The Last Days of World War II — Season 1, Episode 17: June 10-June 16: Closer to Victory

Episode synopsis

On Okinawa, a U.S. victory is now in sight, while in the Philippines, the Japanese are holed up in the Sierra Madre Mountains. In Germany, Marshal Zhukov confers the Soviet Order of Victory - made of diamond-encrusted platinum - on Eisenhower and Montgomery. Eisenhower is also awarded the Order of Merit--Britain's most prestigious honor--and the Freedom of the City of London. After Churchill warns of the "Iron Curtain" falling over Europe and Truman fails to reconsider the tripartite division of Germany, Soviet authorities start the forcible expulsion of ethnic Germans from the Sudetanland.

About The Last Days of World War II

The Last Days of WWII is a twenty-six part historical documentary covering the final six months of combat in weekly segments to discuss the decisions, battles, strategies, and ultimate legacies of the war.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1February 18-February 24: The Battle for Iwo Jima
• E2February 25-March 3: The Allies Advance
• E3March 4-March 10: Firestorm Over Tokyo
• E4March 11-March 17: Hitler's Last Offensive
• E5March 18-March 24: The Race for Berlin
• E6March 25-March 31: War in the Pacific
• E7April 1-April 7: The Invasion of Okinawa
• E8April 8-April 14: Nazi Death Camps
• E9April 15-April 21: Assault on Berlin
• E10April 22-April 28: Bloody Stalemate on Okinawa
• E11April 29-May 5: The Fall of Berlin
• E12May 6-May 12: Germany Surrenders