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The Final Stages of WWII: From Europe's Surrender to the Atomic Bombings in Japan

This account details the pivotal final stages of World War II, covering major events from the Yalta Conference in January 1945, where Allied leaders planned post-war Europe, to the dramatic end of the war in the Pacific. It discusses the implications of Germany's division, the liberation of concentration camps by advancing Allied forces, Hitler's death, and the eventual surrender of Germany on V-E Day. The narrative culminates with the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender and the historic impact of these events, including the Nuremberg Trials for Nazi war crimes.

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The Final Stages of WWII: From Europe's Surrender to the Atomic Bombings in Japan

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Warm Up Describe the Japanese military defense of Okinawa & Iwo Jima

  2. Section 5 WWII Ends

  3. The Yalta Conference • Meeting of FDR, Stalin and Churchill , Jan. 1945 What to do with post-war Germany, Eastern Europe? • Divide Germany into 4 sectors - Americans, British & French would each occupy a sector in western Germany - Soviet Union was given the largest zone, the eastern half of Germany • Stalin agreed to hold elections in Poland & occupied eastern European nations • Stalin also agreed to declare war on Japan after Germany was defeated

  4. Crossing the Rhine • The Rhine River marks the symbolic barrier to central Germany • Hitler ordered all bridges destroyed to slow Allied troops • Americans captured the bridge at Remagen before it could be destroyed • Allied troops were able to cross river, surround and capture 250,000 German troops

  5. Berlin • Allied troops were 200 miles from Berlin • Soviet lines were 30 miles from the city • Eisenhower knew the battle for the city would be bloody • Wanted to preserve American forces for the Pacific • The capture of Berlin was left to the Soviets

  6. Death of FDR • April 12, 1945

  7. American & Soviet troops meet at the Elbe River

  8. Liberation of the Concentration Camps • As Allied troops advanced, the began to liberate Concentration Camps • Many prisoners who had been liberated died after they were set free due to effects of malnutrition & disease

  9. Hitler’s Death • Committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin on April 30, 1945 • After news of Hitler’s death spread, fighting halted • Berlin surrendered May 2 • Germany agreed to surrendered on May 8 • V-E Day – Victory in Europe Day

  10. Winning the War in the Pacific • Allied commanders hoped to force Japan to surrender • Naval blockade • Heavy bombing raids • Gen. Curtis Lemay led a air raid over Tokyo • Fire bombing • killed 84,000 & destroyed 270,000 buildings

  11. Fire Bombing of Tokyo

  12. The Atomic Bomb • The Manhattan Project completed first successful test of Atomic bomb June, 1945 • President Harry Truman formed group to advise him on use of the bomb • Truman decided that use of this new weapon was acceptable option

  13. Fighting in the Pacific • Watch clip from The Pacific

  14. The Atomic Bomb • Issued demand for Japan to surrender on July 26, failure to do so would result in “prompt & utter destruction” • Japanese failed to respond • Aug. 6, 1945, B-29 bomber named the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb over the city of Hiroshima

  15. The Atomic Bomb Hiroshima • 80,000 killed instantly • 35,000 injured • 2/3 of cities buildings destroyed • Japanese leaders to no action to end war Nagasaki • Aug 9, 1945 • Americans decided to drop a second bomb on the city of Nagasaki • 40,000 killed

  16. Hiroshima and Nagasaki destruction

  17. Victory in Japan • Aug. 15, 1945 Emperor Hirohito announced surrender over the radio - First time the Japanese people had ever heard his voice • V-J Day- Victory over Japan Day

  18. The Nuremburg Trials The Nuremburg Trials • Prosecution of Nazi’s for the crimes of the Holocaust • 22 Nazi’s were tried for “Crimes against Humanity” • 12 were sentenced to die • First time individuals were punished for war crimes

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