1. Notes 8: The End of War in Europe Modern US History Unit 3 WWII April 19th, 2011 Modern US History Unit 3 WWII April 19th, 2011

2.  On August 25 th, 1944 American and British troops marched into Paris, and liberated it from nearly four years of German occupation. By that September the Allies had freed France, Belgium, Luxembourg and most of the Netherlands. During this time, the American people elected FDR to an unprecedented fourth term.

4. Battle of the Bulge  In October of 1944, American troops captured their first German town – Aachen. Hitler called for an immediate counterattack – ordering his army to recapture the Belgian port of Antwerp. Hitler hoped that recapturing this port would cut off Allied supply lines and dishearten them.

5. Battle of the Bulge  On December 16 th, German troops broke the Allied line creating a dent along this 80- mile front. This last ditch effort became known as the Battle of the Bulge. The Germans swept west hoping to reach the sea.

6. Battle of the Bulge  There were several important encounters throughout the Battle of the Bulge, including the capture of nearly 150 American soldiers near Malmedy, where all but 43 were gunned down by SS troopers.

7. Battle of the Bulge  The German forces were largely successful in the beginning of the offensive, because Allied military leaders did not listen to the intelligence reports that they were intercepting. They did not believe that Hitler would actually launch such an attack, as the move seemed insane considering his position

8. Battle of the Bulge  Although this battle lasted for several months, the Germans were eventually pushed back, and very little seemed to have changed for the Allies. For Hitler however, the German forces paid a heavy price. Nearly 120,000 German troops, 600 tanks and 1,600 planes were destroyed in the Battle of the Bulge – none of which could be replaced. The Germans had nothing left to do but retreat.

9. Liberation of Death Camps  While British and American troops pushed east through Germany, the Soviet army pushed west through Poland. They were the first to encounter a German death camp in July of 1944. In fact, Soviet troops liberated the majority of the death camps located throughout Poland – including Auschwitz, Sobibor and Treblinka.

10. Liberation of Death Camps  American troops liberated Buchenwald, a death camp located near Weimar, Germany on April 11 th, 1945, only a few days after the Germans began evacuating the camp. American forces liberated more than 20,000 prisoners at Buchenwald. They also liberated Dora- Mittelbau, Flossenburg, Dachau, and Mauthausen.

11. Conferences  Throughout the war there were several conferences of the Allied leaders, most notably Casablanca, Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam. Each of these conferences was aimed at identifying the Allies’ post war vision of the world.

12. Conferences  The conference at Yalta was particularly important, as it was at this conference that the United Nations was created.  It was at the conference at Potsdam however where a blueprint for disarming Germany and eliminating the Nazi regime was decided. In addition, the Allies essentially decided what they would each get at the end of the war – particularly in relation to Russia.  The conference at Yalta was particularly important, as it was at this conference that the United Nations was created.  It was at the conference at Potsdam however where a blueprint for disarming Germany and eliminating the Nazi regime was decided. In addition, the Allies essentially decided what they would each get at the end of the war – particularly in relation to Russia.

13. Death of Mussolini  For nearly two years Mussolini acted as the puppet ruler of Italy. But as the Germans began to retreat, Mussolini recognized that it was best that he too should flee the country. On April 28 th, 1945, Mussolini and his wife (who were disguised as German soldiers) were ambushed on their way to Switzerland.

14. Death of Mussolini  He was taken to Milan, his home town, where he was shot, and his body hung upside down in a square. Many Italians came to spit on and yell at the body – many also threw stones at it.

15. Hitler’s Suicide and Germany’s Surrender  By March of 1945, Soviet troops approached Berlin from the east, British and American armies reached Germany’s Rhine border and by mid-April they stood within 50 miles of Berlin. The Allies agreed to leave the conquest of Berlin to the Russian Army.

16. Hitler’s Suicide and Germany’s Surrender  Nearly three million Soviets took on 320,000 Germans in a battle for the city. Although many of the Germans were in fact young boys, it took 11 days before the commander of the city surrendered on May 2 nd, 1945.

17. Hitler’s Suicide and Germany’s Surrender  As the battle outside raged on, Hitler prepared for the end. On April 29 th he married Eva Braun his longtime lady friend (yes, lady friend). That same day he wrote his last address to the German people, in which he blamed the Jews for starting the war and his General for losing it.

18. Hitler’s Suicide and Germany’s Surrender  The following day Hitler took a cyanide capsule and then shot himself. Following the Fuhrer’s orders, the two bodies were carried outside, soaked in gasoline and burned.

19. VE Day  On May 7 th, General Alfred Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of the German Forces. The following day on May 8 th, 1945, the Allies celebrated Victory in Europe Day, most commonly know as V-E Day.

20. VE Day  Harry Truman dedicated the victory to FDR who had died less than a month prior due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Massive celebrations took place across the country in places like Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and most importantly New York City.