FROM WAR TO PEACE

 

 

Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA

 

“Britain, Russia, China and the United States, together with our allies, represent more than three-quarters of the total population of the world. As long as these four great military powers remain united in their determination to maintain peace, there will be little possibility of any aggressive nation or warmonger emerging to start another world war.”

He continued:

 

“But these four great powers must unite and cooperate with freedom-loving peoples of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The rights of every nation, large or small, must be respected and carefully protected, just as the rights of every individual within our Republic are respected and protected.”

 

These are not ordinary words.

They were spoken by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, better known by his initials, FDR.

 

Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, and died on April 12, 1945. He led the United States from March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945—nearly twelve years. His presidency was unique in American history: Roosevelt remains the only U.S. president ever elected to four terms.

 

He came to power while the United States was struggling through the Great Depression, and later led the country through much of the Second World War.

 

ROOSEVELT AND THE IDEA OF A UNITED WORLD

On Christmas Eve in 1943, Roosevelt addressed the American people by radio. In that speech, he was already presenting the importance of cooperation among the great powers as a foundation for building a new system of peace in the world.

And this is where our story moves beyond American history and into the history of the world.

Because a few years later, that vision would contribute to the creation of the institution we know today as the United Nations.

 

MWANAKWETU ENTERS THE ARCHIVES

 

On August 11, 2026, Mwanakwetu visited the United Nations Library and Archives online, wanting to discover what was actually preserved there.

 

What voices could be heard?

 

What photographs could be found?

 

What memories were waiting to be discovered—memories that are rarely heard in the usual telling of history?

 

As the Swahili saying goes:

“If you want to know what dangerous animals live in the wilderness, you must visit it yourself.”

 

And so, Mwanakwetu entered this wilderness of memories—not on foot, but through the digital world.

During this exploration, three major discoveries stood out.

 

FIRST: HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS

 

There are digitized records that document the history of peacekeeping operations, global conflicts, and international cooperation.

This is where history stops being merely words in books and becomes evidence that can be seen, read, examined and studied.

 

SECOND: RARE SOUNDS AND IMAGES

The library also preserves rare photographs, audio recordings and videos of leaders and major historical events.

 

And this is more fascinating than it may first appear.

Because history is not only about photographs of presidents standing on great platforms.

 

History is also about the voices of those who worked behind the scenes.

 

THIRD: EXHIBITIONS AND RESEARCH

The library continues to provide opportunities for researchers and members of the public to read, examine and understand documents relating to the foundations of international cooperation.

 

And this is where Mwanakwetu encountered another fascinating discovery.

 

HISTORY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT PRESIDENTS

Beyond the famous photographs and films showing the days when the United Nations was established, the archives also preserve the voices of ordinary people who participated in various activities surrounding the conference.

 

There were people whose names may never appear in the major history books, yet they were part of this extraordinary moment.

There was a person of Chinese origin whose company was contracted to duplicate the documents of the conference.

 

There was also an American who served as the head chef, who recalled that all the food served to more than 2,000 people during the conference was prepared under his supervision.

 

And beyond them, we can hear the voices of cleaners, young newspaper sellers, attendants and other workers who worked behind the scenes.

 

And here comes the question:

Did these leaders work alone?

The answer is no.

Behind every major conference are many people.

Behind every decision are countless preparations.

And behind every historical event remembered through the names of famous leaders are thousands of people whose names rarely make it into the history books.

Perhaps this is one of the greatest lessons preserved in these archives:

 

History does not belong only to the great and powerful. History is also built by ordinary people who performed extraordinary work—often without knowing that one day their efforts would become part of the world's historical record.

 

JUNE 26, 1945: THE DAY THE WORLD SIGNED FOR PEACE

 

Finally, we arrive at one of the most important dates in this story:

June 26, 1945.

After days and nights of negotiations, compromise and cooperation, the United Nations Charter was signed.

 

It was a day watched with enormous hope by a world exhausted by the Second World War.

 

At the San Francisco Opera House, delegates from nations around the world gathered during the final hours of the conference.

 

And finally, the Charter was approved and signed.

 

The world was opening a new chapter.

But before that chapter could be read, one man stood before the gathering.

The 33rd President of the United States—Harry S. Truman.

TRUMAN: “THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW!”

Truman declared:

 

“If we had had this Charter a few years ago, and above all, the will to use it, millions now dead would be alive.”

Then he added:

“If we should falter in the future in our will to use it, millions now living will surely die.”

And then came the words that shook the hall:

“There is a time for making plans, and there is a time for action. The time for action is here, now!”

The hall erupted in applause.

This was not merely the end of a conference.

It was a message to the entire world that the wars had left behind painful lessons—and that peace could not be built through words alone.

 

Peace required action.

 

WHO WAS TRUMAN?

Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953.

Before becoming president, he had served as Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt.

When Roosevelt died in April 1945, Truman assumed the presidency.

Thus, in that same historic year of 1945, the United States had a new president facing an enormous challenge: bringing the war to an end and helping to build a new international system for peace.

Truman attended the final session of the San Francisco Conference, where the United Nations Charter was completed and signed.

 

And this is where our story brings together two great names:

Franklin D. Roosevelt—the 32nd President.

Harry S. Truman—the 33rd President.

One had articulated the vision of cooperation among the great powers for the sake of peace.

 

The other stood before the world at the birth of the new institution and declared:

 

“The time for action is here, now!”

THE END: THE VOICES LEFT BEHIND BY HISTORY

My reader, this is what I encountered in the United Nations Library and Archives when I visited it online on August 11, 2026.

 

It was a journey that allowed me to explore not only how the United Nations was established, but also how the memories of that historic moment were preserved—from the voices of presidents and national delegates to the voices of chefs, cleaners, newspaper sellers and attendants who worked behind the scenes.

Therefore, when we read the history of the United Nations, let us not remember only the names of the leaders.

Let us also listen to the voices of those who stood behind them.

Because great history is built by many people.

And sometimes, the voice that was never heard on the main stage is the very voice that helps us understand how history was truly made.

 

This is the story of the United Nations Library and Archives, as visited online by Mwanakwetu on August 11, 2026—and the story of the world's journey toward the creation of the United Nations, carried by two American presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President, and Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President.

 

MWANAKWETU’S FINAL REFLECTION

This history reminds us that great institutions such as the United Nations were not built by leaders alone. They were built through the ideas, efforts, voices and work of many people—some well known, others remaining behind the scenes.

From the vision of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the decisive actions of Harry S. Truman, the world attempted to learn from the suffering of war and search for a path toward peace through unity and cooperation.

 

And today, as we open these historical records, we do not see only the history of the past. We also see a responsibility entrusted to us: to protect peace, to respect the dignity of every human being, and to recognize that lasting peace cannot be built through words alone—it requires determination, unity and meaningful action.

Mwanakwetu, are you there?

Remember:

“FROM WAR TO PEACE.”

Wishing you a wonderful day.

📧 makwadeladius@gmail.com

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