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Effects of the War

LT 11: I can determine the effects of WWII on both the U.S. and the world.

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Deadliest Military Conflict in History

  • estimated that 60 million killed
    • most were from the Soviet Union
    • majority killed were civilians
  • Millions of “Displaced Persons”
    • Didn’t have a home or county to return to
    • Refugees
      • Often unwelcomed
      • Many surviving Jews faced exile from their historic communities
        • Palestine 1948

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Effects of the War

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Most Destructive War in History

  • Combat and bombing had flattened cities and towns, destroyed bridges and railroads, and scorched the countryside in much of Europe and Asia
  • Shortages of food, fuel, and all kinds of consumer products persisted and in many cases worsened after peace was declared
    • large numbers undernourished
    • clothing, shelter & health issues
  • Every industrial country except the U.S. had resources, agriculture, & manufacturing largely destroyed
  • Extreme winter of 1945- 46

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Effects of the War

  • Soviet Union became a greater world Power
    • exploit the difficult conditions to promote the spread of communism
  • Truman Doctrine- March 1947
    • U.S. would support Greece & Turkey with economic & military aid to prevent their falling into the Soviet sphere, $400 million
    • Soviets felt threatened- supported “Communist” governments in China & Korea
  • Marshall Plan- April 1948
    • Economic Assistance to restore economic infrastructure of postwar Europe $13.3 billion

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Effects of the War

  • U.S. demobilized rapidly
  • Servicemen’s Readjustment Act
    • G.I Bill
    • Soldiers went college & purchased homes in larger numbers

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Occupied Germany

  • When the Lights Go on Again
  • Berlin
    • Every building smashed and destroyed
    • Lived in cellars and hovels anywhere for shelter
  • Beginning- no fraternization even with children
    • Built up resentment from the Germans
  • Americans had more rations than other groups
  • Cooperation between Allies & Soviet Union broke down
    • Heighten tensions

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Occupied Germany

  • Troops enforced strict curfews
    • U.S. troops told to keep firearms with them at all times
    • “Werewolves” pockets of Nazi resistance fighters
  • Denazification
    • Removal of Nazi symbols
    • Disbanded Nazi groups or organizations
    • No teaching Nazi ideology in school
    • Eisenhower and Patton ordered Nazi Party members to walk through the camps

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Occupied Japan

  • Two weeks after Japan announced surrender
  • Smaller occupation force
  • Emperor Hirohito remained emperor but only as a figure head
    • Used to influence positive opinions of American occupation
  • Japanese were more friendly to occupying forces
    • War fatigue
    • Resentment of their own leaders
  • Douglas MacArthur
    • Policy of Demilitarization
    • Permanent disarmament of Japan
    • Official renouncement of the right to have a military force
  • Policy of Democratization
    • New Japanese constitution that implemented democratic reforms

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Nuremberg

  • London Agreement
    • Created International Military Tribunal August 8, 1945
    • Each Allied nation appointed a judge and prosecution team
  • Location chosen because it had been a focal point of Nazi propaganda and rallies
    • Held in The Palace of Justice to symbolize the death of the Nazis
  • October 18, 1945 Nazi government officials and organizations were indicted

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Nuremberg

  • Crimes against humanity
    • “Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation.. or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds”
  • Indictments read on November 20, 1945
    • 21 defendants appeared in court
    • Hitler, Himmler, and Goebbels had all committed suicide
  • October 1, 1946- the tribunal convicted 19; acquitted 3
    • 12 sentenced to death, 3 life imprisonment, 4 prison terms of 10-20 years
  • October 16 Execution by hanging
    • Hermann Göring committed suicide the night before

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Nuremberg

  • December 1946 - April 1949
    • 12 additional military tribunals were convened solely by the U.S.
      • U.S. forces arrested almost 100,000 Germans as war criminals
      • The Office of Chief Counsel for War Crimes identified 2,500 major war criminals
      • 177 were tried
        • 177 high-ranking physicians, judges, industrialists, SS commanders, police commanders, military personnel, civil servants, and diplomats who supported the Nazi dictatorship
    • Many prisoners were released in 1950s as a result of pardons

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Nuremberg

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Japanese War Crimes

  • 11 Countries formed International Military Tribunal for the East (IMTE)
  • April 26, 1946 Court convened
  • May 3, 1946 Charged the defendants with crimes against peace, conventional war crimes, and crimes against humanity
    • Class A- charges against Japan’s top leaders alleging crimes against peace
    • Class B & C- Charges at Japanese of any rank covered conventional war crimes and crimes against humanity
    • Seven defendants sentenced to death
    • Six sentences to life in prison
  • Many countries held their own trials

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