Battle of the Bulge

1. Battle of the Bulge • Allied forces began to advance on Germany from the west • Soviet forces advanced on Germany from the east • Hitler now faces a war at 2 fronts • He counterattacks in the west in hope of splitting up the British and U.S. supply lines • German tanks broke through American defenses in Dec.

2. Battle of the Bulge • Even though the Americans were caught off guard, they were able to hold off the Germans • Germans had to retreat • After the battle, the war began to come to an end • March of 1945, Allies rolled across the Rhine River • In April, 3 million Allies came from the SW, Soviets came from the east

3. Hitler Prepares for the End • As the Allies approached Berlin, Hitler prepares for the end • Marries Eva Braun • Next day he and Braun commit suicide • Their bodies carried outside and burned • May 7, 1945 Eisenhower accepts Germany surrender • V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

4. Victory in the Pacific • Fall of 1944, Allies move onto Japan • MacArthur regains the Philippines • To prevent Allied advancement, Japan goes after the US fleet in the Battle of Leyte Gulf • Japan uses the kamikazes as an attempt to stop the fleet

6. Iwo-Jima • March of 1945 U.S. Marines take Iwo-Jima • Took heavy losses • By April, the U.S. move onto Okinawa in southern Japan • Japan puts up a fight • Japan looses 100,000 troops while the Americans lose 12,000

7. Japan Surrenders • Truman realizes to take Japan may cost many American lives • Truman uses a new weapon known as the atomic bomb • Truman warns the Japanese • Aug. 6th the first bomb drop on Hiroshima (70-80,000 people die) • Aug. 9th bomb hits Nagasaki (70,000 killed) • Japan surrenders on Sept. 2nd