1914-1945 was the most decisive period of the twentieth century. An era of global conflict from 1914 to 1922 and again from 1931-1945 that led to the end of European domination of the globe. We also witnessed the demise of royalty, a progression of history beginning with the industrial Revolution and the rise of Man's greatest secular religion, Capitalism. Within this conflict, in which Man will exterminate more than 75,000,000 of his fellow human beings, the globe will change irrevocably in 1945. The two big winners of the conflict will be the United States and the Soviet Union, resulting in a new balance of power. Those living beyond 1945 then saw the next global conflict known as The Cold War.
Mark Albertson is the historical research editor at Army Aviation magazine in Monroe and is the historian for the Army Aviation Association of America.