Europe and Japan are Devastated
description
By the end of world War Two, the European Allies were content with their victory, though there was still struggle taking place in many European countries. Around 40 million Europeans had died throughout the war, two thirds of them being civilians. Due to many battles, cities were left in rubble, as well as countrysides that were mostly destroyed completely. Although cities like Paris, Rome, and Brussels were not damaged by the war, many other cities such as London and Warsaw, were extensively damaged. After war many tried to continue on with their lives by living in destroyed homes or apartments, while others lived in caves or cellars under the destruction of their cities. With no water or electricity, life was difficult. Due to the lack of food and destroyed factories, as well as no money, hunger began to rise. Many people such as concentration camps survivors, prisoners of war, and Soviet refugees fled from their cities and joined the army. Many people also ended up far from their homes, and when postwar treaties changed national borders, many people tried to hurry back to their homes. The ending of the war had caused many tragedies. With men serving in the military and women working in war production, there were only few people left to run farms and plant fields. The transportation systems were also destroyed, and famine, along with disease spread throughout cities. By August 1945, 4,000 people died in Berlin every day. Many european governments had felt as though their old way of governing, and their old rulers had let them down, which made it difficult to go back to having a running government, especially in places like France, Italy, and Germany. After the war, the Communist Party promised change, and many were eager to believe so. The Communist Party Membership increased and they did well in the first postwar elections. Though because of the rush to take over, there were many violent Communist strikes, which caused a decline in membership and their influence as well. Due to the German guilt for the Holocaust, as well as to make sure such events would not occur again, the Allies put Nazi's on trial (known as the Nuremberg trials). In the first Nuremberg Trials, 22 Nazi leaders were charged for the death of 11 million people. Hitler and other Nazi leaders had avoided so by committing suicide.
Besides the devastation in Europe, Japan's defeat also caused great suffering. Having lost 2 million people in World War II, many of Japans major cities had been destroyed by Allied bombing raids, as well as the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Allies "stripped Japan of its colonial empire" and took away some areas that had belonged to them long before the war. Even through their loss, many Japanese military leaders wanted to continue war, even though Emperor Hirohito urged people to instead focus on the rebuilding of Japan. In August,1945, Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander of the Allied powers accepted the Japanese surrender. To ensure that there would be no more war, MacArthur began demilitarization, which was the disbanding of the Japanese armed forces. Japan was only left with a small police force. He also put war criminals on trial, then in attempt for democracy, he and his American political advisers redrew a constitution which was similar to that of Great Britain. The constitution was accepted by the Japanese and went into effect on May 3, 1947. MacArthur also broadened land ownership and increased the participation of workers and farmers, who had the option to create independent labor unions.
Besides the devastation in Europe, Japan's defeat also caused great suffering. Having lost 2 million people in World War II, many of Japans major cities had been destroyed by Allied bombing raids, as well as the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Allies "stripped Japan of its colonial empire" and took away some areas that had belonged to them long before the war. Even through their loss, many Japanese military leaders wanted to continue war, even though Emperor Hirohito urged people to instead focus on the rebuilding of Japan. In August,1945, Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander of the Allied powers accepted the Japanese surrender. To ensure that there would be no more war, MacArthur began demilitarization, which was the disbanding of the Japanese armed forces. Japan was only left with a small police force. He also put war criminals on trial, then in attempt for democracy, he and his American political advisers redrew a constitution which was similar to that of Great Britain. The constitution was accepted by the Japanese and went into effect on May 3, 1947. MacArthur also broadened land ownership and increased the participation of workers and farmers, who had the option to create independent labor unions.
Articles
"Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II"- A critique/Summary of the book written by Keith Lowe, which discusses the aftermath of World War II. "As Keith Lowe makes painfully plain, Europe in the months and years after the end of World War II was as much a cauldron of hate, murder and despair as it had been during the reign of Nazi Germany."
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki- An article that discusses the American atomic bombs dropped in Japan, as well as the Manhattan project, which was the testing of bombs and radioactive isotopes. "On August 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-45), an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure."
MacArthur and the Japanese Occupation- This article discusses MacArthur's plans for Japan after their surrender in August, 1945."On the morning of September 8, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur made his way by automobile toward the American Embassy in the heart of Tokyo. One American observer described it as a city "completely flat with destruction," where even "the rubble did not look like much."
THE NUREMBERG TRIALS- A summary of the Nuremberg Trials, which forced Nazi's to be put on trial for mass killings and the Holocaust. "After the war, some of those responsible for crimes committed during the Holocaust were brought to trial. Nuremberg, Germany, was chosen as a site for trials that took place in 1945 and 1946. Judges from the Allied powers -- Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States -- presided over the hearings of twenty-two major Nazi criminals."
World War II: After The War- A brief description of life after World War II, as well as a series of images relating to the state of different countries. "Allied occupations and United Nations decisions led to many long-lasting problems in the future, including the tensions that created East and West Germany, and divergent plans on the Korean Peninsula that led to the creation of North and South Korea and -- the Korean War in 1950. "
Germany -Postwar Occupation and Division. After WWII Germany was in chaos. The city was in shambles, refugees were spilling in, and Germany was being occupied by foreign countries. During Potsdam Conference the Allies determined what would happen to Germany if they lost. Each powerful ally would get a part, Great Britain, France, the US and the Soviet Union. Up until 1989 Germans were separated by a wall. The Berlin wall. West Germany was run by the Americans while East Germany Nazi Germany Surrenders in World War 2- An article about German surrender, as well as background history of the Nazi/Socialist party under Hitler.
The Human Cost of World War 2- The aftermath of World War 2. "WORLD WAR II was the deadliest conflict in human his- tory by far. The exact figures will never be known, but as many as 50–60 million people around the world lost their lives as a result of conflict between September 1939 and August 1945."
After WWII, Europe Was A 'Savage Continent' Of Devastation -Keith Lowe describes the aftermath of WWII and his new book. "Imagine a world without institutions. No governments. No school or universities. No access to any information. No banks. Money no longer has any worth. There are no shops, because no one has anything to sell. Law and order are virtually non-existent because there is no police force and no judiciary. Men with weapons roam the streets taking what they want. Women of all classes and ages prostitute themselves for food and protection."
Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II by Keith Lowe: review - Is a book review by Ian Thomson that also talks about the Post-War years of WWII. "Wretchedly, the world conflict did not end with Hitler’s suicide in the bunker. In this remarkable new history of post-war Europe, Keith Lowe chronicles lingering antagonisms and resentments. In eastern Europe especially, the keynote of liberation was often unimaginable violence. "
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki- An article that discusses the American atomic bombs dropped in Japan, as well as the Manhattan project, which was the testing of bombs and radioactive isotopes. "On August 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-45), an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure."
MacArthur and the Japanese Occupation- This article discusses MacArthur's plans for Japan after their surrender in August, 1945."On the morning of September 8, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur made his way by automobile toward the American Embassy in the heart of Tokyo. One American observer described it as a city "completely flat with destruction," where even "the rubble did not look like much."
THE NUREMBERG TRIALS- A summary of the Nuremberg Trials, which forced Nazi's to be put on trial for mass killings and the Holocaust. "After the war, some of those responsible for crimes committed during the Holocaust were brought to trial. Nuremberg, Germany, was chosen as a site for trials that took place in 1945 and 1946. Judges from the Allied powers -- Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States -- presided over the hearings of twenty-two major Nazi criminals."
World War II: After The War- A brief description of life after World War II, as well as a series of images relating to the state of different countries. "Allied occupations and United Nations decisions led to many long-lasting problems in the future, including the tensions that created East and West Germany, and divergent plans on the Korean Peninsula that led to the creation of North and South Korea and -- the Korean War in 1950. "
Germany -Postwar Occupation and Division. After WWII Germany was in chaos. The city was in shambles, refugees were spilling in, and Germany was being occupied by foreign countries. During Potsdam Conference the Allies determined what would happen to Germany if they lost. Each powerful ally would get a part, Great Britain, France, the US and the Soviet Union. Up until 1989 Germans were separated by a wall. The Berlin wall. West Germany was run by the Americans while East Germany Nazi Germany Surrenders in World War 2- An article about German surrender, as well as background history of the Nazi/Socialist party under Hitler.
The Human Cost of World War 2- The aftermath of World War 2. "WORLD WAR II was the deadliest conflict in human his- tory by far. The exact figures will never be known, but as many as 50–60 million people around the world lost their lives as a result of conflict between September 1939 and August 1945."
After WWII, Europe Was A 'Savage Continent' Of Devastation -Keith Lowe describes the aftermath of WWII and his new book. "Imagine a world without institutions. No governments. No school or universities. No access to any information. No banks. Money no longer has any worth. There are no shops, because no one has anything to sell. Law and order are virtually non-existent because there is no police force and no judiciary. Men with weapons roam the streets taking what they want. Women of all classes and ages prostitute themselves for food and protection."
Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II by Keith Lowe: review - Is a book review by Ian Thomson that also talks about the Post-War years of WWII. "Wretchedly, the world conflict did not end with Hitler’s suicide in the bunker. In this remarkable new history of post-war Europe, Keith Lowe chronicles lingering antagonisms and resentments. In eastern Europe especially, the keynote of liberation was often unimaginable violence. "
Primary Source Documents
Document 76 - A conversation between a man and a hospital attendant about radioactivity and propaganda after the war. "So painful are these injuries that sufferers plead: 'please kill me,'".
Japan's Surrender - General MacArthur talks about post-war japan as it happens. "From the moment of surrender the authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate the surrender terms."
Japan's Surrender - General MacArthur talks about post-war Japan as it happens. "His Majesty is also prepared to issue his commands to all the military, naval, and air authorities of Japan and all the forces under their control wherever located to cease active operations, to surrender arms, and to issue such orders as may be required by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces for the execution of the above-mentioned terms"
Document 76 - A conversation between a man and a hospital attendant about radioactivity and propaganda after the war. "So painful are these injuries that sufferers plead: 'please kill me,'".
Japan's Surrender - General MacArthur talks about post-war japan as it happens. "From the moment of surrender the authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate the surrender terms."
Japan's Surrender - General MacArthur talks about post-war Japan as it happens. "His Majesty is also prepared to issue his commands to all the military, naval, and air authorities of Japan and all the forces under their control wherever located to cease active operations, to surrender arms, and to issue such orders as may be required by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces for the execution of the above-mentioned terms"
Videos
Post - WWII Japan Describes how Japan is treated after the War. (Watch all chapters)
Post - WWII Japan Describes how Japan is treated after the War. (Watch all chapters)
Japanese internment camps in America.
Japan vs. America. Pre and post war.
Maps
- Plans for the taking over of Japan
- Aerial Plans for taking Japan
- Ally conquest plans for gaining territory over Japan
- Aerial attacks for the Battle of Midway
- Germany after WWII