World War IIWorld War II

Part IIIPart III

Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge Germany’s last major standGermany’s last major stand Began December 16, 1944Began December 16, 1944 Known as the The German Known as the The German

Ardennes offensive or the Ardennes offensive or the Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge The Americans were taken The Americans were taken

completely by surprisecompletely by surprise Resisted and held Saint-Vith and Resisted and held Saint-Vith and

BastogneBastogne German effort was doomed after German effort was doomed after

December 23, when good flying December 23, when good flying weather allowed the weather allowed the overwhelming Allied air overwhelming Allied air superiority to make itself felt. superiority to make itself felt.

End of January, the last of the End of January, the last of the 80-km- (50-mi-) deep "bulge" in 80-km- (50-mi-) deep "bulge" in the Allied lines is eliminated. the Allied lines is eliminated.

Allied advance into Germany Allied advance into Germany resumed in Februaryresumed in February

Soviet SuccessesSoviet Successes

By December 1944By December 1944 Soviets have forced the Nazis out of Belarus, Ukraine, Soviets have forced the Nazis out of Belarus, Ukraine,

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, and half of Hungary and Polandhalf of Hungary and Poland

Liberation of Majdanek – July 23, 1944Liberation of Majdanek – July 23, 1944 Fighting in BudapestFighting in Budapest Warsaw Uprising – Summer 1944Warsaw Uprising – Summer 1944 By the end of the warBy the end of the war

Soviets have also liberated Czechoslovakia, Poland, Soviets have also liberated Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camps, and the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camps, and parts of Germanyparts of Germany

Liberation of MajdanekLiberation of Majdanek

Former Inmates After LiberationFormer Inmates After Liberation

By December 1944By December 1944

Warsaw UprisingWarsaw Uprising

http://www.warsawuprising.com/photos.htm

Allies SuccessesAllies Successes

Through the Spring of 1945Through the Spring of 1945 Liberated the Netherlands, Liberated the Netherlands,

Belgium, Luxembourg, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Austria,

Occupied portions of Occupied portions of GermanyGermany

April 1945 – FDR dies April 1945 – FDR dies suddenlysuddenly

April 30, 1945 – Hitler April 30, 1945 – Hitler commits suicidecommits suicide

Conclusion of WarConclusion of War Unconditional surrender Unconditional surrender

from Germans on May 7from Germans on May 7thth at General Eisenhower's at General Eisenhower's postpost

VE Day – Victory in VE Day – Victory in Europe – May 8, 1945Europe – May 8, 1945

Unconditional surrender Unconditional surrender from Germans on May 9from Germans on May 9thth in Soviet occupied Berlinin Soviet occupied Berlin

Yalta Conference• Yalta – Feb 4 to Feb 11, 1945• Big Three• Begin making post-war plans• Roosevelt – wants Soviets to

help in the Pacific• Churchill – pushed for

importance of democratic gvts and free elections in Eastern Europe after the war

• Stalin – demands that Eastern Europe become a Soviet sphere of political influence for the USSR’s protection

• Discuss how to handle Germany

Potsdam Conference

• July-August 1945• Truman, Stalin, Churchill, and

Atlee• Issue ultimatum to Japan of

“prompt and utter destruction” if they don’t agree to unconditional surrender

• **Truman receives word of successful atom bomb test**

• Truman tells Stalin that the USA has a new powerful bomb

• Agree to partition Germany and work on • demilitarization,

democratization,• de-nazification, and

decentralization

Casualties of WW IICasualties of WW II

Quotes in HandoutQuotes in Handout

Partitioning GermanyPartitioning Germany

Germany is divided up Germany is divided up into four partsinto four parts

Britain, United States, Britain, United States, France and the SovietsFrance and the Soviets

The democratic states The democratic states become West Germanybecome West Germany

Soviet state becomes Soviet state becomes East GermanyEast Germany

The Eastern BlocThe Eastern Bloc Soviets refuse to give up Poland and cling Soviets refuse to give up Poland and cling

onto the countries they had liberated from onto the countries they had liberated from Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

Soviet Red Army hand picked dictators Soviet Red Army hand picked dictators that would be allegiant to the Soviet Unionthat would be allegiant to the Soviet Union

Eastern European countries forcibly Eastern European countries forcibly become communistbecome communistopposition is eliminatedopposition is eliminatednoncompliant states are threatened to be noncompliant states are threatened to be

“crushed with Soviet tanks”“crushed with Soviet tanks”

Eastern Bloc states forced to have communist leadership Eastern Bloc states forced to have communist leadership and have “loyalty” to Soviet Unionand have “loyalty” to Soviet Union

NATO established April 1949, still existsNATO established April 1949, still exists North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Today: 26 member states, 14 alliesToday: 26 member states, 14 allies

Soviet Union successfully tests the atom bomb August Soviet Union successfully tests the atom bomb August 19491949

Warsaw Pact established to counter NATOWarsaw Pact established to counter NATO Officially Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, Officially Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation,

and Mutual Assistanceand Mutual Assistance Signed May 1955, not disestablished until 1991Signed May 1955, not disestablished until 1991 Founding members: Albania (leaves 1961), Bulgaria, Founding members: Albania (leaves 1961), Bulgaria,

Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and later Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and later East GermanyEast Germany

Rebuilding EuropeRebuilding Europe

• Europe is in ruins• Aerial attack abilities devastated most of the

major cities of Europe• Rebuild buildings, railroads, and infrastructure• Where do you start?

– brick by brick

Warsaw in RuinsWarsaw in Ruins

Hamburg, GermanyHamburg, Germany

Marshall PlanMarshall Plan

European Recovery PlanEuropean Recovery Plan Secretary of State – George MarshallSecretary of State – George Marshall Reconstruction plan offered in July 1947 Reconstruction plan offered in July 1947 Intended to help foster stability and rehabilitation to Intended to help foster stability and rehabilitation to

European countriesEuropean countries 4 year plan of economic and technical assistance – 13 4 year plan of economic and technical assistance – 13

billion US Dollarsbillion US Dollars West takes advantageWest takes advantage Eastern bloc offered same deal if the Soviets were willing Eastern bloc offered same deal if the Soviets were willing

to make political reforms and allow for some external to make political reforms and allow for some external controls – Deny helpcontrols – Deny help

Marshall PlanMarshall Plan

Extremely successful! Extremely successful! Restores countries to even better status Restores countries to even better status

than before the warthan before the war

United NationsUnited NationsApril 1945 50 countries metApril 1945 50 countries metCharter and purpose developedCharter and purpose developed

Save future from warSave future from warPromote national self-determinationPromote national self-determinationPromote respect for human rightsPromote respect for human rightsHelp nations solve problemsHelp nations solve problems

Headquarters- New York CityHeadquarters- New York CityThe P5 – Permanent 5 members with veto The P5 – Permanent 5 members with veto

powerpowerUSA, China, GB, France, and USSRUSA, China, GB, France, and USSR

Advantages Over Advantages Over LeagueLeague

No major power refused No major power refused to jointo join

UN peace keeping forceUN peace keeping forceArmed group to enforce Armed group to enforce

decisionsdecisions

Overall…Overall…UN more effective socially, UN more effective socially,

economically not politicallyeconomically not politically1948 Universal Declaration of 1948 Universal Declaration of

Human Rights-Human Rights-Protect from oppressionProtect from oppressionPreservation of rightsPreservation of rights