End of Hitler and Third Reich Apr-May 1945

APRIL-MAY 1945

The Fall of Hitler and the Third Reich

German Failures Mount

After the Battle of the Bulge, Germany is on the defensive

Fighting in the Ardennes

The Reich in its Death Throws

Hitler relies on technology to save Germany

This includes the V1 and the V2, which were aimed at London First V1 launched

toward London one week after the D-Day landings

Rocket Launch Sites

Turning to Technology

The V1 rocket is considered a “guided” weapon Vergeltungswaffe (Retaliation

weapon 1) Mostly it was pointed in a

direction and could accurately hit a city, not a target within a city

Prisoners in concentration camps often assembled the rockets that prolonged the war

Turning to Technology

V2 Rocket Vergeltungswaffe

(Retaliation weapon 2) Worlds first long range

ballistic missileAn estimated 12000

concentration camp prisoners died making the weapon that killed an estimated 9000 British

Launch Failures

Video Link

Last Hope

Nazis tried to create a nuclear weapon, but were not fast enough Nazi politicization of academia drove many out of

Germany and Jewish scientists were purged from Germany hindering Nazi attempts at developing an atomic weapon

Hitler’s scientists created new jet fightersHitler orders the defense of Germany to the

last man

ME-62 Jet Fighter

LINK

The Final Weeks

On Nov. 20th, 1944, Hitler retreats from his headquarters at Rastenburg and goes to Berlin He will not leave Berlin

ever againOn Feb 4th 1945, Allies

meet at Yalta to discuss post-war plans

Allies allow Soviets to enter Berlin first

Fall of Berlin

Soviets begin their assault on Berlin April 16th, 1945

Hitler commits suicide April 30th, 1945 and the Soviets occupy the Reichstag that night

Hitler shot himself; his wife of one day used cyanide and he poisoned his dogs

Results

General Alfred Jodl signs the surrender for all German forces May 7th 1945

WW II is over in EuropeNazi war crimes revealedMany top Nazi leaders will be put on trial at

Nuremberg More will be hunted for decadesWill lay foundations for Cold War

Cold War Begins

Operation Paperclip

LINK