Rebuilding After World War II

In February 1945, the Big Three (Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin) met at the Black Sea city of Yalta to celebrate the imminent defeat of Germany. For eight days they discussed the fate of Germany and the postwar world. Stalin, who's country had suffered devastating losses, favored a harsh approach in which Germany would be divided into occupation zones controlled by Allied military forces. Churchill strongly disagreed though, and Roosevelt stepped in to mediate. He was prepared to make concessions to Stalin in the hope that the Soviet Union would stand by its commitments to join the war against Japan. He also hoped the Soviet Union would support a new world peace-keeping organization, to be named the United Nations. The meting produced a series of compromises. Roosevelt convinced Churchill to agree to a temporary division of Germany into four zones to pacify Stalin. Stalin, in turn, promised "free and unfettered" elections in Poland and other Soviet-occupied Eastern-European countries. He also agreed to join the war against Japan and to participate in an international conference to be held in San Francisco.

The Nuremburg trials tried 24 survivin Nazi leaders for crimes against humanity, crimes against the peace, and war crimes. 12 of the 24 were sentenced to death and the rest were sent to prison. Later on, 200 lesser officials were also tried and sentenced.

The U.S. also shaped the rebuilding of Japan during its 7-year occupation. General MacArthur, commander of the U.S. forces occupying Japan, introduced free-market practices that led to an incredible economic recovery. He also transformed the government by calling for a new constitution that would provide for woman suffrage and guarentee basic freedoms.

-Written by Arline and J.P.