May 3rd 1945

Joining forces with the Soviets

On 3 May 1945, the 82nd Airborne Division made contact with the Soviets. It was then transferred to Epinal in France, where a large number of paratroopers were demobilised.

The army developed a points system that took into account the number of days in action, decorations and commendations obtained, as well as wounds. Any soldier with a total of 100 points can return home.

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November 30 1945

The 82nd and the 101st Airborne divisions are demobilized

November 30 1945: The 82nd and the 101st Airborne divisions are demobilized near Auxerre.

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November 19 1945

82nd Airborne Division: end of mission in Berlin

On 19 November 1945, the 82nd Airborne Division was relieved of its mission in Berlin and joined the 101st Airborne in the Auxerre sector.

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September 2nd 1945

Japan's capitulation

Le 2 Septembre 1945, le saut de la 101st Airborne Division est annulé suite à la capitulation sans conditions du Japon mettant ainsi un terme définitif à la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Les actes ont été signés sur le cuirassé USS Missouri.

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Beginning of August 1945

The 101st Airborne Division on alert

At the beginning of August 1945, the 101st Airborne Division was transferred to Auxerre, Sens and Joigny. It was put on alert for an operational jump to Japan.

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End of July 1945

The 82nd Airborne Division reaches Berlin

End of July 1945: The 82nd Airborne Division reaches Berlin, where it manages to secure the American area, and then serves as the city’s Honor Guard.

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June 23rd 1945

The last American paratrooper combat jump of World War II

On 23 June 1945, 1,030 paratroopers of the 511th RCT under Ltc Henry Burgess jumped into the Aparri – Luzon sector in the Philippine archipelago.

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May 5 to 8 1945

Taking of the Berghof and "V-E" Day

Between 5 and 8 May 1945, the 506th PIR of the 101st Airborne Division entered Berchtesgaden and stormed the ‘Berghof’, Adolf Hitler’s luxurious personal residence, his famous ‘eagle’s nest’.

This Bavarian town is perched in the heart of the mountains on the border between Austria and Switzerland. It is home to Adolf Hitler’s luxurious personal residence. French soldiers from General Leclerc’s 2nd Armoured Division were the first to arrive, but the complex was so vast that they let the Americans take over. The paratroopers discovered huge abandoned mansions, all of which had belonged to the highest dignitaries of the Nazi party. A network of underground passages was uncovered, and thousands of works of art, spirits, luxury vehicles, silverware and personal effects were seized.

The 101st Airborne then set up camp between Germany and Austria as the Army of Occupation. 8 May also marked the Allied victory over Germany and the end of the Second World War in Europe, known in English as ‘V-E Day’ (Victory in Europe Day).

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