WWII – the End

Battle of stalingrad August 23, 1942 Germany suffered huge losses during the winter Stalin urged the city never to surrender Another winter set in – and the Soviets launched a successful counterattack Only 90,000 Germans surrendered/survived out of a 300,000 army 1 million Soviets died and the city of Stalingrad was destroyed

Allied victory in europe June 6, 1944 Under command of general Dwight D. Eisenhower, forces ready to attack on the beaches of Normandy (D-Day) Greatest land and sea attack in history Allies had huge casualties but eventually marched into Paris and liberated France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and much of the Netherlands

Battle of the bulge Allies advanced towards Germany from the West Soviets advanced towards Germany from the East Germany fighting a 2 front war March 1945 – Allies entered Germany Hitler married his girlfriend and then they both drank poison. He also shot himself. May 7, 1945 – Gen. Eisenhower accepts unconditional surrender from Germany V-E Day – Victory in Europe Day

Victory in the pacific Allies struggling against Japanese kamikaze – suicide pilots Victory at Iwo Jima and Okinawa President Truman demands Japan surrender or face a “rain of ruin from the air” Manhattan Project – the building of the atomic bomb Heavy decision based on calculation of lives lost if the Allies entered Japan

The Atomic bomb August 6, 1945 Japanese city of 350,000 HIROSHIMA NAGASAKI August 6, 1945 Japanese city of 350,000 About 70,000-80,000 killed immediately Radiation = more deaths August 9, 1945 City of 270,000 Killed 70,000 immediately Radiation = more deaths

Hiroshima: facts Ground temperatures: 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit Hurricane force winds: 980 mph Energy released: 20,000 tons of TNT Buildings destroyed: 62,000 Killed immediately: 70,000 Dead by end of 1945: 140,000 Total deaths: 210,000

Japanese surrender Official surrender Sept. 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri to General Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo Bay VJ Day

Destruction of wWII 40 million Europeans died 2/3 were civilians Billions of dollars in property damage London, Warsaw, Berlin all destroyed Civilians had no homes, food, jobs, cities Famine set in – Berlin 1945 – 4,000 citizens died a day

Reconstruction in germany February 1945 – U.S., Britain & Soviet Union met in Yalta Agreed to divide Germany and Berlin into zones of occupation, controlled by Allied forces The U.S. and Britain wanted to rebuild the German economy to help stabilize Europe Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak and divided

Western Berlin and Western Germany will become democratic due to the aid of W. Europe and the U.S. The West will also become an economic power in postwar Europe The East, controlled by Stalin will lag behind and become communist

Nuremberg trials Allies put Nazis on trial Nuremberg, Germany – 22 Nazi leaders were put on trial Charged with “crimes against humanity” 12 sentenced to death 11 hung and their bodies burned at Dachau – a concentration camp

The united nations 50 countries Goal – protect the members against aggression Based in New York Each nation could cast their vote on issues Security council – 5 permanent members Britain, China, France, U.S. & Soviet Union

Universal declaration of human rights Established and adopted by the United Nations The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was issued in 1948 to protect the dignity and rights of all people Provide a code of conduct for the treatment of people under the protection of their government

Reconstruction in japan 2 million died Atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki Tokyo, the capital, also destroyed Allies took away Japan’s colonial possessions August 15, 1945 – Emperor Hirohito made a radio address urging his people to stop fighting and begin reconstructing Japan Douglas MacArthur took charge of U.S. occupation in Japan

Began process of demilitarization MacArthur was determined to fairly control Japan but he needed to make sure his men were safe Began process of demilitarization Disbanded the Japanese army – eliminated aggressive abilities Brought war criminals to trial – Hideki Tojo was hung Created a “safe” Japan Promised Japan the U.S would keep them safe

Macarthur brings democracy & revives economy The U.S. helped the Japanese create a new constitution that went into effect May 3, 1947 Japan now had a Parliamentary Democracy like Britain Increased land ownership U.S. gave Japan 2 billion dollars Japan slowly began to emerge as a dominant economy in Asia