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The End of World War II: Triumphs and Aftermath

Explore how World War II ended in Europe and the Pacific, the Allied plans for the postwar world, and the devastating consequences of the war. Discover the key battles and events that led to the defeat of the Axis powers and the ultimate victory of the Allies.

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The End of World War II: Triumphs and Aftermath

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  1. Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus War Ends in Europe Map: The End of the War, 1944-1945 War Ends in the Pacific The Postwar World Quick Facts: World War II Casualties Quick Facts: Causes and Effects of World War II The End of the War

  2. Preview, continued Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts Video: The Impact of World War II The End of the War

  3. The End of the War Main Idea In 1945 the Allies finally triumphed over the Axis powers, but the war left many nations in ruins. • Reading Focus • How did the war end in Europe? • How did the war end in the Pacific? • What were the Allied plans for the postwar world?

  4. World War II and Its Aftermath Witness History Audio: A Soldier Remembers Nazis Defeated The war in Europe neared its end by the spring of 1945. The Axis powers were defeated for several reasons: they could not wage war successfully on several fronts; Hitler underestimated the Soviet army; the U.S. was able to produce more than the combined Axis powers; and oil became too scarce to feed Luftwaffe planes. Section 4: Victory in Europe and the Pacific Struggle for the Pacific In the summer of 1942, the U.S. went on the offensive in the Pacific. Victory on Guadalcanal started a campaign of “island-hopping” that would move U.S. bases closer to Japan. Geography Interactive: World War II in the Pacific, 1941-1945 Note Taking Transparency 174 1 of 6

  5. D-Day Battle of the Bulge • Second front in Western Europe • Sea assault led by Marshall and Eisenhower • June 6, 1944, invasion at Normandy • Victory came with high casualties • Paris free by end of August • December 1944, one last stand • Counterattack at Belgium • German advance led to bulge in the line • Defeat ended German resistance • Allies racing to Berlin from the east and west War Ends in Europe • Soviet advance—pushing Hitler’s troops backward • Axis forces with 2 million casualties—outnumbered and outgunned • Early 1944, Siege of Leningrad ends; more victories for Soviets followed • Axis forces driven back into central Europe • Soviets within 40 miles of Berlin by February 1945

  6. Battle of the Bulge

  7. The Germans Surrender • Soviets reached Berlin first • Adolf Hitler found dead in bunker—a suicide • Berlin surrendered May 2, 1945; Germany five days later • Victory in Europe(V-E Day) proclaimed May 8, 1945 • War in Europe finally over after nearly six years

  8. Draw Conclusions What effect did D-Day have on the war in Europe? Answer(s): The Allies quickly reconquered much of France and started to push into Germany from the west.

  9. World War II and Its Aftermath Defeat for Japan When the Japanese showed that they would fight to the death rather than surrender, president Truman decided to use an atomic bomb to save American lives. Two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Japanese surrendered. Section 4: Victory in Europe and the Pacific Color Transparency 178: Hiroshima, by Toshimitsu Imai QuickTake Section Quiz Progress Monitoring Transparency 2 of 6

  10. War Ends in the Pacific • Final Battles • By mid-1944, regular bombing raids on Japanese cities, including Tokyo • Great distance made raids difficult, dangerous • Americans needed bases closer to Japan • Battle of Iwo Jima • February 1945 island invasion; 750 miles south of Tokyo • 7,000 Americans died in month of fighting; 20,000 Japanese died—only 1,000 thousand surrendered • Battle of Okinawa • Only 350 miles from Japan; U.S. troops invaded island April 1945 • By June, 12,000 American soldiers dead • Japanese lost 100,000 defenders and another 100,000 civilians

  11. Option to invasion • July 26, 1945 • Allies issued demand for surrender • No response; Hiroshima bombed on August 6 • Still no surrender; second bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9 • 145,000 total deaths • Japanese acknowledged defeat • Atomic bomb successfully tested in 1945 • Harry S Truman U.S. president with Roosevelt’s death in May 1945 • Forced to make decision—bomb Japanese city to force surrender The Atomic Bomb • After Okinawa, mainland Japan was next • The U.S. military estimated cost of invading mainland Japan-up to 1 million Allied killed or wounded Emperor Hirohito surrendered on August 15, 1945. This day is known as V-J Day for Victory in Japan. World War II was finally over.

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