In Germany the shortage of food was an acute problem. […] the average kilocalorie intake per day was estimated to be 1,080, […] millions of people are slowly starving.
Germany received many offers from Western European nations to trade food for desperately needed coal and steel. […]. Denmark offered 150 tons of lard a month; Turkey offered hazelnuts; Norway offered fish and fish oil; Sweden offered considerable amounts of fats. However, the Allies disallowed the Germans to trade.

So "generous" is a bit relative here. Germany was not subject to the most extreme plans for de-industrialisation, which some had planned. But at the same time there was definitely planned hardship, which had no reasonable explanation based on security.

[–] Objection@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Those conditions lasted for like three years before the Marshall Plan went into effect.

[–] user134450@feddit.org 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

So 3 years of malnutrition is not cruel?

[–] Objection@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

No, not really. How many years of malnutrition (and much worse) did British colonies like India experience? As far as unconditionally surrendering after starting the deadliest conflict in human history goes, that's very light.

[–] user134450@feddit.org 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

yeah, but thats not really saying that it isnt cruel.

[–] Objection@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 days ago

If someone punches me in the face, that's cruel. If we've both stepped into a boxing ring, it's not really cruel. If a country is subjected to three years of malnutrition under a foreign occupation, that's cruel, if they do that after the country was forced into unconditional surrender after starting the deadliest conflict in human history (and then give them billions of dollars in 1950s money to help them rebuild), I don't really call that cruel, I call that light and merciful.

Like what other historical precedents are you using as a standard for what could be expected? It was less cruel than the Japanese occupation, for example.