Beginning on June 6, 1945 with the invasion of Normandy, Allied Forces had destroyed German strongholds in France and Holland …show more content…
The German Army, who had been pushed back to Berlin after the Battle of the Bulge, was decimated. Falling back on Berlin, Adolph Hitler vowed to defend the city at all costs arming the old men and young boys in his Volkssturm (People's Army). With the Allies advancing within 28 kilometers of Berlin on the western front, General Dwight Eisenhower, in a surprising move, decided not to attack Berlin but rather leave the Berlin to be taken by the Soviets, who seemed determined to destroy Berlin and Nazi Germany with overwhelming force. Fierce fighting ensued on April 20th 1945. The Soviet forces overpowered an undermanned German Army. Adolph Hitler, facing certain defeat, married his longtime girlfriend Eva Braun, said farewell to his loyal SS guards and committed suicide along with Braun. On May 7th, the remaining leaders of Nazi Germany signed an unconditional surrender with the Allies ending the war in