- Formation of the United Nations: The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945 as an international organization to promote cooperation and prevent future wars.
- Division of Germany: Germany was divided into four zones of occupation, controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, France, and the United Kingdom. This eventually resulted in the creation of two separate German states: East Germany and West Germany.
- Nuremberg Trials: The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals held after WWII to prosecute Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace.
- Yalta and Potsdam Conferences: The Yalta and Potsdam conferences were meetings between the leaders of the Allied Powers (the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom) to discuss postwar arrangements and the future of Germany.
- Decolonization: WWII accelerated the process of decolonization in Africa and Asia, as European colonial powers weakened and indigenous movements for independence gained momentum.
- Emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as Superpowers: The war significantly increased the power and influence of the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to the formation of a bipolar world order.
- Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, hastening the end of WWII.
- End of Fascism and Totalitarianism: The war led to the downfall of fascist governments in Germany, Italy, and Japan and weakened totalitarian regimes worldwide.
- Economic Recovery: The war devastated many countries, but it also spurred significant economic recovery and growth in the postwar years.
- Cold War: The ideological differences between the United States and the Soviet Union led to the onset of the Cold War, which lasted several decades and shaped global politics until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
- Rebuilding and Reconstruction: Postwar efforts focused on rebuilding war-torn countries, establishing new governments, and addressing the humanitarian consequences of the war.
- Technological Advancements: The war accelerated technological progress in various fields, including aviation, medicine, and rocketry.
- Human Rights Movements: The horrors of WWII led to a heightened awareness of human rights violations, contributing to the growth of human rights movements around the world.