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The war draws to a close. Battle of the Bulge and Iwo Jima. Allies Make Progress. Hitler’s breaking of the Nazi-Soviet Pact became his downfall. Russian troops died by the millions, more than any country in the war.
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The war draws to a close Battle of the Bulge and Iwo Jima
Allies Make Progress • Hitler’s breaking of the Nazi-Soviet Pact became his downfall. • Russian troops died by the millions, more than any country in the war. • However, along with aid from the Russian winter, the Soviets stalled Hitler at Stalingrad. • With the success of D-Day, and the Germans weakened from combat with the Soviets, the Allies began to take Europe.
Battle of the Bulge • Hitler, sensing a defeat, organized a final attempt to take the port City of Antwerp, a key supply port for the Allies. • December 16, 1944, Hitler sends a large concentration of his soldiers into the snow covered Ardennes Forest to push toward Antwerp.
Battle of the Bulge (continued) • German troops caught the Americans off guard, and penetrated the lines, creating a “bulge” • Within the lines, the 101st Airborne Division found itself surrounded at Bastogne. • When the German generals demanded them to surrender, General McAuliffe replied with one word “Nuts.” • The group held out until reinforcements from General Patton’s 3rd Army Arrived, ending Hitler’s last offensive.
V-E Day!!! • With the Nazis weakening, Americans and Soviets alike pushed for Berlin, reaching it in April, 1945. • That same month, the stress of 3+ consecutive terms in office of depression and war, along with his Polio, caught up with FDR. He died April 12, 1945. • Hitler, fearing his final outcome, married Eva Braun, and on April 30, committed suicide in a Berlin bunker. • May 7, 1945, German government unconditionally surrenders. • May 8, declared V-E (Victory in Europe)Day
Japan Becomes Desperate • Due to the determination of the Japanese government and people, the defeat of Japan became more and more costly. • Japanese did not accept defeat, nor surrender. • Would often commit suicide rather than dishonor themselves. • Resulted in tactics such as kamikaze
Iwo Jima • American control over the Pacific Empire grew stronger as the war continued. • America needed an island, Iwo Jima, for damaged planes returning from Japan. • This was the first part of what was originally considered Japan that American soldiers stepped foot on. • For 25 days, the Japanese fought mercilessly, killing over 4,000 Americans, making this one of the bloodiest per day battles.