Battle of the Bulge and Iwo Jima The war draws to a close Battle of the Bulge and Iwo Jima

Allies Make Progress Hitler’s breaking of the Nazi-Soviet Pact became his downfall. Russian troops died by the millions, more than any country in the war. However, along with aid from the Russian winter, the Soviets stalled Hitler at Stalingrad. With the success of D-Day, and the Germans weakened from combat with the Soviets, the Allies began to take Europe.

Battle of the Bulge Hitler, sensing a defeat, organized a final attempt to take the port City of Antwerp, a key supply port for the Allies. December 16, 1944, Hitler sends a large concentration of his soldiers into the snow covered Ardennes Forest to push toward Antwerp.

Battle of the Bulge (continued) German troops caught the Americans off guard, and penetrated the lines, creating a “bulge” Within the lines, the 101st Airborne Division found itself surrounded at Bastogne. When the German generals demanded them to surrender, General McAuliffe replied with one word “Nuts.” The group held out until reinforcements from General Patton’s 3rd Army Arrived, ending Hitler’s last offensive.

V-E Day!!! With the Nazis weakening, Americans and Soviets alike pushed for Berlin, reaching it in April, 1945. That same month, the stress of 3+ consecutive terms in office of depression and war, along with his Polio, caught up with FDR. He died April 12, 1945. Hitler, fearing his final outcome, married Eva Braun, and on April 30, committed suicide in a Berlin bunker. May 7, 1945, German government unconditionally surrenders. May 8, declared V-E (Victory in Europe)Day

Japan Becomes Desperate Due to the determination of the Japanese government and people, the defeat of Japan became more and more costly. Japanese did not accept defeat, nor surrender. Would often commit suicide rather than dishonor themselves. Resulted in tactics such as kamikaze

Iwo Jima American control over the Pacific Empire grew stronger as the war continued. America needed an island, Iwo Jima, for damaged planes returning from Japan. This was the first part of what was originally considered Japan that American soldiers stepped foot on. For 25 days, the Japanese fought mercilessly, killing over 4,000 Americans, making this one of the bloodiest per day battles.