1. Conclusion of World War ii

2. Objective:
Students will investigate the final decisions made to end WWII and argue if these decisions were correct/wrong and be measured through their Cornell notes, QW, reading analysis, discussion, and exit slip.

3. Setting the Stage Allied forces moved toward Germany from the west
Soviet army began advancing toward Germany from the east
Hitler now faced a war on two fronts

4. Battle of the Bulge
In desperation, Hitler decided to focus all force in the west
For a moment, Hitler was able to break through the Allied lines
Allies would eventually push back forcing the Germans to retreat and surrender

5. Germany’s Unconditional Surrender
By April 1945
3 million allied troops approached Berlin from the west
6 million Soviet troops approached from the east
Hitler wrote his final address to his people
Blamed the Jews for starting the war
His generals for losing it
May 8, surrender of Germany was official
V-E Day – Victory in Europe Day
Unfortunately, Roosevelt died on April 12

6. JTPS
Now that Hitler and Germany are defeated; is World War II over? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.

7. Victory in the Pacific
After the battle of Guadalcanal, the Japanese ended up retreating for the rest of the war
By the end of 1944 – Allied forces retook the Philippines
1945
U.S. took Iwo Jima (660 miles away from Japan)
Okinawa (350 miles)

9. Battle of Leyte Gulf Japanese risked their entire naval fleet
Kamikaze fighters – Japanese suicide pilots that crashed into Allied ships with their bomb-filled planes
Japanese navy had lost disastrously, which eliminated them from the war

10. The Atomic Bomb The next stop was Japan
President Truman was told that it would cost half a million lives to invade Japan
Instead, Truman decided to drop the A-bomb or atomic bomb on Japan

11. Japan Surrenders Aug. 6, 1945 Aug. 9 Sept. 2
First bomb was dropped on Hiroshima killing 73,000 people
Aug. 9
Second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing 37,500
Sept. 2
The Japanese surrendered and the war had finally ended

12. QW #24 – WWIII?
The devastation of WWII will forever be remembered. Think about what started WWII… If another World War were to occur, how would you feel? What is worth fighting for? Elaborate on what you believe is worth fighting for. Explain your reasoning.
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