End of Hitler and Third Reich Apr-May 1945

APRIL-MAY 1945 The Fall of Hitler and the Third Reich

German Failures Mount After the Battle of the Bulge, Germany is on the defensiveBattle of the Bulge Fighting in the Ardennes

The Reich in its Death Throws Hitler relies on technology to save Germany This includes the V1 and the V2, which were aimed at London  First V1 launched toward London one week after the D-Day landings Rocket Launch Sites

Turning to Technology The V1 rocket is considered a “guided” weapon  Vergeltungswaffe (Retaliation weapon 1)  Mostly it was pointed in a direction and could accurately hit a city, not a target within a city Prisoners in concentration camps often assembled the rockets that prolonged the war

Turning to Technology V2 Rocket  Vergeltungswaffe (Retaliation weapon 2)  Worlds first long range ballistic missile An estimated concentration camp prisoners died making the weapon that killed an estimated 9000 British

Launch Failures Video Link

Last Hope Nazis tried to create a nuclear weapon, but were not fast enough  Nazi politicization of academia drove many out of Germany and Jewish scientists were purged from Germany hindering Nazi attempts at developing an atomic weapon Hitler’s scientists created new jet fighters Hitler orders the defense of Germany to the last man

ME-62 Jet Fighter LINK

The Final Weeks On Nov. 20 th, 1944, Hitler retreats from his headquarters at Rastenburg and goes to Berlin  He will not leave Berlin ever again On Feb 4 th 1945, Allies meet at Yalta to discuss post-war plans Allies allow Soviets to enter Berlin first

Fall of Berlin Soviets begin their assault on Berlin April 16 th, 1945 Hitler commits suicide April 30 th, 1945 and the Soviets occupy the Reichstag that night Hitler shot himself; his wife of one day used cyanide and he poisoned his dogs

Results General Alfred Jodl signs the surrender for all German forces May 7 th 1945 WW II is over in Europe Nazi war crimes revealed Many top Nazi leaders will be put on trial at Nuremberg More will be hunted for decades Will lay foundations for Cold War

Cold War Begins

Operation Paperclip LINK