The Allies Are Victorious
The United States' involvement in the war in 1941 was the first factor in bringing World War II to an end. With the US on their side, the Allies would now be able to force Germany to fight a war on two fronts: against the Soviet Union in the east and against Britain and the United States in North Africa and Southern Europe. Led by General Bernard Montgomery, men were sent to take control of British forces in North Africa, as Germany was slowly advancing across the continent. Then the Operation Torch was launched by the Allies, a plan that involved an Allied force of 107,000 troops led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to force the Germans to further retreat out of North Africa. Meanwhile, Germans were also battling the Soviet Union, but struggled against the harsh Russian winter. Finally, on August 23rd, 1942, the German Army was able to invade the Russian city of Stalingrad, a major center for both communication and manufacturing. Stalin commanded his army to fiercely defend the city that was his namesake. The intense Russian winter allowed Soviet soldiers to launch a counterattack in November and by February, the German troops surrendered the city. Meanwhile, Britain and the US were planning an invasion into Italy which eventually took place on July 10th, when 180,000 Allied soldiers captured Sicily from both Italy and Germany by August. After these two major advancing, the war was turning to be in favor of the Allies and by May 1944, they were ready to strike in France, which was being controlled by Germany. This attack was called D-Day and was carried out on June 6th as American, British, and French troops fought their way onto the beaches in Normandy, France. This led to the Battle of the Bulge, and then the Allies closed in on Germany and attacked the city of Berlin. Hitler shot himself shortly after the attack and on May 8th, Germany's official surrender was signed in Berlin. However there was still Japan left to deal with. After months of intense fighting involving Japanese kamikaze attacks, the American Military took Iwo Jima, a key island. When Japan ignored President Truman's threat that if they did not surrender, the US would launch an attack, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The results were devastating to Japan, but led to Japan's official surrender on September 2nd, 1945, officially ending World War II.
The United States' involvement in the war in 1941 was the first factor in bringing World War II to an end. With the US on their side, the Allies would now be able to force Germany to fight a war on two fronts: against the Soviet Union in the east and against Britain and the United States in North Africa and Southern Europe. Led by General Bernard Montgomery, men were sent to take control of British forces in North Africa, as Germany was slowly advancing across the continent. Then the Operation Torch was launched by the Allies, a plan that involved an Allied force of 107,000 troops led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to force the Germans to further retreat out of North Africa. Meanwhile, Germans were also battling the Soviet Union, but struggled against the harsh Russian winter. Finally, on August 23rd, 1942, the German Army was able to invade the Russian city of Stalingrad, a major center for both communication and manufacturing. Stalin commanded his army to fiercely defend the city that was his namesake. The intense Russian winter allowed Soviet soldiers to launch a counterattack in November and by February, the German troops surrendered the city. Meanwhile, Britain and the US were planning an invasion into Italy which eventually took place on July 10th, when 180,000 Allied soldiers captured Sicily from both Italy and Germany by August. After these two major advancing, the war was turning to be in favor of the Allies and by May 1944, they were ready to strike in France, which was being controlled by Germany. This attack was called D-Day and was carried out on June 6th as American, British, and French troops fought their way onto the beaches in Normandy, France. This led to the Battle of the Bulge, and then the Allies closed in on Germany and attacked the city of Berlin. Hitler shot himself shortly after the attack and on May 8th, Germany's official surrender was signed in Berlin. However there was still Japan left to deal with. After months of intense fighting involving Japanese kamikaze attacks, the American Military took Iwo Jima, a key island. When Japan ignored President Truman's threat that if they did not surrender, the US would launch an attack, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The results were devastating to Japan, but led to Japan's official surrender on September 2nd, 1945, officially ending World War II.
Ten Best Articles
1. Operation Torch-Allied Invasion of North Africa: This was a plan to attack Germany from North Africa, led by Dwight D. Eisenhower. The plan was successful because the Axis powers were distracted elsewhere and did not expect an attack from Africa. The Allied forces were met with some resistance in the previously French colonies of Morocco and Algeria but not enough to hold them off. "In both a direct and an indirect sense, Torch's impact was enormous on the course of Anglo-American strategy during the remainder of the war. It may have been the most important strategic decision that Allied leaders would make."
2. The Battle of Stalingrad: This battle was important because it changed Germany's position from an offensive to a defensive. This battle was fought during the winter of 1942-1943. Stalingrad was a center for communication and manufacturing. The battle over this city was one of the most intense throughout the entire war, and by trapping the Germans and with the help of the harsh Russian winter, the Germans were forced to surrender. "The battle for the city descended into one of the most brutal in World War Two. Individual streets were fought over using hand-to-hand combat. The Germans took a great deal of the city but they failed to fully assert their authority. Areas captured by the Germans during the day were re-taken by the Russians at night."
3. The Kamikaze Threat: Japanese soldiers were extremely dedicated, seeing it as a disgrace to not die for their country. This passion for defending Japan led to the tactic that involved flying planes directly into American warships. Kamikazes were most effectively used at the Battle of Okinawa when 300 air crafts at a time drove into the US fleet. "The concept was Vice Admiral Onishi Takijiro's. Japanese air forces were no longer competitive, so Takijiro proposed turning planes into human missiles. The pilots needed little training - takeoffs, but no landings - and a sacrificial dive-bomber would be hard to shoot down."
4. D-Day Overview: On June 6th, 1944, one of the largest and most elaborate military plans took place on the beaches of Normandy, France. Despite heavy losses and an extremely difficult battle, the Allies got the foothold they needed in Europe. It is referred to as D-Day because D-Day and H-Hour are the terms referring to the day and how when an attack is scheduled to take place. "Yet somehow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe had been breached."
5. D-Day Airborne and Beach Assault: The beaches of Normandy were chosen to be invaded because they were not heavily guarded. Although the attack started off disorganized and chaotic, the Allied soldiers from the US, Britain, and Canada were able to adapt and achieve their goal through a series of naval and aerial attack. The airborne attack on Normandy was the largest use of airborne troops. Paratroopers played an important and very risky role in the invasion. The job of invading five beaches along the coast was divided among the three Allied powers. "...The brave paratroopers fought fiercely, causing confusion among the German commanders and keeping the Germans troops occupied. Their efforts, hampered by harsh weather, darkness and disorganization, and initiative of resourceful soldiers and leaders, ensured that the Utah Beach assault objectives were eventually accomplished."
6. The Battle of the Bulge: This battle was one of the final stages of World War II. Allied troops were pushing into Germany, but German forces broke through their weak lines. But the Allies continued to fight and hold off Germany. The American soldiers fought intensely throughout the harsh winter, while the weather, along with increased Allied pressure, Germans began to withdraw. This battle resulted in many casualties on both sides. "In large part, it was the tenacious defense put up by American soldiers, fighting in small groups in sub-zero cold and snow that stopped the German advance."
7. The Battle for Berlin in World War II: The battle of Berlin effectively ended World War II. Hitler committed suicide during and the official surrender of Germany took place just shortly afterwards. This battle was one of the most violent and intense of the war. Shells were fired repeatedly on the city already destroyed by bombings. During the final weeks of World War II, almost as many lives were lost in Europe than the total number of American lives lost throughout the war. The small number of weak soldiers in Germany had nothing against the strong Russian forces they were fighting against. "The battle for Berlin had brought to an end the bloodiest conflict in European history. 'There's no family in the Soviet Union, Poland or Germany where they didn't lose at least one close relative.'"
8. V-E Day: Russian forces closed in around the city of Berlin, leaving the Germans with little land under their control. Hitler killed himself and his wife of two days on April 30th. Victory in Europe was officially declared on May 8th, 1945. Excitement and celebration spread quickly throughout the Allied nations as news of the war's end spread. Despite the excitement, there was still an air of unease, as the war in the Pacific had yet to end and Europe was left to be rebuilt. "For many the great excitement came on 7 May, rather than on the official day of victory the next day. All across the nation to people tuned into the wireless to find out more. They were told that the Allied victory in Europe was to be celebrated officially the next day, but many people had already begun their celebrations."
9. Allied Landings in Italy: The Allied forces slowly made their way through Southern Italy towards Salerno. If they attained Salerno, they would have a clear shot at Sicily and Naples. This plan was called Operation Avalanche. Allied soldiers fought a difficult fight after landing at Salerno, but this eventually allowed them to take Naples a few weeks later. This attack allowed the Allies to then liberate Italy of Nazism. "The Salerno landing was hard fought; so was the campaign that followed. Naples fell on 30 September, three weeks after the landing. The tenacity and efficiency of German resistance destroyed any notion of Italy as the 'soft underbelly' of Europe, as Churchill had called it."
10. Nuclear Power: The End of the War Against Japan: The war with Japan came to its end much differently than the war with Germany. The atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed hundreds of thousands of civilians in seconds. The bombings also led to radiation poisoning that lasted long after the war's end. Japan's surrender was a result of these bombings. "The first Americans to reach Hiroshima and Nagasaki - servicemen, scientists, and journalists - described in great detail the apocalyptic scenes they encountered."
1. Operation Torch-Allied Invasion of North Africa: This was a plan to attack Germany from North Africa, led by Dwight D. Eisenhower. The plan was successful because the Axis powers were distracted elsewhere and did not expect an attack from Africa. The Allied forces were met with some resistance in the previously French colonies of Morocco and Algeria but not enough to hold them off. "In both a direct and an indirect sense, Torch's impact was enormous on the course of Anglo-American strategy during the remainder of the war. It may have been the most important strategic decision that Allied leaders would make."
2. The Battle of Stalingrad: This battle was important because it changed Germany's position from an offensive to a defensive. This battle was fought during the winter of 1942-1943. Stalingrad was a center for communication and manufacturing. The battle over this city was one of the most intense throughout the entire war, and by trapping the Germans and with the help of the harsh Russian winter, the Germans were forced to surrender. "The battle for the city descended into one of the most brutal in World War Two. Individual streets were fought over using hand-to-hand combat. The Germans took a great deal of the city but they failed to fully assert their authority. Areas captured by the Germans during the day were re-taken by the Russians at night."
3. The Kamikaze Threat: Japanese soldiers were extremely dedicated, seeing it as a disgrace to not die for their country. This passion for defending Japan led to the tactic that involved flying planes directly into American warships. Kamikazes were most effectively used at the Battle of Okinawa when 300 air crafts at a time drove into the US fleet. "The concept was Vice Admiral Onishi Takijiro's. Japanese air forces were no longer competitive, so Takijiro proposed turning planes into human missiles. The pilots needed little training - takeoffs, but no landings - and a sacrificial dive-bomber would be hard to shoot down."
4. D-Day Overview: On June 6th, 1944, one of the largest and most elaborate military plans took place on the beaches of Normandy, France. Despite heavy losses and an extremely difficult battle, the Allies got the foothold they needed in Europe. It is referred to as D-Day because D-Day and H-Hour are the terms referring to the day and how when an attack is scheduled to take place. "Yet somehow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe had been breached."
5. D-Day Airborne and Beach Assault: The beaches of Normandy were chosen to be invaded because they were not heavily guarded. Although the attack started off disorganized and chaotic, the Allied soldiers from the US, Britain, and Canada were able to adapt and achieve their goal through a series of naval and aerial attack. The airborne attack on Normandy was the largest use of airborne troops. Paratroopers played an important and very risky role in the invasion. The job of invading five beaches along the coast was divided among the three Allied powers. "...The brave paratroopers fought fiercely, causing confusion among the German commanders and keeping the Germans troops occupied. Their efforts, hampered by harsh weather, darkness and disorganization, and initiative of resourceful soldiers and leaders, ensured that the Utah Beach assault objectives were eventually accomplished."
6. The Battle of the Bulge: This battle was one of the final stages of World War II. Allied troops were pushing into Germany, but German forces broke through their weak lines. But the Allies continued to fight and hold off Germany. The American soldiers fought intensely throughout the harsh winter, while the weather, along with increased Allied pressure, Germans began to withdraw. This battle resulted in many casualties on both sides. "In large part, it was the tenacious defense put up by American soldiers, fighting in small groups in sub-zero cold and snow that stopped the German advance."
7. The Battle for Berlin in World War II: The battle of Berlin effectively ended World War II. Hitler committed suicide during and the official surrender of Germany took place just shortly afterwards. This battle was one of the most violent and intense of the war. Shells were fired repeatedly on the city already destroyed by bombings. During the final weeks of World War II, almost as many lives were lost in Europe than the total number of American lives lost throughout the war. The small number of weak soldiers in Germany had nothing against the strong Russian forces they were fighting against. "The battle for Berlin had brought to an end the bloodiest conflict in European history. 'There's no family in the Soviet Union, Poland or Germany where they didn't lose at least one close relative.'"
8. V-E Day: Russian forces closed in around the city of Berlin, leaving the Germans with little land under their control. Hitler killed himself and his wife of two days on April 30th. Victory in Europe was officially declared on May 8th, 1945. Excitement and celebration spread quickly throughout the Allied nations as news of the war's end spread. Despite the excitement, there was still an air of unease, as the war in the Pacific had yet to end and Europe was left to be rebuilt. "For many the great excitement came on 7 May, rather than on the official day of victory the next day. All across the nation to people tuned into the wireless to find out more. They were told that the Allied victory in Europe was to be celebrated officially the next day, but many people had already begun their celebrations."
9. Allied Landings in Italy: The Allied forces slowly made their way through Southern Italy towards Salerno. If they attained Salerno, they would have a clear shot at Sicily and Naples. This plan was called Operation Avalanche. Allied soldiers fought a difficult fight after landing at Salerno, but this eventually allowed them to take Naples a few weeks later. This attack allowed the Allies to then liberate Italy of Nazism. "The Salerno landing was hard fought; so was the campaign that followed. Naples fell on 30 September, three weeks after the landing. The tenacity and efficiency of German resistance destroyed any notion of Italy as the 'soft underbelly' of Europe, as Churchill had called it."
10. Nuclear Power: The End of the War Against Japan: The war with Japan came to its end much differently than the war with Germany. The atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed hundreds of thousands of civilians in seconds. The bombings also led to radiation poisoning that lasted long after the war's end. Japan's surrender was a result of these bombings. "The first Americans to reach Hiroshima and Nagasaki - servicemen, scientists, and journalists - described in great detail the apocalyptic scenes they encountered."
Audio and Video
1. World War II: How Did it End?
2. World War II: Nuclear Bombings of Japan
3. D-Day to Berlin - The Battle for France
Primary Sources
2. Winston Churchill announcing the end of World War II in Europe, 1945.
3. Message from General Dwight D. Eisenhower to General George C. Marshall concerning the Invasion of Normandy, France, aka D-Day. June 6th, 1944.
Maps
The final plans for the invasion of Normandy, France on D-Day.
The Allie's plan for attack on Berlin
Plans for the Allied invasion of Italy
Effects of the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. (Red=completely incinerated area, yellow=buildings destroyed, blue=rivers and seas, green=mountains and forests)
Decolonization after World War II.