A. What were the characteristics of 20th century warfare?
Study Sources A, B, C and D.
Source A
The following map shows the global extent of World War I.
<http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~worldwar
one/WWI/TheGeographyOfTheGreatWar/images/F
igure9-Page11.jpg>
31 nations from 5 different continents joined World War I.
Source B
The following map shows the global extent of World War II.
<http://ww-ii.org/index.html>
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Source C
The following table shows the casualty figures of the major powers during World War I.
Total mobilized
Killed or died of wounds Total military
casualties
7,800,000
1,200,000
7,020,000
Austria-Hungary
British Empire
8,904,000
908,000
3,190,235
France
8,410,000
1,363,000
6,160,800
Germany
11,000,000
1,774,000
7,142,558
Italy
5,615,000
460,000
2,197,000
Russia
12,000,000
1,700,000
9,150,000
Turkey
2,850,000
325,000
975,000
Source D
The following table shows the casualty figures of the major powers during World War II.
Total mobilized
Killed or died of wounds
Belgium
625,000
8,000
Civilians
killed
101,000
Britain
5,896,000
265,000
91,000
Bulgaria
450,000
10,000
Czechoslovakia
150,000
10,000
Denmark
25,000
4,000
Finland
500,000
79,000
France
5,000,000
202,000
108,000
Germany
10,200,000
3,250,000
500,000
Greece
414,000
73,000
400,000
Hungary
350,000
147,000
Italy
3,100,000
149,000
783,000
Netherlands
410,000
7,000
242,000
Norway
75,000
2,000
2,000
Poland
1,000,000
64,000
2,000,000
Romania
1,136,000
520,000
Soviet Union
22,000,000
7,500,000
6-8,000,000
Yugoslavia
3,741,000
410,000
1,275,000
2
490,000
Refer to Sources A and B.
1.
Do you agree that World War I and World War II were global wars? Cite
evidence from Source A and B to support your answer.
Suggested answer: Students should point out that both World War I and World War
II had the characteristic of “global” wars. Evidence can be found from Source A
and B, e.g. countries participated in the two wars came from different
parts/continents of the world.
Refer to Sources A, B, C and D.
2. Were World War I and World War II ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ wars? Explain your answer
with reference to the battlefields shown in Sources A and B, as well as the
casualty figures in Sources C and D.
Suggested answer: the two World Wars were “hot” wars.
Explanation:
Source A and B: Battles were not only fought on land but also at sea.
Source C and D: Both the militaries and civilians were killed in the two World
wars.
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B. Was the Cold War a war?
Study Source A.
Source A
The following describes the Cold War that took place after World War II.
One reason for the development of weapons after World War II was
the Cold War between the USA and the Soviet Union after 1945. An
‘arms race’ began between the two sides. Each side tried to ensure that
it had the latest weapons and, if possible, more than its opponent in
order to have the advantage if fighting broke out. Although there were
times when the two sides came close to war, the Cold War remained
one of propaganda and words rather than direct action. Both the USA
and the Soviet Union knew that if they ever used nuclear weapons
then they might be responsible for terrible destruction around the
world. They each had the capacity to destroy each other hundreds of
times over. Even though weapons of almost unimaginable power now
exist, no one has ever used them – or wants to be the first to do so!
Complete the table below and you will know whether the Cold War was a war.
Features of a war
1. A war involves
at least 2
opposite sides.
Was it found
in the Cold
War?
Yes
2.
attles are fought
between these 2
sides.
3. Battles result in
casualties.
Was the Cold War a
war?
No
No
Give evidence from Source A to support
your answer.
Source A shows that two rival camps, the
USA and the Soviet Union, were formed
after the Second World War.
B
Source
A shows that the Cold War remained
one of propaganda and words rather than
direct action.
As there was no direct action, there was no
casualty.
Yes / No (Circle the correct answer.)
Students should answer according to the above information
concerning the features of a war with reasonable
elaboration and explanation.
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C.
Was the arms race during the Cold War a big threat to
world peace?
There were crises in Europe and Asia between the capitalist bloc and the communist
bloc during the Cold War. Among these crises, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962
brought the world close to a nuclear war.
1. What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The crisis began when the Soviet Union set up some missile sites on the island of
Cuba in 1962.
Study Sources A and B
Source A
The following shows some landmarks in the nuclear arms race in the period 1945 –
1960.
1945
USA dropped the first atomic bombs.
1949
USSR tested an atomic bomb.
1952
USA tested its first hydrogen bomb.
1953
USSR produced its first hydrogen bomb.
1957
USSR tested an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
capable of carrying a hydrogen bomb from the USSR to the
USA. It put the space satellite into orbit.
1958
USA placed Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs)
targeted on USSR in NATO1 countries. USA launched its own
satellite.
1960
USA launched first nuclear-powered submarine capable of firing
a missile with an atomic warhead from underwater.
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NATO: The full name of NATO is North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was formed in 1949. Its
members included the USA, Canada, Britain, France and Italy etc. It aims at protecting Western Europe
against Russian invasion.
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Source B
The following map shows the range of the Soviet missiles on Cuba. Most US cities
were under the range of the IRBMs, including cities in west coast such as San
Francisco.
<http://www.cia.gov/csi/studies/vol46no1/article06.
html>
<http://www.cia.gov/csi/studies/vol46no1/CubaMap
1b_w.jpg>
Refer to Sources A and B as well as the following website
<http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/10/>
Make a “Fact File” on the Cuban Missile Crisis from Sources A, B and the website
above. (You should, at least, be able to explain why the Soviet Union wanted to install
missiles on Cuba and why America did not.)
Students should draw their conclusion according to the information given in
Sources and the website. Please be reminded that below is only a suggested answer
but not a complete list.
1.
The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was the result of the nuclear armament
race between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II.
2.
The Cuban communist government was established in 1959. Later, the Soviet
Union set up missile base in Cuba, it was considered as a threat to the United
States during the nuclear armament race.
3.
As most American cities were within the range of Soviet missiles fired from
Cuba, the US strongly objected the building of nuclear missile base in Cuba.
4.
The relationship between the US and the Soviet Union became very tense
because of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 60s.
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5.
The whole event ended with President Kennedy of the United States promised
not to invade Cuba, and the Soviet Union removed the missiles from Cuba.
2. Was the Cuban Missile Crisis a big threat to world peace?
Study Sources C and D.
Source C
The following cartoon was published in 1962.
Khrushchev and Kennedy engage in a trial of strength
over the issue of Cuban missiles.
<http://cairsweb.llgc.org.uk/images/ilw1/ilw3584.gif>
Source D
The following is a record made by a young woman recalling her reaction to the Cuban
Missile Crisis.
I remember going into a cinema in Sheffield ……
and wondering ‘will I walk out again?’
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Refer to Sources C and D
1.
Imagine that you were the young woman in Source D. Tell what happened at the
time and describe your feelings (e.g. your fear and expectation).
Suggested answer:
Fear: a threat of nuclear war/ death/ the destruction of the whole world
Expectation: the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis/ peaceful negotiation/ stability
2.
Would you prefer to live in the period of World War I and II OR during the Cold
War? Explain your answer.
Students should answer with their personal opinions, but can also include the
following explanations.
Prefer to live in the two world wars: can fight for my country/ glory/ ally with
other countries to fight against aggressors/ direct action is better than life being
threatened or uncertain future/ etc.
Prefer to live in the Cold War: The Cold War remained one of propaganda and
words rather than direct action/ the number of casualties was much less than that
in the two World Wars/ etc.
Reference:
Neil DeMarco & Richard Radway. The Twentieth Century World. UK: Stanley Thornes, 1995.
John Traynor. Challenging History: Europe 1890-1990. UK:Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.,
1992.
Alan Brooks-Tyreman, Jane Shuter & Kate Smith. Digger Deeper 4: The Twentieth Century
World. Spain: Heinemann, 2000.
Steven Waugh. Essential Modern World History. UK: Nelson Thornes, 2001.
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