1. Europe and Japan in Ruins
Chapter 32 - Section 5
Europe and Japan in Ruins
World War II cost millions of human lives and billions of dollars in damages. It leaves Europe and Japan in ruins.
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2. Europe and Japan in Ruins
Devastation in Europe
A Harvest of Destruction
• Many cities across Europe badly damaged by war
• Many people displaced by war and peace
agreements
Misery Continues After the War
• Lack of food, destruction of roads, factories lead to hardship
• Many people suffer from hunger, disease after war
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3. Postwar Governments and Politics
Need for New Leaders
• Many conquered countries went back to old
governments
• New leaders needed in Germany, Italy, and
France
• Communist parties make gains in Italy, France by
promising change
• Communist interest fades as economies recover
The Nuremberg Trials
• Nuremberg Trials—trials of 22 Nazi leaders for war
crimes
• Some Nazi leaders are executed for their actions
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4. The Nuremberg Trials
While Europe rebuilt itself, the surviving 22 members of the Nazi leadership was put on trial by an international military tribunal for “crimes against humanity.”
Hitler, Heinrich Himmler (architect of the Holocaust), and several others had already committed suicide and cheated the hangman.

5. The Nuremberg War Trials: Crimes Against Humanity

6. Occupied Japan
25 War criminals were tried, and six total were hanged for war crimes.
Just as in Germany, however, many that were “important” were protected and employed by the Allies in such industries and biological and chemical warfare, rocket science, and other military pursuits.
The Emperor was also protected by American leadership in the Tokyo War Crimes Trials.

7. Japanese War Crimes Trials Bio-Chemical Experiments
General Hideki Tojo
Bio-Chemical Experiments

8. Postwar Japan Serious Damage Occupied Japan
• In war, Japan loses two million people; severe
damage to many cities
Occupied Japan
• MacArthur takes charge of U.S. occupation of Japan
• Starts process of demilitarization—disbanding
Japan’s armed forces
• Also launches democratization—creating
democracy in Japan
• Japanese people adopt new constitution in 1947
• MacArthur puts economic reforms in place
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9. Occupation Brings Deep Changes
Changing Japanese Society
• Emperor kept on, but he loses power and becomes figurehead
• Japanese people elect two-house legislature called the Diet
Prime Minister is chosen by the Diet
• Bill of rights guarantees freedoms; women also
have right to vote
• Constitution says Japan cannot attack another
country
• In 1951, peace treaty with Japan signed; U.S.
occupation ends
• U.S. and Japan become allies
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10. Postwar Japan
Much like Europe, Japan was in shambles as well, having been firebombed repeatedly, let alone the results of the two atomic bombs.

11. Occupied Japan
MacArthur also focused on the democratization of Japan, and the traditional monarchy system was replaced with a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain.
MacArthur also encouraged the sale of land held by nobles to the Japanese peasants to equalize the Japanese economy and promote individual growth.

12. Occupation Brings Deep Changes
The greatest change to impact Japan was in regards to the Emperor himself. During WWII, he was God on earth, and over one million Japanese sacrificed their lives for his sake, as an honorable death for the emperor was a direct pass to heaven.
Despite this fact, after WWII, Emperor Hirohito was no longer a divine (God- sent) ruler and his power was reduced sharply.

13. Occupation Brings Deep Changes
In 1951, Japan was given back its independence, ending the occupation of American forces, and beginning a long military, economic, and social partnership with the US. Interestingly enough, Allies also became enemies soon after WWII as the competing ideologies of democracy and communism began to square off over who would dominate the postwar world.