2. Rome Falls Allies Win on The Mediterranean Front  In 1943, the Allies invaded Sicily and begin towards mainlandmainland  September 1943 – The new Italian government formally surrenders  But… Mussolini goes to German occupied northern Italy and declares himself the head of a new fascist government  October 1943 – Italy (under the Allies) declares war on Germany  June 4, 1944 – Rome is liberated (the first Axis capital to fall to the Allies)

3. What huge operation takes place two days later?

4. The Liberation of Paris  General Dwight D. Eisenhower did not see Paris as a major objective  Charles de Gaulle threatened to send in the Free French single-handedly  Parisians fully expected to be liberated (challenged German authority)  Hitler stated: “Paris is not to fall in the hands of the enemy, except as a heap of ruins."  But there was little resistance  August 25, 1944 – Liberation Day

6. Liberating the Concentration Camps  Allies liberated the people as they came to these death camps  January 1945 – Soviets liberated Auschwitz in Poland (the largest)  April 1945 – U.S. troops liberate Dachau and find horrific medical experiments  As Allied troops approached, many prisoners were led on death marches

9. The Downfall of Mussolini  April 28, 1945 – arrested by anti-fascists along with mistress (Clara Pitacci)  Walter Audisio, who was once pardoned by Mussolini for a jail term in 1934, took custody of Mussolini and Petacci  Mussolini, realizing he was going to killed, opened up his shirt and asked to be shot in the chest.  Audisio complied and attempted to shoot the pair with an Italian submachine gun, but it would not fire. He then pulled out an Italian pistol and again it would not fire. In desperation he grabbed a French weapon, a MAS 7.65, from a fellow partisan and killed them both. Their bodies were strung upside down the next day for all to see.

11. The Demise of Hitler...?  THEORY: The exact cause of death was never determined  Hitler and Hitler’s wife, Ava, moved to an underground bunker in Berlin  Upon hearing of Soviets advancing and Mussolini’s death, Hitler prepared for the inevitable  He tested cyanide pills on his favorite dog and retreated with his wife to their room  April 30, 1945 – a gunshot was heard and the bodies of Hitler and Ava were found Hitler died from a gunshot wound to the temple Ava died of cyanide poisoning

12. The Demise of Goebbels  Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels, had taken his 6 children to the bunker with Hitler  He is to become the new German Chancellor  May 1, 1945 – Goebbels and his wife poisoned their 6 children  Request to be shot in the back of the head by SS guards  Their bodies are burned

13. The Surrender of Germany  May 1, 1945 – German forces in Italy surrender  May 2, 1945 – Soviets capture Berlin, Germany  Soon to follow: German forces in West Germany, Denmark, Bavaria, Central Europe, Channel Islands surrender  May 7, 1945 – German forces unconditionally surrender

14. V-E Day!  News reached the west on May 8, 1945  Victory in Europe (V-E) was declared!