Download Was the decision to drop the atomic bomb justified? Victory in Europe

Battle of the Bulge
Time: December 16th 1944
Location: Ardennes Forest
Fighters: Canadian, British, US vs. Germany
Purpose
• Hitler had convinced himself that the alliance
between the allies in W. Europe was not
strong
• Felt a major attack and defeat by Germany
would break up the alliance
• Therefore, he ordered a massive attack against
what were primarily American forces.
How it Got its Name
• Known as the Ardennes
Offensive
• The initial attack by the
Germans created a
bulge in the Allied front
line, making it more
known as the Battle of
the Bulge.
Was it a Good Idea?
• On paper, it was a seemingly absurd plan:
– Germany had been in retreat since D-Day
– Military was depleted of supplies and was facing
the awesome might of the Allies.
The Beginning
• Began with a two hour bombardment of the Allies lines that
was followed by a huge armored offensive
• The Germans experienced great success to start because
– The Allies were surprised by the attack
– Before the attack, English speaking German soldiers dressed in American
uniforms went behind the lines of the Allies and spread misinformation,
changed road signs, cut telephone lines.
– Weather in Hitler’s favor:
• Low cloud and fog meant that the superior air force of the Allies could not
be used
• Ground was hard enough for military vehicles to cross and this suited the
armored attack Hitler envisioned
Town of Bastogne while Germany had
it surrounded during Bulge
The Long Battle
• December 22nd, the weather started to clear, Allies’ air power
began counter-attack against the Germans.
• The Germans had advanced 60 miles in two days but from
December 18th on, they were in a position of stalemate.
• The fighting was ferocious.
• Weather was cold and rainy. Soldiers on the ground faced very
difficult conditions. (Trench foot VERY common)
• By mid-January 1945, Germany REALLY lacked fuel, Germans
had to make their way back to Germany on foot.
– This was the unit that was responsible for the Malmédy Massacre.
The bodies of 81 American soldiers killed by Waffen SS troops,
Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge near the Belgian
town of Malmedy. (Photo credit: U.S. Army)
Outcome
• The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle fought by the
Americans in World War Two.
– 600,000 American troops were involved in the battle
– American casualties - 81,000 men
– German casualties - 100,000 men
• Could the Germans have won the battle?
– Almost Certainly NOT - one huge problem – NO FUEL
– Any form of armored attack needed a constant supply of fuel – and
Allied bombing of fuel plants in Germany meant that such supplies did
not exist.
– German Generals even believed this offensive was too ambitious
U.S. soldiers taking defensive positions in the Ardennes during the
Battle of the Bulge
Outcome: By Mid-January, German troops
were withdrawing from the Ardennes
Forest
Significance: Last HUGE German
offensive, showed the Germans were truly
defeated.
History Mystery:
Was the decision to drop the
atomic bomb justified?
Victory in Europe
· By April of 1945, American
and Soviet troops were
closing in on Berlin.
· Adolf Hitler committed
suicide on April 30, and
Germany officially
surrendered on May 7.
German prisoners marching
through a ruined city
Red army soldiers raising the Soviet flag on the roof of the
German Parliament in Berlin, Germany.
Winston
Churchill
waves to
crowds in
Britain after
broadcasting to
the nation that
the war with
Germany had
been won, May
8, 1945.
V-E Day Celebrations in New York City, May 8, 1945.
V-E Day celebrations, Bay Street, Toronto, Canada
May 7, 1945
Now to the Pacific…
• The two main goals of the
U.S. in the Pacific were:
I. to regain the Philippines.
II. to invade Japan.
• The U.S. began a policy of
island hopping, using islands
as stepping-stones towards
Japan.
Battle of Leyte Gulf
• McArthur returns to the Philippines
• Japan wants to destroy entire US fleet
– Oct 23, 1945 Japan risks almost entire fleet
– 4 days of fighting result in destruction of Japanese
navy
• Only left Japanese army and kamikaze pilots
Iwo Jima and Okinawa
• Japan still fighting to
the bitter end
– Huge loss of life
– 6,800 Americans
died at Iwo Jima
– 12,000 Americans
died at Okinawa
– 100,000 Japanese
troops at Okinawa
Defeat of Japan
· The U.S. planned to invade Japan in 1945, though experts
warned that the invasion could cost over a million casualties.
Stalin, Truman and Churchill at the Potsdam
Conference.
· Upon learning
about the atomic
bomb, Pres. Truman
sent the Japanese the
Potsdam
Declaration,
warning them to
surrender or face
“prompt and utter
destruction.”
· Unaware of the atomic bombs, the Japanese ignored the
Potsdam Declaration.
· The Japanese continued to fight, oftentimes using kamikaze
attacks against U.S. ships.
· On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima,
Japan, killing at least 70,000 people and destroying most of the city.
The aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
· On August 9, the U.S. dropped another atomic bomb on the
city of Nagasaki, killing at least 70,000 people immediately
Mushroom cloud from the
nuclear explosion over
Nagasaki rising 60,000
feet into the air
· On August 14, Japan
officially surrendered ending
World War II. This date
became known as Victory over
Japan Day (V-J Day).
Crowds outside the White House celebrate the Japanese
surrender and the end of World War II. August 1945
The Other Side…
History Mystery:
Was the decision to drop the
atomic bomb justified?