Japan and Europe in the Occupation Period, 1945-52

Europe and Japan had one fundamental feature in common in 1945 and this affected their attitude for most, if not all, of the occupation era - each was devastated by the enormous demands of war and physical destruction. Each faced famine, malnutrition and very low standards of living. There was one important difference, too: most ofEurope had been fought over bitterly, resulting in the most savage treatment of civilians in any large-scale conflict in world history whereas Japan surrendered without a contested invasion of the home islands.