Summary
Highlights
The Allies initially did not prioritize the liberation of Paris, focusing instead on German forces retreating towards the Rhine. However, General Charles de Gaulle's insistence on liberating the city, even threatening to send French troops in himself, convinced Eisenhower to proceed. Despite Hitler's orders to destroy Paris if it fell, General Dietrich von Choltitz chose not to carry out the destruction, leading to the city's liberation by Allied and French resistance forces on August 25.
As the Red Army advanced into Poland, liberating Warsaw and Krakow, they moved towards Auschwitz. Ten days before their arrival, the Germans forced 58,000 prisoners on a death march. When the Soviets reached Auschwitz, they found only 7,500 emaciated survivors and evidence of 1.1 million corpses.
The Yalta Conference brought together Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. They agreed on Germany's unconditional surrender and planned for post-war Europe. Stalin promised free elections in Eastern Europe and to join the war against Japan. However, he later broke his promise regarding free elections, establishing Soviet-dominated governments, which marked the beginning of the Cold War.
Hundreds of Allied bombers attacked Dresden in two waves, dropping thousands of tons of high-explosive and incendiary bombs, effectively destroying the city. This bombing disrupted German communication lines, aiding the Soviet offensive.
Crossing the Rhine was the final major obstacle to Berlin. Hitler ordered all bridges over the Rhine destroyed to halt the Allied advance. However, the Allies found one bridge intact and, after a surprise airborne assault behind enemy lines to neutralize German artillery, they crossed the river in just nine hours.
Both Allied forces from the west and the Soviet Union from the east raced towards Berlin. Eisenhower ordered the Allies to stop outside Berlin, allowing the Soviets to capture the city, as agreed upon at Yalta. The Soviet Army sustained over 300,000 casualties in the battle for Berlin. By May 2nd, the Soviets had full control. On May 8th, German troops surrendered, leading to V-E Day celebrations globally, marking the end of World War II in Europe.
The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle on the Western Front, a German offensive aiming to split American and British forces and recapture Antwerp. This massive gamble by Hitler ultimately failed, marking a significant defeat for Germany.