[PapaNew]

We have stopped our advance because of earlier political agreements while the Russians continue theirs. Why does it feel like our war with Germany is all over but the shouting and the conflict and “war” with the USSR is just about to start?

Major events in the near future that I can think of:

- Hitler’s death

- The A & H bombs on Japan

- Events leading up to Israel becoming a nation

[Tax-chick]

Why does it feel like our war with Germany is all over but the shouting and the conflict and “war” with the USSR is just about to start?

Because it is?

Still quite a bit of mayhem to come in the Pacific in the next four months, though, and more death in Europe. The war will be officially over when Patton dies.

Professor Thomas Childers, who lectures on World War II for "The Great Courses," wrote a book on the last bomber shot down in Europe before the war ended. His uncle was one of the crewmen.

[Lurking Libertarian]

- The A & H bombs on Japan

If by "H" you mean Hydrogen, the hydrogen bomb hadn't been invented yet. The two bombs dropped on Japan were both atom bombs, albeit of different designs (one uranium, one plutonium).

[colorado tanker]

I checked out Sgt. "Red" Erwin. He survived his burns after many, many surgeries. He returned to Alabama and lived to a ripe old age after a career with the Veterans Administration.

The Air Force created the Henry E. Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member of the Year Award, presented annually to an airman, noncommissioned officer or senior noncommissioned officer in the flight engineering, loadmaster, air surveillance and related career fields.