There was no general peace conference immediately after the war. Instead the victorious powers made temporary agreements concerning the militarily occupation of former Axis and Axis controlled countries.
Germany and Austria were each divided into four zones under American, British, Soviet and French control. In eastern Europe, Rumania, Hungary, and Bulgaria (which had been allies of Germany) were placed under Soviet control. British and American forces occupied Italy. In Asia, Japan was occupied mainly by American forces; Korea, by the American and the Soviet Union; and Manchuria, by Soviet and Chinese forces.
The Paris Peace Conference, 1946.
Draft treaties were presented to the Paris Conference with regard to Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland in July 1946.
The conference became a struggle for power between two rival blocs : the Western powers and the Easter communist countries. The Soviet Union aimed to increase its power and influence, while the Western Powers wanted to limit Soviet expansion.
The Peace Treaties, 1947.
In February 1947, separate peace treaties were signed in Paris with Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland. The defeated nations were to pay war reparations to the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Greece and Czechoslovakia. Each of the five treaties contained terms concerning arms limitations. The five nations also lost some territories.
The Settlement of Germany.
After the war, the decisions made in various wartime conferences concerning Germany were put into effect. Germany was divided into four occupied zones. Territories annexed by Hitler were restored to their former owners and Germany lost territory in the east to Poland and the Soviet Union. German war criminals were arrested and placed on trial at Nuremberg. Those found guilty were sentenced to death or sent to prison. The occupation forces tried to destroy all Nazi ideas and beliefs and disarmed the country.
