Surrender

= Surrender = Read the information below to find out what __could__ have happened after the Battle of the Bulge.

__**Surrender**__ After hearing the German demands, McAuliffe replied, “Ah Nuts ! I don’t know what we should do.” As a graduate of West Point __,__ McAulliffe was well aware of the devastating impact that massive artillery assaults could have on their targets (Fredericksen). Although he hated to disappoint Eisenhower, he was even more concerned for his men. Portions of the 3rd Battalion of the 394th Infantry Regiment had already been captured. Perhaps this was another acceptable loss. Finally, as the holidays drew near, McAuliffe could not bear the thought of being responsible for the death of thousands of fathers. With these things in mind, he sat down and wrote out an official letter of surrender.

__**Germany Captures Antwerp**__ Immediately after taking control of Bastogne, an important transportation crossroads, von Rundstedt convinced Hitler to temporarily delay his push toward Antwerp with a surprise attack on a nearby Allied supply base. On December 23rd, still under the cover of bad weather, Hitler concentrated his attack on Spa, a major Allied fuel depot. The American soldiers defending the base were surprised by this move, and as a result, were quickly overtaken. On Christmas day, after unwrapping much-needed supplies and inspired with new hope of victory, the German Army headed toward their original goal: the ports of Antwerp (Tally 264).

Although Patton reached Bastogne on December 25th, he was dismayed to discover that Germany was reinvigorated with new supplies, troops, and resolve. Upon finding the enemy, he received word that Germany’s 7th Army had arrived to fight against Patton’s Third Army. The battle was fierce, but Patton and his men were unable to break through the newly fortified German line (Tally 264).

By late-January, Germany’s 15th Army had captured key communication posts in Belgium. The Allied invasion that began so impressively in the summer of 1944 was beginning to unravel. On Valentines Day, 1945, Germany had officially taken the port of Antwerp, which effectively split the heart of the Allied powers. British & American forces were now separated by a bulge that extended all the way to the North Sea.

__**Yalta Conference**__ When news of the Nazi victory at Antwerp reached the American home front, many started to call for a negotiated peace with Germany. A small, but well-publicized protest march on the Washington Mall caught the attention of many newspapers around the world. Germany was not the nation that first attacked America anyways. Because of the unrest at home, President Franklin Roosevelt convinced the other Allied leaders – Winston Churchill & Joseph Stalin – to delay their meeting at Yalta until the end of March. Before the assault in the Ardennes, they had intended to work with one another to discuss how to deal with a defeated Germany and the creation of the United Nations. However, due to the recent turn of events, they chose to invite Adolf Hitler to their March 28th meeting to try and talk some sense into him. At Yalta, the Big Three urged Hitler to end this suicide mission; however, his victory at Antwerp made him more arrogant than ever. Pounding his fists on the table, he made it clear that Germany would never again surrender to the nations that had embarrassed the Fatherland only a few years earlier. Yalta was a disaster, and Roosevelt made his way back to America more stressed than ever. After Hitler left, Roosevelt pulled Stalin & Churchill aside. “Don’t worry boys. I think we have something that might help us deal with a lunatic like him.”

__**Harry Truman Becomes President**__ As he often had before, Churchill decided to retreat to Warm Springs, Georgia, for two weeks of much needed rest and reflection. On April 12th, however, Roosevelt said, “I have a terrific pain in the back of my head.” He immediately slumped over and died from a massive stroke.

Before news of Roosevelt’s death went public, newly inaugurated president, Harry Truman, was informed of the tragedy and handed a letter. “Its from President Roosevelt, sir. He said you should see this if he passes.” Truman immediately opened the letter //Dear Harry,//

//I know we’ve had our differences, but I also know you are the right man for times like these. While I wont go into specifics – General Leslie Groves can fill you in on the details – you need to know about the “ Manhattan Project .” Since 1942, we have been working to develop a bomb of unimaginable power. As of today, March 31st, we appear to be only months from a successful test. That weapon may be the only way to save thousands of American soldiers. If the time comes, I trust you will know what to do.//

//Sincerely,// // Franklin D. Roosevelt //

__**Bombing Berlin**__ While the nation went into immediate mourning over Roosevelt’s death, Truman set out to learn everything he could about the Manhattan Project. Meanwhile, after the fall of Antwerp, there was an unsettling silence on the Western front. By August 2nd, Allied code-breakers discovered that Hitler was preparing for a massive assault on Britain. No doubt, Hitler intended to finish what he failed to accomplish five years earlier at the Battle of Britain. Astounded by this development, Truman made a quick decision. He ordered a B-52 bomber to release a 10-ft nuclear bomb, named Little Boy, on Berlin, Germany, on August 6th, 1945. The blast killed an estimated 100,000 people, including Hilter. Three days later, America dropped another nuclear device on Munich, killing another 75,000 people. On August 10th, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally. Amazed by this devastation, Emperor Hirohito also agreed to give the Allies Japan’s unconditional surrender only two days later. World War II was officially over.

__**Impact on Cold War**__ Although the use of nuclear weapons effectively ended the Second World War, it also lengthened the Cold War. The nuclear fallout led to a number of health problems in surrounding communities. Furthermore, many Europeans believed the detonation of a second nuclear weapon was unnecessary and inhumane. Later that year, when General George Marshall offered to help rebuild Western Europe, France & Italy firmly rejected American aid and chose to ally themselves with the Soviet Union. A more well-supplied Soviet Union was able to compete with America for world dominance well into the 21st Century.

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