To what extent did WW2 have a positive impact on Russia



To what extent did WW2 have a positive impact on Russia?

The scale of destruction of human life and infrastructure within Russia as a consequence of the war was almost incomprehensible. It is axiomatic that this had some very negative short-term consequences. However, it will be argued that the war was of paramount importance in transforming Russia into a world super power.

In the short term, in the aftermath of the war, there was a negative impact on the Russian economy as the success made in Stalin’s industrialisation drive was made futile. By January 1942 Germany had gained one-third of Russia’s industry and agriculture. Russia was now only producing 59% of its output of 1940. Consequently World War Two did not initially have a positive on Russia’s economy. It would take time to recover. Thus in this respect the impact of the war was very negative.

There were other very significant negative consequences from the war. By the end of the Second World War it was apparent that widespread suffering had been inflicted on the Russian population. Ten percent of the population had been killed as a result of the conflict. This equated to 20 million people. A further ten million had died in the gulags or from war related injury. This would have had a negative impact on aspects such as the economy as there would have been less people to work 85 million Russians fell under German control during the war which caused dramatic social upheaval.

However there were also tremendous benefits accrued by Russia from the outcome of the Second World War. One of the benefits of World War Two was the opportunity for Russia to spread Communism through the growth in land ownership surrounding Russia. Due to the Yalta Conference in 1945 Russia was allowed control over Eastern European countries such as Poland who had communist governments installed. This was a benefit because it achieved one of Stalin’s main aims of spreading Communism to other countries.

The war helped the Russian economy to flourish as it enabled them to trade with the Eastern European countries under its sphere of influence. Many of these greatly favoured Russia. The increased amount of land under Stalin’s influence gave them access to raw materials. Eastern German supplies of Uranium enabled the Russian’s to create a nuclear arsenal increasing their superpower status and influence over neighbouring countries that could be used to create more international trading.

To conclude, from a popular perspective (meaning, from the view of the people) the impact of the war on Russia was horrific. It left millions dead and the lives of millions more had been destroyed. However, from the point of view of their leader, the war was a triumph. It left him as the saviour of the country, in charge of one of the world’s great superpowers with control over half of Europe. His people had paid the price and he had received the reward.

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