1. Battle of the Bulge
Time: Dec. 16, Mid January 1945
Location: Ardennes Forest (Belgium)
Participants: U.S., Canada, British vs. Germany

2. Seemed like an absurd idea
Hitler was convinced that Allies alliance in the west was not strong
Initially, Germans had success (weather, fog, and snow)
But lack of supplies would eventually doom the Germans

3. The bodies of 81 American soldiers killed by Waffen SS troops, Dec
The bodies of 81 American soldiers killed by Waffen SS troops, Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge near the Belgian town of Malmedy. (Photo credit: U.S. Army)

4. Outcome
The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle fought by the Americans in World War Two.
600,000 American troops were involved in the battle
American casualties - 81,000 men
German casualties - 100,000 men
Could the Germans have won the battle?
Almost Certainly NOT - one huge problem – NO FUEL
Any form of armored attack needed a constant supply of fuel – and Allied bombing of fuel plants in Germany meant that such supplies did not exist.
German Generals even believed this offensive was too ambitious
Last major offensive attack by the Germans

5. U.S. soldiers taking defensive positions in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge

6. Germany Surrenders
By Jan. 1945, The Soviet Army reached the outskirts of Berlin, Germany
U.S. and British soldiers crossed the Rhine river and into Germany (50 miles outside of Berlin)
On April 29, Hitler, shaken by tremors and paranoid from drugs, marries Eva Braun.

7. Eva Braun, Hitler, and Blondi Eva Braun and Hitler in “The Bunker”
Happily ever after…
Eva Braun, Hitler, and Blondi
Eva Braun and Hitler in “The Bunker”

8. On April 30th, Eva Braun and Hitler commit suicide
-With the Soviets closing in…
Shortly after lunch, Hitler orders Blondi and her pups to be poisoned.
He and Eva retire to their private room in the bunker and committed suicide
Both took Cyanide and Hitler shot himself in the head

9. VE Day: On May 7, 1945 Germany surrendered.
On May 8, the allies accepted, creating VE-Day
VE Day – “Victory in Europe” The day the Germans surrendered ending the war in Europe

10. FDR Passes April 12, 1945 FDR dies of an aneurism
In Warm Springs, Ga (with his mistress)
Harry S. Truman replaces FDR as President
Would lead the U.S. to the end of the War

11. Battles against the Japanese

15. By January 1942…
The Japanese had taken control of:
1. Hong Kong and Singapore
2. Thailand, Burma, Guam and the Wake Island
3. They even captured U.S. owned Aleutian Islands of Kiska and Attu (near Alaska)
4. They also invaded the Philippines (also U.S. owned)

16. Philippines
Douglas MacArthur- U.S. General in charge of U.S. forces in the Pacific.
Decided to take their stand against Japan in the Philippines.
However, they were quickly overrun by the Japanese and President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to retreat to Australia
MacArthur declares “I shall return” before leaving

17. Bataan Death March
Remaining U.S. and Filipino units were captured by the Japanese and became prisoners
65 mile forced march by 70,000 prisoners to Japanese prison camps
Prisoners were often treated harshly by the Japanese military

18. Battle of the Coral Sea
Led by Admiral Chester Nimitz
The U.S. had broke Japanese Naval codes
Intercept the Japanese on their way to New Guinea
1st time in the war that the U.S. defeated the Japanese advances

19. Battle of Midway
Midway Islands was an important chain of islands that the U.S. used as a refueling station
Only fought with Carrier based Airplanes
U.S. Navy sank 4 Japanese carriers while only losing 1
After Midway, the Japanese Navy was on the defensive for the rest of the war

20. Shush Ne-ahs-jah Tsah-as-zih
What language is this?
What does this say/mean?
Why do people use Codes?
This is a message written in the Navajo language used by the Navajo Code Talkers
Shush = bear = “B”
Ne-ahs-jah = owl “O”
Tsah – as –zih = yucca = “Y”
The code means “BOY”

21. Navajo Code Talkers
Navajo Indians who communicated with a secret code as Marine Radio Specialist
The Navajo language is extremely complicating and it’s not a written language
At the time of WWII, there were fewer than 30 Non-Navajos who spoke the language fluently

22. Battle of Leyte Gulf
General MacArthur planned to take back the Philippines (“I shall return”)
Largest Naval battle in History
Allies win, greatly reducing the strength of the Japanese fleet
Shortly after the battle, MacArthur came ashore on Leyte, keeping his promise

23. Finishing the war…
By spring 1945, the war against Japan entered it’s final phase.
U.S. began air raids of Tokyo (Japan’s capital)
Battles became more intense the closer the U.S. got to the mainland:
Kamikaze – tactic of Japanese pilots deliberately crashing their plane into American ships

24. Closer to Japan
Battles became more intense the closer the U.S. got to the mainland:
1. Iwo Jima – 36 day battle for control of an airstrip . 7,000 U.S. casualties. 22,000 Japanese casualties
2. Battle of Okinawa – Japanese used a Kamikazes – deadly tactic of crashing piloted planes into allied ships.
(110, 000 Japanese soldier died in Okinawa)