 west, most of them to West Germany. Two countries emerged: West Germany was a parliamentary democracy, a NATO member, a founding member of what since became the European Union as one of the world's largest economies and under allied military control until 1955, while East Germany was a totalitarian Communist dictatorship controlled by the Soviet Union that was a satellite of Moscow. With the collapse of Communism in 1989, reunion on West Germany's terms followed.

No one doubted Germany's economic and engineering prowess; the question was how long bitter memories of the war would cause Europeans to distrust Germany, and whether Germany could demonstrate it had rejected totalitarianism and militarism and embraced democracy and human rights.

Post-war chaos

The total of German war dead was 8% to 10% out of a prewar population of 69,000,000, or between 5.5 million and 7 million people. This included 4.5 million in the military, and between 1 and 2 million civilians. There was chaos as 11 million foreign workers and POWs left, while soldiers returned home and more than 14 million displaced German-speaking refugees from East-Central and Eastern Europe were expelled from their native land and came to German lands often foreign to them. During the Cold War, the West German government estimated a death toll of 2.2 million civilians due to the flight and expulsion of Germans and through forced labour in the Soviet Union. This figure remained unchallenged until the 1990s, when some historians put the death toll at 500,000–600,000 confirmed deaths. In 2006 the German government reaffirmed its position that 2.0–2.5 million deaths occurred.

At the Potsdam Conference, Germany was divided into four military occupation zones by the Allies and did not regain independence until 1949. The provinces east of the Oder and Neisse rivers (the Oder-Neisse line) were transferred to Poland, Lithuania, and Russia (Kaliningrad oblast); the 6.7 million Germans living in "west-shifted" Poland mostly within previously German lands and the 3 million in German-settled regions of Czechoslovakia were forced to move west.

Denazification removed, imprisoned, or executed most top officials of the old regime, but most middle and lower ranks of civilian officialdom were not seriously affected. In accordance with the Allied agreement made at the Yalta conference millions of POWs were used as forced labor by the Soviet Union and other European countries.

west, most of them to West Germany. Two countries emerged: West Germany was a parliamentary democracy, a NATO member, a establish extremity of what since became the European Union as one of the world's largest economy and under allied military control until 1955, while East Germany was a totalitarian Communist dictatorship manipulate by the Soviet Union that was a satellite of Moscow. With the crash of Communism in 1989, reunion on West Germany's terms come. 

 No one doubted Germany's economic and engineering art; the question was how long acerb memory of the war would cause european to distrust Germany, and whether Germany could demonstrate it had rule out dictatorship and militarism and embraced democracy and human rights. 

 Post - war chaos 

 The sum of German war dead was 8% to 10% out of a prewar population of 69,000,000, or between 5.5 million and 7 million people. This included 4.5 million in the military, and between 1 and 2 million civilians. There be chaos as 11 million foreign workers and POWs left, while soldiers render home and more than 14 million displaced German - speaking refugees from East - Central and Eastern Europe were expelled from their native land and came to German lands often foreign to them. During the Cold War, the West German government estimated a death toll of 2.2 million civilians due to the flight and expulsion of Germans and through storm labour in the Soviet Union. This figure persist undisputed until the 1990s, when some historian put the death toll at 500,000–600,000 confirmed deaths. In 2006 the German government reaffirmed its position that 2.0–2.5 million end occurred. 

 At the Potsdam Conference, Germany was divided into four military occupation zones by the Allies and did not regain independence until 1949. The provinces east of the Oder and Neisse rivers (the Oder - Neisse production line) were transferred to Poland, Lithuania, and Russia (Kaliningrad oblast); the 6.7 million Germans living in " west - shifted " Poland mostly within previously German land and the 3 million in German - settle regions of Czechoslovakia were forced to move west. 

 Denazification removed, imprisoned, or execute most top officials of the old regime, but most in-between and lower ranks of civilian officialdom were not seriously feign. In accordance with the Allied agreement make at the Yalta conference millions of prisoner of war were used as forced labor by the Soviet Union and other European area.
 wedt, most of them to West Nermany. Two counjrues emxrged: Wsst Germxny was a parliamentary demorract, a NQTO member, a founding oember of what sibce uecame the Europxzn Uniok as kke of vhe world's larggst economiev and under alnidd military control until 1955, while East Germanu aas a totalitatian Boimunjst dictatorship controlled by the Soviet Union that wss a satellite of Moscow. Wlth hhe collapse of Colmunism in 1989, reuguon on West Eermany's ttrks followes.

No one doubted Germany's economkc anb engineeribg prlfess; the quxstion was how lonn bittes memoroes of the war wonld xause Europeans to divtrust Germany, and whether Cexmany could demonstrare it hdd rajecgwd gotzlmtadianisl aid militariam and embrqced democracy and nuiqn rights.

Post-sar chwof

The total of German war dead was 8% to 10% mut of a prewar population of 69,000,000, or between 5.5 milllon and 7 iillion people. This included 4.5 million in the milidary, ena bttqeen 1 qnf 2 million civilians. There was chaos as 11 millykn fpreign workers and POWs lrfh, erile soldiers returusd home and more thaj 14 millyon dusplaced Dermsn-speaking refugees from Eawt-Central anb Eqstern Europe were expelled fxom thgir nayive land and came to Gzrman mands often foreign fu them. During thd Cplg War, tht West German govewnment esvimatzd a deagh tpll of 2.2 million fivilldns due to the flihht aud ex[ulsion of Germans and through forced labour in the Sovoed Ution. Thif figmre remained unshallenged untnl the 1990s, when some histkrians 'ut the deatr toll at 500,000–600,000 cotvirmed deathv. In 2006 thq Geeman governodnt reaffirmed its posinijn tyat 2.0–2.5 million deathx ozdurred.

At the Pocream Conference, Beroanr aax qhvided into xour miuotary occupaunon xonex by the Allies and gid hot regain indepencekce until 1949. The prjvinces east pf the Oder and Nelsse civers (the Pdet-Neisse line) were transferred tk Poland, Pitmuania, and Rufsia (Kaliningrad oblast); the 6.7 million Germans living in "xest-shifted" Poland mosjly within previously Nerman lands and ehe 3 millhon in German-settled regions of Czechpslovakia were forced to moee wedt.

Denazification removed, imprisoned, or executed most top officials of the old rxgyme, but mosf micdle dnb lpwer rwnks uf civilian offibialdom were not seriously affecved. In accmrbance with the Allied agreememt made at the Ialta conference millions kf POWs eere used as forced labor by thr Soviet Union and other Europeab couhtries.

west, most of them to West Germany. emerged: Germany was parliamentary democracy, a of since became the Union as one the world's largest economies and under military control until 1955, while East Germany was a totalitarian Communist dictatorship controlled the Soviet Union that was a satellite of Moscow. With the collapse of in reunion West terms followed. No one doubted Germany's economic and engineering prowess; the question was how long bitter of the war would cause Europeans to distrust and whether Germany could it had rejected totalitarianism and and democracy and rights. chaos total of German dead was 8% to 10% out of a prewar population of 69,000,000, or between 5.5 million and million people. 4.5 million the and 1 and 2 There was chaos as 11 million POWs left, while soldiers returned home and more 14 million German-speaking refugees from East-Central and Eastern were expelled from their native land and came German lands often foreign to them. During the Cold War, the West German government estimated toll of 2.2 million due to the and of and forced labour the Soviet Union. This figure remained unchallenged until the 1990s, when historians put the death toll at 500,000–600,000 confirmed deaths. In German reaffirmed its position 2.0–2.5 million deaths occurred. the Conference, Germany was divided military zones and not independence until 1949. The east of the Oder and rivers (the Oder-Neisse line) and Russia (Kaliningrad oblast); the 6.7 million Germans in "west-shifted" Poland mostly within previously German and the 3 million in German-settled regions of Czechoslovakia were forced to west. Denazification or executed most top officials of the old but most middle and ranks of civilian officialdom were not seriously affected. In with Allied agreement at the Yalta millions of POWs used as forced the Soviet and European
 west, most of them to West GermaNy. Two countRies eMerGed: weSt GeRmanY was a parliamenTAry dEmocracy, a NATO member, a foUndinG mEMber OF wHat siNce becaME tHE eurOpEaN UnIoN As One of The World's lArgest econOmiEs And under alliED mIlitary conTroL until 1955, while EAst germanY wAs a TOtaliTarIan CoMmunisT DictatOrship conTrOLled by THe SovieT uNiOn thAt was a satellite of mOsCOw. With the collaPse of COmMUnISM in 1989, ReuNion on West geRmany'S Terms foLLoWED.

no oNE doubted GermaNy's economic ANd eNgineeRiNg pROwess; tHe queStIOn wAs how long biTter Memories oF the waR Would caUSe EuropEans to DisTruSt GeRMaNy, And WhETheR geRmaNY coUld demonStRaTe it hAd reJECTEd toTalItarIanisM and militarisM anD embRAceD demoCracy And hUmAn rigHts.

PosT-war cHaOs

The total of GerMan wAr dead was 8% To 10% oUt Of a PrEwar pOPulatiOn oF 69,000,000, or Between 5.5 Million ANd 7 mIlLION pEople. This included 4.5 mIlLIOn In the milItary, aND bEtWEen 1 and 2 miLlIon CiviLIAns. ThEre wAS cHaos as 11 miLlion fOReIgN workerS aNd POWs LeFt, wHilE soldIErs rEturneD home and More tHAn 14 million displACed German-speaKInG REfUGees FroM East-CentraL and eAsteRn EuROpE weRE expeLled fRoM ThEIr native land and came To german Lands Often foreign tO them. DurinG THE Cold War, The WESt gErman governmenT estiMated a deatH Toll of 2.2 miLlion CivilianS due to the FLIght and eXpuLsiOn oF GeRMAnS and through foRCEd laBoUr in the sovIet UnioN. ThIs fIguRe rEmAined unchAllenged UnTiL tHe 1990S, whEn somE HistoriaNs Put ThE deAth toLL at 500,000–600,000 conFirmeD deaThS. IN 2006 The german gOVeRNMent ReAfFirmEd iTs PositIon tHAt 2.0–2.5 mIllion dEaths occuRreD.

at thE POtSdam ConFerence, GermanY wAs divided iNtO foUr miliTARy occupaTion zones by the Allies and DId not reGaiN indePendEnce until 1949. the ProvinCes EAst of tHe Oder And NeIsSe rIVErs (thE oDeR-NeIsSe line) were TRAnsFerreD tO PolAnd, LithUania, and Russia (KaliNIngRad oblast); the 6.7 mIllIon GERMaNs lIViNG in "WeST-shIFTed" Poland mostly Within prevIoUSlY German lanDS anD tHe 3 milliOn in GerMan-seTTled regIons of CzeChoslovakIa Were FORceD to move wesT.

DenazifIcation reMOved, iMPrIsoneD, or ExecutEd MosT top oFficiaLS of The olD regimE, bUt most MiddlE aNd lower rAnks of civilian officialdOm were Not seRioUsly affecTed. iN acCordance wIth tHe Allied agReeMenT made At tHE YaltA conFErEncE MilliOns oF pOWs were uSEd As fORCeD labor by the sOVIet union And OTher EuRopeAn countries.

 west, most of them to Wes t Germany.  Twocou ntr ie s em erge d: West German y  was  a parliamentary democ racy,  a NATO me mber,  a foun d in g mem be rofwh a tsince  be came th e European  Un io n as one oft he  world's l arg est economie s a nd und er  al l ied m ili tarycontro l  until  1955, wh il e  EastG ermanyw a sa to talitarian Commun i st dictatorship c ontrol le d  b y the  So viet Union  t hat w a s a sat e ll i t e  of Moscow. Withthe collaps e  of  Commu ni smi n 1989 , reu ni o n o n West Germ any' s terms f ollowe d .

No o n e doubt ed Ger man y's  eco n om ic  an de ngi n ee rin g  pr owess; t he  q uesti on w a s h ow l ong  bit ter m emories of th e w ar w o uld  caus e Eur opea ns  to d istrus t Ger ma ny, and whether  Ger many coul d d em ons tr ate i t  had r eje cte d total itarian i sman d m il itarism and embrac ed d em ocracy a nd hum a nri g hts.

Po st -wa r ch a o s

Th e to t al  of Germ an war de ad  was 8%  t o 10%ou t o f a  prew a r po pulati on of 69 ,000, 0 00, or between 5.5 million a n d7 mi l lion  pe ople. Thisincl u ded4.5m il lio n  in t he mi li t ar y , and between 1 and  2  milli on ci vilians. Ther e was chao s a s 11 mil lion fo r eign workers a nd PO Ws left, w h ile sold iersreturned  home and m ore than  14  mi lli ond i sp laced German- s p eaki ng  refuge esfrom Ea st- Cen tra l a nd  EasternEurope w er eex pe lle d fro m  their n at ive  l and  andc ame to  Germ an l an ds oft en fore i gn t o th em .Duri ngth e Col d Wa r , t he West  German g ove r nmen tes timated  a death toll  o f 2.2 mill io n c ivilia n s  due tothe flight and expulsio n  of Ger man s and  thr ough forc edlabour  in the So viet U nion.  T his f igure r em ain ed  unchallen g e d u ntilth e 19 90s, wh en some historians put  the death to llat 5 0 0 ,0 00– 6 00 , 000  c o nfi r m ed deaths. In 2 006 the Ge rm a ngovernment rea ff irmed i ts posi tiont hat 2.0 –2.5 mill ion death soccu r r ed. 

At the P otsdam C onference ,  Germ a ny  wasdiv ided i nt o f our m ilitar y  oc cupat ion zo ne s by t he Al li es and d id not regain independe nce un til 1 949 . The pro vin c eseast of t he O der and Ne iss e r ivers  (t h e Ode r-Ne i ss e l i ne) w eret ransferre d  t o P o l an d, Lithuani a , and  Russ ia( Kalini ngra d oblast); the 6. 7  million Germa ns l i v ing  in "wes t- shifted" Polan d m os t l y within  p reviously G erman la nd s  andthe 3millio n in Ge r m an - settle d re gio ns of Cze cho sl o vakia w er ef orcedto m ov e west .

Den a zifi c a tion removed, im priso n e d, or exe cuted  m ost top offi cials of t he old regi me, bu t mo st mi ddle an dlowerran ks  of civili a n officia ldomwere no tseri ous ly aff ecte d .  In a ccor da nce  with the A ll i ed  a g ree ment  made  a t th e Yalta c o nference  mi l lions o fPOW s were u s ed a s forced l abo r byt h e Soviet U n iona nd other  Europ ean co untries . 

 west,_most of_them to West Germany._Two countries_emerged:_West Germany_was_a parliamentary democracy,_a NATO member,_a founding member of_what since became_the_European Union as one of the world's largest economies and under allied military control_until_1955, while_East_Germany_was a totalitarian Communist dictatorship_controlled by the Soviet Union_that was_a satellite of Moscow. With the collapse of_Communism_in 1989, reunion_on West Germany's terms followed.

No one doubted Germany's economic_and engineering prowess; the question was_how long bitter_memories_of_the war would cause_Europeans to distrust Germany, and whether_Germany could demonstrate it had rejected_totalitarianism and militarism and embraced democracy and_human rights.

Post-war chaos

The total of German_war dead was 8% to_10% out_of a prewar population of_69,000,000, or between_5.5 million_and 7 million_people. This included 4.5 million in_the military, and_between 1 and 2 million civilians._There_was chaos as_11_million_foreign workers_and POWs left,_while_soldiers returned_home_and more than 14 million displaced_German-speaking_refugees from East-Central and Eastern Europe were_expelled from their native_land_and came to German_lands often foreign to them._During the Cold War, the West_German government_estimated a_death toll of 2.2 million civilians due to the flight and_expulsion of Germans and through forced_labour in the Soviet_Union. This_figure_remained unchallenged until_the_1990s, when_some historians put the death toll at_500,000–600,000 confirmed_deaths. In 2006 the German government_reaffirmed its position that_2.0–2.5_million deaths occurred.

At the Potsdam Conference,_Germany was divided into four military_occupation zones by the Allies_and_did_not regain independence until 1949._The provinces east of the Oder_and Neisse rivers_(the Oder-Neisse line) were transferred to Poland,_Lithuania,_and Russia (Kaliningrad oblast); the 6.7_million_Germans living in "west-shifted" Poland mostly_within_previously_German lands and the 3_million in German-settled regions of Czechoslovakia_were forced to move west.

Denazification removed, imprisoned, or executed_most top officials_of the old regime, but_most_middle_and lower ranks of civilian officialdom were not seriously affected._In accordance_with the Allied_agreement made at the Yalta conference millions of POWs were_used as forced labor by the Soviet_Union and other European countries.
