Mr. ErmerU.S. History Honors
Miami Beach Senior High
The End of WWII & The Atomic Age
Strategic BombingAllied aircraft bomb industrial cities in Germany
Dresden, Leipzig, and Berlin—Dresden almost completely destroyed
Luftwaffe heavily damaged, no longer able to control skiesBombings clear way for Allied invasion of EuropeGerman moral weakened, infrastructure destroyed
Allies crack “Enigma Code,” better understand German plansMassive invasion force built up in England over two years
The Tehran Conference: FDR wants to meet with Stalin, the two meet with Churchill in Tehran, IranU.S. & U.K. will attack France, U.S.S.R. will attack alsoStalin promise to help U.S. against Japan, after GermanyPost-war international peace keeping organization
Allied Strategy
The Allied Invasion of Europe“D-Day”: Operation Overlord
Germans expect invasion at Calais, narrowest straitAllies reinforce misconception by placing Patton as
decoyJune 5, 1944: Allied paratroopers dropped behind
German lines to secure roads and bridges for push inland
June 6, 1944: Invasion of NormandyAllied battleships and airplanes bombard German
defenses Mass armada of vessels land troops on five beaches
Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword, JunoUtah, Gold, Sword, Juno beaches won with superior
manpower, weaponsGen. Bradley leads U.S. First Army at Omaha, 2,500 dead,
but victoriousInland progress is slow, Bradley and Patton push
forwardAugust 25: Free French forces liberate Paris
Past Normandy, battle continues in FranceThe Battle of the Bulge
Germans try one last effort to cut off Allied supplies/moveGerman lines bulge outwards by German border,
surprise attackGeneral Eisenhower orders General Patton to the
rescueWeather prevents aircraft support, but then clears
German fuel supply interrupted, Americans break German lines
January 8, 1945 Germany pulls back
The Battle Continues
Soviet forces push toward Germany from the eastFebruary 1945: Soviets are 35 miles outside BerlinMarch 1945: American troops enter Germany
Gen. Bradley’s First Army captures bridge over Rhine R.British General and Allied Commander of Ground Forces
Bernard Montgomery brings 1 million troops across Rhine into Northern Germany
Patton’s Third Army pushes into Central GermanyAmericans and British can beat Soviets to Berlin and
Prague, but decide to await Soviet advanceApril 21: Soviets enter BerlinApril 30: Hitler commits suicide in underground bunkerMay 8, 1945: Germany surrenders unconditionally
“V-E Day”—Victory in Europe—official end of European war
Fall of the Third Reich
April 12, 1945: FDR dies of stroke in GA Vice-President Harry S Truman sworn in as
presidentBombing of Tokyo had been unsuccessful
U.S. needed closer airfields to accurately bomb Tokyo: Island of Iwo Jima is perfect locationOne of the hardest fought battles in the pacific
“Uncommon valor was a common virtue”~ Admiral NimitzGeneral Le May orders B-29s to “firebomb”
Napalm firebombs controversial b/c of civilian casualties
War With Japan
Invasion of OkinawaAfter firebombing, Japan not ready to surrenderOkinawa seen as perfect spot from which to ready
invasion of the Japanese homelandJapanese take defensive position in mountains
Japanese want surrender with conditions, U.S. refusesNo surrender with Hirohito remaining in power
Manhattan Project may offer way out of invasionSzilard & Einstein petition FDRFDR commissions study of atomic energyOppenheimer leads bomb team at Los Alamos, NM
War draws to a close…
Truman faced with tough choice:Use a new weapon with unknown effects, orInvade Japan and lose countless American lives
Allies warn Japan of “prompt and utter destruction”Japan does not reply to request for surrender
August 6, 1945: B-29 Enola Gay drops “Little Boy” atomic bomb on Japanese city of Hiroshima
August 9, 1945: “Fat Man” dropped on NagasakiSoviet Union joined war earlier the same day
Japan surrenders six days later—V-J Day
Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Punishing The EnemyU.S., U.K., U.S.S.R., & France form
International Military Tribunal (IMT) to put Germans and Japanese leaders on trial for war crimes
Nuremberg Trials22 German leaders tried (3 freed, 7 imprisoned,
12 hanged)In Japan, Emperor Hirohito allowed to remain
in power18 Japanese imprisoned, 7 hanged
U.S. and U.K. hope to build a better world…