13. Aftermath

After the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945, the U.S. emerged as leader of the free world. In the aftermath of the war, U.S. servicemen faced daunting new responsibilities and perhaps a greater challenge than waging war--that of keeping the peace. We examine this monumental undertaking known simply as occupation. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections.