Eastern Front, Questions And Answers

1. In terms of casualty figures alone which country or countries suffered disproportionately to other nations engaged in the fighting?

In terms of casualties, both civilian and military, the Allies bore the largest burden of the war. About 80% of the casualties of the war were Allied, breaking down in 25% Allied military and 58% Allied civilians. However, the majority of these casualties occurred on the eastern front. The Soviet Union suffered disproportionally during the fighting, losing about twenty million civilians and about nine million soldiers. Even after the war the impact of this significant loss of servicemen was felt, leaving only six men for every ten women, thus stunting the populations ability to bear and replace those who were lost. Poland was also subject to the horrors of the eastern front and was left with about six million dead, including about three million Jews. Regarding Germany, estimated losses range from four million, including 500,000 civilians, to seven million with three million civilian casualties. However, it is difficult to speak with certainty as the 1937 Germany census is unclear about the number of Volksdeutschen¸ those of German culture and language living in areas not within the 1937 German borders, who perished. It is also possible that these statistics were skewed to exaggerate or underexaggerate losses.

How did the victorious forces in former occupied countries regard those who had supported the Axis powers?

In some countries, previously under German occupation, retribution was taken against those who had supported the Axis powers. Civilians took matters into their own hands identifying those who were fascists or collaborators and made them pay for it. For example, in France women who were caught fraternizing with the German occupiers would be publicly shamed or have their head shaved. Moreover, in Yugoslavia supports of the Axis powers were executed. A cleansing of this kind would take place for a long time after the