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The Allied effort to win World War II. TOWARD VICTORY. ?? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ??. 1.) Strategy applied by the United States to achieve victory in the Pacific? 2.) What is the fate of Hitler and Nazi-Germany? 3.) Please explain the decision made by President Truman:. WAR IN THE PACIFIC.
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The Allied effort to win World War II TOWARD VICTORY
?? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ?? • 1.) Strategy applied by the United States to achieve victory in the Pacific? • 2.) What is the fate of Hitler and Nazi-Germany? • 3.) Please explain the decision made by President Truman:
WAR IN THE PACIFIC • Japan controls much of the Pacific. Many Victories. • Philippines – American deaths • Bataan Death March • Battle of Midway Island ends Japanese successes. • General Douglas MacArthur • Guadalacanal begins American victories in Pacific.
GENERAL Douglas MacArthur • US Commander in the Pacific Theatre of war. • Must evacuate, along with his troops, out of Philippines. • Many American and Filipino soldiers held hostage • Pledges to return to “free the Philippines” • “I shall return….” -- Gen. MacArthur. • Orchestrates victory in Pacific.
“ISLAND-HOPPING” – MAY 1942 • General Douglas McArthur • Commander of ALLIED forces in the Pacific • Formula for victory – strategy called “Island-Hopping” • Capture some Japanese-held islands, while by-passing others. • United States Marines • Goal: Move towards island of Japan. • October 1944, U.S. has retaken Philippines.
THE NAZI’S DEFEATED • ALLIES moved into Belgium, to face Germans at the BATTLE OF THE BULGE. • Bloody, lasts over a month. • Allies hold tough, Hitler’s last stand. • ALLIED bombs and planes blast German cities and industry. • ALLIES close in from West, Soviets from the East.
Battle of the Bulge • Ardennes Mountains of Belgium. • UnternehmenWacht am Rhein • Last German offensive of WWII. • USA – 80,000+ casualties • Germans – 60,000+ casualties • Severe impact on German Military. • No more reserve forces and Luftwaffe devastated. • Who wins?? Allies pull through!
V-E Day -- May 8, 1945 • Mussolini is captured and executed by guerilla fighters. • In Berlin, Hitler knew his fate. • Soviet forces entered the city. • Adolf Hitler will commit suicide in his underground bunker. • May 8, 1945 is proclaimed V-E Day • Victory in Europe • The 1,000-year “Reich”, ends after just 12 years.
DEFEAT OF JAPAN • All eyes on Japan. • Most of Japanese forces destroyed by June 1945. • Two-million soldiers still remained to fight. • American forces feared a land invasion of Japan. • Iwo Jima and Okinawa examples of the cost. • Young Japanese soldiers became Kamikaze • Fought to the death, suicide missions. • !!
INVASION vs. “THE BOMB” • Scientists offered another way to end the war. • Split the atom = create explosion. • July 1945, successful test in New Mexico. • President Harry S. Truman must make the decision. • Chooses to use bomb. • Warning to Japan: Surrender….or face “utter and complete destruction.”
THE END OF WAR -- RECAP • August 6, 1945 – Atomic Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima. • 70,000 killed instantly; 4–sq. miles flattened. • No Japanese response. • August 8, 1945 – Second bomb dropped on Nagasaki. • 40,000 perish. • August 10, 1945 official surrender by Japan.
The Cost of WAR • War killed over 75 million around the world. • Europe: 38 million, many civilian deaths. • Soviet Union suffers the worst – 22 million. • Not all atrocities of war were yet realized….
The Horrors of the HOLOCAUST • Allies were made aware of the Nazi concentration camps. • There is “indisputable evidence of Nazi brutality and ruthless disregard of every sense of decency.” • Thos responsible would be charged as criminals.
Nuremberg Trials • AXIS leaders would be tried for “crimes against humanity.” • 177 Germans and Austrians tried, 142 found guilty! • Many top Nazi’s received death sentences. • Questions…? • Why had ordinary people contributed to Hitler’s “FINAL SOLUTION”? • How can the world prevent rise of other dictators? • International Organization to ensure peace – United Nations
LOOKING AHEAD • From World War to ‘Cold War’ • How could the ALLIES get it right…? • Maintain world peace. • Avoid the same mistakes of 1919 (Versailles).
?? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ?? • 1.) Strategy applied by the United States to achieve victory in the Pacific? • 2.) What is the fate of Hitler and Nazi-Germany? • 3.) Please explain the decision made by President Truman: