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In what ways has World War II shaped the politics of Europe?
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World War II has had a profound impact on the politics of Europe. In the wake of the war, the European continent saw a dramatic shift in power, with the emergence of a number of new nation-states, such as West Germany and East Germany, and the fall of others, such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At the same time, the occupying powers, particularly the Soviet Union, imposed a number of new policies and ideas, such as those of communism, which had previously been foreign to Europe; and the awarding of territory caused by the war-especially in the case of the Yalta Conference-represents a significant legacy that still has implications today. Lastly, the formation of the European Union in the late 1940s provided a framework for political integration among the countries of Europe, further signaling a new era in the continent's politics.