Aftermath of World War II

Dealing with Enemies – Old and New

GermanyUnconditional surrender

May 8, 1945

Morgenthau PlanDismembermentDemilitarizationDeindustrialization

Potsdam PlanFour occupation zones

Some land to Poland

Denazification

Expulsions

Nuremberg Trials

DeathMartin Borman (Nazi Party Secretary)Wilhelm Frick (authored Nuremberg Laws)Hermann Göring (Hitler’s Second)Joachim von Ribbentrop (Foreign Minister)

PrisonRudolph Hess (Hitler’s Deputy)Albert Speer (Hitler’s Architect)

JapanUnconditional Surrender

August 9, 1945

US Occupation1945-52Gen. MacArthur

No military

Japanese War Crimes Trials

• At surrender over 500 officers commit suicide

• Emperor is exonerated; remains figurehead

• About 900 tried and executed – mostly for treatment of Allied prisoners

The United NationsDumbarton Oaks, 1944

Major Features

Yalta, 1945Expanded membership

San Francisco, 1945United Nations Charter

The United NationsHQ: New York City

Money donated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Security CouncilFive “permanent” members have vetoUS, UK, France, Russia, China

1946: League of Nations is dissolved

Eleanor RooseveltAppointed by Truman as UN DelegateInstrumental in creating Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Election of 1948Truman

Support for Israel

Embraces Civil RightsIntegration of military

Push for health care reform

Trying to keep New Deal legacy alive

Election of 1948

TrumanExpected to lose

George Dewey, Republican

Democratic defectorStrom Thurmond“Dixiecrat” Party

“Whistle Stop” Tour