Materials

• Overhead projector
• Class textbook
• Maps of Europe and Asia   

Instructional Activities

1. Review the content from the previous sessions, as needed. Remind students of the deadlines for any projects they have been assigned.
   
   
2. Display the following notes on the board or overhead:
   
   In September 1942, Germans attacked Russians at Stalingrad but could not avoid the ravages of the cold winter resulting in thousands of deaths. The Germans surrendered in February 1943.
   
   This defeat prevented Germany from seizing the Soviet oil fields and turned the tide against Germany in the east.
   
   On D-Day (June 6, 1944), Allied forces surprised the Germans at Normandy. This was a major turning point in the war in Europe.
   
   This invasion made possible the liberation of Paris on August 25, 1944. After Russia reached Berlin in April 1945, Hitler killed himself, and the remaining German leaders surrendered on May 7.
   
   
3. Display the following notes on the board or overhead:
   
   In June of 1942, the United States Navy removed the threat to Hawaii by destroying four Japanese carriers and Japanese 150 airplanes at Midway Island. This victory was a turning point in the Pacific.
   
   In early 1945, the Allies fought hard to capture Iwo Jima and Okinawa to provide refueling and launching places for planes. There were terrible losses to both sides: 120,000 Japanese and 18,000 Allied troops, mostly United States Marines.
   
   Japanese soldiers, Kamikaze pilots, and civilians were willing to die or commit suicide rather than surrender.
   
   Ask, “How was Germany doing on two war fronts? Had they managed to defeat the Russians? Why, or why not? Had the British given in? Why, or why not? Were the Germans holding the Americans back? How had they managed to hold on? Were the Allies making progress against Japan in the Pacific? If so, why? How?”
   
   
4. Explain that Franklin Roosevelt died at a very critical time of the war in April 1945. Ask the students to write at least two questions Americans would have been asking in April 1945 after learning this disturbing news. After a few minutes, put students in groups of two to four to compare their questions. Have each group use their texts or other resources to find answers to at least two of the group’s questions.
   
   
5. Vice President Harry Truman inherited a world war when he took over as president of the United States. Truman was well aware of the ferocious fighting of the Japanese, and that created a dilemma. Display the following note on the board or overhead:
   
   President Harry Truman was concerned about American losses if Allied troops invaded Japan.
   
   When Japan refused to surrender, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. More than 110,000 Japanese died instantly, with more to die later from radiation.
   
   
6. Display the following notes on the board or overhead:
   
   Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945, V-J (Victory over Japan) Day.
   
   Provide students information on the casualties in WWII. One source is <http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob62.html>.
   
   
7. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity, using available resources.