Download 21_The Ending of World War II

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21. Reading – The Ending of World War II
Mark Callagher
Introduction
Important battles had been won over the critical 12 – 18 months from
the beginning of 1942. It was now time for the Allies to take the
offensive to help bring about the defeat of the Axis powers.
The Western Allies (Britain and the United States) would concentrate
their efforts on successful amphibious landings in Europe and the
Pacific.
At the same time the Soviet Union would continue its steady advance
against Axis Armies through large scale land battles in the East.
Italy
After the defeat of the Axis forces in North
Africa in May 1943 the stage is set for the
Allies to re-enter the occupied European
mainland. Churchill had referred to Italy as
the “soft underbelly” of Europe meaning
that it would be far less difficult to
overcome Italian forces than taking on the
Germans in France.
American and British forces therefore
agreed that an invasion should take place
in Sicily, hoping that a defeat would lead
to the fall of Italian dictator Benito
Mussolini.
The problem with invading Italy was the
mountainous terrain which would be
easier for Axis forces to defend. Access to
the rest of Europe through Italy would also
be close to impossible.
<caption>Map of Italy showing mountainous terrain</caption>
Invasion of Italy
The battle for Italy would last until the end of the European war.
Play this Animation to follow the events of the Battle for Italy:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wwtwo_map_italy/index.shtml
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Mussolini Sacked
Growing Italian discontent with Mussolini had started with
the defeats in North Africa and the Eastern front followed
by the invasion of Sicily and Allied bombing of targets on
the Italian mainland.
Sacked
Mussolini’s own Fascist Party turned on him which led to
his sacking by King Vittorio Emanuele III who said:
“My dear Mussolini, it is no longer any good.
Italy has gone to pieces. The soldiers don’t
want to fight any more……you are the most
hated man in Italy”
Arrested
He was arrested and imprisoned in an isolated mountain
resort.
Rescued
While the new Italian Government was negotiating an
armistice with the Allies, Mussolini was rescued in a
daring raid by German Paratroopers on Hitler’s orders.
<caption>Mussolini and Hitler – Allied until the
end</caption>
Mussolini Executed
German Occupation
Most Italian soldiers went home or switched
sides after the Italian surrender. Mussolini was
reinstated and German troops occupied Italy to
defend it against a future Allied invasion
Executed
In April 1945, when all was lost, Mussolini tried
to flee to the Austrian border but was captured
by Italian Partisans. He was executed along with
other Fascists and hung publicly by his feet.
<caption>The End of Mussolini</caption>
Teheran Conference
At the end of 1943 the Allied leaders met for the first time, in Teheran (Iran) with the purpose of coordinating and planning strategy for the remainder of the war against Nazi Germany.
The Big Three together for the first time – Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill
Second Front
Since 1942 Stalin had been pushing for a second front to be
opened up in Western Europe to take pressure off the Red
Army.
Britain and America had promised Stalin an invasion in 1943 but
had instead fought in North Africa and invaded Italy.
Bombing Campaign
Britain and the US had also kept up a sustained bombing
campaign against German’s military industry – this in itself
significantly assisted Stalin by weakening Germany’s ability to
make war.
<caption>American bombing of
German factories</caption>
Churchill’s Reluctance
Churchill was reluctant to invade France and wanted to go for a safer option of invading through
Yugoslavia. Memories of his personal failures at Gallipoli (WWI) and Norway (1940) plus the
evacuation at Dunkirk had made him cautious.
However, Roosevelt got his way and assured Stalin that an invasion would take place in the spring
of 1944.
“Watershy Little Winston” – German Cartoon, April 1944
Attacking Fortress Europe
By spring 1944, the Germans were waiting
for the Allies to open another front in the
west. There were various points from which
they expected assaults to be made (shown
by the pink arrows) but the main blow, they
knew, would be a cross-Channel invasion.
There was a large area to cover. Fifty-eight
divisions were allocated to cover the frontier.
<caption>Allocation of German Forces prior to the Allied
landings</caption>
Atlantic Wall
Hitler’s Fortress Europe had been fortified along the French coast with an “Atlantic Wall”.
Hitler placed Rommel in charge of the defences. Rommel said that the key was to stop the Allies at
the landing point and deny them a foothold. He said:
Believe me. The first 24 hours of the invasion will decide it. For the allies as well as for
Germany it will be the longest day”
“Atlantic Wall” - German fortifications on the French coast
Preparations for Overlord
Operation Overlord was the name given to the Allied
invasion of Western Europe.
American General Eisenhower was named supreme
commander of Allied Forces in Europe.
3 million troops would be involved in the invasion.
 American, Canadian, British and free French Troops
would take part
 Over 1.5 million American troops were shipped to
Britain
The south of England became a massive training camp
and supply depot
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<caption>Allied Supreme Commander General
Eisenhower – later becomes US
President</caption>
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Popular US wartime song - "Over
There"
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D-Day Invasion
Operation Overlord was launched on the morning of 6th June 1944 which was called D-Day. The
day saw the largest amphibious assault ever launched. 7000 ships or landing craft went to an
assembly point called Piccadilly Circus to begin the operation. The Allies had air superiority: 12,000
aircraft to Germany’s 170.
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Play this Animation to follow the events of D-Day:
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D-Day Movie Clip
Play this BBC Stills Movie Clip of the D-Day events
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wwtwo_movies_dday/index.shtml
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Securing the Beachheads
The success of the invasion
depended on securing the
beachheads. This occurred
on 7th June. 156,000 Allied
soldiers had landed with
about 10,000 casualties.
Mulberry Harbours
Mulberry Harbours were
towed across the Channel.
This enabled the rapid troop
and supply reinforcement. It
was important to land as
many tanks as possible to
face the assault of the
German Panzer Divisions
that had been held in
reserve.
<caption>Floating Mulberry Harbour (background) with Ramp (foreground) used to
offload equipment onto Omaha Beach</caption>
Operation Overlord
After securing the beachhead it was important for the Allies to break out from Normandy before the
German Army could box them in.
Play this Animation to follow the events of Operation Overlord:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wwtwo_map_overlord/index.shtml
<width>715</width>
<height>520</height>
</include>
Paris Liberated
The Liberation of Paris took place in late August 1944, marking the end of Operation Overlord.
Despite orders from Hitler that Paris should be held to the last and to destroy the city, German
forces surrendered on 25th August. Joyous crowds greeted the American and Free French forces as
liberators, as they marched down the Champs Elysees (Main Avenue in Paris).
<caption>American troops marching down the Champs
Elysees</caption>
<caption>General DeGaulle walking amongst
the joyous Parisians</caption>
Hollywood
Many movies have been made by Hollywood about the events surrounding D-Day and the
subsequent battles.
Some of the best and most well known are:
<caption>Movie produced in
1962 starring John Wayne,
Henry Fonda and Robert
Mitchum</caption>
<caption>1998 Movie produced by
Steven Spielberg and starring Tom
Hanks</caption>
<caption>2001 Movie Series featuring
Easy Company from the 101st Airborne
Division as they land behind enemy lines
and battle through to victory in
Germany</caption>
Fighting Back
Hitler survived an
assassination attempt on
20th July 1944. He and his
fellow Nazi leaders were
determined to fight to the
end. There was no
consideration to surrender.
As autumn set in they tried
to paint an optimistic
picture and urged the
German people to
redouble their efforts to
repel the Second Front
invasion and the Russian
advance from the east.
<caption>“German Autumn” by T.T. Heine 1944 – This German cartoonist could see
the writing on the wall. He fled to Stockholm</caption>
V1 and V2
By 1944 Germany had
developed the technology to
launch long range rockets
against Allied targets. The
V2 rocket was the most
feared travelling faster than
the speed of sound with no
warning before impact.
London’s Second Blitz
London was the chosen
target. After D-Day several
thousand were fired from
mobile launch pads with
over 2000 reaching their
target. London had to
endure its second “blitz”.
Over 100,000 were killed or
wounded by the rocket
attacks.
Battle of the Bulge
<caption>A German V2 Rocket about to be fired from its mobile
launcher</caption>
The Allies were
hoping that the
war would be
over by
Christmas of
1944. But Hitler
had other ideas.
As the Allies
advanced
towards the
German border
he launched an
unexpected
counter offensive
through the
Ardennes Forest.
Hitler had been
successful here
when attacking
France in 1940.
The US Army
just managed to
scramble to stop
the German
Army from
breaking
through. The
battle lasted two
months,
December1944
to January 1945,
and had the
effect of
prolonging the
war.
By the beginning
of February the
Allies would
reach the Rhine
River inside
Germany.
Eastern Europe
<caption>The Ardennes Offensive – Battle of the Bulge</caption>
No more German offensives against
Russia would take place after the
defeat at Kursk in July 1943.
Russians Advance
Twice as many German Divisions
were kept in the East to hold back
the Red Army than were facing the
Allied invasion in France.
Despite Russia launched offensives
across the whole front and steadily
drove the German Army back
towards the Polish and Romanian
borders
Warsaw Rising
The Polish saw that the Russians would reach Warsaw before the British. Poland was fearful of a
Russian occupation. Britain had gone to war to defend Polish independence whereas Russia had
initially collaborated with Germany and occupied Eastern Poland.
With the Russians on the outskirts of Warsaw, the Polish Home Army (underground) launched a
massive uprising against the Germans on 1st August 1944. The battle raged for 2 months with the
Russian Army controversially failing to assist. The Germans finally managed to put down the rising.
Thousands of Polish and German soldiers died in the battle. The main casualties were the cities
residents. Over 250,000 were killed, mostly in mass executions conducted by advancing German
troops. Under Hitler’s orders over 85% of Warsaw was burnt to the ground.
<caption>Polish Free Forces fighting the German
Army</caption>
<caption>Destruction of Warsaw during the
Uprising</caption>
Changing sides
While the Allies were advancing through France the Red Army crossed into Poland and Romania.
Germany’s Axis Allies, Romania and Bulgaria and Hungary, were persuaded to change sides and
join the Red Army in its advance on Germany.
“Make up your mind, Bulgaria – you’ll be better off in my bus” by Stephen, 1944
Fighting on Two Fronts
Germany continued to resist the advance of the Red Army, but a two front war would always be
difficult to maintain.
“The Man in Possession” by Strube, 1944
VE
Victory in Europe against Hitler’s Armies
was only months away.
Before then many more thousands of
troops and civilians were to die. Hitler
was determined to destroy the enemy
along with the German people who he
blamed for failing him.
<caption>“Last fearful hours” by Carey Orr, Chicago Daily Tribune,
1945</caption>
Yalta Conference
The Big Three met again on 4th February 1945
at Yalta on the Crimean Peninsula. At the time
of Yalta, Russian Marshall Zhukov was only
forty miles from Berlin.
Each of the three powers brought his own
agenda to the Yalta Conference:
 Roosevelt wanted Soviet support in the
Pacific War concerning the invasion of
the Empire of Japan
 Churchill was pressing for free elections
and democratic institutions in Eastern
Europe, specifically Poland
 Stalin was attempting to establish a
Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern
Europe which the Soviets thought was
essential their national security.
Stalin said that:
"For the Russian people, the
question of Poland is not only a
question of honour but also a
question of security. Throughout
history, Poland has been the
corridor through which the enemy
has passed into Russia. Poland is a
question of life and death for
Russia."
<caption>The Big Three at Yalta – Roosevelt’s health was
clearly failing him</caption>
Agreements
Soviet Union to Join Pacific War
Stalin agreed that the Soviet Union would help invade Japanese territory 90 days after the defeat of
Germany.
Democracies to be established
It was agreed that democracies would be established in Europe. The official statement said:
"The establishment of order in Europe and the rebuilding of national economic life must
be achieved by processes which will enable the liberated peoples to destroy the last
vestiges of Nazism and fascism and to create democratic institutions of their own choice."
The United Nations
It was also decided that a new organisation, the United Nations, should be set up to replace the
failed League of Nations.
Roosevelt returned to Washington saying that:
“The Crimean Conference ought to spell the end of a system of unilateral action, the
exclusive alliances, the spheres of influence, the balances of power, and all the other
expedients that have been tried for centuries — and have always failed. We propose to
substitute for all these, a universal organisation in which all peace-loving nations will
finally have a chance to join.”
Roosevelt dies
Roosevelt died of ill health on 12th April 1945.
The news came as a shock to the people at
home and the soldiers abroad.
FDR had pulled the American people out of the
Great Depression and to victory in war. He was
the most popular American President of the
Twentieth Century and one of the world’s
greatest statesmen. He remains the only
American President to serve more than two
terms in office.
Churchill’s reaction was one of deep sadness:
“I send my most profound sympathy in
your grievous loss. It is also the loss
of the British nation and of the cause
of freedom in every land”
Stalin said:
“The Soviet people highly valued
President Roosevelt as a great
organiser of the struggles of the
freedom-loving nations against the
common enemy and as the leader in
the cause of insuring the security of
the whole world”
<caption>The new President – Harry
Truman</caption>
Harry Truman
Roosevelt’s replacement was the relatively
unknown and inexperienced Senator from
Missouri, Harry Truman. He had been elected
vice-president in the previous year’s election. He
now had big shoes to fill at a very important time.
East meets West
On the 27th April American and Russian troops met for the first time at the Elbe River south of
Berlin. Before they met there had been fears that they might mistake each other for the enemy.
An American and Russian soldier share stories of how far they have come
Battle of Berlin
Entering Berlin
On 21st April the Red Army entered the
outskirts of Berlin. The Russians had the City,
along with Hitler, completely surrounded. The
Nazi minister of propaganda, Goebbels,
issued a statement saying “Berlin will be
defended to the last”.
The fighting was fierce and every street was
taken at a terrible cost. The Red Army lost
70,000 troops in the process.
Hitler dead
Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun committed
suicide in his bunker on 30th April only hours
after they were married.
By 2nd May the old German parliament
building, the Reichstag, had fallen.
<caption>The Soviet Flag is hoisted above the Reichstag with
Berlin laid waste in the background</caption>
VE Day
The German forces in Europe
surrendered to the Allies on 7th May
1945.
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<caption>Churchill celebrating with the British crowds</caption>
The following day Churchill declared a
day of celebration, VE Day.
During the celebrations Churchill
appeared on the balcony of the British
Parliament Buildings, to speak to the
vast crowd. After the words 'This is your
victory!', the crowd roared back, 'No - it
is yours!'
VJ
Island Hopping
The American forces had
been using a tactic of Island
Hopping – attacking Pacific
Islands and clearing islands of
Japanese forces. As they
came closer to Japan
bombing raids could be
launched on the Japanese
mainland.
Advanced Bomber
The new American B29
Superfortress bombers were
the most advanced bombers
produced in World War II.
<caption>American B29 Superfortress bomber</caption>
Iwo Jima
The island of Iwo Jima was very important.
It was close enough to Japan (only 650
miles from Tokyo) for fighter planes to
provide much needed air cover to the long
range B29 bombers.
Iwo Jima was Japanese soil. No foreign
army in Japan’s 5000 year history had trod
on Japanese soil.
The Japanese strategy for its defence was
unique:
1. The Japanese didn't fight above
ground. They fought the battle
entirely from beneath the ground.
They dug 1,500 rooms into the rock.
These were connected with 16
<caption>Marines raise the American flag over Iwo
miles of tunnels.
Jima</caption>
2. Japanese strategy called for "no
Japanese survivors."
3. Japanese strategy was for each
soldier to kill 10 Americans before
they themselves are killed.
The fighting on the island of Iwo Jima
lasted two months and was very costly for
both sides
The Philippines
The Battle to retake the
Philippines involved the
largest every naval battle at
Leyte Gulf. Over 280 warships
took part.
Kamikazes
Japan was now very
desperate. It introduced a new
phenomenon into the war.
Kamikaze (suicide) pilots
crashed their bomb laden
planes into American ships.
The Americans won the battle
and retook the Philippines but
at a cost. It was becoming
clear that defeating Japan
might take many years. Each
island was costing thousands
of American lives.
<caption>A Japanese Kamikaze attack on a US Carrier during the Battle of
Leyte</caption>
Okinawa
In April 1945 American soldiers
landed on the southern Japanese
island of Okinawa. The fighting
lasted 3 months and cost 12,000
American lives. Japanese soldiers
had fought to the death. 50,000
Japanese troops had been killed
with only 227 surrendering.
Pressure on Japan
In July 1945; Japan’s position
looked bad. There was a shortage
of raw materials. Food was scarce
and US planes regularly bombed
Japan. In one fire-bombing raid on
Tokyo 83,000 were killed.
<caption>The Firebombing of Tokyo – 83,000 residents of Tokyo were
burnt to death</caption>
Potsdam Conference
Churchill, Truman and Stalin met
for a two week conference at
Potsdam in Berlin, July 1945.
They discussed how Japan could
be made to surrender. Several
options were discussed:
1. Blockade Japan.
2. Continue bombing Japan.
3. Invade Japan – It would
need at least 5 million men.
Japan still had over 2
million soldiers and
thousands of Kamikaze
pilots.
4. Russian Help – As agreed
at Yalta the Russians
would enter the war against
Japan
<caption>The Big Three at Potsdam. Stalin is the only survivor from the
Churchill Replaced
Yalta Conference 5 months earlier</caption>
During the Conference Churchill
unexpectedly lost the British
election. With the European war
over the British voters were
focusing on living conditions.
Churchill was replaced at the
Conference by the new Labour
Prime Minister Clement Atlee.
Potsdam Ultimatum
The Three leaders made an ultimatum to
Japan:
"We call upon the government
of Japan to proclaim now the
unconditional surrender of all
Japanese armed forces, and to
provide proper and adequate
assurances of their good faith
in such action. The alternative
for Japan is prompt and utter
destruction."
The Manhattan Project
The Americans had been working on a top
secret project to develop an Atomic bomb
– the power of which had never been
imagined before.
<caption>The first atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy”</caption>
During the conference Truman received
word that the first successful Atomic bomb
test had taken place. President Truman
believed it would make Japan surrender.
During the conference Truman took Stalin
aside and told him that the US had
developed a secret weapon. Stalin did not
act surprised. His spies had kept him up
to date on the Manhattan Project.
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Japan In Retreat
The
Japanese
armies
were in
full
retreat on
all fronts.
Russia
joins the
War
As
agreed at
Potsdam
the
Soviet
Army
joined the
war on
Japan.
They
attacked
Japanese
territory
in
Manchuri
a and
Northern
China on
9th
August.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In the end the Truman decided to use the Atomic
bomb to help end the war.
Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese
city of Hiroshima on 6th August.
Nagasaki
Japan’s failure to surrender meant that another bomb
was dropped 3 days later on the city of Nagasaki.
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<caption>Mushroom cloud from the second Atomic
Bomb dropped on Nagasaki</caption>
Surrender
On August 10, 1945, after the
invasion of Manchuria by the
Soviet Union and the atomic
bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, Japan's leaders
decided, in principle, to accept the
uncompromising terms the Allies
had set down for ending the war in
the Potsdam Declaration.
However it was only after several
more days of behind-the-scenes
negotiations and a failed coup
attempt that Emperor Hirohito
gave a radio address to the nation
on 15th August.
The Japanese delegation arrived
on board the battleship USS
Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay to
formally surrender to General
Douglas MacArthur
<caption>Japanese delegation onboard the USS Missouri to
surrender</caption>
VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day was celebrated as thousands of Americans took to the streets.
New Yorkers celebrate VJ Day in Times Square
Conclusion
The largest conflict ever known to mankind, the Second World War had finally come to an end. It
had claimed approximately 50 million lives. However, its effects and consequences would last for
decades to come.