American History Chapter 24-5

World War II Ends

Germany: Stuck in the Middle• 4 million Allied troops on the west, millions of Soviets

on the east.• The “Big Three,” held the Yalta Conference.– Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin– Discussed what to do with Germany.

Battle at the Rhine• Hitler orders his troops to defend the Rhine River.– The Germans failed in their attempt to blow up the bridges.– The Allies surrounded & captured ¼ million German troops.

The Deaths of Leaders• April 12, 1945 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

died unexpectedly.

Adolph Hitler Dies• April 30, 1945: Adolph Hitler committed suicide in his

Berlin Bunker.• May 8, 1945: Germany surrendered.• V-E Day: Victory in Europe.

U.S. Full Attention Turns Towards Japan• New president, Harry S. Truman makes a crucial

decision.– August 6, 1945: A B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped an

atomic bomb on Hiroshima.• 80,000 residents died immediately.

– August 9, 1945: A 2nd atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.• 40,000 residents died immediately.

– August 15, 1945: Japan surrendered.– V-J Day.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Postwar Changes

• Germany & Berlin were divided into 4 military districts.– Each to be occupied by one of the Allied powers.

Steps Toward World Peace

• United Nations: Organization of 50 countries.– Encourage cooperation between nations.– Prevent future wars.

New World Peace Keeping Army