1. End of WWII

2. BEFORE peace Allies begin to meet BEFORE war ends to determine “peace” CASABLANCA January 1943 first first war conference between Allies FDR Churchill siege Only FDR & Churchill met (Stalin did not want to leave USSR under Hitler’s siege) end unconditional surrender determined the war would only end with an “unconditional surrender” of Axis powers

3. TEHRAN December 1943 First meet person First time Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt meet in person lasting discuss how to create a “lasting peace” after World War II “United Nations” decide to create a “United Nations”

4. D-Day (1944) code name “Operation Overlord” purpose of the attack was to free parts of France from Axis control, then move into and destroy Germany Attack came in three phases – paratroopers, airplanes dropped bombs, and then infantry landed on the beaches Allies were successful and began to slowly gain back control of France (had been controlled by Germany for 4 years)

6. Battle of the Bulge (1944) following the Allied capture of the first German city, Hitler ordered an offensive attack Germans attempted to divide the Allied lines in half battle lasted for a month, with an eventual Allied victory Germans lost 120,000 troops, 600 tanks, and 1,600 planes Germany could no longer effectively attack, could only defend themselves simultaneously the Soviets were continuing to push westward towards Germany

7. Yalta (1945) Stalin, Churchill, and FDR meet ClearEurope Allies winClear that war in Europe was nearly over and the Allies would win determine that when the Germans surrender… Germany & Berlin Germany & Berlin will be split into four zones Japanwest Stalin will aid in war with Japan – attack from the west free elections Eastern European liberated from Stalin will allow free elections in Eastern European countries he has liberated from Hitler YALTA Peace Conference

9. YALTA continued Decisions Continued: continued discussion on details of United Nations 2 officially formed 2 years later in S.F created to replace the failed League of Nations goal is to prevent war goal is to prevent war 50 signed in 1945 by 50 countries based in New York City

10. UN Building NYC

12. FDR Dies (1945) FDR dies of a stroke Vice President Harry Truman assumes office of the President

13. V-E Day (1945) Soviet troops enter Berlin with Americans approaching from the West Hitler commits suicide in his underground bunker A week later, on 8 th of May 1945, Germany surrenders unconditionally war is over in Europe – Victory in Europe Day

14. free Conflict between Truman and Stalin over reparations July 1945 Truman, Stalin, & Churchill meet to continue peace talks Stalin had not allowed any free elections yet Conflict between Truman and Stalin over reparations Pacific War in Pacific still going on POTSDAM Peace Conference

15. In the Pacific…

16. Battle of Iwo Jima (1945) strategically important island, needed as a base to attack mainland Japan heavily guarded by Japanese – over 20,700 Japanese soldiers were stationed on the island Eventually the Allies succeeded in taking the island only 200 Japanese soldiers survived the battle showed the Japanese commitment to fighting to the death

17. Battle for Okinawa (1945) last location needed to gain access to Japan Japanese used kamikaze attacks to fight off the Allies By the time the Allies won the island, 7,600 Americans had died & 110,000 Japanese had died estimated that the cost of invading mainland Japan could be over 1 million Allied casualties Americans began to wonder how to end the war quickly…

18. Atomic Bombs Dropped August 6 th, 1945 the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima August 9 th, 1945 the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki August 14 th, 1945 Japan announces it will surrender: VJ Day – Victory in Japan Day World War II is officially over!

20. On another note… Happy Valentines Day!