23 THe Postwar erra Flashcards
Munich Agreement in 1938
The Munich Agreement, appeasing Hitler’s territorial demands by allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, demonstrated the policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France.
Poland in 1939
September 17: Soviet Union invades eastern Poland, in accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the USSR.
Treaty of Versailles (1919)
The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I and imposed harsh penalties on Germany. These included significant territorial losses, disarmament, and hefty reparations. The economic hardships and national humiliation stemming from these terms laid the groundwork for German resentment and the rise of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime.
Economic Depression
The Great Depression, beginning with the 1929 stock market crash in the United States, had a profound global impact. Economic instability, widespread unemployment, and poverty created fertile ground for political unrest, extremist ideologies, and aggressive nationalism.
Failure of League of Nations
The League of Nations, established after World War I to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts, failed to effectively address and deter aggression by militaristic and expansionist powers. Its inability to enforce collective security and its lack of authority undermined its credibility and effectiveness.
Rise of Totalitarian Regimes
Fascism in Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, promoted extreme nationalism, anti-communism, and authoritarian governance. Similarly, Nazism in Germany, under Adolf Hitler, combined fascist principles with racial ideology, targeting Jews and other minorities. In Japan, militarism prevailed, with the military gaining significant influence over the government and pursuing expansionist policies in Asia.
Hitler in 1933
Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany, marking the beginning of the Nazi regime and the erosion of democracy and civil liberties in Germany.
Start of war in 1939
September 1: Germany invades Poland, marking the official start of WWII and leading Britain and France to declare war on Germany.
Britian in 1940
July-October: The Battle of Britain sees the Royal Air Force successfully defending Britain against German Luftwaffe attacks, preventing a German invasion.
Mussolini in 1936
Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia showcased the aggressive expansionist policies of fascist Italy and highlighted the ineffectiveness of international efforts to maintain peace.
Spread of Germany in 1940
April-June: Germany invades Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France, achieving rapid victories through Blitzkrieg tactics.
Operation Barbosa in 1941
June: Germany invades the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, aiming to conquer Soviet territory and eliminate communism.
Yugoslavia in 1941
Attacked by Italy and Germany
Pearl Harbor in 1941
December 7: Japan launches a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, crippling the US Pacific Fleet and leading the USA to enter WWII.
US joins the war in 1941
December 8: The USA declares war on Japan, marking its entry into the Pacific War and the global conflict. Soon after the USA declares war on Germany and Italy.
Japanese Conquest in 1941 and 1942
December: Japanese invade Philippines. Hong Kong surrenders on Christmas Day.
Japan takes Singapore and East Indies.
U. S. troops forced to surrender on Bataan – Death March
Doolittle Raid on Tokyo
Battle of Coral Sea and The Battle of Midway sees the US Navy decisively defeating the Imperial Japanese Navy, turning the tide of the Pacific War.
Battle of Stalingrad of 1942
The Battle of Stalingrad, a brutal urban battle, ends with the Soviet Union successfully defending the city and marking a major turning point on the Eastern Front.
Casablanca Conference in 1943
Casablanca Conference – Roosevelt, Churchill and De Gaulle meet to formulate plan to assault Hitler’s Europe.
Africa in 1943
Axis Surrenders in N. Africa – May 1943
Italy in 1943
July: Allies invade Sicily and Italy, leading to the fall of Mussolini’s regime and Italy’s eventual surrender to the Allies. Sicily won and Italy surrenders.
Leningrad in 1944
German siege of Leningrad ends
Rome in 1944
Rome is liberated
D-Day in 1944
June 6: D-Day – the invasion of Europe by the Allies is begun.
Paris in 1944
August – Paris liberated
Battle of the Bulge in 1944
December – Battle of the Bulge
Yalta Conference in 1945
The Yalta Conference, attended by Allied leaders, outlines plans for post-war Europe and the establishment of the United Nations.
Rhine River in 1945
Allies cross the Rhine into Germany
Berlin in 1945
Russians march into Berlin
Mussolini in 1945
Mussolini captured and executed
Hitler in 1945
Hitler commits suicide ☺
Churchill in 1945
Churchill loses election and is replaced
Russian war On Japan in 1945
Russia declares war on Japan
Hiroshima in 1945
August 6th – Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
Nagasaki in 1945
August 9th – Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
End of the war in 1945
August 14th – Japan surrenders and WWII officially ends.
