END OF THE WAR ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE

END OF THE WAR

ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE

Tehran Conference

Tehran Conference ■ Churchill (England) and Roosevelt (US) met to decide to help Stalin (USSR) open a new front in Europe (Operation Overlord) which would coincide with a Russian invasion from the East ■ First time all three had met each other

■ In 1943, the Allies began building an invasion force in England ■ June 6, 1944 - D-Day- Operation Overlord involved thousands of planes, ships, tanks, landing craft, and 3. 5 million troops landing on the coast of France at Normandy.

■ Last major German offensive of the war ■ Dec 16, 1944 - Battle of the Bulge- German forces broke through weak American defenses and pushed the Allied line in Ardennes, France, but the Allies pushed back.

Yalta Conference ■ February 1945 ■ Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin ■ purpose was to discuss Europe's post-war reorganization

■ Allies captured Rome in 1944, Mussolini was caught trying to retreat with the Germans in April 1945. ■ He was shot and his body hung in the Milan town square

■ April 30, 1945 - Hitler, after marrying long-time companion Eva Braun, and writing a final speech blaming the entire war on the Jews, committed suicide.

■ May 8, 1945 VE Day (Victory in Europe) General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Germans

VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC

■ After being advised that an invasion of Japan would cost 500, 000 US lives, President Truman decided to use the atomic bomb to bring the war to the quickest end.

Fat Man ■ Aug 6, 1945 - The US dropped an Abomb on Hiroshima killing 73, 000

Little Boy ■ On Aug 9, 1945 - the US dropped an A-bomb on Nagasaki, killing 37, 500 ■ Thousands more died later of radiation

■ Victory in Japan (VJ Day)- August 14, 1945 General Mac. Arthur accepted the Japanese surrender