Section IV: The End of World War IISection IV: The End of World War II(Pages 678-681)(Pages 678-681)

Section IV: The End of World War IISection IV: The End of World War II(Pages 678-681)(Pages 678-681)

This section is about:This section is about: How the Allied troops How the Allied troops

gained strength from the gained strength from the entrance of American entrance of American troops into the war.troops into the war.

The end of the war in The end of the war in Europe and the discovery Europe and the discovery of the concentration of the concentration camps.camps.

How the war in the How the war in the Pacific ended when the Pacific ended when the United States dropped United States dropped two atomic bombs.two atomic bombs.

There are three famous There are three famous pictures in this section pictures in this section – one on each page – one on each page (678, 679, and 680).(678, 679, and 680).

Look at the chart on Look at the chart on page 681.page 681.

And, the main ideas on And, the main ideas on page 678.page 678.

Americans Shift the Balance in EuropeAmericans Shift the Balance in EuropeThe Tide Begins to Turn in EuropeThe Tide Begins to Turn in Europe

In December, 1941: Hitler In December, 1941: Hitler controlled most of Europe.controlled most of Europe.

But, the balance of power But, the balance of power changed when America changed when America entered the war.entered the war.

By November, 1942: British By November, 1942: British and American troops (under and American troops (under General Eisenhower) had General Eisenhower) had invaded North Africa, and then invaded North Africa, and then Tunisia.Tunisia.

They then turned towards Italy They then turned towards Italy and soon forced Mussolini from and soon forced Mussolini from power (but the German troops power (but the German troops in Italy kept fighting).in Italy kept fighting).

About the same time, the About the same time, the Soviets began to push the Soviets began to push the Germans out of the USSR (in Germans out of the USSR (in the Battle of Stalingrad, the the Battle of Stalingrad, the Germans lost 300,000 troops).Germans lost 300,000 troops).

D-DayD-Day The Allies made secret plans to The Allies made secret plans to

attack the Germans (not even attack the Germans (not even the commanders the commanders ““in the fieldin the field”” new of specifically when and new of specifically when and where).where).

The plan was to attack at The plan was to attack at smaller ports and not the large smaller ports and not the large cities.cities.

June 6June 6thth, 1944: , 1944: D-DayD-Day: 150,000 : 150,000 Allied troops invaded the Allied troops invaded the beaches of Normandy, France beaches of Normandy, France (under (under General Dwight General Dwight EisenhowerEisenhower).).

Many of the first soldiers were Many of the first soldiers were killed by German machine guns killed by German machine guns overlooking the beaches, but the overlooking the beaches, but the Allies kept coming – eventually Allies kept coming – eventually with success.with success.

Within a month, 1,000,000 Allied Within a month, 1,000,000 Allied troops were in France/Europe.troops were in France/Europe.

The War in Europe EndsThe War in Europe Ends

The Allied invasion The Allied invasion at Normandy was at Normandy was the beginning of the the beginning of the end for Hitler.end for Hitler.

Germany now had to Germany now had to fight on 2 fronts and fight on 2 fronts and their forces were their forces were spread too thin.spread too thin.

Allied victory was in Allied victory was in sight.sight.

The Horrors of WarThe Horrors of War

As Allied troops crossed into As Allied troops crossed into Europe, they began to see Europe, they began to see the horrible parts of Hitlerthe horrible parts of Hitler’’s s rule.rule.

This included the This included the concentration camps that concentration camps that held political prisoners, and held political prisoners, and members of certain racial members of certain racial and ethnic groups.and ethnic groups.

There were more than 300 There were more than 300 of these camps (Auschwitz, of these camps (Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau, etc…)Buchenwald, Dachau, etc…)

This is where HitlerThis is where Hitler’’s plan of s plan of genocidegenocide was to be carried was to be carried out.out.

We know it as the We know it as the HolocaustHolocaust..

(killing a group of people because of their race/religion)

Victory in EuropeVictory in Europe

The Allies kept advancing.The Allies kept advancing. The Germans did put up one final The Germans did put up one final

surprise attack at surprise attack at ““the Battle of the Battle of the Bulgethe Bulge”” but the Allies but the Allies eventually won the battle.eventually won the battle.

Soviet troops kept pushing Soviet troops kept pushing forward from the other side and forward from the other side and eventually had Berlin eventually had Berlin surrounded. On April 30surrounded. On April 30thth, Hitler , Hitler killed himself and one week later, killed himself and one week later, Germany surrendered.Germany surrendered.

Unfortunately, President Unfortunately, President Roosevelt had died on April 12Roosevelt had died on April 12thth (stroke).(stroke).

The Day of the surrender is The Day of the surrender is called called V-E Day V-E Day (victory in (victory in Europe).Europe).

The Conferences at The Conferences at Yalta and Yalta and PotsdamPotsdam

Even before V-E day, the Even before V-E day, the leaders of the Allied leaders of the Allied nations knew they were nations knew they were going to win.going to win.

In Feb. 1945, Churchill, In Feb. 1945, Churchill, Stalin, and FDR met in Stalin, and FDR met in Yalta, Russia to discuss Yalta, Russia to discuss peace and plans for ending peace and plans for ending the war.the war.

FDR asked Stalin to help in FDR asked Stalin to help in the Pacific. Stalin said he the Pacific. Stalin said he would if he got to control would if he got to control Eastern Europe after the Eastern Europe after the war.war.

Another conference Another conference was held in Potsdam, was held in Potsdam, Germany to discuss Germany to discuss plans for peace.plans for peace.

President Harry President Harry TrumanTruman (FDR died) (FDR died) agreed with Churchill agreed with Churchill and Stalin to divide and Stalin to divide Germany into 4 zones, Germany into 4 zones, with each (and France) with each (and France) controlling one).controlling one).

Truman also told them Truman also told them he was considering he was considering dropping a big bomb dropping a big bomb on Japan.on Japan.

The War in the PacificThe War in the Pacific

After Midway, the U.S. After Midway, the U.S. began a plan called began a plan called ““island island hopping.hopping.””

They would only attack They would only attack some of the islands at a some of the islands at a time.time.

Most of these battles were Most of these battles were bloody and costly but the bloody and costly but the Americans usually fought Americans usually fought off the resistance off the resistance (Guadalcanal, New Guiney, (Guadalcanal, New Guiney, Guam, Guam, Iwo JimaIwo Jima, etc…)., etc…).

The Japanese refused to The Japanese refused to surrender (it was thought to surrender (it was thought to be shameful to give up).be shameful to give up).

Truman Faces a Difficult Truman Faces a Difficult ChoiceChoice

When Truman took over for When Truman took over for Roosevelt, he was told Roosevelt, he was told about about ““the Manhattan the Manhattan ProjectProject..””

This was a This was a secret plan to secret plan to build a build a nuclear weaponnuclear weapon..

Scientists had been working Scientists had been working under strict secrecy – in under strict secrecy – in Chicago and New Mexico – Chicago and New Mexico – where it was tested.where it was tested.

When some of the scientists When some of the scientists found out how powerful this found out how powerful this bomb really was, they wrote bomb really was, they wrote a letter to President Truman a letter to President Truman – asking him not to use it.– asking him not to use it.

Truman knew the next Truman knew the next step in the war in the step in the war in the Pacific was to actually Pacific was to actually go and attack Japan.go and attack Japan.

If he did this, it was If he did this, it was estimated that 250,000 estimated that 250,000 Americans would die – Americans would die – and as many as and as many as 1,000,000 Japanese.1,000,000 Japanese.

If he used it, it also If he used it, it also meant Stalin wouldnmeant Stalin wouldn’’t t invade Japan and take invade Japan and take Pacific islands for the Pacific islands for the USSR.USSR.

Nuclear WarNuclear War Truman sent the Japanese Truman sent the Japanese

a message: “Surrender or a message: “Surrender or be destroyed.be destroyed.””

The Japanese ignored the The Japanese ignored the message.message.

On August 6On August 6thth, 1945, an , 1945, an atomic atomic bombbomb was dropped was dropped on on Hiroshima.Hiroshima.

Three days later, on Three days later, on NagasakiNagasaki..

Both cities were Both cities were completely destroyed.completely destroyed.

The world was amazed at The world was amazed at the power of one bomb.the power of one bomb.

On August 15On August 15thth, the , the Japanese Japanese emperoremperor spoke to spoke to the Japanese people (for the Japanese people (for the first time ever).the first time ever).

He announced the He announced the surrender of Japan.surrender of Japan.

The Effects of the WarThe Effects of the War The destruction and The destruction and

violence of WWII affected violence of WWII affected Europe for a long time.Europe for a long time.

Millions were homeless and Millions were homeless and diseased.diseased.

Survivors from prison camps Survivors from prison camps wandered around looking wandered around looking for….for….

European nations had no European nations had no ““neighborsneighbors”” who could help. who could help.

More than 50 million people More than 50 million people around the world had died.around the world had died.

…………………………………………..

There was an There was an agreement among the agreement among the Allies to hold trials of Allies to hold trials of war leaders who had war leaders who had ““committed crimes committed crimes against humanity.against humanity.””

142 of 177 Germans 142 of 177 Germans and Austrians were and Austrians were found guilty.found guilty.

One of the more famous One of the more famous trials was at trials was at Nuremberg.Nuremberg.

In Tokyo, seven In Tokyo, seven defendants were found defendants were found guilty and were guilty and were executed, including executed, including former premier Hideki former premier Hideki Tojo.Tojo.

Nazi defendants at Nuremberg