The Aftermath of World War II (College Board AP® US History)

Summary

Europe was devastated by World War II and needed to be rebuilt. While most Allied nations wanted to punish Germany for its role in the war, the United States understood that the recovery of all of Europe was essential in the recovery of the global economy and political stability in Europe. The United States wanted to prevent future conflicts by promoting peace, economic recovery, and democratic governance in Europe and took a leading role in preventing the rise of future totalitarian regimes.

Ending World War II – Germany 

• The war in Europe ended in May 1945, with the surrender of Nazi Germany

• The aftermath of the war presented major challenges

  • Millions of people were dead

  • Much of Europe’s infrastructure was destroyed 

• The Allied leaders recognized that rebuilding Europe was essential for long-term peace and stability

  • They also needed to address the complex issue of Germany’s future

• The broader question of how to manage post-war Europe led to several critical discussions among Allied leaders

  • Conferences were held to set the course for the rebuilding of Europe

Yalta Conference

• The Yalta Conference took place in February 1945

• Attended by the allied Leaders:

  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt (US),

  • Prime Minister Winston Churchill (GB)

  • Premier Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) 

• The conference took place before the end of the war

  • They planned post-war Europe and the future of Germany

Key decisions

• Germany would be defeated and its future determined by the Allied Powers

• Established the United Nations to work to prevent future conflicts

• Stalin agreed to support the United States and Great Britain in the fight against Japan after Germany’s surrender

Potsdam Conference

• The Potsdam Conference took place in July –August 1945

• Attended by the allied Leaders:

  • President Harry S. Truman (US)

  • Prime Minister Winston Churchill (GB) (replaced by Prime Minister Clement Attlee on July 26, 1945)

  • Premier Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) 

• This conference took place after Germany’s surrender to determine how to deal with Germany in post-war Europe

Key results

• Poland would gain land from Germany in the west but lose land in the east to the Soviet Union

• The Nazi Party was officially dismantled (denazification) and its leaders would be tried as war criminals

  • This led to the Nuremberg Trials

• Germany would make reparation payments to compensate for the destruction caused by the war, especially to the Soviet Union

• Germany and Berlin would be divided into four sectors of occupation:

  • United States – controlled the south

  • France – controlled the southwest

  • Great Britain – controlled the northwest

  • Soviet Union – controlled the east (including East Berlin)

• These divisions set the stage for the eventual Cold War, as the United States and Soviet Union later clashed over how Germany was governed

AWAITING IMAGE

Marshall Plan (1948)

• The Marshall Plan was named after US Secretary of State George Marshall

• The plan provided $12 billion in economic aid to Western European countries recovering from World War II

• Financial assistance was seen as a deterrent to communism by stabilizing countries to make them less vulnerable to Soviet influence

• It was an essential part of the US strategy to contain communism and promote economic growth and democratic governance in Europe

United Nations

• The United Nations (UN) was established June 26, 1945

• At the start 51 countries joined, including the United States

• The UN’s primary purposes were to:

  • ensure global peace and security

  • protect human rights

  • provide humanitarian assistance

  • provide a platform for peaceful resolution to international disputes

Ending World War II – Japan

• After Germany’s surrender in May 1945, the focus shifted to ending the war in the Pacific against Japan

• Japan had not yet surrendered, despite facing mounting losses

  • The Allies were determined to bring an end to the war

• Japan’s leadership refused to accept unconditional surrender

  • The idea of unconditional surrender, as demanded by the Allies, meant that Japan could not negotiate terms or retain any power or territory

• The refusal to surrender resulted in continued fighting and heavy casualties on both sides

Surrender ceremony

• The Surrender Ceremony took place on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri

  • Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Powers, marking the official end to World War II

  • Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur, oversaw the ceremony

  • Japanese officials, including Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu, signed the official documents marking the complete and unconditional surrender of Japan

• This event came after the devastating bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which caused massive destruction and compelled Japan to surrender

Occupation of Japan

• After Japan’s surrender, it was placed under Allied occupation, led by the United States

• The occupation aimed to:

  • disband Japanese military forces

  • democratize Japan

• A new constitution was introduced, including universal suffrage and civil rights

• Japan underwent economic and social reforms to set the stage for post-war recovery

Loss of Japanese territories

• As a result of Japan’s surrender and the terms of the postwar settlement Japan was forced to relinquish control of its overseas territories

• Korea was placed under Allied occupation

  • The Soviet Union took control of the northern half

  • The United States occupied the southern half

  • This led to the eventual division of Korea into North and South Korea

• Japan also lost control of Taiwan and Manchuria

  • The loss of these territories was a significant blow to Japan’s imperial ambitions

  • Taiwan was placed under Chinese control

  • Manchuria was returned to China and placed under Soviet and Chinese control