<P> The overlords became more brutal and corrupt, and the Chinese gentry became disenchanted . With the surrender of Japan the transition back to British rule was smooth, for on the mainland the Nationalist and Communists forces were preparing for a civil war and ignored Hong Kong . In the long run the occupation strengthened the pre-war social and economic order among the Chinese business community by eliminating some conflicts of interests and reducing the prestige and power of the British . </P> <P> Germany had not fully mobilized in 1939, nor even in 1941 . Not until 1943, under Albert Speer (the minister of armaments in the Reich), did Germany finally redirect its entire economy and manpower to war production . Instead of using all available Germans, it brought in millions of slave workers from conquered countries, treating them badly (and getting low productivity in return). Germany's economy was simply too small for a longer all - out war . Hitler's strategy was to change this by a series of surprise blitzkriegs . This failed with defeats in Russia in 1941 and 1942, and against the economic power of the allies . </P> <P> Instead of expanding the economies of the occupied nations, the Nazis seized the portable machinery and rail cars, requisitioned most of their industrial output, took large quantities of food (15% of French output), and forced the victims to pay for their military occupation . </P> <P> The Nazis forced 15 million people to work in Germany (including POWs); many died from bad living conditions, mistreatment, malnutrition, and executions . At its peak, forced laborers comprised 20% of the German work force and were a vital part of the German economic exploitation of the conquered territories . They were especially concentrated in munitions and agriculture . For example, 1.5 million French soldiers were kept in POW camps in Germany as hostages and forced workers and, in 1943, 600,000 French civilians were forced to move to Germany to work in war plants . </P>

How did canada's home front contribute to ww2