World War II: Causes & consequences
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*Annotations have been made with assistance from Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4-turbo). ChatGPT, OpenAI, Oct. 2025.
*Annotations have been made with assistance from Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4-turbo). ChatGPT, OpenAI, Oct. 2025.
This page was last updated 10/14/2025
neutral countries
Web resources
How Neutral Countries in World War II Weren’t So Neutral [History]
This article reveals that many so-called neutral countries were deeply entangled in the conflict through trade, military cooperation, and political maneuvering. It challenges the notion of impartiality by highlighting how economic interests, geographic pressures, and fear of reprisals led to morally ambiguous actions, including aiding Nazi Germany and inconsistently supporting refugees
The Economics of Neutrality [VOX EU]
This article critically reevaluates the concept of neutrality during World War II, arguing that countries like Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland maintained their independence not through impartiality but by strategically offering economic concessions—such as trade, services, and capital—to both Allied and Axis powers. It challenges traditional views by showing how neutrality was often a pragmatic survival strategy rather than a moral stance, with some neutral states benefiting economically while navigating complex ethical compromises.
This article reveals that many so-called neutral countries were deeply entangled in the conflict through trade, military cooperation, and political maneuvering. It challenges the notion of impartiality by highlighting how economic interests, geographic pressures, and fear of reprisals led to morally ambiguous actions, including aiding Nazi Germany and inconsistently supporting refugees
The Economics of Neutrality [VOX EU]
This article critically reevaluates the concept of neutrality during World War II, arguing that countries like Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland maintained their independence not through impartiality but by strategically offering economic concessions—such as trade, services, and capital—to both Allied and Axis powers. It challenges traditional views by showing how neutrality was often a pragmatic survival strategy rather than a moral stance, with some neutral states benefiting economically while navigating complex ethical compromises.
Database resources
“Selective Remembrance: Memories of a Second World War Refugee Camp in Sweden” [EBSCOhost]
Mats Burström’s peer reviewed article explores how collective memory and archaeological evidence shape public understanding of a WWII refugee camp, highlighting the selective nature of historical remembrance and its impact on national identity.
"U.S. Details 6 Neutral Countries' Role in Aiding Nazis" [Gale In Context: Canada]
James Risen investigates how several officially neutral nations supported Nazi Germany during World War II, revealing the complex geopolitical and economic factors that influenced wartime alliances and actions. This resource offers valuable insight into the broader consequences of neutrality and complicity during global conflict.
Mats Burström’s peer reviewed article explores how collective memory and archaeological evidence shape public understanding of a WWII refugee camp, highlighting the selective nature of historical remembrance and its impact on national identity.
"U.S. Details 6 Neutral Countries' Role in Aiding Nazis" [Gale In Context: Canada]
James Risen investigates how several officially neutral nations supported Nazi Germany during World War II, revealing the complex geopolitical and economic factors that influenced wartime alliances and actions. This resource offers valuable insight into the broader consequences of neutrality and complicity during global conflict.
need More information?
You can find more information about this topic by searching the library catalogue, the internet, and the databases below:
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EBSCO Host: An academic database with scholarly articles, magazines, and historical journals. It is ideal for in-depth research and citations.
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Gale Canada in Context: Contains articles, primary sources, and multimedia content tailored for students. Good for Canadian content and perspectives.
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CBC Curio: Provides access to documentaries, news reports, and archival footage from CBC.
Useful for understanding historical events through media. |
