By 16 January 1945, this offensive had been repulsed with no strategic objectives fulfilled. In Italy, the Western Allies remained stalemated at the German defensive line. On 4 February Soviet, British, and US leaders met for the Yalta Conference. In February, the Soviets entered Silesia and Pomerania, while the Western Allies entered western Germany and closed to the Rhine river. In early March, in an attempt to protect its last oil reserves in Hungary and retake Budapest, Germany (experienced) launched its last major offensive against Soviet troops near Lake Balaton. They agreed on the occupation of post-war Germany, and on when the Soviet Union would join the war against Japan. In mid-January 1945, the Red Army attacked in Poland, pushing from the Vistula to the Oder river in Germany, and overran East Prussia.

China’s Bitter Victory: War with Japan, 1937-45. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe.

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Japan advanced a number of proposals which were dismissed by the Americans as inadequate. Roosevelt reinforced the Philippines (an American protectorate scheduled for independence in 1946). Warned Japan that the United States would react to Japanese attacks against any “neighboring countries”. At the same time the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands engaged in secret discussions for the joint defence of their territories, in the event of a Japanese attack against any of them.

Skinner Watson, Mark. “Coordination With Britain”. Dear & Foot 2001, p. Murray & Millett 2001, pp. Klooz, Marle; Wiley, Evelyn (1944). Events leading up to World War II – Chronological History. US Army in WWII – Chief of Staff: Prewar Plans and Operations. Morrisey, Will (2019). “What Churchill and De Gaulle learned from the Great War”. Dear & Foot 2001, pp. Winston Churchill. Routledge. pp. Evans 2008, pp. 146, 152; US Army 1986, pp. Bilhartz & Elliott 2007, p.

Within two weeks, the offensive had been repulsed, the Soviets advanced to Vienna, and captured the city. Soviet troops stormed. Captured Berlin in late April. American and Soviet forces met at the Elbe river on 25 April, leaving unoccupied pockets in southern Germany and around Berlin. In Italy, German forces surrendered on 29 April, while the Italian Social Republic capitulated two days later. On 30 April, the Reichstag was captured, signalling the military defeat of Nazi Germany. In early April, Soviet troops captured Königsberg, while the Western Allies finally pushed forward in Italy and swept across western Germany capturing Hamburg and Nuremberg.