Changes

Hitler did not plan on surrendering.  He launched a massive counterattack at the Battle of the Bulge (December 16-26, 1944), also known as the Ardennes Campaign.  This was the last major German counteroffensive against advancing Allied troops during World War II. Hitler caught the Allied forces by surprise and inflicted heavy casualties on them in the bitterly cold Ardennes Forest.  

Hitler did not plan on surrendering.  He launched a massive counterattack at the Battle of the Bulge (December 16-26, 1944), also known as the Ardennes Campaign.  This was the last major German counteroffensive against advancing Allied troops during World War II. Hitler caught the Allied forces by surprise and inflicted heavy casualties on them in the bitterly cold Ardennes Forest.  

The German forces snuck through wooded and hilly country in Luxembourg and Belgium with the goal of reaching Antwerp. The Nazis amassed three armies totaling 250,000 soldiers for a massive attack against the Allies in the Ardennes Forest. The Nazis surrounded the 101st Airborne Division in southern Belgium, and demanded their surrender. The Americans refused to surrender.  This battle was the largest ever fought by the U.S. Army.  Nearly 600,000 American Soldiers fought in this historical battle.

The German forces snuck through wooded and hilly country in Luxembourg and Belgium with the goal of reaching Antwerp. The Nazis amassed three armies totaling 250,000 soldiers for a massive attack against the Allies in the Ardennes Forest. The Nazis surrounded the 101st Airborne Division in southern Belgium, and demanded their surrender. The Americans refused to surrender.  This battle was the largest ever fought by the U.S. Army.  Nearly 600,000 American Soldiers fought in it.

   

   

Allied resistance, especially the heroic effort by the 101st Airborne division, slowed the German forces just enough to prevent the Germans from making it to Antwerp. General Patton directed the Third Army to pray, and then he counterattacked.  He relieved the German pressure on the 101st Airborne Division and by February the Germans were in full retreat.  

Allied resistance, especially the heroic effort by the 101st Airborne division, slowed the German forces just enough to prevent the Germans from making it to Antwerp. General Patton directed the Third Army to pray, and then he counterattacked.  He relieved the German pressure on the 101st Airborne Division and by February the Germans were in full retreat.  

Truman and the Allied Powers had issued the Potsdam Proclamation on July 25th to the Japanese government warning of “prompt and utter destruction” if it did not surrender immediately.  Afterwards, Truman dropped 27 million leaflets over Japanese cities with the same warning.  The Japanese ignored them and showed no interest in surrendering.  If the Japanese had shown any interest in ending the war, then the atomic bomb would not have been dropped.  But the Japanese wanted to keep fighting.

Truman and the Allied Powers had issued the Potsdam Proclamation on July 25th to the Japanese government warning of “prompt and utter destruction” if it did not surrender immediately.  Afterwards, Truman dropped 27 million leaflets over Japanese cities with the same warning.  The Japanese ignored them and showed no interest in surrendering.  If the Japanese had shown any interest in ending the war, then the atomic bomb would not have been dropped.  But the Japanese wanted to keep fighting.

Truman approved the dropping the atomic bomb, and bombers named the Enola Gay carried out the mission on August 6, 1945 on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.  Truman bragged that he did not lose a night’s sleep over the decision.  Truman’s reaction to the news was troubling to some.  He was crossing the Atlantic on a ship and when the news reached him, he reportedly declared, “This is the greatest thing in history.”  According to a witness, Truman supposedly “raced about the ship to spread the news, insisting that he had never made a happier announcement. ‘We have won the gamble,’ he told the assembled and cheering crew.”  Japan, stunned, did not immediately surrender and some wonder whether it was given enough time to do so.  On August 9th, a second atomic bomb was dropped, this time on the city of Nagasaki.  Japan surrendered the next day, and World War II was over.

Truman approved the dropping of the atomic bomb, and a bomber named ''Enola Gay'' carried out the mission on August 6, 1945 on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.  Truman bragged that he did not lose a night’s sleep over the decision.  Truman’s reaction to the news was troubling to some.  He was crossing the Atlantic on a ship and when the news reached him, he reportedly declared, “This is the greatest thing in history.”  According to a witness, Truman supposedly “raced about the ship to spread the news, insisting that he had never made a happier announcement. ‘We have won the gamble,’ he told the assembled and cheering crew.”  Japan, stunned, did not immediately surrender and some wonder whether it was given enough time to do so.  On August 9th, a second atomic bomb was dropped, this time on the city of Nagasaki.  Japan surrendered the next day, and World War II was over.

==Postwar==

==Postwar==