The Devastation of Europe and Japan World War II left Europe and Japan in ruins. Took millions of lives and billions of dollars in damages. Many people starved and had to live in their damaged homes. Others fled to try to create a new life. By: Dani Lombardi, Jordan Lievois, Lanse Macke, and Jennifer Lally

Europe in Ruins About 40 million Europeans died during World War II It also destroyed a lot of the countryside. Only Paris, Rome and Brussels did not get damaged. After the war some tried to stay where they were, but there was little food and water. Many people left the cities with the little belongings they had. Depression in Europe continued even though the war was over. Since the men fought in the war and the women worked in war production, there were no people to work in the fields. Many died of starvation and diseases in the cities. The winter following the war was very deadly because many people did not have clothes and they were freezing. http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftermath_of_World_War_II/

Postwar Governments and Politics Despairing Europeans blamed their leaders for the war and its aftermath. Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Norway-returned quickly However, in countries like Germany, Italy, and France a return to the old leadership was not so simple Much of the old leadership was in disgrace, in Italy and France many resistance fighters were Communist After the war, the Communist Party promised change. The Communist made huge gains in the first postwar elections. Alarmed French and Italians reacted by voting for anti-Communist parties. Communist membership and influence then began to decline. They declined even more so as the economies of France and Italy began to recover An Attempt at Justice: The Nuremburg Trials http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/images/nuremberg_defendants.jpg To make sure that crimes would never happen again, The Allies put Nazis on trial. Nuremberg Trials: a series of court proceedings held in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II, in which Nazi leaders were tried for aggression, violations of the rules of war, and crimes against humanity. Marshall Hermann Göring, Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess, and other high ranking Nazi leaders had to face the charges.

The Effects of Defeat in Japan WWII left Japan in ruins 2 million were killed Many major cities were destroyed Japan list large amounts of land, some that they had had for centuries August 1945, General Douglas McArthur accepts Japanese surrender and takes charge of the U.S. occupation in Japan He started demilitarization - the process of disbanding the Japanese armed forces He wanted to create a democracy in Japan, and in 1946, a new constitution was drawn up This new constitution went into effect on May 3, 1947 He also revised the economy and spread out the wealth and land ownership

US Occupation Brings Deep Changes The new constitution was the most important achievement of the occupation It brought deep changes to Japanese society In 1945, the Japanese had agreed to surrender The new constitution guaranteed that real political power in Japan rested with the people The people elected a two-house parliament, called the diet One more key provision-article 9-stated that the Japanese could no longer make war. They could only fight if attacked In September 1951, the united states and 48 other nations signed a formal peace treaty with Japan The treaty officially ended the war With the official end of the war, the united states and Japan became allies It weakened some nations and strengthened others. The soviet union and the united states had come out of the war as allies. http://www.waidev2.com/php/IMAGES/HC_ThisDayInHistory/124---Image_large.jpg

Questions Able bodied men worked ______ and women worked _______ after the war. A)in the fields…..at home B) in stores…….. In the fields C) in the military….. In war production D) None of the Above 2. In what year did the Japanese agree to surrender? A) 1951 B) 1945 C) 1955 D) 1946 3. When did the new Japanese constitution go into effect? A) 1946 B) 1947 C) 1948 D)1949 4. To make sure that such crimes would never happen again the Allies put who on trial? A) Communist B) Nazis C) Nationalist D) All of the Above 5. Which countries had a harder time returning to their old leadership? A)Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Norway B) Germany, Norway, and Denmark C) Germany, Italy, and France

Questions Answers Able bodied men worked ______ and women worked _______ after the war. A)in the fields…..at home B) in stores…….. In the fields C) in the military….. In war production D) None of the Above 2. In what year did the Japanese agree to surrender? A) 1951 B) 1945 C) 1955 D) 1946 3. When did the new Japanese constitution go into effect? A) 1946 B) 1947 C) 1948 D)1949 4. To make sure that such crimes would never happen again the Allies put who on trial? A) Communist B) Nazis C) Nationalist D) All of the Above 5. Which countries had a harder time returning to their old leadership? A)Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Norway B) Germany, Norway, and Denmark C) Germany, Italy, and France