Another look at the immediate aftermath of WWII - the amazing year of 1945 - insights into how countries tried to start over. Often with significantly different demographics than obtained prior to the war.
I rather expected this to cover similar ground as this so-helpful work by Tony Judt - but the overlap isn't all that much - Buruma covers more countries (Asia, for example) but in less detail than Europe-focused Judt. And he pretty much sticks to his "Year Zero" theme; Judt covers a longer time span.
There was a significant amount of "retribution" - but also a practical viewpoint - plenty of people who hadn't behaved all that well now were needed to make these countries work - an active process of forgetting, or overlooking, was pursued in so many cases. As Judt discussed, this did lead to some backlash later. But I don't know how these places could otherwise have functioned.
Returning POWs or campers often not all that welcome - or sympathized with - home front folks had their own problems (and opportunities!)
Useful discussion of a difficult situation that I think tends to be overlooked - huge decisions with corresponding consequences came down as WWII closed and the postwar period commenced.
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