The tensions between the USSR and the Western powers grew after the end of the war. The USSR installed communist governments in the Eastern countries it controlled. This raised the Allies’ fear of the spread of communism. These tensions between the East and the West resulted in what is known as the Cold War. We will look at the Cold War in Chapter 17.
6. European unity
Western European powers wanted to ensure that there would never be another war in Europe. To help ensure this, efforts were made to create better relations between countries. This process would eventually lead to the creation of the EEC and later the European Union which we will look at in Chapter 17.
7. The United Nations
Even though the League of Nations had failed, a new organisation was created to help promote peace throughout the world. The United Nations was established in 1945 and its headquarters are located in New York.
PORTUGAL SPAIN GREECE ICELAND SWEDEN NORWAY FINLAND
Capitalist countries Communist countries
DENMARK IRELAND UK
NETHER- LANDS
BELGIUM FRANCE WEST SWITZ. GERMANY AUSTRIA HUNGARY ROMANIA ITALY
YUGOSLAVIA ALBANIA
BULGARIA TURKEY
USSR EAST GERMANY POLAND
Fig 14.31 Europe became divided after World War II into Western Europe (democratic, capitalist) and Eastern Europe (one-party states, communist).
Fig 14.32 The United Nations building in New York. C. Ireland during World War II: The Emergency
World War II was known as the Emergency in Ireland. Ireland chose to remain neutral (not support either side in the war) in this conflict. The government chose neutrality for a number of reasons:
1. The majority of the Irish people did not want to fight on the side of the British while Ireland was still partitioned.
2. It showed that Ireland had a different and independent foreign policy to Britain. 3. The economic damage that could be done to Irish industry was huge.
The Dáil passed the Emergency Powers Act 1939 to ensure the country’s neutrality. This Act gave the government the power: