How did World War II affect the populations of Ukraine and Belarus?

The populations of Ukraine and Belarus suffered catastrophic losses during World War II, with death tolls heavily concentrated in these regions.1

Ukraine

Ukraine experienced immense human and material devastation. Approximately 5 to 7 million people perished, including an estimated 1.5 million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust. By 1947, the population was nearly 5 million lower than prewar levels. Beyond the loss of life, the infrastructure was decimated: over 700 cities and towns and 28,000 villages were destroyed, leaving 10 million people homeless. Additionally, about 2.2 million Ukrainians were taken to Germany as forced laborers (Ostarbeiter).123

Belarus

Belarus faced even greater proportional losses, with estimates suggesting that as much as one-fourth to one-third of its prewar population was killed. The country’s Jewish population was nearly eliminated through genocide and postwar emigration. Following the war, the region underwent significant demographic shifts, including the forced mass deportation of the Polish population to Poland. The war left the republic in a state of widespread devastation, necessitating extensive reconstruction efforts during the first postwar Five-Year Plan.1456