The Ending + Impacts

• Ending:

  • By 1945, many German cities were destroyed. German soldiers were fighting but couldn't stop the Russian and Allied troops. The Russians began to attack Berlin, when Hitler, just streets away, killed himself in a bunker. His successor, Admiral Donitz, surrendered.
  • Victory in Europe Day - VE Day - is celebrated on 8 May 1945. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, known as Victory over Japan Day - VJ Day.
• Impacts:

  • Over 60 million people were killed, most of which were civilians. Roughly 40 million more were displaced inside their country or became refugees elsewhere.
  • Many cities were destroyed by bombing, such as Coventry and Dresden. Whole infrastructure systems had to be rebuilt.
  • The fall of Germany led to the USSR and the US becoming the most powerful countries. This led to the Cold War.
  • The EEC was set up to promote co-operation between European countries.