Chapter 24 Section 5 The United States in World War II Riddlebarger World War II Ends http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_over_Japan_Day Life mag Chapter 24 Section 5 The United States in World War II Riddlebarger

Winning the War In Europe Battle of the Bulge saw 80,OOO Allied casualties Germans fared worse Crushing defeat for Germans

The Yalta Conference FDR wins 4th term in 1944. Conference in Yalta of the Big Three: FDR, Churchill, Stalin Meet to make plans for end of war & peace

Yalta Key goal was what to do with soon-to-be defeated Germany Agree to divide it into 4 zones U.S., Britain, Soviets & France each get a zone to occupy. Eastern Europe/Stalin promise Berlin (German capital) also divided. Conference was tense despite Allied alliance as a divide is growing between Soviets and other Allies.

Crossing the Rhine Rhine River is key psychological barrier to Germans Hitler orders troops to make a stand there Once Allies cross Rhine, they are able to capture 750,000 German soldiers.

Green: Front Line May 7 Red: Soviet attacks Blue: Western Allied attacks

Resistance Weakens German resistance weakens after Rhine is crossed. Eisenhower’s forces move rapidly through Germany April 12, 1945: FDR dies Vice President Harry S. Truman succeeds him.

Hitler’s Death German resistance continues to crumble in final weeks of April ‘45 Berlin is under heavy bombing April 30: Hitler commits suicide.

V-E Day As word of Hitler’s death spreads, fighting comes to a halt. May 8, 1945: Germany surrenders V-E Day (victory in Europe) Celebrations erupt Top: Times Square in NY Bottom: Churchill

Winning the War In the Pacific Allied capture of Okinawa comes at a terrible cost Experience of fighting Japanese makes many dread possible invasion of Japan Enormous costs Estimated 1 million casualties

Japan Continues Fighting Some hope to force surrender with blockade or heavy bombing. Fire-bombing of Japanese cities fails to bring peace 1st raid killed 84,000 in Tokyo and destroyed 270,000 buildings. wiki

Tokyo Firebombing

The Atomic Bomb Manhattan Project has atomic bomb ready by summer 1945 Pres. Truman now must decide whether to use it. Where? Should the Japanese be warned?

Debate Over Bomb Truman decides to use it No warning given but demand for Japanese surrender. After no response, 1st bomb is dropped on Hiroshima Aug. 6, 1945: B-29 bomber Enola Gay delivers bomb

Hiroshima

Nagasaki Hiroshima leaves Japanese take no action to end war. 80,000 dead instantly 35,000 injured 2/3 buildings destroyed Fires raging everywhere Japanese take no action to end war. Aug. 9th: U.S. drops another a-bomb on Nagasaki Aug.15th: Japan surrenders V-J Day

The United Nations Winning the war took a huge effort but peace will bring its own challenges. United Nations created after war to encourage cooperation among nations & prevent future wars. Weakness? Ability to enforce is a weakness

The Potsdam Conference Growing American concern of spread of communism & growing Soviet influence in post-war world Apparent at this meeting that Stalin is not going to live up to agreements at Yalta

Rebuilding Europe & Japan MacArthur heads effort in Japan to create democratic government & rebuild nation’s economy Japanese leaders will be punished for war crimes. Effort to re-build Europe will result in increasing tensions with Soviet Union.