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End of Hitler and Third Reich Apr-May 1945
APRIL-MAY 1945
The Fall of Hitler and the Third Reich
German Failures Mount
After the Battle of the Bulge, Germany is on the defensive
Fighting in the Ardennes
The Reich in its Death Throws
Hitler relies on technology to save Germany
This includes the V1 and the V2, which were aimed at London First V1 launched
toward London one week after the D-Day landings
Rocket Launch Sites
Turning to Technology
The V1 rocket is considered a “guided” weapon Vergeltungswaffe (Retaliation
weapon 1) Mostly it was pointed in a
direction and could accurately hit a city, not a target within a city
Prisoners in concentration camps often assembled the rockets that prolonged the war
Turning to Technology
V2 Rocket Vergeltungswaffe
(Retaliation weapon 2) Worlds first long range
ballistic missileAn estimated 12000
concentration camp prisoners died making the weapon that killed an estimated 9000 British
Last Hope
Nazis tried to create a nuclear weapon, but were not fast enough Nazi politicization of academia drove many out of
Germany and Jewish scientists were purged from Germany hindering Nazi attempts at developing an atomic weapon
Hitler’s scientists created new jet fightersHitler orders the defense of Germany to the
last man
ME-62 Jet Fighter
LINK
The Final Weeks
On Nov. 20th, 1944, Hitler retreats from his headquarters at Rastenburg and goes to Berlin He will not leave Berlin
ever againOn Feb 4th 1945, Allies
meet at Yalta to discuss post-war plans
Allies allow Soviets to enter Berlin first
Fall of Berlin
Soviets begin their assault on Berlin April 16th, 1945
Hitler commits suicide April 30th, 1945 and the Soviets occupy the Reichstag that night
Hitler shot himself; his wife of one day used cyanide and he poisoned his dogs
Results
General Alfred Jodl signs the surrender for all German forces May 7th 1945
WW II is over in EuropeNazi war crimes revealedMany top Nazi leaders will be put on trial at
Nuremberg More will be hunted for decadesWill lay foundations for Cold War
Cold War Begins
Operation Paperclip
LINK