Transcript End of World War II

End of World War II
Allied Conferences, VE day,
Nuremberg Trials, Cold War, and the
creation of the UN
Victory In Europe Day
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After five years, eight months and six days The
surrender took place in the headquarters of Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower
For Germany it was signed by Col. Gen. Gustav Jodl.
For the Supreme Allied Command it was signed by
Lieut. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith.
For the Soviet Union it was signed by Gen. Ivan
Susloparoff
For the French it was signed by Gen. Francois Sevez
Casablanca Conference
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Jan. 12-23, 1943
Roosevelt and Churchill met in Casablanca, Morocco (Stalin
was invited but did not attend)
Met to plan the future global military strategy for the Western
Allies
- decided to invade Sicily instead of immediately invading
Western Europe
- planned strategy in Pacific and far East
- agreed on the concentrated bombing of Germany
Demanded an “unconditional surrender” from Germany Italy,
and Japan
Cairo Conferences
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November-December 1943
First Cairo Conference:
- Nov. 22-26
- Churchill and FDR discussed plans for the Normandy
Invasion
- with Chinese Leader, Chiang Kai-shek, declared goal to give
back the territories Japan had seized since 1914 (Korean
Independence
Second Cairo Conference:
- FDR and Churchill tried to persuade Turkey to join the Allied
powers
- Roosevelt informed Churchill that he chose Dwight
Eisenhower as supreme commander of the Normandy
Invasion
Tehran Conference
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Nov. 28- Dec.1, 1943
FDR, Churchill, and Stalin discussed opening and second
front in western Europe and an invasion of Germanoccupied France
Stalin wanted to keep the frontiers from the German-Soviet
Nonaggression Pact of 1939, the Russo-Finnish Treaty of
1940, and wanted the Baltic coast of East Prussia
3 Allied leaders unsure of what to do with Germany and a
postwar international organization (UN)
Soviet Union disagreed with western Allied support of the
Polish government stationed in London
Agreed to give Iran postwar independence and economic
assistance for being partly occupied during the war.
Yalta Conference
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Feb. 4-11, 1945
FDR, Churchill and Stalin met at Yalta in the
Crimea to plan the final defeat of Nazi Germany
The dividing up of Germany
The formation of the United Nations
German war reparations
The entry of Soviet forces into the Far-Eastern
front (Japan)
The final, and most difficult issue, the future of
Poland
Potsdam Conference
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July 17-Aug 2, 1945
President Truman, Prime Minister Churchill (later
Attlee) , Premier Stalin
Germany was split up and control was given to many
allied powers
National Socialism and Nazi ideologies outlawed
Germany disarmed and econ. Decentralized;
development of agriculture encouraged
Ultimatum to Japan
Many disagreements and different interpretations of
the Potsdam agreement; ultimately not a success
Victory In Europe Speeches
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General Jodl----"With this signature," he said in soft-spoken
German, "the German people and armed forces are for better or
worse delivered into the victors' hands. "In this war, which has
lasted more than five years, both have achieved and suffered more
than five years, both have achieved and suffered more than
perhaps and other people in the world.“
'God bless you all. This is your victory! It is the victory of the cause
of freedom in every land. In all our long history we have never seen
a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their
best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers,
nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the
independent resolve of the British nation. God bless you all.'
Nuremberg Trials
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Trials of Major German War Criminals
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Held in the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg
Plead “Not Guilty”
Evidence and Witnesses
11 of the 23 Nazi’s sentenced to death
Goering commits suicide
Oct 16th 1946 10 War Criminals are hanged
Military Tribunal trials I, II, and III tried more
suspected criminals
Nazi War Criminals
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Karl Doenitz German admiral commanded navy, Hitler’s successor.
(Served 10-year-sentence Died in 1981)
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Alfred Jodl Chief of Operations for the German High Command
(Jodl hanged in Nuremberg)
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Wilhelm Keitel Chief of Staff of the German High Command
(Keitel hanged in Nuremberg)
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Alfred Rosenberg Chief Nazi Philosopher and Reichminister
(Rosenberg hanged in Nuremberg)
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Albert Speer Reichminister of Armaments and Munitions
(served 20-year sentence He died in 1981 at age 76)
U.S. and Soviet Relations
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U.S. and Soviet government extremely different
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U.S. wanted free trade and freedom of the seas
Soviets wanted to keep out Western influences
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Marshal Plan: US pays countries to keep them from Communism
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Yalta Conference: meeting of US, UK, and SU to discuss
Europe postwar reorganization
 Roosevelt and Stalin argued over Poland, Axis’s reparations,
and the demilitarization and denazification of Germany
Beginning the Cold War
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Cold War: conflict between Communist Soviet
Union and democratic United States
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Used propaganda, economic war, diplomatic haggling
and occasional military clashes
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Refused to trade with each other,
Convinced other nations to take their side
Regulations like Truman Doctrine (declared fight against
Communism) and NATO (North American Treaty Organizationmilitary alliance)