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Victory and Beyond
The End of World
War II
The photographs in this presentation are from the AP Photo Archives.
In 1944, Hitler’s reign of terror in Europe was
in full force. Axis forces were still in control of
much of Europe.
The “beginning of the end” of World War II came
with the invasion of Normandy by the Allied Forces.
This massive invasion was planned by the leader of
the Allied Forces in Europe, America’s General
Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The weather was bad, and the German forces were
entrenched on the beaches when Allied Forces
landed.
D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Fighting was fierce. 637,000 men were killed
wounded or captured during the battle of
Normandy .
General Dwight Eisenhower
led the Allied invasion of
Europe. The Allies landed at
Normandy, France.
Though Allied
losses were
enormous, the
invasion was a
success.
During the next
eight months
the Allies
fought east to
Germany.
The Soviet Army moved west pushing the
German forces back toward Germany.
The Allies squeezed Germany from two directions.
Click here for a map
Germany
surrendered on
May 8, 1945.
An American jeep drives
through a German street.
White flags of surrender
fly from houses.
May 8, 1945
VE-Day
Victory in Europe!
People celebrated at home…
…and
around the
world.
Allied Troops Make Terrible Discoveries
They found concentration camps. Here the Germans
enslaved and murdered their enemies. About 12
million men, women, and children died in these
camps. 6 million of those victims were Jews.
Some of the prisoners
were still alive. They
were starved and
sick…
…but they were
very happy to see
their liberators.
The attempt to destroy the Jewish people is called the
“Holocaust.”
Today, the terrible events of the Holocaust are
remembered in museums and memorials
around the world.
Troops
return to
America
on board
the Queen
Mary.
Families anxiously awaited the return of
their husbands, sons, fathers and brothers!
But, the war in the Pacific was
not over.
There were battles at sea…
…and on the beaches.
American troops landed on many islands
in the Pacific.
One major battle was on the
island of Iwo Jima.
Marines landed and fought a
battle suffering huge casualties.
As the Marines won the terrible battle,
they planted the American flag.
Do you recognize this famous photograph?
It may seem
familiar
because of a
famous statue
in Washington
D.C.
We remember
the brave
veterans of
Iwo Jima with
this memorial.
The costs of invading the Japanese-held islands
were severe.
Thousands of American soldiers were killed or wounded.
The costs of invading Japan itself would be even worse.
President Harry Truman decided to
use a new weapon, the atomic bomb.
He hoped this would shorten the war and
save hundreds of thousands of lives.
On August 6, 1945, a single airplane, the
Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb on
Hiroshima, Japan
Japan surrendered on August
15th, 1945.
Finally, World War II Was
Over!
VJ-Day!
At last, they came home for good.
We remember our veterans on Memorial Day
and on the Fourth of July, we celebrate the
freedoms they defended.
Victory for the Allies…
…and for Freedom!