ABSTRACT
Citizens rejoiced in the streets of Europe and the United States as theSecond World War came to an end in May of 1945. It was a jubilation only partially matched in official circles. While Germany’s surrender was welcome news, the world’s future appeared even more uncertain than had been the case after the previous war ended in 1918. Close to 65 million people had died as a result of this anthropogenic disaster, most of them in Europe. The war had wreaked havoc on economies, political circum - stances, and social conditions. Everywhere across the continent, despair was evident.
