left the greatest impact. Before being able to recognize these significant components in World War II, it is vital to define them. Colonialism is defined as, “Control by one country over another area and its people” (Merriam-Webster). Communism can be described as a society where the government owns everything that is used to create and transport goods. The public
As the war draws to a close and the USSR closes in on Berlin, the clash between Communism and capitalism becomes an unavoidable event. With an Allied victory, communist USSR would be a major player in determining the fate of postwar Europe. With differing societal beliefs between the capitalist west and communist USSR, the redrawing of Europe, particularly the division between West and East Berlin, left serious repercussions that played a definite impact on the Cold War. While it is possible to draw out these two previously mentioned influential factors, nationalism is prevalent throughout the entirety of the war including prior to and following it. As Axis powers expanded their respective empires, neighboring nations who were viewed as inferior were conquered so that German, Italian, and Japanese culture and society could pervade. Following World War I, the cultures and societies of losing nations were diminished. As new Fascist governments rekindled nationalistic ideals, equality was not achieved, but a reversal of the pendulum