10 Long-term Effect Of World War II On Germany

Second World War by Lt Puttnam by Wikimedia Commons

10 Long-term Effect Of World War II On Germany

Germany went through major effects from World War Two both during and after the war. The country experienced significant losses in terms of infrastructure and human lives and was occupied by Allied forces. Germany was partitioned, demilitarized, and required to make amends to the nations it had conquered and colonised in the years that followed.

Germany has now confronted its past and attempted to make amends with its neighbours after the war crimes committed by the Nazi dictatorship were prosecuted and punished. Notwithstanding these difficulties, Germany’s economy recovered and the nation was instrumental in the formation of the European Union. Below are 10 long-term effects of the Second World War on Germany.

1. Germany suffered losses

Germany by OSU Special Collections from Wikimedia Commons

During World War II, Germany lost a great deal of infrastructure as well as human lives. During the war, millions of German soldiers and citizens either died, were hurt, or were displaced.

The Allied bombing raids destroyed the nation’s cities, towns, and villages, destroying several important historical sites and cultural assets. The war drastically affected agricultural production, damaged or destroyed factories and other industrial facilities, and wrecked Germany’s economy. In addition to the physical losses, Germany also endured the psychological toll of the war and the embarrassment of being linked to the crimes done by the Nazi dictatorship.

2. Germany was divided into 4 zones

Because of how notorious Germany was, all countries involved in WWII wanted Germany to be disarmed and weakened. The solution at the time was to split Germany into 4 areas under occupation and each was under the control of one of the Allied nations that had won the war: the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.

The plan was to stop Germany from recovering and starting a new war while allowing the Allied powers to overthrow the remaining Nazi leadership and create democratic institutions in Germany. The split also resulted in the rise of two main German states, each of which was in alliance with a different bloc during the cold war.

3. Germany was demilitarized after the war

Demilitarization was a big part of bringing Germany down, this was part of the agreements reached the Potsdam conference. As you already know, a well-armed country is usually a powerful country which is why Germany was forced to give up its armaments which would weaken its military strength. As a form of punishment, Germany was not allowed to have a national army or manufacture weapons, but they were allowed to keep a small defence force for the sake of internal security.

European countries did not feel safe as long as Germany was armed and feared that they would threaten the peace and stability that existed after WWII. This arrangement was honoured until the 1950s when the Cold War made it possible for Germany to rebuild its armed forces. 

4. Nazi leaders were tried and punished

NAZI by Wikimedia Commons

Nazis not only terrified other countries but they did commit several heinous acts that they had to pay for. Several war criminals had to be sentenced for their crimes in a series of trials known as the Nuremberg trials which were held from 1945-1949.

The biggest and most horrifying war crime at the time was the Holocaust, a period where Jews were ostracized and tortured by the Nazis. The trials were run by an international tribunal made up of judges from the Allied countries and the idea was to hold those accountable for the war’s atrocities. High-ranking Nazi officials finally did the time and were given death sentences. This was a very good example for all other leaders who committed war crimes in other countries, it showed that human rights came first.

5. Germany was forced to pay reparations

Reparations Commission by Library of Congress from Wikimedia Commons

Germany had to accept responsibility for the role it played in WWII which was starting it. To attempt to make things right, the country had to pay hefty reparations to the countries they had ruthlessly tortured during WWII. The reparations made were meant to aid in the reconstruction of the war-torn nations and atone for the sins they committed.

At first, Germany would have had to pay a whopping $20 billion but it was later reduced to $3.3 billion in 1953. Apart from monetary reparations, Germany also had to return stolen property and compensate victims of persecution. All this also helped Germany’s public image which had gone down the drain of its horrible reputation.

6. The German economy quickly recovered after the war

As expected after the war, Germany would take time to recover from WWII and they recovered very well. Although the country had suffered from reparations and the consequences of starting the war, they too received economic aid from the Marshall plan which was an initiative by the United States and other Western nations that assisted in the reconstruction of Germany’s infrastructure and industry.

At the time, technology was changing fast and there was a highly educated workforce which helped them regain their competitive edge in international markets. Within no time they managed to have economic prosperity, created social welfare for German people and managed to grow steadily eventually becoming one of the biggest and most advanced in the world. 

7. Germany was unified in 1990

Germany was reunited on October 3, 1990, after 45 years of the division following the end of World War II. The reunification process began in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, which had separated East and West Germany since 1961. Negotiations between the East German government, the West German government, and the four occupying powers led to the signing of the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, which paved the way for reunification.

The reunification had a process to it, for started democratic institutions had to be created in former East Germany, and the East German economy had to be integrated into the West German system, as a way of becoming one the East had to use the West German constitution. The reunification was seen as a victory for democracy and was a great sign for a continent torn apart by the Cold War. 

8. Germany had to work hard to reconcile with other countries

German cathedral by OSU Special Collections from Wikimedia Commons

Germany had a hard time making amends with other countries but to be able to move forward they had to work hard to reconcile with other countries so that their faults would not haunt them later on. Countries especially those that had been occupied by the Nazis or subject to genocide had experienced great suffering and destruction as a result of Germany’s involvement in the war. 

To be able to strengthen relations with other European countries Germany had to be able to collaborate and aid initiatives to advance peace and stability on a global scale. Over time, Germany has built the best institutions and has managed to deal with its past. 

9. Germany played a key role in the development of the European Union

One of the most important political and economic entities in the world, the European Union (EU), has benefited greatly from Germany’s contributions. Germany realised the value of collaboration and integration with its neighbours after World War II as a way to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in Europe. Germany, therefore, played a key role in the 1951 establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, which ultimately developed into the European Union.

Over the years, Germany has played a key role in the creation of EU’s policies, they’ve helped tackle topics like climate change, immigration and security. Even though their economy was badly hit during WWII they survived that period and currently make large financial contributions to the EU budget. 

10. German’s division seriously contributed to the cold war

Hitler saluting by German Federal Archives by Wikimedia Commons

The split of Germany following World War II and the subsequent occupation of that country by Western and Soviet armies contributed significantly to the Cold War’s tensions. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), which was occupied by Western forces, and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), which was occupied by Soviet forces, were the two halves of Germany.

Since each side sought to advance its own political and economic systems, the two German nations came to represent the ideological struggle between the West and the Soviet Union. Germany’s division had tangible effects as well; families and communities were split up, and the nation’s infrastructure and industry were divided along ideological lines. 

Though Germany and particularly the Nazis caused a lot of unnecessary pain during WWII the country has without a doubt recovered and gone through a lot of difficulties to reconstruct and reintegrate into the global community.