The Race to Berlin A brief time line

Yalta Conference February , 1945 The Big Three met to discuss the end of the war. The Big Three were (seated from L to R) Churchill (Brit) FDR (USA) Stalin USSR)

It was decided that Germany would be divided in to 4 zones & occupied by Britain, France, USA & USSR.

It was also decided that 3 months after the fall of Germany, the Soviet Union would join the war effort against Japan.

Difference between USA and USSR… As the US soldiers advanced they liberated, As the Soviets advanced, they occupied.

April 12, 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) died of a stroke just a few months into the 4th term of his presidency.

Harry S. Truman Sworn in as 33rd president following FDR’s death FDR and Truman had NOT been close FDR had told him almost nothing about foreign policy Result Truman was very in the dark about many things as he took office BUT, he did know about the nuclear weapons program (Manhattan Project) but not in detail.

April 28, 1945 Benito Mussolini killed by citizens as he tried to escape Italy.

April 30, 1945 Adolf Hitler commits suicide

May 8, 1945 V-E Day The German High Command surrenders to the Allies

As the Allies advanced, they moved south and met up with the Soviets at the Elbe River on April 25th,1945.