C5 | An Overview of WWII

Question 1

How many people were killed in the Second World War?

Answer 1

More than 50 million men, women and children

Question 2

Blitzkrieg

Answer 2

The intense German military campaign using tanks, aircraft and troops to try to bring about a swift victory

Question 3

What did the paratroopers do?

Answer 3

Destroyed enemy strongholds, seized bridges and cut telephone lines

Question 4

Which countries did Germany attack in the spring of 1940 thanks to the German Blitzkrieg tactics?

Answer 4

1. France
2. Denmark
3. Norway
4. the Netherlands
5. Belgium

Question 5

Before Hitler could transport his troops across the English Channel to invade England, what must he do?

Answer 5

He had to destroy Britain’s air force

Question 6

What did Hitler do in southern England in the summer of 1940?

Answer 6

He began carrying out a series of air raids on military air bases in southern England

Question 7

When Hitler lost the Battle of Britain, what did he do instead?

Answer 7

He launched massive night bombing air raids on major British cities, hoping to force Britain to surrender

Question 8

Blitz

Answer 8

The German air raids on major British cities in 1940-1941

Question 9

Which countries did Germany invade in April 1941?

Answer 9

The Germans helped their Italian allies invade Greece and Yugoslavia, and some parts of Africa where the British were based

Question 10

When did Germany attack Russia?

Answer 10

June 1941

Question 11

What happened to Russia in October 1941?

Answer 11

Hitler was only 95km away from the capital city, Moscow

Question 12

Why did Japan give the USA a surprise attack on 7 December 1941?

Answer 12

1. To knock out America’s navy in one go

2. To have control of the rich lands in the Far East

Question 13

Where did Japan launch the surprise attack on the USA?

Answer 13

On the great American naval base of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii

Question 14

What made the USA declare war on Japan and its allies?

Answer 14

1. Thousands of American soldiers were killed

2. Dozens of US fighter planes and warships were destroyed

Question 15

Which colonies did the Japanese troops seize?

Answer 15

The British colonies of...
1. Hong Kong
2. Malaya
3. Burma
and the French colony of...
4. Indo-China

Question 16

What happened after Japan captured those colonies?

Answer 16

1. The Germans were almost in Moscow and had nearly pushed the British out of Africa
2. Japan was pushing back American forces and was close to invading India and Australia

Question 17

Turning Point

Answer 17

A time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results

Question 18

When was the Battle of Midway?

Answer 18

June 1942

Question 19

What happened in the Battle of Midway?

Answer 19

In the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese were beaten by the American forces in the great air and sea battle of Midway Island. The Japanese advance was stopped and gradually the Americans began to drive them back, island by island

Question 20

When was the Battle of Stalingrad?

Answer 20

July 1942 - February 1943

Question 21

What happened in the Battle of Stalingrad?

Answer 21

After 4 months of very fierce fighting in Russia, a significant proportion of the German army surrendered. Gradually, Soviet forces began to push the German army out of Russia and back towards Germany. This was the first time the Germans had retreated. Meanwhile, British and American bombers began night and day air raids on Germany itself

Question 22

When was the Battle of El Alamein?

Answer 22

October - November 1942

Question 23

What happened in the Battle of El Alamein?

Answer 23

British troops defeated the Germans. With help from the Americans, the British drove the Germans out of North Africa and invaded Italy

Question 24

When did Italy surrender?

Answer 24

8 September 1943

Question 25

What happened to Italy’s leader, Benito Mussolini?

Answer 25

He was captured and shot on 28 April 1945

Question 26

When was D-Day?

Answer 26

6 June 1944

Question 27

What was D-Day?

Answer 27

British, American and other Allied troops landed on beaches in Normandy, France to push German forces back towards Germany

Question 28

How was Germany by April 1945?

Answer 28

British and American forces were moving quickly towards Berlin (Germany’s capital city) and freeing villages, towns and countries from the German occupation along the way. In the east, the Russian armies were advancing too

Question 29

Where had Hitler and his closest followers gone to in 1945?

Answer 29

They had retreated to a special underground bunker under Berlin’s streets

Question 30

When did Hitler kill himself?

Answer 30

30 April 1945

Question 31

When did Germany surrender?

Answer 31

7 May 1945

Question 32

Where did the USA drop two nuclear bombs?

Answer 32

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Question 33

When did Japan surrender?

Answer 33

14 August 1945

Question 34

Allied Powers

Answer 34

1. Britain
2. France
3. the Soviet Union
4. the USA
5. Canada
6. Australia
7. New Zealand
8. India
9. China

Question 35

Axis Powers

Answer 35

1. Germany
2. Italy
3. Japan