The Battle of Berlin

1. The Battle of Berlin • Due to poor tactics of the German forces (many made by Hitler), and the overwhelming pressure of the Allied Force, the German army was pushed back into the Heart of Germany. • The final battle in the War was a Soviet offensive on Berlin. • In January, 1945, Soviet troops were pushing German troops back nearly 40 kilometers per day. • By the time they reached Berlin, the last push to capture the capital was April 20, 1945 • 1 million Soviet troops and 20,000 tanks/artillery were used to break “the Gates of Berlin” • Berlin would be encircled, causing German forces to enlist all able bodied men.

2. Losing • After realizing the impending doom, on April 20, 1945 it is said Hitler went into a tearful rage, declaring that the war was lost; he blamed the generals and announced that he would stay in Berlin until the end and then kill himself. • he wished to save himself from the fate that Mussolini faced in Italy

3. Surrender • 1.5 million troops would surrender on the Western Front in April; 800,000 on the Eastern Front • Captured German soldiers were declassified as Prisoners of War (POW) to Disarmed Enemy Forces, which lessened the required care • Thousands of German soldiers would die of starvation, exposure and disease.

4. Berlin surrendered on May 2, 1945; May 8, V-E (Victory in Europe) day, with the unconditional surrender of German forces. • In the terms of surrender: "The UK, US and Soviet Union shall possess supreme authority with respect to Germany. In the exercise of such authority they will take such steps, including the complete dismemberment of Germany, as they deem requisite for future peace and security.“ • Allies would plan post war government in Germany and resettle territory that had been gained and lost • Germany would be divided between West (USA and Allies; with a capitalist economy) and East (Soviet; with a Marxist/communist economy/government) • Berlin would also be divided.

5. Death of the Dictators • April 27, 1945, allied forces close in on Milan and Italian Partisans capture Benito Mussolini (dictator of Italy) • April 28, Mussolini is executed and taken to Milan to be hung at the PiazzaleLeroto (City square) • April 30, 1945, realizing that all was lost and not wishing to suffer Mussolini's fate, Hitler and his partner (Eva Braun) supposedly committed suicide by cyanide at his “Fuhrerbunker” in Berlin. • His wishes were to be doused in petrol and burned after his suicide • Remains were collected by Russia and then disposed of in the 1980s? • The remains became questionable, as many needed proof that they were actually Hitler’s remains • Conspiracy theories believe he fled to South America (Brazil/Argentina)? • A butcher who resembled Hitler was sent to Berlin instead, while Hitler stayed at his home in Austria to escape?

6. Consider the Following…. • Conspiracy theories aside, why would Hitler kill himself? • Why would he want his body burned after his suicide? • Why wouldn’t he submit to being captured instead?

7. Iron Curtain – A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the separating of Those communist lands of East Europe from the West. Divided Germany

8. Improve your knowledge Divided Berlin • The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.

9. Nuclear Armament • Japan and the USA were also still fighting in the Pacific • The War I the Pacific would continue past the surrender of Germany • By August 1945, Japan had been pushed far back from its conquered territory in Southeast Asia, Midway, etc. • The US was planning the final attack • On August 6, 1945, the US Airforce would drop an Atomic Bomb (called “Little Boy”) was dropped on the city, Hiroshima • On August 9, 1945, they dropped “Fat Man” on the city Nagasaki • Initial deaths were 126,000; deaths related to the bomb after effects would be nearly the same number. • This is the first, and only use of nuclear weapons in human history, and forever changed global geopolitics • Japan formally surrendered on August 15, 1945 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t19kvUiHvAE

10. Improve your knowledge • The nuclear bomb gave America a lead which was expected to last at least 5 years. The rapid Russian development of nuclear technology, helped by the work of the “atom spies” was a shock.Significantly, Russia hurriedly declared war against Japan at the beginning of August 1945 and rushed to advance into Asia to stake out a position for the post-war settlement. This helped make both the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts more likely.

11. Consider the Following…. • Did the US have any other options other than dropping the Atomic Bomb? • What are the ethics of unleashing this weapon? • How has that event shaped our modern World?

12. The Cold War 1945-1991

13. The Cold War • Following WWII the US and the USSR emerge as the 2 super powers on the globe, and would continue to be such until of the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 • Each Power deplored the other, and had been allies only due to the common threat • Even before the fall of Germany they were racing each other to get to Berlin because of their lack of trust of the other side, and wanting to secure as much of conquered Germany as possible for themselves

14. What was the Cold War? • The Cold War was a time after WWII when the USA and the Soviet Union were rivals for world influence. • It was a battle of ideologies played out through politics and warfare • It was characterized by a nuclear arms race between the two Super Powers and involvement (sometimes direct, sometimes indirect) in many conflicts with the threat of global destruction through nuclear warfare omnipresent

15. Pre Cold War Distrust • US • Communism antithesis of Democracy/Freedom/Capitalism • Stalin’s Purges • Non-Aggression Pact • USSR emphasis on Worldwide communism • USSR • US attempted to undo Revolution • Delayed attack on Western Front during WWII • Believes peace will come from worldwide communism

16. NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization USA, France, Great Britain, West Germany CAPITALISM Warsaw Pact – pro Soviet countries – USSR, and all countries controlled by the USSR. COMMUNISM Alliances

17. NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization

20. The Ideological Struggle Soviet & Eastern Bloc[“INationsron Curtain”] US & the Western Democracies GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world. GOAL spread world-wide Communism

21. METHODOLOGIES: • Espionage [KGB vs. CIA] • Arms Race [nuclear escalation] • Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy]  “proxy wars” • Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

22. United States 1946 • Churchill Warns of an “Iron Curtain” in Europe • Stalin calls speech an act of war, beginning of the Cold War

23. The “Iron Curtain” From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe.-- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946

24. The Road to the Iron Curtain • Soviets reached Berlin first (Hitler found dead in bunker—a suicide) • Victory in Europe(V-E Day) proclaimed May 8, 1945 • War in Europe finally over after nearly six years, both Europe and Asia in ruins • Tens of millions dead; heaviest losses in Eastern Europe • Germany, Japan, and China had also suffered greatly • Physical devastation; cities, villages, and farms destroyed • National economies near collapse • Millions uprooted • former prisoners of war, survivors of concentration camps, refugees of fighting and of national border changes

25. Atlantic Charter (1941) • Joint declaration of Churchill and Roosevelt • Outlined purpose of war (to provide freedom from fear) • Sought no territorial gains • All nations could choose their own government • Work for mutual prosperity

26. Tehran Conference • December 1943 • Big 3- Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin • Agreed on schedule for D-Day invasion • Would work together in peace after the war (United Nations was tentatively agreed on)

27. Yalta Conference 1945 • Big 3 – Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin • Allies were on the brink of victory • Goal: agreement on postwar Europe • Germany Split into 4 Occupied Zones • Stalin got his way with Eastern Europe because the Soviet Union had suffered terribly (20 million died) • Agreement to create United Nations

28. YALTA (in the USSR) Date: Feb 1945 Present: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin

29. Potsdam- 1945 • Big 3 – Truman, Churchill / Atlee, Stalin • Meeting more tense (Truman’s style, plus knowledge of da bomb) • Presses Stalin for free elections in Eastern Europe • Disagreements over “spheres of influence” • Stalin has less bargaining power. • Stalin later gives speech saying Capitalism and Communism cannot exist in same world • Cold War begins.

30. POTSDAM (Germany) Date: July 1945 Present: Churchill, Truman and Stalin

31. Potsdam .

32. Iron Curtain – A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the separating of Those communist lands of East Europe from the West. Divided Germany

34. The “Iron Curtain” • Potsdam conference ended with little agreement over key issues. • Stalin continued to influence Eastern European nations and by 1946 Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania all had Communist governments. • Churchill described it as an iron-curtain, the name stuck.

35. Sort the following keywords into two groups. Communism & Capitalism • Freedom • Collective • Equality • Individual • Community • Totalitarian • Democratic • Free competition • State-owned • private

36. What Are Capitalism & Communism? • Both are ideologies (a set of beliefs) • Both talk about the economy and how the economy should run • Capitalism: • Little government involvement in the economy • Let people decide what to do with their money • INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IS THE FOCUS • Communism: • Lots of government involvement in the economy • Government decides what is best for everybody • EQUALITY IS THE FOCUS

40. Who knew tape could be so useful… • A) In capitalism, you can choose between several different types of tape to fit your needs (for example, the “scrapbooking” tape). In communism, there is only one type of tape. • B) In capitalism, you must earn enough money to purchase tape aside from rent, food, and other necessities. In communism, you would receive free tape and housing, food, and other necessities.

41. C) In capitalism, you can buy as much tape as you want to. In communism, you would only be allowed to have, for example, one roll each year. • D) In capitalism, you can create your own tape company, even invent a new type of tape and make a lot of money on it. However, you would have to compete with companies like Scotch. In communism, the government (or community) owns any factory that makes tape and no single person makes money off of its production.

42. Emerging Super Powers • What happened to Britain & France? • Why was their tension between the USA and the USSR? Weren’t they friends and allies before?

43. Truman Doctrine • The USA was prepared to send money, equipment and advice to any country which was, in the American view, threatened by a Communist take-over. • Essentially it helped countries resisting communism.

44. Marshall Plan USA’s plan to send food, blankets, fuel to Europe to help them AND to keep them from turning communist.

45. Marshall Plan – helped countries economically so they won’t go red.

47. Is this generous or self-interest? • Discuss with your partner for a few minutes.

48. Domino Theory

49. Embargoes • Refusing to trade or aid countries in order to punish them

50. Cuba embargo • Still today, the USA has an economic embargo on communist Cuba. • Their only cars are from before the embargo!