Devastation of Europe and Japan Post-WWII

War Cost High Price 60 million dead 50 million homeless Billions of dollars in damage

Europe in Ruins 40 million Europeans died Two-thirds were civilians Constant bombing left many cities in ruins Ground war destroyed much of countryside Many people who fled war found it difficult to come back home

Harvest of Destruction Only a few cities escaped damage Paris, Rome, Brussels Most suffered terrible destruction London: 60,595 civilians died in German raids Warsaw, Poland: before war, pop. 1,289,000; after war, 153,000 remained Berlin, Germany: Allied bombs destroyed 95% of city Destruction left no water, no electricity, very little food, no jobs to make money to buy food, clothing Few remained during war to plant food – massive famine, disease spread August 1945, 4000 citizens of Berlin died every day

Postwar Governments Many leaders blamed for the war and aftermath In some countries, prewar governments returned Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway Others found difficulties Germany, Italy, France

Communists Grow After war, communist parties in France and Italy promised change Membership skyrocketed Communists made huge gains in first post-war elections Wanted to speed things up, staged violent strikes Citizens were alarmed, voted for anti-Communists parties As economies recovered, membership declined farther

An Attempt at Justice World struggled with how to deal with Germany’s guilt in the Holocaust Wanted to ensure it would never happen again 1946, an International Military Tribunal put Nazi war criminals on trial in Nuremberg, Germany 23 nations represented Nuremberg Trials

Nuremberg Trials 22 Nazi leaders were charged with waging a war of aggression Also for violating laws of war and for “crimes against humanity” Of the 22, 12 were sentenced to death 11 hung October 16, 1946 (one committed suicide) Bodies burned in the same ovens used at the Dachau concentration camp Hitler and other high ranking officials escaped trial by committing suicide

Effects in Japan Two million lives lost in the war Major cities destroyed Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki Stripped of colonial empire, lost all land Some had been Japanese territory for centuries U.S. now occupied Japan MacArthur in charge of reconstruction

Demilitarization MacArthur wanted to ensure fighting would end, began process of demilitarization Disbanding of the Japanese armed forces Japan was only left with small police force War criminals put on trial 7 out of 25 condemned to hang

Democratization MacArthur and American advisors now wanted to create a government elected by the people New constitution created February 1946 Changed empire to parliamentary democracy like in Britain Japanese accepted and it went into effect May 3, 1947

Other Changes MacArthur was told to NOT revive economy Still bitter over Pearl Harbor, U.S. did not provide much aid in rebuilding Japan Gave $2 billion in emergency relief Small amount to rebuild entire country Emperor no longer seen as god Only a figurehead, no power

New Government Japan elected a two-house government Called Diet All citizens over 20 had right to vote Constitutional bill of rights protected freedoms Article 9 – Japan could no longer make war Only fight if attacked

Peace Treaty September 1951, U.S. and 48 other countries signed a formal peace treaty with Japan Officially ended the war No armed forces, Japan agreed to U.S. military protection to continue Lasted for 6 more months U.S. did not make Japan repay for occupation Japan’s economy recovered more quickly With end of war, United States and Japan became allies