The End of World War II 1945 | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans
The year 1945 was the definitive turning point of the 20th century, marking the transition from a world consumed by total war to one defined by a new, fragile global order. This transformation occurred in two distinct phases: the collapse of the Axis powers in Europe during the first half of the year (1945-I) and the final surrender of Imperial Japan in the second (1945-II). These two periods represent not just military conclusions, but the birth of the modern geopolitical landscape, the atomic age, and the foundations of international law. 1945-I: The Collapse of the Third Reich 1945 I e II
The first half of 1945 saw the rapid disintegration of Nazi Germany. Following the failed German counter-offensive at the Battle of the Bulge in January, Allied forces advanced from both the East and West. Key events during this period included: The End of World War II 1945 |