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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 courageousldisobeyed 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 courageously disobeyed 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.  

Two months later the leaders of the Allied powers traveled to Potsdam, Germany, to plan for a post-war Europe.  At this Potsdam Conference were Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, Prime Minister Winston Churchill (who was there replaced by Clement Attlee after Churchill lost reelection in Britain), and President Truman (who had succeeded Roosevelt after his death in April).  They met from July 17 to August 2.

Two months later the leaders of the Allied powers traveled to Potsdam, Germany, to plan for a post-war Europe.  At this Potsdam Conference were Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, Prime Minister Winston Churchill (who was there replaced by Clement Attlee after Churchill lost reelection in Britain), and President Truman (who had succeeded Roosevelt after his death in April).  They met from July 17 to August 2.

Truman was no match for Stalin.  Truman’s greatest interest was in playing cards with his “advisors”, one of whom was the communist spy Alger Hiss.  Truman’s biggest concern was how Stalin might react to America’s development of an atomic bomb.  Why Truman was worried about that is a mystery, as the United States was far more powerful than the Soviet Union at this point.  But Truman gingerly told Stalin that America had developed a vastly more powerful bomb.  Stalin simply shrugged his shoulders and took an attitude of “so what?”.  One explanation is that Stalin knew more from his spies about the atomic bomb than Truman did.  Another explanation is that Stalin had just acquired control of half of Germany and all of Eastern Europe and did not fear the United States in the slightest.

Truman was no match for Stalin.  Truman’s greatest interest was in playing cards with his “advisers”, one of whom was the communist spy Alger Hiss.  Truman’s biggest concern was how Stalin might react to America’s development of an atomic bomb.  Why Truman was worried about that is a mystery, as the United States was far more powerful than the Soviet Union at this point.  But Truman gingerly told Stalin that America had developed a vastly more powerful bomb.  Stalin simply shrugged his shoulders and took an attitude of “so what?”.  One explanation is that Stalin knew more from his spies about the atomic bomb than Truman did.  Another explanation is that Stalin had just acquired control of half of Germany and all of Eastern Europe and did not fear the United States in the slightest.

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.

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.

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.

[[Image:Abomb.jpg|right|200px|thumb|“Mushroom cloud” caused by an atomic bomb explosion]]

[[Image:Abomb.jpg|right|200px|thumb|“Mushroom cloud” caused by an atomic bomb explosion]]

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.

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 may not have been dropped.  But the Japanese wanted to keep fighting.

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.

Ironically, the two Japanese cities hit by the atomic bomb, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were two of the most Christian cities in all of Japan.

Ironically, the two Japanese cities hit by the atomic bomb, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were two of the most Christian cities in all of Japan.

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==Postwar==

==Postwar==