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What happened to the average German soldiers after WW2?

At the end of World War II, the lives of the average German soldier varied greatly depending on which branch of the military he served in and where he was stationed. Many German soldiers were killed in battle, while others were taken as prisoners of war.

Those who were not killed, were either taken as a POW, required to work as a forced laborer, or sent back to Germany.

In the wake of the war, the Allies launched widespread de-Nazification efforts to expunge Nazi Germany’s ideology and militaristic practices. All soldiers were subject to sweeping changes in their lives, with varying affects.

For example, those who had devoted their lives to the Nazi cause and held prominent positions in the military were stripped of their rank and given less desirable positions or livelihoods.

Soldiers who had been sidelined in the German army, or who had not been deeply entrenched in the Nazi cause, were met with varying fates. The most common of those was the return to civilian life. After they accepted the new government, the Allies encouraged these soldiers to start fresh with new jobs and professions that weren’t related to military service.

Some heard amnesty calls from their former enemies and were allowed to remain in their home towns and neighborhoods, while others were relocated away from politically sensitive regions as part of repopulation and resettlement efforts.

There were, however, harsh repercussions for many German soldiers. For those who had been involved in war crimes and atrocities during their service, the punishment could be severe. In some cases, those guilty of the most serious violations were executed.

Many others faced jail time, had assets seized and faced other penalties.

Ultimately, the outcomes for average German soldiers ranged from positive outcomes to very negative ones, depending on the individual’s actions and circumstances during the war.

Why is Germany so rich after ww2?

Germany is one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, and it has become this way largely due to post-World War II reconstruction efforts and the economic reforms of the 1950s. After the war, the Allied Powers provided significant aid to help rebuild the economy, while the monetary and fiscal policy reforms by the government also played a key role in the economic recovery.

The German economic miracle, or Wirtschaftswunder, was largely the result of the changes the country implemented in terms of liberalising trade and creating incentives for businesses to produce goods, while providing subsidies and tax breaks to German businesses to promote innovation and growth.

Additionally, the government invested in creating infrastructure and institutions, as well as encouraging other forms of government spending to increase employment and consumption.

Moreover, the state also encouraged entrepreneurship by providing loans to small business owners and allowing for the privatisation of state-run companies. This combination of policy changes created a fertile environment for private investments and businesses to thrive, leading to higher wages, job growth and a rise in private wealth.

In the 1950s, Germany also benefitted from the Marshall Plan – a joint effort between the United States and European allies – to help rebuild the economies of countries in Western Europe. Overall, these post-World War II reforms and policies have been a driving force in providing Germany with a prosperous, stable and wealthy economy.

Are there any German soldiers alive from ww2?

Yes, there are still German soldiers alive who served in World War II. Though their numbers are dwindling with time, as of 2021 there are still some veterans alive today who were involved in World War II.

These include pilots, tank commanders, naval officers, submariners, and infantry personnel. Most of the surviving veterans are in their late 90s and early 100s, with the oldest surviving German veteran born in 1911.

They are highly respected as living reminders of a difficult time in Germany’s history. Many have contributed to the understanding of what took place in the conflict, inspiring future generations. In addition, many of these veterans have become active members of their local communities, engaging in volunteer projects and sharing memories of the war.

Does Germany still pay reparations for ww2?

Yes, Germany has been paying out reparations since 1951 in reference to the damages that were caused during World War II. These reparations are referred to as “Victim Compensation Payments” and are given to victims of Nazi persecution and their heirs, who can provide ample evidence of suffering in the form of documentation, testimonies, and through various foundations.

Some of the main victims include Jews, Roma, and Sinti populations, along with certain political, religious, and social groups.

The process of calculating and awarding these payments began in 1965 and involved numerous countries and organizations beyond Germany. This process also set a certain amount of money to be allocated from the German government to individual claims that had been accepted and validated.

Since then, Germany has paid out a tremendous amount of money over the course of the past fifty years – estimated to be over 100 billion euros.

However, not everyone agrees with these reparations. Many argue that Germany has already paid its “debt in full,” and that it should not have to still keep paying out money to victims of the Nazi regime.

But the reality remains that Germany has an obligation to the victims and their heirs, to make sure they receive the fair and just compensation they are entitled to as a result of the atrocities they endured during the war.

Did the US help rebuild Germany after ww2?

Yes, the United States played a major role in helping to rebuild Germany after the Second World War. The United States worked alongside the other Allied powers to provide economic, political and moral support to the country in its reconstruction.

Through the Marshall Plan and other initiatives, the US provided over 13 billion dollars in aid to support Germany’s economic and infrastructure recovery. The US was also involved in providing political support, most notably with its backing of Konrad Adenauer as Chancellor and its support of the new German Federal Republic.

On top of this, American personnel were heavily involved in the rebuilding of German cities and towns, with thousands of tons of supplies and services being provided to help rebuild destroyed locales.

Overall, the US played an instrumental role in the reconstruction of post-war Germany and worked to ensure that the country was situated to benefit from the postwar global order.

Who was the last German soldier killed in ww2?

The exact identity of the last German soldier killed in World War II is unknown, but it is widely believed to be Hans-Georg Henke. Henke was born on January 4th, 1923 and worked as a Wehrmacht private.

He was one of a handful of German soldiers involved in a prolonged gun battle at a small cottage along the banks of the Baltic Sea in the days following the unconditional surrender of Germany on May 8th, 1945.

After refusing to surrender to the Red Army, Henke was mortally wounded in the firefight and died on May 9th, 1945. Other possible candidates for the last German soldier killed in World War II include Ernst John, a Wehrmacht private who is believed to have been killed on May 21st, 1945, and Cüssow Kuno, a Waffen-SS soldier who is said to have died on May 19th, 1945.

An argument could also be made that Leon Degrelle, a Waffen-SS officer and prominent Nazi collaborator, was the last German soldier killed in World War II given that he escaped to Spain in 1945 and died there in 1994.

Was the German Army disbanded after ww2?

Yes, the German Army was disbanded after World War II. The signing of the Potsdam Agreement between the Allies and Germany on August 2, 1945 marked the end of hostilities and the disbandment of the German Army.

Under the terms of the agreement, the German Armed Forces were to be dissolved and all German military equipment, including ships, aircraft, tanks, and firearms, was to be surrendered or destroyed. The agreement also stated that no new military forces were to be formed in Germany and that any remaining forces were to be disbanded immediately.

Consequently, all German militarized formations, including the German Army, the Luftwaffe, and the Kriegsmarine, were officially disbanded shortly after the conclusion of the war.

Did any German POWs stay in America?

Yes, many German POWs stayed in America after World War II. During the war, almost 425,000 German soldiers were held in prisons in the U.S. Qualified POWS were even allowed to work outside of camp under the supervision of the camp’s commandant.

Towards the end of the war in 1945, the rules began to relax and by 1946 many German POW’s were allowed to work without supervision. Some of the POW’s had even become so comfortable in their new environment that they chose to stay and become US Citizens.

As those who stayed were considered to be part of the general German immigrations to the US at the time. However, some polls conducted of the German immigrant population in the 1950s estimated that 3-5% of the German American population were former German prisoners who had chosen to stay in America instead of returning to Germany.

POWs that wished to stay in the US after their discharge were able to get special help from the US government which allowed them to receive financial support, language instruction, job training, and other help to help them assimilate into American society.

This aid program was called the Displaced Persons Act and it was funded by the US government. Through this program, many former German POWs were able to start a new life in America.

What percentage of German soldiers survived WW2?

We don’t have a definitive percentage of German soldiers who survived the Second World War, as there is no single source of reliable data. However, it is estimated that between 4.5 and 5.5 million German soldiers died in the war, out of a total of over 16 million who served.

This would indicate that somewhere between 72% and 66% of German soldiers did not survive the war, depending on the estimate used.

In addition to those who died outright during the conflict, many more were held as prisoners of war by Allied forces, most of whom survived to be returned to Germany at the end of the war. The exact number of German POWs is not certain, but is estimated to be between 7 and 10 million.

This means that even if all of those held in captivity had died, the percentage of German soldiers who survived the war could still be estimated to be between 40 and 47%.

How many troops do we still have in Germany?

At the start of 2020, the United States has roughly 35,000 troops stationed in Germany. This is down from a peak of over 200,000 personnel during the Cold War in the 1980s. Approximately 30,900 service members are stationed in the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility, which includes Germany.

The U.S. Air Force makes up the lion’s share of the personnel in Germany, with 17,500 stationed in Germany. The Army is the next largest presence with over 6,000 personnel, followed by the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.

The U.S. presence of troops in Germany is primarily related to roles in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as from a global view of geopolitics, ensuring American defenses and geopolitical interests remain a priority in the region.

Additionally, 5000 personnel are involved in civilian positions associated with the U.S. military and there are approximately 460 U.S. Department of Defense dependents living in Germany at this time.

Does Germany honor WW2 veterans?

Yes, Germany does honor WW2 veterans. The country holds an Annual Remembrance and Celebration of Veterans Day each year on the third Sunday of June and the day is set aside to commemorate the sacrifices of German service members who served during World War II.

On this day, flags are flown at half-staff or half-mast and military installations and veterans’ organizations hold ceremonies to honor WW2 veterans. During the ceremonies, a 21-gun salute is fired, a choir sings the national anthem, politicians give speeches, a military parade is held, and veterans are recognized with medals and awards.

These ceremonies and celebrations are accompanied by demands for human rights and justice, and the day is used to promote a spirit of reconciliation, unity, and peace.

Who was the last ww2 soldier found?

The Identity of the last World War 2 soldier found remains a mystery, however there have been a few people identified as being potentially the “last” World War 2 soldier found.

One of the potential last soldiers found is Henry John Emmett, who was reported missing by the US Army in 1945 in France. His remains were located in 1980 in a shallow grave and identified as possibly belonging to Emmett.

His family was contacted by the American Battle Monuments Commission and an announcement was made that he had potentially been found.

Another potential last soldier found was William L. Reed, who died during an intense battle in the Okinawa islands in 1945. His remains were located in 2002 by a private investigative organization, and it was reported that his death date was June 20th, 1945, just one day before the official Japanese surrender, making him potentially the last soldier to die in World War 2.

Yet another potential last soldier found is John F. Kennedy, who was killed on May 1st, 1945. He was located in 2008 near a cemetery in France. His death reportedly happened shortly before the official end of the World War 2, making him potentially the last soldier to die in the war.

Given the complexity of the situation, it is impossible to determine for certain who was the absolute last World War 2 soldier found.