Liberation of Germany and Nazi Camps The Holocaust and Hitler’s reign over Europe was a very dark time for the entire world until Germany and the concentration camps were liberated. This is very important because it changed the course of history, and the laws and ways of war. Germany and Hitler were ruling over a large part of central Europe, and their plan was to control all of Europe. The invasion of Northern Europe and the conquest of Germany by allied forces was the most pivotal role in the downfall of Germany and the ending of World War II. Hitler had created an unknown amount of concentration camps in total, and the liberation of those camps truly showed that the war had been a victory for the allies.
Invasion of Europe During World War II, the U.S. tried to stay uninvolved with Germany, but eventually they decided to intervene. The U.S. decided that their best strategy was to invade Northern Europe through the French coast of Normandy (Scholastic 29-30). These series of invasions were later known as D-Day. The invasions of Northern Europe began on June 6th , 1944 (Scholastic 36). The attack on Utah Beach was a great success, with nearly 23,000 men and 1,700 vehicles ashore by the end of the day, but the attack on Omaha beach was nearly a disaster. Over 2,500 troops were killed during the invasion (Scholastic 36). The United States now had forces within Europe. After D-Day, the U.S. troops began to regain their strength, and devise a new plan to attack Germany. The U.S. invasion of Germany was a very important role in the fall of Germany. Camp Liberations The most infamous part of the holocaust was it’s concentration camps, where millions had lost their lives. …show more content…
The first camp liberated, Majdanek, was liberated by the Soviet Red Army in July of 1944 (Harran 579). In the following months, many more camps were liberated. “The Soviets liberated Auschwitz, the largest killing center and concentration camp, in January of 1945” (Liberation of Nazi Camps). The first camp U.S. soldiers liberated was Ohrdruf, a Buchenwald satellite, on April 4th 1945 (Harran 579). Seven days after the liberation of Ohrdruf, Buchenwald, the oldest camp in the Nazi system, where over 238,000 were held and 43,000 were killed in its eight year existence, was liberated (Harran 579). The liberation of the camps showed that Germany was on its last legs, and that the allies were starting to win the war. Taking Over Germany With U.S. forces in Europe, their forces combined with the allies, began to take over Germany. “By the beginning of 1945, the Third Reich was being crushed between our overwhelming forces from both east and west” (Scholastic 54). In February of 1945, the allies were ready to begin their conquest of Germany. “Their plan was to drive to the Rhine river, and follow it into the German heartland” (Scholastic 54). “On February 8th, 1945, an artillery bombardment along Montgomery’s coast began the Rhine offensive” (Scholastic 56). By March 8th, 1945, the allies had created large offensive strategic points along the eastern bank of the Rhine. (Scholastic 57-58). In early April, allied forces captured a large pocket of German soldiers and they surrendered after being held for a while, which was a huge success. When the allies were on their way to capture the German capital, Berlin, Eisenhower halted them, because they had made a deal where the Soviet’s Red Army would capture and take the capital. Stalin, the Soviet leader, …show more content…
World War II and the Holocaust affected people around the entire world in many ways, it could be possible that a family member was living in an occupied part of Europe, or that you could be trying your best to help the allies. Once the war had ended, people around the world and almost every nation rejoiced. “On May 8th, the 1945, the allies celebrated V-E Day (Victory Day in Europe Day) - the war was finally over” (Harran 580). Victory Day has become a national holiday in Europe. Victory Day should and will always be remembered as the day thousands regained their freedom. The Holocaust will always have a lasting affect on the world, and the world will never
Invasion of Europe During World War II, the U.S. tried to stay uninvolved with Germany, but eventually they decided to intervene. The U.S. decided that their best strategy was to invade Northern Europe through the French coast of Normandy (Scholastic 29-30). These series of invasions were later known as D-Day. The invasions of Northern Europe began on June 6th , 1944 (Scholastic 36). The attack on Utah Beach was a great success, with nearly 23,000 men and 1,700 vehicles ashore by the end of the day, but the attack on Omaha beach was nearly a disaster. Over 2,500 troops were killed during the invasion (Scholastic 36). The United States now had forces within Europe. After D-Day, the U.S. troops began to regain their strength, and devise a new plan to attack Germany. The U.S. invasion of Germany was a very important role in the fall of Germany. Camp Liberations The most infamous part of the holocaust was it’s concentration camps, where millions had lost their lives. …show more content…
The first camp liberated, Majdanek, was liberated by the Soviet Red Army in July of 1944 (Harran 579). In the following months, many more camps were liberated. “The Soviets liberated Auschwitz, the largest killing center and concentration camp, in January of 1945” (Liberation of Nazi Camps). The first camp U.S. soldiers liberated was Ohrdruf, a Buchenwald satellite, on April 4th 1945 (Harran 579). Seven days after the liberation of Ohrdruf, Buchenwald, the oldest camp in the Nazi system, where over 238,000 were held and 43,000 were killed in its eight year existence, was liberated (Harran 579). The liberation of the camps showed that Germany was on its last legs, and that the allies were starting to win the war. Taking Over Germany With U.S. forces in Europe, their forces combined with the allies, began to take over Germany. “By the beginning of 1945, the Third Reich was being crushed between our overwhelming forces from both east and west” (Scholastic 54). In February of 1945, the allies were ready to begin their conquest of Germany. “Their plan was to drive to the Rhine river, and follow it into the German heartland” (Scholastic 54). “On February 8th, 1945, an artillery bombardment along Montgomery’s coast began the Rhine offensive” (Scholastic 56). By March 8th, 1945, the allies had created large offensive strategic points along the eastern bank of the Rhine. (Scholastic 57-58). In early April, allied forces captured a large pocket of German soldiers and they surrendered after being held for a while, which was a huge success. When the allies were on their way to capture the German capital, Berlin, Eisenhower halted them, because they had made a deal where the Soviet’s Red Army would capture and take the capital. Stalin, the Soviet leader, …show more content…
World War II and the Holocaust affected people around the entire world in many ways, it could be possible that a family member was living in an occupied part of Europe, or that you could be trying your best to help the allies. Once the war had ended, people around the world and almost every nation rejoiced. “On May 8th, the 1945, the allies celebrated V-E Day (Victory Day in Europe Day) - the war was finally over” (Harran 580). Victory Day has become a national holiday in Europe. Victory Day should and will always be remembered as the day thousands regained their freedom. The Holocaust will always have a lasting affect on the world, and the world will never