1. The War Ends

2. The Third Reich Collapses Battle of the Bulge – Winter of ’44 & early ‘45 – Antwerp, Belgium/Cut off supplies – Hitler’s last attempt – Capture Bastogne – Allied aircraft began hitting German fuel depots – Lasted more than 3 weeks – German losses: 100,000 causalities & several tanks & aircraft Little protection left

4. V-E Day “Victory in Europe” American & British forces – Liberate France Soviet forces – Massive attack on Germans in Russia – February 1945, 35 miles from Berlin Together: – Germany attacked on both fronts – Rhine River Hitler commits suicide April, 1945 – Doenitz surrendered May 7, 1945 – V-E Day May 8, 1945 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV-go1cuzgE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV-go1cuzgE

5. Ludendorff Bridge Across the Rhine

6. Japan is Defeated April 12, 1945 – Harry S. Truman replaces FDR – War still raging with Japan Invading Japan – Location of Japan – B-29s – Iwo Jima Rugged terrain Rocky cliffs Concrete bunkers February 19, 1945 Marines died with greatest violence “…uncommon valor was a common virtue.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y0gdFisD9k

8. Firebombing Japan B-29s missing targets – Napalm – Controversial – Effort to destroy war production – March, 1945 – 67 Japanese cities – No signs of surrendering – Invade Okinawa Closer & bigger May, 1945 Captured by June, 1945 Emperor urged his government to surrender

9. Manhattan Project 1938 Leo Szilard learned that German scientist had split the uranium atom Convinced Einstein to sign a letter to President Roosevelt Skeptical until 1941/met with British Leslie Groves & Robert Oppenheimer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfEMnx-Nz-w&feature=fvwrel

10. Decision to Drop the Bomb Mixed feelings Truman – His duty as president to use every available weapon August 6th, 1945 – B-29 Bomber Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima – 120,000 people died instantly August 9 th – “Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki – 35,000-74,000 died instantly – Continuous radiation deaths August 15, V-J Day

11. United Nations 1944, 39 countries met General Assembly – Everyone would have one vote Security Council – 11 members International peace and security Can use military force to uphold resolutions – 5 permanent members G.B, U.S., France, China and Russia Veto Power Charter created in April, 1945 – Could investigate any international problem

12. Putting the Enemy on Trial Allied forces created the International Military Tribunal (IMT) Nuremburg Trials in Nuremburg, Germany, IMT put leaders suspected of war crimes on trial Sentenced to death by hanging Prison sentences Similar trials in Tokyo Part of the plan to create a better world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsOpcMFkrFs