Victory in Europe and the Pacific

Ch. 14.4

Victory in Europe Roosevelt Dies

April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt dies unexpectedly from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Vice Pres. Harry S. Truman takes the oath of office.

Germany Crumbles Even as allied troops advance into

Germany, Hitter declares, “We shall never capitulate-never.”

Victory in Europe

War in Europe Ends On April 30th as Soviet tanks stood outside

Berlin, Hitler commits suicide. May 8, 1945 Germany surrendered, ending

the war in Europe Proclaimed V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

Pacific Theater Bataan Death March

May 1942 Japan takes control of Philippines American & British soldiers forced to march

65 miles across Philippines Major turning points

Coral Sea and Midway Coral Sea is a “push” but stops Japan’s

advancement in to Australia Allies begin Island hoping after Midway to win

back territory from the Japanese Feb. 1945 Philippines were taken back by the

Allies

Pacific Theater cont.

Iwo Jima Feb. 1945, 750 Miles from Tokyo

After one month of fighting was also taken

Ryku Islands & Okinawa took one month & 45,000 American

lives Invasion of Japan was now open would involve huge casualties be a

desperate struggle

Defeat of Japan

Atomic Bomb Secret weapon: U.S. warns Japan to surrender

or face “prompt and utter destruction”. Japan refuses to surrender

August 6, 1945 U.S. drops bomb on Hiroshima (2/3 city was destroyed, 70,000+ killed, 40,000 injured seriously).

August 9, 1945 second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki (40,000 killed)

September 2, 1945 Japan signed for surrender.

The End of WWII

Ch. 14.5

War’s Aftermath

Alliance breaks apart Differences grow between the Allies

Differences over reparations & fate of governments in E. Europe

Allies favor free elections 1948 pro-Soviet governments est. in E. Europe.

Stalin wants to spread communism & create a buffer

Cold War begins

Establishing the United Nations Established after the war to help keep peace

among nations. The Security Council has the power to apply

sanctions or send peace-keepers to try to resolve disputes.

The UN has also worked to improve health and offer relief aid around the world

Truman Doctrine

President Truman outlined a policy of resisting Soviet expansion

Gave Military and economic aid to countries fighting communism

Policy of “containment”

Marshall Plan

To help keep communism from taking hold in Western Europe, the U.S.

sent billions of dollars in aid to help rebuild

Stalin declined aid for both U.S.S.R & E. Europe

NATO and the Warsaw Pact

Tensions grew over the split within Germany, and distrust fueled the

establishment of two alliances: