2nd Term

• The US dropped two atomic bombs to Japan in August 1945 to end the war as soon as possible
• After Britain and France appeased Germany and Italy's aggression, Hitler and Mussolini continued to expand their territories, which finally led to the outbreak of the Second World War (1939-1945)
• Events leading to the outbreak of WWII

  1. Italy's invasion of Abyssinia (1935-1936)

  2. Germany's annexation of Austria (March 1938)

  3. Signing of the Munich Agreement, Germany's occupation of the Sudetenland (September 1938)

  4. Germany's occupation of the whole Czechoslovakia (March 1939)

  5. Italy's invasion of Albania (April 1939)

  6. The Signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact (August 1939)

  7. Germany's invasion of Poland (September 1939)
• Axis Powers


  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Japan
• Allied Powers


  • Britain
  • France
  • China
  • The Soviet Union (joined in June 1941)
  • The US (joined in Dec 1941)
• Course of WWII


  1. Occupation of Poland (September 1939)

  2. Fall of France (June 1940)

  3. Invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941)

  4. Pearl Harbour Incident (December 1941)

  5. Liberation of France (June 1944)

  6. Defeat of Germany (May 1945)

  7. Defeat of Japan (August 1945)
• The Allies started to attack Germany after the liberation of France. When the Soviet soldiers occupied Berlin, Hitler committed suicide in his underground headquarters and Germany finally surrendered. Since all fighting in Europe ended on 8 May, the day is known as the Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day)
• To end the war in Asia quickly, the US dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August). Japan finally surrendered unconditionally on 15 August. This Victory over Japan Day (known as the V-J Day) marked the end of WWII
• Powers


  Britain, the US and the USSR (known as the 'Big Three')
• Post-war settlements


  1. Yalta Conference

  2. Potsdam Conference
• Germany


  • Divided into four zones, each controlled separately by Britain, France, the US and the Soviet Union
  • Nazi leaders were tried at Nuremberg
  • Denazification was carried out
• Italy


  • Had to give up all its colonies and cede lands to its neighbouring countries
• Japan

  • Occupied by the Allied Powers in the period 1945-52
  • American General MacArthur became the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan
  • Had to return territories to China and gave up control of Korea
• Political aspect


  • A new international peace-keeping organization, the United Nations, was set up to maintain world peace
  • The traditional European powers were seriously weakened after WWII, their international influence was replaced by two new superpowers, the US and the Soviet Union
  • Most of the European powers failed to maintain their colonial empires after WWII, the process of decolonization began
  • Western countries helped the Jews to set up their own country, Israel, in 1948
• Economic and social aspect

  • Over 60 million people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed
  • Millions of lives were lost because of the German policy of genocide / holocaust / ethnic cleansing
  • Countless infrastructures were destroyed, serious economic problems were created in different countries
• The German's attitude towards the Holocaust after WWII was remorseful. They bore the responsibility of the Holocaust, including making public apology and compensation to the victims. The younger generation also learnt the history and reflected on it.
• Innovations brought by the two wars

  • Zipper
  • Waterproof clothing
  • Radar
  • Penicillin
  • Jet and rocket engines
• Zipper development


  In 1914, American engineer Sundback improved the zipper and became an essential part of the soldiers' money belts, uniforms and boots. Later, it was used on clothes, shoes and bags.
• Waterproof clothing development


  British businessman Burberry invented the 'trench coat', which was wind and water resistant. It was developed into windbreaker for daily use after the war.
• Radar development


  Radar technology was developed secretly for detecting aircrafts at first. After the Second World War, it was widely used in weather forecasting and navigation.
• Penicillin development


  Penicillin was discovered by Scottish scientist Fleming in 1928. It was developed into mass production in 1940s, when the Allies needed effective drugs to cure wounded soldiers. It has now become a common antibotic to cure different diseases.
• Jet and rocket engines development

  Jet and rocket engines were developed during wartime. They led to the invention of various types of jet fighters and rockets. The engines were used in civilian planes and satellites after war making our daily lives more convenient.
• Over 80 million people died in the two world wars, including nearly 50 million civilian deaths. The Holocaust carried out by Nazi Germany was the most brutal genocide in history, killing about six million Jews.
• Auschwitz Concentration Camp


  • Jews arrived the camp
  • Weak elderly, women and children would be killed in gas chamber
  • Young and strong men and women would become force labour
  • Some Jews would be sorted for inhumane medical experiments
• Germany's Reflection on the Holocaust


  • Official apology
  • Trials
  • Compensation
  • Education
• Official apology


  German leaders admitted and apologized in public for the genocide
• Trials


  The government continued to investigate and arrest the criminals involved in the murder of Jews in post-war period
• Compensation


  Germany supplied the newly established Israel with goods, services and personal compensation
• Education


  1. Textbooks had to state Nazi Germany's persecution of the Jews clearly

  2. Students needed to visit concentration camp sites to reflect on the Holocaust
• WWII sowed the seed of the outbreak of the Cold War. During WWII, the US and the USSR were suspicious towards each other. They had conflicts over war-time strategies and post-war arrangements, which worsened their relationship and created American-Soviet confrontation.
• Cold War


  The confrontation between the capitalist bloc (led by the US) and the communist bloc (led by the USSR) in the period 1946-1991. It was 'cold' because there was no direct fighting ('hot' war) between the two superpowers. The world was full of tension/mistrust/suspicion in the post-WWII period.
• Capitalist Bloc (led by the US)


  • Britain
  • France
  • Poland
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Belgium
  • West Germany
  • Canada
  • South Korea
• Communist Bloc (led by the USSR)


  • East Germany
  • Hungary
  • Cuba
  • North Korea
  • South Vietnam
  • North Vietnam
  • People's Republic of China
• Differences between the two blocs

  • Capitalism
  • Communism
• Political System

  • Capitalist bloc: Ruled by democratic government based on free elections

  Communist bloc: Adopted one-party dictatorship
• Economic System

  • Capitalist bloc: Implemented free market economy and allowed private ownership

  Communist bloc: Implemented planned economy and only allowed public ownership
• Social System

  • Capitalist bloc: Valued individual freedom

  Communist bloc: Valued obedience to the state, absolute control on people's lives
• Roles of Hong Kong in WWI

  • Soldiers (British)
  • HK police (British)
  • Chinese workers
• Chinese Labour Corps (CLC) 中國勞工旅


  • Responsible for digging trenches, repairing roads, transporting and unloading war materials, and assembling shells for artillery
  • Did not fight in the frontline, but their vital role in the supply line made them become the target of the Central Powers easily
• Many of the Chinese workers were killed by the German unrestricted submarine warfare on their way to Europe