The End of World War II

1945 - VE and VJ Days

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

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

9

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)

Allied Counter-Offensive:“Island-Hopping”

Allied Counter-Offensive:“Island-Hopping”

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)

“Island-Hopping”: US Troops on Kwajalien Island

“Island-Hopping”: US Troops on Kwajalien Island

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.

V-J Day in Times Square, NYC(August 15, 1945)

V-J Day in Times Square, NYC(August 15, 1945)

V-J Day (September 2, 1945)V-J Day (September 2, 1945)