Quote:
Originally Posted by StefanG
At least in Germany the US troops are not stationed there to control or protect the country though, it's because air bases like Ramstein are needed for access to Iraq/Afghanistan.
Most of the regular troops have been withdrawn long time ago.
|
Yes and no.
Originally the US built bases in Germany and Japan to continue to exert influence over them, and help during the rebuilding. At the same time, very quickly the primary mission was to counter the Russian threat in Europe (and China in Japan).
The end result was that a friendship between Germany and United States (as well as the Allied countries) was established. The same happened in Japan. Society today cannot imagine a world where Germany and Japan was not a friend.
One of the things I have not learned yet is how the Germans in East Germany thought of the Russians during the cold war. Perhaps you could fill me in on that.