The End of War

1. The End of War SWBAT: identify the reasons for and against dropping the atomic bomb. Homework: None Do Now: What do you already know about the atomic bomb?

2. Yalta Conference • In February, 1945 Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met at Yalta in the Soviet Union to discuss a plan for the end of WWII. • They agreed that: • Germany would be divided into 4 and occupied by the Allies. • After Germany surrendered, the Soviets would declare war on Japan. • In return for their help, the USSR would receive several Japanese territories. • They agreed to meet again after the surrender of Germany to discuss further.

3. The Death of a President • 2 months later on April 12, 1945 Roosevelt complained of a headache and lost consciousness. He would not wake up again. • Doctors quickly realized FDR had a stroke. • Later that day, Roosevelt died. • Roosevelt would not see the end of the war he had fought so hard to win. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's funeral procession with horse-drawn casket, Washington, D.C.

4. Fall of Germany • After D-Day, Allied troops made their way across France and towards Germany. • On the other side of Europe, Soviet troops made their way across Poland toward Germany as well. • Soviet troops reach Berlin first and begin the offensive April 20, 1945. • On April 30, Hitler and many of his top officials commit suicide in a bunker in Berlin. • On May 2, 1945 Berlin falls. • On May 8, 1945 the war in Europe is officially over. • War with Japan, however, was expected to last another year. The Reichstag after its capture by the Soviet troops, 3 June 1945. Berlin, Germany.

5. Truman takes over • Harry Truman took over as president after only 82 days as vice president. • Prior to taking over, he had no knowledge of the Manhattan Project or the atomic bomb. • It was not until April 25, he was informed that a new weapon was in creation that could end the war.

6. Potsdam Conference • July 17- Aug. 2 the U.S., Soviet Union, and Great Britain met in Potsdam, Germany to discuss a post-war world. • But there were some major changes in leadership between Yalta and now. • While Joseph Stalin remained leader of the USSR, Truman replaced Roosevelt and Clement Attlee replaced Winston Churchill.

7. Decisions • Decisions made at the conference: • Germany would be divided into 4 zones as would Berlin. • Nazi party members would be tried at court. • Reversion of all German annexations in Europe, including Sudetenland, Alsace-Lorraine, Austria, and the westernmost parts of Poland • While at the conference, Truman had gotten word that the first test of the atomic bomb had been successful. He told Stalin that a new powerful weapon would be used on the Japanese. • Stalin had known about the bomb for months. • Japan was told to surrender or meet "prompt and utter destruction“.

8. Japan refuses to surrender • In August, 1945 the Japanese Imperial government refused surrender demands. • Truman now had a choice to make: • 1. Could use the atomic bomb. • 2. Could prepare for an invasion of Japan. • 3. Could continue to bomb Japan’s major cities and blockade the waterways until Japan surrendered.

9. Atomic Bomb Activity • You will be given 4 documents relating to the atomic bomb.

10. The bomb • Truman ultimately decided that the best way and fastest way to end the war would be the atomic bomb. • On Aug. 6, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. • Japan still did not surrender. • A second bomb was dropped over Nagasaki on Aug. 9. • On August 13, 1945 Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender. • World War II was officially over.