1. The End of the War Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus
War Ends in Europe
Map: The End of the War,
War Ends in the Pacific
The Postwar World
Quick Facts: World War II Casualties
Quick Facts: Causes and Effects of World War II

2. The End of the War Preview, continued Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
Video: The Impact of World War II

3. The End of the War Main Idea Reading Focus
In 1945 the Allies finally triumphed over the Axis powers, but the war left many nations in ruins.
Reading Focus
How did the war end in Europe?
How did the war end in the Pacific?
What were the Allied plans for the postwar world?

5. World War II and Its Aftermath
Section 4: Victory in Europe and the Pacific
Witness History Audio: A Soldier Remembers
Nazis Defeated
The war in Europe neared its end by the spring of The Axis powers were defeated for several reasons: they could not wage war successfully on several fronts; Hitler underestimated the Soviet army; the U.S. was able to produce more than the combined Axis powers; and oil became too scarce to feed Luftwaffe planes.
Struggle for the Pacific
Notes: Listen to the Witness History audio. Then read aloud the main idea for each subheading in this section and show the related visuals.
After listening to the Witness History audio, ask, “What attitude or mood does the soldier show?” (Sample: relaxation, confidence) “How does that relate to the words of the passage?” (Lt. Ramsey speaks of his renewed hope when he heard that MacArthur had returned.)
When showing Color Transparency 178, Discuss this image’s more human view of the devastation caused by the bomb.
In the summer of 1942, the U.S. went on the offensive in the Pacific. Victory on Guadalcanal started a campaign of “island-hopping” that would move U.S. bases closer to Japan.
Geography Interactive: World War II in the Pacific,
Note Taking Transparency 174
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6. War Ends in Europe Soviet advance—pushing Hitler’s troops backward
Axis forces with 2 million casualties—outnumbered and outgunned
Early 1944, Siege of Leningrad ends; more victories for Soviets followed
Axis forces driven back into central Europe
Soviets within 40 miles of Berlin by February 1945
Second front in Western Europe
Sea assault led by Marshall and Eisenhower
June 6, 1944, invasion at Normandy
Victory came with high casualties
Paris free by end of August
D-Day
December 1944, one last stand
Counterattack at Belgium
German advance led to bulge in the line
Defeat ended German resistance
Allies racing to Berlin from the east and west
Battle of the Bulge

26. Battle of the Bulge

30. The Germans Surrender Soviets reached Berlin first
Adolf Hitler found dead in bunker—a suicide
Berlin surrendered May 2, 1945; Germany five days later
Victory in Europe (V-E Day) proclaimed May 8, 1945
War in Europe finally over after nearly six years

35. What effect did D-Day have on the war in Europe?
Draw Conclusions
What effect did D-Day have on the war in Europe?
Answer(s): The Allies quickly reconquered much of France and started to push into Germany from the west.

36. World War II and Its Aftermath
Section 4: Victory in Europe and the Pacific
Defeat for Japan
When the Japanese showed that they would fight to the death rather than surrender, president Truman decided to use an atomic bomb to save American lives. Two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Japanese surrendered.
Color Transparency 178: Hiroshima, by Toshimitsu Imai
Notes: Listen to the Witness History audio. Then read aloud the main idea for each subheading in this section and show the related visuals.
After listening to the Witness History audio, ask, “What attitude or mood does the soldier show?” (Sample: relaxation, confidence) “How does that relate to the words of the passage?” (Lt. Ramsey speaks of his renewed hope when he heard that MacArthur had returned.)
When showing Color Transparency 178, Discuss this image’s more human view of the devastation caused by the bomb.
QuickTake Section Quiz
Progress Monitoring Transparency
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37. War Ends in the Pacific Final Battles Battle of Iwo Jima
By mid-1944, regular bombing raids on Japanese cities, including Tokyo
Great distance made raids difficult, dangerous
Americans needed bases closer to Japan
Battle of Iwo Jima
February 1945 island invasion; 750 miles south of Tokyo
7,000 Americans died in month of fighting; 20,000 Japanese died—only 1,000 thousand surrendered
Battle of Okinawa
Only 350 miles from Japan; U.S. troops invaded island April 1945
By June, 12,000 American soldiers dead
Japanese lost 100,000 defenders and another 100,000 civilians

48. The Atomic Bomb Option to invasion July 26, 1945
After Okinawa, mainland Japan was next
The U.S. military estimated cost of invading mainland Japan-up to 1 million Allied killed or wounded
Atomic bomb successfully tested in 1945
Harry S Truman U.S. president with Roosevelt’s death in May 1945
Forced to make decision—bomb Japanese city to force surrender
Option to invasion
July 26, 1945
Allies issued demand for surrender
No response; Hiroshima bombed on August 6
Still no surrender; second bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9
145,000 total deaths
Japanese acknowledged defeat
Emperor Hirohito surrendered on August 15, This day is known as V-J Day for Victory in Japan. World War II was finally over.

54. World War II and Its Aftermath: Section 4
Color Transparency 178: Hiroshima, by Toshimitsu Imai
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55. What brought an end to the war in the Pacific?
Find the Main Idea
What brought an end to the war in the Pacific?
Answer(s): the dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

56. World War II and Its Aftermath: Section 4
Note Taking Transparency 174
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57. World War II and Its Aftermath: Section 4
Progress Monitoring Transparency (1 of 2)
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58. World War II and Its Aftermath: Section 4
Progress Monitoring Transparency (2 of 2)
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