After the war, Moscow no longer possessed the grandeur of Russia's capital. The entire city had been smashed to pieces in the fighting, reduced to ruins. The densely packed prisoner-of-war camps outside the city had instead become a unique sight. However, large numbers of Russian prisoners of war took part in the labor of rebuilding Moscow during the day.
Although the German military had guaranteed, when the Russian army surrendered, that they would not force them into labor, they had changed their method. Only those who participated in labor would receive food. Under such circumstances, if they did not want to starve to death, the Russian prisoners of war had no choice but to work.
With the efforts of vast numbers of Russian prisoners of war, Moscow's ruins were being cleared away bit by bit. As for reconstruction, that would have to wait until Russia's new government was established.
When Molotov's transport plane flew over Moscow, he looked through the cabin window at the city below, now reduced to ruins, and was filled with mixed emotions.
Russia had once been one of the world's many great powers. Its powerful industrial strength and enormous military forces had given it the capital to challenge Germany. But regrettably, it was precisely that strength which had caused Russia's leaders' confidence to swell beyond measure. In the end, they had come to this outcome. Otherwise, Russia would not have become what it was now, nor would so many people have died in the war.
Of course, Molotov also knew that as Russia grew ever stronger, Germany would sooner or later make a move against it. In order to safeguard its Hegemonic Status in the world, Germany would never stand by and watch a powerful Russia emerge at its side. Thus, this war had been wholly