-
D-Day was a victory for the allied forces. In June, Allied forces with over 150,000 troops invaded German defenses. After over a million deaths in German troops and cruel fighting, Germany surrendered to France
-
The Battle of Iwo Jima was when Allied troops landed on the Japanese island trying to capture it. During the month-long process, 7,000 Americans died while about 1,000 Japanese defenders died.
-
Allied troops decided to go after another Japanese island (Okinawa). The last major battle of WW2, over 180,000 decided to invade Okinawa before going to Japan. In result, the battle lasted 3 months with 12,000 Americans dead and 100,000 Japanese defenders dead.
-
When Soviet troops surrounded Berlin, Hitler was found dead. Hitler's death meant the war in Europe was finally ending. On May 7, Germany surrendered and the day after became Victory in Europe day (V-E Day).
-
The Potsdam Conference was a meeting between Allied leaders to discuss postwar Europe. American president Harry S Truman became worried about rising tensions with the Soviet Union.This conference also was the beginning of the Cold War.
-
The US dropped 2 atomic bombs- one in Hiroshima and one in Nagasaki in hopes of Japan surrendering. The first bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. The bomb killed 70,000 instantly, but still no surrender from Japan. The second bomb in Nagasaki was dropped on August 9, 1945 killing another 75,000 people. After the second bombing, the Japanese emperor surrendered on August 15, 1945 ending WW2.
-
Winston Churchill made a declared a speech in the US to emphasize on the sharp division of Europe. He claimed it was a threat to peace and there to be a need to block off the Soviets and the West.
-
The Truman Doctrine was a policy made by Harry Truman to promise providing military and economic aid to avoid the spread of communism. Millions of dollars were sent to aid Greece and Turkey.
-
Truman feared if conditions in Europe grew worse, citizens would turn to communism. The US government launched a program of $13 billion in economic aid. The Marshall Plan helped Western Europe recover much faster. The Marshall Plan was named after then secretary of state George Marshall.
