Germany was totally defeated, and the Nazi regime
brought down. Its leaders were tried for crimes against humanity at Nuremberg,
the former site of Nazi propaganda triumphs. Hitler escaped trial and execution
by committing suicide in his Berlin bunker at the end of the war. German cities
were in ruins from a massive bombing campaign.
Germany was divided into 4 zones of occupation
by the victorious powers, pending a more permanent political
settlement.
Japan also was in ruins from extensive bombing.
Prominent military leaders were tried and convicted of war crimes, but the
emperor was allowed to retain his position.
Japan
was temporarily placed under U.S. military rule.
England was devastated by the war, having
experienced extensive bombing during the 1940 blitz by the Germans. The economy
depended for recovery upon aid from the United States. England rapidly phased
out most of its remaining imperial holdings in the years immediately following
the war.
France had not experienced the enormous human
losses sustained in the First World War, but would have to recover from the
effects of Nazi occupation. Retribution was taken upon collaborators. Like
England, France would be compelled to dismantle its colonial empire in the
years following the war. This was a particularly traumatic and drawn out
process for the French, in Algeria and in Vietnam where they fought prolonged
and bitter wars in an attempt to maintain their colonial control.
England and France no longer held a status of
power comparable either to the United States or the Soviet Union.
The Russian people had suffered immeasurably
during the war, and western Russia was devastated by the land warfare which was
primarily on Russian territory. But, in the process of defeating the Germans,
the Russians had built a large and powerful army, which occupied most of
Eastern Europe at the end of the war. The great resources and population of
Russia assured that the Soviet Union would be, along with the
United
States, one of two
super-powers.
The United States economy was greatly stimulated
by the war, even more so than in World War I. The depression was brought
decisively to an end, and new industrial complexes were built all over the
United States. Spared the physical destruction of war, the U.S. economy
dominated the world economy. After 4 years of military buildup, the U.S. had
also become the leading military power. The position of the United States as
world leader was now more obvious than ever.
brought down. Its leaders were tried for crimes against humanity at Nuremberg,
the former site of Nazi propaganda triumphs. Hitler escaped trial and execution
by committing suicide in his Berlin bunker at the end of the war. German cities
were in ruins from a massive bombing campaign.
Germany was divided into 4 zones of occupation
by the victorious powers, pending a more permanent political
settlement.
Japan also was in ruins from extensive bombing.
Prominent military leaders were tried and convicted of war crimes, but the
emperor was allowed to retain his position.
Japan
was temporarily placed under U.S. military rule.
England was devastated by the war, having
experienced extensive bombing during the 1940 blitz by the Germans. The economy
depended for recovery upon aid from the United States. England rapidly phased
out most of its remaining imperial holdings in the years immediately following
the war.
France had not experienced the enormous human
losses sustained in the First World War, but would have to recover from the
effects of Nazi occupation. Retribution was taken upon collaborators. Like
England, France would be compelled to dismantle its colonial empire in the
years following the war. This was a particularly traumatic and drawn out
process for the French, in Algeria and in Vietnam where they fought prolonged
and bitter wars in an attempt to maintain their colonial control.
England and France no longer held a status of
power comparable either to the United States or the Soviet Union.
The Russian people had suffered immeasurably
during the war, and western Russia was devastated by the land warfare which was
primarily on Russian territory. But, in the process of defeating the Germans,
the Russians had built a large and powerful army, which occupied most of
Eastern Europe at the end of the war. The great resources and population of
Russia assured that the Soviet Union would be, along with the
United
States, one of two
super-powers.
The United States economy was greatly stimulated
by the war, even more so than in World War I. The depression was brought
decisively to an end, and new industrial complexes were built all over the
United States. Spared the physical destruction of war, the U.S. economy
dominated the world economy. After 4 years of military buildup, the U.S. had
also become the leading military power. The position of the United States as
world leader was now more obvious than ever.