The occupation ended following the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty (Treaty of Peace with Japan) on September 8, 1951, which officially concluded World War II in the Pacific. In Europe, both Germany and Austria were divided into four occupation zones under American, British, French, and Soviet control.
Europe After World War II. Russia and some other countries were also in ruins after the war. Germany was partitioned (divided) soon after World War II ended into two separate parts: West Germany and East Germany. The Soviet Union never allowed East Germany to form an independent or democratic government.
U.S. human rights policy in the 20th and 21st centuries tried to balance the need to promote human rights abroad with the need to support military allies.
