Following World War 2, much of Europe and parts of Japan were left in ruins. Pictures show the extensive damage caused by bombing in cities like Dresden, Germany and Tokyo. As Soviet forces occupied Eastern and Central Europe, including East Germany, those regions became communist with governments controlled by the Soviet Union, limiting freedoms. The United States implemented the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe's economy and prevent political instability that could lead countries to turn to the Soviets for help. The USSR did not accept Marshall Plan aid and likely wanted to stop European recovery for political and economic reasons.