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American General [[George Patton]] had perfected the art of lightning-fast tank maneuvers and unrestrained aggression, and he was the only Allied leader feared by the Germans.  A few years earlier, Patton led his men in war games in Atlanta that were supposed to last for many days.  Patton’s aggression and the enthusiasm of his men enabled him to win the games in just a day or two.  Patton inspired a unique loyalty and spirit in his men that enabled his troops to win quicker and with few casualties than anyone else.

American General [[George Patton]] had perfected the art of lightning-fast tank maneuvers and unrestrained aggression, and he was the only Allied leader feared by the Germans.  A few years earlier, Patton led his men in war games in Atlanta that were supposed to last for many days.  Patton’s aggression and the enthusiasm of his men enabled him to win the games in just a day or two.  Patton inspired a unique loyalty and spirit in his men that enabled his troops to win quicker and with few casualties than anyone else.

Patton’s Third Army rolled through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and much of the Netherlands, routing the Germans everywhere.  The best the German army could do was turn and run.  The French citizens lined the streets of Paris to cheer the Americans when they arrived and freed the city.  One of Hitler’s last orders to his general in Paris was to detonate bombs to destroy great artworks at the Louvre Museum, which holds the Mona Lisa.  The Nazi general received the order but disobeyed it.

Patton’s Third Army rolled through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and much of the Netherlands, routing the Germans everywhere.  The best the German army could do was turn and run.  The French citizens lined the streets of Paris to cheer the Americans when they arrived and freed the city.  One of Hitler’s last orders to his general in Paris was to detonate bombs to destroy great artworks at the Louvre Museum, which holds the Mona Lisa.  The Nazi general received the order but courageousldisobeyed it.

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 it.

The German forces sneaked 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.  

The big decision for Truman upon his return to the United States the first week of August 1945 was whether and how to use the atomic bomb against Japan.  Historians say that Truman had already decided by late July, but had not yet given the orders.  Truman was perhaps the most impulsive president in American history.  He would make snap decisions and he bragged about how when he made a decision, he never second-guessed himself.  Japan refused to agree to an unconditional surrender and it would have required 2 million American soldiers to invade and conquer the island.  The Japanese soldiers fought to the death in hand-to-hand combat and were even engaging in suicide acts.

The big decision for Truman upon his return to the United States the first week of August 1945 was whether and how to use the atomic bomb against Japan.  Historians say that Truman had already decided by late July, but had not yet given the orders.  Truman was perhaps the most impulsive president in American history.  He would make snap decisions and he bragged about how when he made a decision, he never second-guessed himself.  Japan refused to agree to an unconditional surrender and it would have required 2 million American soldiers to invade and conquer the island.  The Japanese soldiers fought to the death in hand-to-hand combat and were even engaging in suicide acts.

Some scientists (including Leo Szilard) asked Truman not to use the atomic bomb, but that approach would not end the war. Others suggested that Truman should warn the Japanese, and perhaps even display the awesome power of the bomb in a safe place to Japanese leaders before using it on cities.  But for every compassionate approach, there was a counter-argument against it.  Hawks (pro-war people) in America felt that if the Japanese leaders had prior warning, then they would put 100,000 of their American prisoners of war at risk and perhaps even place them in the cities we wanted to attack.

Some scientists (including Leo Szilard) asked Truman not to use the atomic bomb, but how else could the war be ended? Others suggested that Truman should warn the Japanese, and perhaps even display the awesome power of the bomb in a safe place to Japanese leaders before using it on cities.  But for every compassionate approach, there was a counter-argument against it.  Hawks (pro-war people) in America felt that if the Japanese leaders had prior warning, then they would put 100,000 of their American prisoners of war at risk and perhaps even place them in the cities we wanted to attack.

By August 1945 the mood in America was unsympathetic to the Japanese, perhaps even racist.  But there is little or no evidence that racism played a role in Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb.  All of Truman’s military advisors wanted to use the bomb.  After the United States spent so much effort developing it, it was hard to imagine not using it.  Also, Truman acted impulsively and decisively, and was not one to favor inaction over action.  Cautious restraint was not part of Truman’s personality.

By August 1945 the mood in America was unsympathetic to the Japanese, perhaps even racist.  But there is little or no evidence that racism played a role in Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb.  All of Truman’s military advisers wanted to use the bomb.  After the United States spent so much effort developing it, it was hard to imagine not using it.  Also, Truman acted impulsively and decisively, and was not one to favor inaction over action.  Cautious restraint was not part of Truman’s personality.

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.  Afterward, 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.

[[Image:Abomb.jpg|right|200px]]

[[Image:Abomb.jpg|right|200px]]

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.

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.