End of WWII

1. End of WWII

2. Last ditch German offensive Germans pushed a “bugle” in Allied line 101st airborne stood firm in Bastogne General Patton brought in reinforcements By January 1945, Allies pushed back German offensive Battle of the Bulge, Winter 1944

4. Allies continue on the offensive Soviets reach Berlin in April 1945 Hitler commits suicide April 30 May 8, 1945 Germany surrenders: V-E Day Focus attention on the Pacific Theater End of War in Europe

5. V E Day

6. Okinawa, June 1945 • Needed for the invasion of Japan • Japan heavily bombed navy ships • over 12,000 Americans killed in fighting • Allies eventually take over the island (three months of fighting) • Allies fear the death toll if they invaded mainland Japan

7. Okinawa

8. Manhattan Project • Top secret program to build an atomic bomb • Led by J. Robert Oppenheimer • Began work in 1939, concerned Germany was already working on one

9. The Atomic Bomb • Truman (now President) had to decide whether or not to drop the bomb • Order Japanese total surrender on July 26; no response • August 6, 1945: Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima • 80,000 die instantly and destroy the city • August 9, 1945: Second bomb dropped on Nagasaki • 40,000 die

10. Nagasaki

11. Atomic Bomb: Fat Man

12. Afterwards

13. Japanese Surrender • August 15: Emperor Hirohito finally surrenders • Known as V-J Day

14. Post War • Create United Nations: organization to encourage peace among nations and prevent future wars • America emerges as a superpower • America helps rebuild Europe and Japan • Nuremburg Trials: Nazis put on trial for the Holocaust • 22 tried, 12 executed