1. THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OF THE AXIS POWERS

3.  Benito Mussolini was on the run as the Allies defeated the Italian and German forces.  Mussolini tried to escape to Switzerland.  He was captured and killed by Italian partisans on April 28, 1945.

5.  During the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt showed signs that his health was failing.  On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died.  Harry Truman became Roosevelt’s successor.

8.  APRIL 30, 1945 – ADOLF HITLER COMMITTED SUICIDE IN HIS BERLIN BUNKER  MAY 2, 1945 – BERLIN FELL TO THE SOVIETS  MAY 7, 1945 – GERMANY SURRENDERED TO THE ALLIES  MAY 8, 1945 – V-E DAY (VICTORY IN EUROPE)

11.  July 17 to August 2, 1945  Truman(USA), Stalin(USSR), Churchill(Britain, replaced by Clement Attlee)  Met to discuss the occupation of Germany, borders of Poland, occupation of Austria, and the Soviet Union’s role in Eastern European Government.  Truman told Stalin the USA had tested a super weapon that would be used on Japan.  Stalin said that he already knew.

14.  ‘island hopping’, USA strategy to deal with the Japanese Empire.  Manhattan Project- secret US plan to build an atomic bomb.  BUSHIDO-’death before dishonor’. As the Allies come to understand the implications of this philosophy, the atomic bomb becomes a possible option.

15.  JULY 16, 1945 – THE USA SUCCESSFULLY EXPLODED THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB (THE GADGET) AT ALAMAGORDO, NEW MEXICO.  AUGUST 6, 1945 – THE JAPANESE CITY OF HIROSHIMA WAS DESTROYED BY AN ATOMIC BOMB STRIKE (ENOLA GAY, PAUL TIBBITS, LITTLE BOY).

20.  AUGUST 9, 1945 – THE JAPANESE CITY OF NAGASAKI WAS DESTROYED BY THE SECOND ATOMIC BOMB STRIKE FROM THE USA(BOCKSCAR, CHARLES SWEENEY, FAT MAN).  AUGUST 14, 1945 – JAPAN ASKED FOR A CEASEFIRE.  SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 – JAPAN SURRENDERED TO THE ALLIES, V-J DAY (VICTORY IN JAPAN), WW II ENDED.