The Austerity Olympics - London 1948
1945 - World War Two ends as German dictator Adolf Hitler commits suicide. His country, Nazi Germany collapsed and surrendered meaning the Allied forces must begin the rebuilding process. With Germany split up and controlled by Britain, Russia, USA and France, heavy investment was needed to pick Europe back onto its feet. The horrors of the war would be put to the back of peoples mind in 1948 as 59 nations came together in London to compete across 17 sports in the first Olympic Games since 1936. It was the second time the Olympics had been held in London and for millions of people across Europe, this signalled hope that the worst was behind them and the world could now reunite in the form of a sporting meet. The political situation in Britain in 1948 has now been described as the "post-war consensus" with little to separate the policies of the major parties. It has been argued this existed until the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979, a monumental moment in the history of