Summary
Highlights
1945 began with the Battle of the Bulge reaching its bloody conclusion, allowing Allied forces to push into Germany. Simultaneously, the Soviets advanced westward, capturing Warsaw in January and continuing towards Berlin. Recognizing the impending Allied victory, major powers met at Yalta in February to discuss the post-war fate of Europe and Germany.
Despite the clear path to victory, the Allies continued firebombing German cities like Hamburg and Dresden to force a surrender. April 1945 saw rapid Allied occupation of Germany, the execution of Mussolini, the Soviet capture of Berlin, and on April 30th, Hitler's suicide. The war in Europe officially concluded on May 8th with VE Day (Victory in Europe Day).
While Europe celebrated, the war continued fiercely in the Pacific. Early 1945 saw the Allies take Luzon and Manila. The invasion of Iwo Jima in February was incredibly bloody, with huge casualties on both sides, dramatically illustrated by the iconic flag-raising photo. Concurrently, B-29s firebombed Japanese cities, particularly Tokyo, causing widespread destruction.
The invasion of Okinawa from April to June was another brutal campaign, resulting in tens of thousands of soldier and civilian deaths. Despite these losses, Japan refused to surrender. In parallel, the U.S. developed atomic weapons through the Manhattan Project. To accelerate the war's end, President Truman authorized their use.
On August 6th, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, devastating the city. When Japan still did not surrender, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th. Adding to the pressure, the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria at the same time. Facing overwhelming force, Japan surrendered on August 14th, 1945. The official end of World War II was marked on September 2nd, 1945, with VJ Day (Victory in Japan Day).