256 ChaPter^5
the ropes and Americans and Russians met at the Elbe River and marched
into Berlin together. Hitler killed himself, and the Germans surrendered on
May 8th, 1945, known as VE, for “Victory in Europe,” Day. The Nazis, such
an imposing force with designs on world conquest just 4 years earlier, were
now defeated and Germany was in ruins, which would lead to serious conse-
quences after the war, the so-called Cold War.War for Global Power (Asia), 1941-1945
Yamamoto’s prediction after Pearl Harbor was correct; Japanese forces did
“run wild” in the Pacific for several months after December 1941, and he was
right to lack confidence thereafter. Japan took advantage of America’s unpre-
pared state and with its big navy—10 carriers, 11 battleships, 40 cruisers, 100FIGuRE 5-5 Map of WWII in the Pacific