The End of World War II

1
The End of World War II
2
Hitlers Downfall

• Allied soldiers surrounded Berlin
• Adolf Hitler committed suicide
• Before his death, he ordered his supporters and
  generals to commit suicide as well
• Goebbels Minister of Propaganda
• Himmler Head of the Gestapo/oversaw
  Concentration Camps

3
Unconditional Surrender

• May 9, 1945 Germany surrendered
• August 15, 1945 Japan surrendered

4
Death Toll

• China 20 million
• Germany 7 million
• Japan 2.6 million
• Poland 5.6 million
• Soviet Union 23.1 million
• United States 418,000
• Total of all countries 72 million

5
The Nuremburg Trials

• The Nuremberg Trials 24 Germans were accused of
  war crimes and crimes against humanity
• 12 were sentenced to execution
• 4 were sentenced to10-20 years in prison
• 3 were sentenced with life in prison
• 3 were acquitted of all charges
• 2 committed suicide prior to trial

6
The Nuremberg Trials

• These prisoners are living symbols of racial
  hatreds, of terrorism and violence, and of the
  arrogance and cruelty of power.

7
Creation of the United Nations

• The United Nations consisted of representatives
  from 50 nations and served the purpose of keeping
  world peace

8
Dividing Germany

• Allies split Germany
• France
• Great Britain
• Soviet Union
• United States
• Poland

9
Communism

• With the rising power of the Soviet Union,
  Communism began to spread
• The United States opposition to Communism fueled
  what would become the Cold War
• The Cold War A nonviolent conflict between the
  Soviet Union and the United States that lasted 44
  years and resulted in the Soviet Unions collapse