The Liberation of Paris Aug 25 1944 Charles

The Liberation of Paris: Aug. 25, 1944 • “Charles De Gaulle Returns in Glory” – De Gaulle—leader of French Resistance

US Troops in Paris

Female French Collaborators

Question Prompts • Many historians consider D-Day the most important battle on the Western front and possibly in all of WWII… • Why do you think the Allies were able to push through France within a couple months after the D-Day invasion? – What major advantages did the Allied powers have over Germany by 1944?

Battle of the Bulge: Hitler’s Last Offensive (Dec. 16, 1944 -Jan. 25 1945) Go to WWII Maps Battle of the Bulge Vet Interview

Dresden Firebombing: Feb. 13 -15, 1945 • RAF/USAF – Drop 3900 tons of heavy bombs and incendiary devices

Dresden Firebombing • “Florence on the Elbe” – German Cultural Center

Dresden Firebombing • 25, 000 Civilian Casualties

U. S. & Russian Soldiers Meet at the Elbe River: April 25, 1945

Hitler Commits Suicide: April 30, 1945 • The Fuhrer’s Bunker Hitler and Wife, Eva Braun Family Guy: Hitler and Eva Braun

Victory in Europe Day • V-E Day: May 8, 1945 Go to WWII Maps

SUMMARY QUESTION • Why might the Dresden Firebombing be symbolic of World War II as a whole? Do you believe the use of firebombing is justified in war? • Predict: What’s going to happen next in Europe, following the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of WWII on the continent?

Consequences of WWII

Consequences of WWII--Europe • 61 countries; 1. 7 billion people took part – ¾ of the world's population • 110 million persons were mobilized for military service – more than half of those by three countries • USSR (22 -30 million), • Germany (17 million), • United States (16 million)

Consequences of WWII in Europe • Enormous human and economic costs Country Military Civilian Total USSR 12 million 17 million 29 million Poland 597, 000 5. 86 million 6. 27 million Germany 3. 25 million 2. 44 million 5. 69 million Yugoslavia 305, 000 1. 35 million 1. 66 million France 245, 000 350, 000 595, 000 Italy 380, 000 153, 000 533, 000 G. B. 403, 000 92, 700 495, 000 U. S. 407, 000 6, 000 413, 000 War Military Dead Civilian Dead WWI 95% 5% WWII 33% 67%

Consequences of WWII--Europe • Economic Costs – Countries plundered of economic resources – War Cost: Over $1 trillion – US ($341); Germany ($272); USSR ($192) – USSR lost 30% of its nations wealth – Germany: 5 BILLION cubic yards of rubble

Consequences of WWII-Massive Human Dislocations

Firebombing Japan (March 1945) • Target largest industrial areas of Japan – Nearly every major Japanese city firebombed • Massive Civilian Casualties • Tokyo – 80, 000 die – 250, 000 buildings destroyed

Japan Firebombing: A Path of Destruction Name of Japanese city firebombed Percentage of the city destroyed Equivalent in size to the following American city Yokohama 58 Cleveland Tokyo 51 New York Toyama 99 Chattanooga Nagoya 40 Los Angeles Osaka 35. 1 Chicago Nishinomiya 11. 9 Cambridge Siumonoseki 37. 6 San Diego Kure 41. 9 Toledo Kobe 55. 7 Baltimore Omuta 35. 8 Miami Wakayama 50 Salt Lake City Kawasaki 36. 2 Portland Okayama 68. 9 Long Beach

After the Firebombing Campaign… • Japan still refused to surrender. • So we drop the “A” bombs… (and change the world)

Manhattan Project (1942 -1945) • What? • Code-name for the U. S. program to develop an atomic bomb (Actually took place in Chicago, Ill. and Los Alamos, NM. Sneaky…) • Leaders – General Leslie Groves – J. Robert Oppenheimer • Why Use It on Japan? – Estimate of Japan-Invasion Casualties • 1 M-4 M U. S. casualties • 10 M Japanese casualties – Cost of Project • 130, 000 employees • $2 B (current $23 B) – Intimidate Soviets – Retaliation for Pearl Harbor and Bataan Death March

Los Alamos: July 16, 1945

• J. Robert Oppenheimer on the first atomic testing at Los Alamos

The “A” Bombs – “Fat Man” & “Little Boy” 24

Hiroshima and Nagasaki • - Truman believed he must do what is possible to save American lives after a 6 year war • - Truman stated to Japan if they did not surrender there would be “prompt and utter destruction” • - August 6, 1945 B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima (industrial city)- “Little Boy” • - 63% of the city destroyed and between 80, 000 to 120, 000 people; thousands died later from burns & sickness • -August 9 - Soviets declare war on Japan • - August 9 - US drops “Fat Man” on Nagasaki (35, 000 -74, 000 people die) • - Japan surrenders August 15, 1945 V-J Day 25

WWII…Setting the Stage for the Cold War…

Tehran Conference (Nov. 1943) • 1 st major meeting of FDR, Churchill, and Stalin (the Big 3) – Soviets agree to launch offensive on Eastern Front as US/Brits launch invasion of France (1944) – Soviets pledge to aid in war against Japan after Germany defeated – Stalin agrees to formation of U. N. after the war – FDR/Stalin discuss division Germany after the war – Begin discussing fate of E. Europe… FDR calls for free elections if Baltic states were to join Soviet Union…Stalin pushes back on this…why?

Yalta: February 1945 • 2 nd mtg. of FDR, Churchill, Stalin • Soviets agree to join war v. Japan, in exchange… – Soviet sphere of influence in Manchuria; Sakhalin; and Kurile Islands • FDR and Churchill concede E. European nations bordering USSR should be “Soviet friendly, ” in exchange… – Soviets pledge free elections in all land liberated from Nazi Germany • FDR & Stalin divided and weak Germany – Churchill wants a strong Germany…why? • Lay out framework for United Nations (5 member Security Council)

Potsdam: July 1945 Major Changes Since Yalta (5 Mos. ) • FDR dead, Churchill replaced as PM during conference. • Stalin only original…meet to discuss post-war Europe – Truman very suspicious of Stalin; Ardent anti-communist • The United States reveals it has the A-bomb… – Who might Truman have been trying to intimidate? • Allies agree Germany is to be divided into 4 occupation zones (US, GB, FR, & Soviet zones) – But disagree over issue of reparations… • Revise German, Poland, Soviet border to benefit Soviets • Tensions high b/n U. S. & Soviets Clement Atlee; Harry Truman; Joseph Stalin

Conference Summary Questions • Summarize the major agreements made at the… – Tehran Conference – Yalta Conference – Potsdam Conference • How did the relationship between the 3 major powers change over the course of the 3 meetings? • In what ways did the Potsdam Conference foreshadow the coming Cold War? • What might be meant by a Cold War? • Why do you think the U. S. and Soviet Union emerged from WWII as the sole superpowers?

Consequences of WWII--Europe • Division of Germany and Europe and creation of “Iron Curtain” – Germany ÷ into a western (US, GB, FR) and eastern sector (Soviet) as was Berlin – Stalin installs pro-Soviet governments in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania – Stalin supports communist governments in Albania and Yugoslavia – Stalin bars free elections in Poland… – Winston Churchill: “An Iron Curtain has descended across the continent”

Consequences of WWII--Europe • The creation of two visions of the post war world: – American/Western Vision: UN to deter aggression • Collective security = NOT appease future aggressor nations. • Establish “friendly” governments – USSR: Treated as major power • Disarm/weaken Germany • Russia would be surrounded by "friendly" governments in Eastern Europe

Consequences of WWII--Europe • The Cold War Begins: US & USSR emerge as 2 superpowers

Consequences of WWII--Europe • Introduction of Nuclear Weaponry and the arms race

Summary Questions • How was the Potsdam Conference a sign of the growing tensions between the U. S. and Soviet Union and the coming Cold War. • Why do you think the U. S. and Soviet Union emerged from WWII as the sole superpowers? What might be meant by a Cold War?

Additional Consequences of WWII

Consequences of WWII— Decolonization of European Empires

America Emerges from the Depression • Significant benefits for the US and Americans. – The Depression ended. – Many previously unemployable Americans found new, but short-lived, job opportunities - Mexicans, Native Americans, African Americans, women. – Capitalism remained intact and strengthened. – A permanent war time economy emerged. – The role of the federal government was strengthened. – The nation underwent a permanent demographic shift by moving in greater numbers to cities. – The GI bill was passed and helped many Americans achieve the American Dream.

Roots of Israeli—Palestinian Conflict • What do you do with the millions of dislocated Jews in Europe – Zionist Movement • Balfour Declaration – 1917: Formal statement by British government supporting the formation of a Jewish state in Palestine • Sykes-Picot Agreement – 1916: British guarantee of recognizing an independent Arab state in Palestine

Nuremberg Trials: Crimes Against Humanity