Chapter 4 – After the War

Chapter 4 – After the War 

World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history. More than 50 million soldiers

and civilians died during the fighting, including 300,000 U.S. soldiers - the Holocaust

alone claimed the lives of 11 million.

With the guns of aggression silenced, it was time to begin the long, slow task of

rebuilding countries savaged by the fighting.

In February 1945 - three months before the defeat of Germany – Allied leaders met at

Yalta in the Soviet Union to discuss Europe’s reorganization. Other Postwar plans were

laid at the conference in Potsdam, Germany five months later. While touring the ruins of

Berlin, President Truman expressed hope for a more peaceful time ahead.

U.S. President

Harry S. Truman

July 20, 1945

“We’re here today to raise the flag of victory over the capital of our greatest adversary. In

doing that we must remember that in raising that flag we are raising it in the name of the

people of the United States who are looking forward to a better world, a peaceful world, a

world in which all the people will have an opportunity to enjoy the goods things of life

and not just a few at the top.”

Post-war Germany was divided into four zones – individually administered by the U.S.,

Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. However, distrust between the Soviets and

the Western Allies escalated, ushering in a 50 yearlong period of icy relations that would

come to be called the Cold War. In 1946, an international tribunal tried Nazi leaders in

Nuremberg, Germany – the first time in history a nation’s leaders were held accountable

for war crimes.

© 2004 Media Rich Communications LLC

Ame ri c a in th e 20 th Cen tury

Wor ld Wa r II – Th e Wor ld at War