The Aftermath of the Defeat of the Third Reich:
Eastern Europe suffered from collateral damage that was caused by the war. During the war, millions of people were either killed by opposing powers, died from famine, disease or were even executed by their government. After the war, most of Eastern Europe became communist states (a dozen were forced to submit to communism -- East Germany). Some have adapted communism during the soviet expansion in the 1930's.
After the defeat of Hitler's Reich, the soviet powers marched through the Baltic states -- several war crimes were committed (e.g. rape, murder and pillage) -- Germany received a more vehement treatment, the Red Army officers were, in fact encouraged to torment the civilian population of Germany. Medical records from German hospitals have stated that over 130,000 German women were raped by the soviet soldiers.
According to many historians, the soviet leadership body was well aware of war the crimes committed by the Red Army, many confidential documents have stated this as well. Surely, soviet authorities have dismissed the claims regarding the war crimes committed by their military units.
Geographic Problems After WWII:
The battles caused colossal damage to geographic surroundings throughout Europe. Most fields where crops were once grown and towns where people once lived in were bombarded. In 1942, the United States Air Forces and the Royal Air Forces were granted permission to fly B-17 bombers over the enemy's towns and cities.
The fighter jets flew over Austria, France and Germany (Luftwaffe/East Germany). The bombings were careless and unrestrained. The U.S. intended to harm Germany's manufacturing centers and bases: shipyards, naval harbors, railways, power plants, steel mills, etc. As for France, the USAF and other allied forces mostly attacked channel ports as that's where many German vessels and submarines settled. The attacks on German military centers based in France were also deliberate. Germany's geographical disadvantage was that the northern regions of the nation were less mountainous and it made the bombings a much easier task since there wasn't any coverage/protection. 67,000 civilians died from the Allied force's strategic bombings.
The Marshall Plan initiated by the United States helped Europe greatly. Also known as the European Recovery program, was a mission that helped abet Asia and Europe financially in attempts to help them recover from the war. $13 billion ($160 billion modern value) were sent to Europe help them strengthen their economy. The objectives of the mission were to reconstruct destroyed regions, exclude trade barriers and to improve industrial complexes. This would have helped Europe become industrious once again.
Agricultural Issues:
The World War II brought with it a major agricultural crisis. The raging battles that were fought on farm fields damaged the land due to the biological and chemical weaponry that came in contact with the soil, because of this crop growth became inefficient. Yet, Eastern Europe wasn't affected as much as western Europe. Czechoslovakia was accounted as one of the most prosperous and industrious nations in terms of agriculture before the war; nevertheless, the war didn't have much negative impact of the nation's agriculture. The crop growth increased by 153 percent from 1937 to 1962. Yet, the percentage began to deteriorate because the population in the East was growing faster than the population in the West. The crops that were grown the most were vegetables and sugar-beet.
Resources Belgium:
Belgium: The most common natural resources that were used in Belgium during the World War II were construction material, silica sand carbonates and uranium. After the war, Belgium used most of these resources for trading which helped boost its economy greatly.
Eastern Europe suffered from collateral damage that was caused by the war. During the war, millions of people were either killed by opposing powers, died from famine, disease or were even executed by their government. After the war, most of Eastern Europe became communist states (a dozen were forced to submit to communism -- East Germany). Some have adapted communism during the soviet expansion in the 1930's.
After the defeat of Hitler's Reich, the soviet powers marched through the Baltic states -- several war crimes were committed (e.g. rape, murder and pillage) -- Germany received a more vehement treatment, the Red Army officers were, in fact encouraged to torment the civilian population of Germany. Medical records from German hospitals have stated that over 130,000 German women were raped by the soviet soldiers.
According to many historians, the soviet leadership body was well aware of war the crimes committed by the Red Army, many confidential documents have stated this as well. Surely, soviet authorities have dismissed the claims regarding the war crimes committed by their military units.
Geographic Problems After WWII:
The battles caused colossal damage to geographic surroundings throughout Europe. Most fields where crops were once grown and towns where people once lived in were bombarded. In 1942, the United States Air Forces and the Royal Air Forces were granted permission to fly B-17 bombers over the enemy's towns and cities.
The fighter jets flew over Austria, France and Germany (Luftwaffe/East Germany). The bombings were careless and unrestrained. The U.S. intended to harm Germany's manufacturing centers and bases: shipyards, naval harbors, railways, power plants, steel mills, etc. As for France, the USAF and other allied forces mostly attacked channel ports as that's where many German vessels and submarines settled. The attacks on German military centers based in France were also deliberate. Germany's geographical disadvantage was that the northern regions of the nation were less mountainous and it made the bombings a much easier task since there wasn't any coverage/protection. 67,000 civilians died from the Allied force's strategic bombings.
The Marshall Plan initiated by the United States helped Europe greatly. Also known as the European Recovery program, was a mission that helped abet Asia and Europe financially in attempts to help them recover from the war. $13 billion ($160 billion modern value) were sent to Europe help them strengthen their economy. The objectives of the mission were to reconstruct destroyed regions, exclude trade barriers and to improve industrial complexes. This would have helped Europe become industrious once again.
Agricultural Issues:
The World War II brought with it a major agricultural crisis. The raging battles that were fought on farm fields damaged the land due to the biological and chemical weaponry that came in contact with the soil, because of this crop growth became inefficient. Yet, Eastern Europe wasn't affected as much as western Europe. Czechoslovakia was accounted as one of the most prosperous and industrious nations in terms of agriculture before the war; nevertheless, the war didn't have much negative impact of the nation's agriculture. The crop growth increased by 153 percent from 1937 to 1962. Yet, the percentage began to deteriorate because the population in the East was growing faster than the population in the West. The crops that were grown the most were vegetables and sugar-beet.
Resources Belgium:
Belgium: The most common natural resources that were used in Belgium during the World War II were construction material, silica sand carbonates and uranium. After the war, Belgium used most of these resources for trading which helped boost its economy greatly.