World War II in Europe Before dawn on September 1, 1939, German forces crossed into Poland in an attack so fast and brutal, they called it blitzkrieg, meaning lightning war. This time Britain and France decided to fight, and on September 3 they declared war on Germany. Roosevelt declared the United States' neutrality, but within weeks asked Congress to lift the Neutrality Acts' arms embargo that prevented Britain and France form buying American weapons. After weeks of debate, …
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…ordered a counterattack in Belgium. Although Allied lines bulged, the Germans could not break through. The battle of the Bulge was the last German offensive. In March 1945, the Allies crossed the Rhine River and moved the heart of Germany. Meanwhile, the Soviets pushed from the east, taking Berlin in April 1945. In April, Hitler committed suicide in his underground shelter in Berlin, and on May 7, 1945, German leaders to an unconditional surrender, ending the war in Europe.