The End of World War II 1945 - VE and VJ Days
Dec 25, 2015
The Battle of the Bulge:Hitler’s Last Offensive
The Battle of the Bulge:Hitler’s Last Offensive
Dec. 16, 1944to
Jan. 28, 1945
Battle of the Bulge
Last major German offensive of the war Allies were unprepared Germany’s goal was to retake Antwerp Bastogne was key the Battle
101st Airborne holds city Germany siege lasted for 6 days
Last major battle of the Western Front
Yalta: February, 1945Yalta: February, 1945
FDR wants quick Soviet entry into Pacific war.
FDR & Churchill concede Stalin needs buffer, FDR & Stalin want spheres of influence and a weak Germany.
Churchill wants strong Germany as bufferagainst Stalin.
FDR argues for a ‘United Nations’.
US & Russian Soldiers Meet at the Elbe River:
April 25, 1945
US & Russian Soldiers Meet at the Elbe River:
April 25, 1945
Return to the PhilippinesReturn to the Philippines
Guadalcanal (Aug. 42- 1944)
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Largest naval battle in history
Kamikaze attacks
U.S. retakes the Philippines (March 1945)
Island-Hopping CampaignIsland-Hopping CampaignAdvance from island to the next to get closer to
Japan.Invasion of Tarawa
High casualty rate Mistakes lead to lessons learned
Marshall IslandsMariana Islands (Saipan, Guam, Tinian)Iwo Jima (Japanese islands)
US Marines on Mt. Surbachi,Iwo Jima [Feb. 19, 1945]
US Marines on Mt. Surbachi,Iwo Jima [Feb. 19, 1945]
Japanese Kamikaze Planes:The Scourge of the South PacificJapanese Kamikaze Planes:
The Scourge of the South Pacific
Kamikaze Pilots
Suicide Bombers
Iwo JimaIwo JimaFeb. 19, 1945The Japanese objective was to inflict
heavy casualties on the U.S.The Japanese were heavily fortified in
bunkers.The U.S. needed the island as a B-29
base“uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Firebombing of TokyoFirebombing of Tokyo Curtis Lemay –Commander of B-29’s B-29’s used Napalm to help destroy
targets Controversial Tactic March 9, 1945 –Tokyo Firebombing
Killed 80,000 Destroyed 250,000 buildings
By July 1945, the 6 most industrial
cities were firebombed.
Potsdam Conference:July, 1945
Potsdam Conference:July, 1945
FDR dead, Churchill out of office as Prime Minister during conference.
Stalin only original. The United States has
the A-bomb. Allies agree Germany is
to be divided into occupation zones
Poland moved around to suit the Soviets.
P.M. Clement President Joseph Atlee Truman Stalin
The End of the WarThe End of the War
Invasion of Okinawa Needed for the eventual invasion of Japan Troops landed on beaches April 1, 1945 More 12,000 US troops died until Okinawa
secured on June 22, 1945Invasion or Atomic Bombs?
Operation Downfall Hiroshima bombing Nagasaki bombing
Hiroshima – August 6, 1945Hiroshima – August 6, 1945
70,000 killed immediately.48,000 buildings. destroyed.100,000s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later.
Nagasaki – August 9, 1945Nagasaki – August 9, 1945
40,000 killed immediately.60,000 injured.100,000s died of radiation poisoning& cancer later.