IMPORTANT WARS OF THE 20th CENTURY
IMPORTANT WARS OF THE 20th CENTURY
Table of Contents
Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)
The conflict arose from the rivalry of Russia and Japan for control of Manchuria and Korea. Russia was forced to surrender Korea, the Liaotung Peninsula and Sakhalin to Japan.
First World War (1914-18)
International conflict began between Austria and Serbia. The chief contestants were the Central Powers (Germany and Austria) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia). Many other countries joined as the war began.
The naval blockade of Germany caused severe food shortages and helped to end the war. An Armistice was agreed in November 1918 and peace treaties were signed at Versailles (1919).
Second World War (1939-45)
International conflict arising from disputes provoked by the expansionist policies of Germany in Europe and Japan in the far East. The axis powers– Germany, Italy and (after September 1940) Japan–controlled most of Europe, much of Northern Africa, China and Asia. The United States stayed out of the war until 7th December, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, and the United States joined the Allies in fighting not only Japan but the other Axis powers as well. The war ended when the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. The Allies (led by USA, Britain and USSR) emerged Victorious.
The Korean War (1950-1953)
Conflict between North Korea, supported by China and South Korea supported by UN forces dominated by the USA. Negotiations continued for two years, before a truce was agreed in July 1953.
The Vietnam War (1954-1975)
Conflict between US backed South Vietnam and the Viet Cong, who had the support of communist North Vietnam. It followed to the partition of Vietnam. In 1975, South Vietnam was overrun by North Vietnamese forces, and the country was united under Communist rule.
The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1990)
War began shortly after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Iraq wanted control over oil-rich Iranian border territory. Iraq expressed readiness to negotiate peace, after it lost ground. In 1988, Iran agreed to a ceasefire. Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990.
The Gulf War (1991)
Military action by a US led coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Kuwait was liberated (26th February, 1991) and a ceasefire was declared 28th on February.
The Bosnian War (1992-98)
Ethnically rooted war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a republic of Yugoslavia with a multiethnic population–Muslims, Serbs and Croats. The Dayton Peace Agreement was signed in 1995. Bosnia Herzegovina became a single state.
The US-Afghan War (2001)
Military action by US against Afghanistan in protest against the 11th September, attack on World Trade Centre Towers. US claimed that Afghanistan was the breeding ground of terrorists, and had given refuge to Osama bin Laden.
The Second Gulf War (2003)
Military action by a US led coalition to oust Saddam Hussain from power in Iraq. It was conducted on the pretext of Iraq possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
