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Most of the 'punishment' arose out of the war itself and the defeat. For example, the communications infrastructure largely collapsed. (This includes the phone network and postal service as well as road and rail transport). This made travel and the distribution of goods, including food, very difficult. Even 15 months after the end of the war the rail journey from Munich to Hamburg took about 72 hours! In most cities of any real size the roads in and around the centre were difficult to use as they were littered with rubble from bombing. Obviously, none of this was deliberate 'punishment', but the result of events. Germans living east of the rivers Oder and Neisse were forced to move westwards. There was a huge expulsion by Poland, Russia - and also by Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. In all, about 11.7 million Germans were expelled and at least one million perished in the process. Conditions were very bad indeed in many cases. The Soviet Union (and to some extent also Britain and France) received reparations. Germany itself was divided into four zones and run by the Allies. Apart from the expulsions, it's hard to say how much of this was 'punishment'. In the longer run, West Germany benefitted greatly from the Cold War - and to a much more limited extent that also applied in East Germany. Both German states became front-line states in the Cold War ... Joncey ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Punishment 1. Admit gulit for starting the war. 2.Pay $30 million in damages to the Allies for their costs in the war. 3.The German army & Navy were to reduce in size and its air force was disbanded. 4.Germany coloines in Africa and Asia were taken. 5.Germany had to return land that was taken on the Franco-Prussian War back to France and lose land to the new nation of Poland. ~Justine

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16y ago

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