At the end of World War II, Europe was damaged. Almost 40 million Europeans had died and some were civilians. Some of the cities in Europe, like Paris, Rome, Brussels haven't been destroyed during the war. Europe was in misery for many years. Agriculture was disrupted and the transportation system had been also destroyed. World War II had changed the political landscape of Europe. A large number of city dwellers fled while others stayed in the cities. They joined the army of displaced persons wandering Europe following the war. The Europeans blamed their own leaders for this war including the aftermath. When the Germans lost some of the prewar governments returned quickly. In World War II, Germany took control of Europe by using a strategy called the "Blitz Krieg" which means lightning war. On May 10, 1940 Germany had invaded much of Western Europe. Then on June of 1941 the German troops attacked the Soviet Union.
Russia overall holds that the "Great Patriotic War" actually began on June 22, 1941 with the German invasion of Russia while on the other hand western europe uses the German invasion of Poland on Septenber 1, 1939. In Europe WWII was fought on three main fronts:
East
West
Italian
The most bloody and resolute was the east, where the troops made it to Stalingrad and almost Moscow before the Soviet Army pushed them all the way back to Berlin. The western front was briefly dominated by Germany after their swift conquest of France in 1940.
Russia overall holds that the "Great Patriotic War" actually began on June 22, 1941 with the German invasion of Russia while on the other hand western europe uses the German invasion of Poland on Septenber 1, 1939. In Europe WWII was fought on three main fronts:
- East
- West
- Italian
The most bloody and resolute was the east, where the troops made it to Stalingrad and almost Moscow before the Soviet Army pushed them all the way back to Berlin. The western front was briefly dominated by Germany after their swift conquest of France in 1940.