Events and Ideas #9 The End of WWII U.S. History Unit 5

Reflection: This is the last PowerPoint of this unit and as it is said, “hindsight is 20/20.” Take a minute to reflect on the decisions made before and during the war. What things did the United States do right? What should the United States have done differently? Explain you answers – minimum of five sentences

On the Western Front Following the victory at the Battle of the Bulge the Allies launched an attack all along the Western front March 1945 American troops cross the Rhine River into Germany. By April German defenses crumbled and American forces close within 70 miles of Berlin. U.S. troops crossing the Rhine

On the Eastern Front The Soviets began a massive attack on German troops in Russia The Soviet troops moved through Poland into Germany By April the Soviets reached the outskirts of Berlin.

Soviet soldiers hoist their flag at the pinnacle of the Reichstag Germany Surrenders On April 30th with the Soviet troops one mile from his bunker, Hitler committed suicide. On May 7th 1945, Germany surrendered. President Roosevelt did not live to see the defeat of Germany. He died of a stroke April 12th, 25 days before the end of the war in Europe. Soviet soldiers hoist their flag at the pinnacle of the Reichstag

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman had been Vice President for 82 days when Roosevelt died. Like most Americans, he knew nothing about the Manhattan Project. On the day he was put in office he was informed of the secret project. Truman being sworn into office

Ultimatum given to Japan June 22, 1945 U.S. forces capture the island of Okinawa. The U.S. now has control of an island 350 miles from the main land of Japan. Operation Downfall could now be put into play. On July 26, 1945, The U.S. issued the Potsdam Declaration which outlined the terms of surrender by the Japanese Potsdam Declaration signed by Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, and Chiang Kia Sheik

Operation Downfall or Atomic Bombs? In August Japan refused the terms of Potsdam Declaration. The U.S. wanted unconditional surrender and the Japanese wanted the Emperor to remain in power. Truman now needed to decide whether to go ahead with Operation Downfall or to use atomic bombs.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Rather than risk more American lives in an invasion, Truman issues the order to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6th . The Japanese still did not surrender. Truman then issues an order for another bomb to be dropped on Aug. 9th. It is dropped on Nagasaki.

Soviet Union Declares War on Japan In all, 200,000 Japanese die and more than 100,000 buildings are destroyed when the atomic bombs were dropped. On the same day the bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, the Soviet Union declares war on Japan. On Aug. 15th Japan surrenders.

The End of the War Hitler and Mussolini are dead, and Hirohito is just a figure head with the United States Japan. The Second World War is over. The world leaders, Truman, Churchill, and Stalin set the terms of peace.

In the End… The total estimated human loss of life caused by World War II was roughly 72 million people. The civilian toll was around 47 million, including 20 million deaths due to war related famine and disease. The military toll was about 25 million, including the deaths of about 4 million prisoners of war in captivity. The Allies lost about 61 million people, and the Axis lost 11 million.

The question will always remain: Was it worth it?

Reflection: This is the last PowerPoint of this unit and as it is said, “hindsight is 20/20.” Take a minute to reflect on the decisions made before and during the war. What things did the United States do right? What should the United States have done differently? Explain you answers – minimum of five sentences