Chapter 36 - World War II Flashcards
What economic problems were Germany facing after World War I?
Germany had war debts and had to pay the reparations imposed in the Treaty of Versailles. The government started to print more money, which led to runway inflation. It took one year for something worth 100 Marks (German currency at the time) to require 940,000 Marks. As a result, savings disappeared and salaries could not keep up with the shift.
What was the Weimar Republic?
The Weimar Republic was a constitutional democracy drafted by Germany in 1919. Germany was formerly a monarchy.
What is Mein Kampf?
Mein Kampf is a book written by Adolf Hitler that showcased extreme nationalism, racism, and anti-semitism. In his book, Hitler blamed Jews, corruption, Marxists, and business leaders for Germany’s loss in World War I.
How did Hitler rise to power? What did he do while he was in power?
The economic depression at the time made Hitler’s rhetoric seem reasonable and it ultimately helped him rise to power. He promised to end the reparations, create jobs, and defy the Versailles Treaty. As Chancellor, he suspended civil rights, attacked Marxists, and disbanded all political parties that were not his own. However, he did purge his own party (National Socialists) because he thought they were disloyal. Hitler’s 3rd Reich started massive public works projects, rearmed Germany, and united Germany and Austria. He established a totalitarian state and a secret police known as the Gestapo. Hitler indoctrinated the youth of Germany (“Hitler Youth”) and instilled in them physical fitness, loyalty, and violence.
What were the Nuremberg Laws?
The Nuremberg Laws were a set of laws passed by the Nazis that deprived Jews of German citizenship and placed restrictions on them. Jews were not allowed to marry non-Jews, attend German schools or universities, hold government jobs, practicing law or medicine, or publish books. Pogroms, mob attacks on a specific ethnic group, erupted as a result.
What was the Night of Broken Glass?
In 1938, a young Jewish person killed a German diplomat in Paris. Hitler responded by calling for attacks against Jewish communities. Mobs went out and shattered the windows of Jewish homes. This is the point where the government began talking about the Final Solution. (Genocide)
What were Nazi eugenics?
Nazis were obsessed with the “quality” of offspring. They believed in compulsory sterilization for the “hereditarily determined”. In other words, individuals that had physical deformities, alcoholism, mental illnesses, blindness, etc. were not allowed to have kids.
What was the new German culture promoted by Nazis?
Religion was considered weak by the 3rd Reich. Nazis hated jazz and modern art because it was associated with
African-Americans.
What were the 2 alliances of the Second World War?
The Axis Powers was composed of Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Allied Powers was composed of France, Great Britain and their commonwealth allies, the USSR, China, and the United States.
What was the Tripartite Act?
Also known as the Berlin Pact, the Tripartite Act was a defensive alliances signed by the Axis Powers. It was promoted as a new Congress of Vienna.
What happened during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War?
In 1931, Japan invaded the Chinese region known as Manchuria. 6 years later, Japan overran Eastern China. The West did not attempt to stop Japan. 20,000 to 80,000 women were raped, 200,000 to 300,000 people were killed and 1/3 of homes were burnt during what was known as the Rape of Nanking. Brothels were established to prevent rape because half-Japanese, half-Chinese children went directly against the concept of eugenics.
What happened during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War?
In 1935, Italy invades Ethiopia in attempt to colonize and also as an act of revenge. This war demonstrated the weakness of the League of Nations. As punishment for instigating war, sanctions were imposed on Italy but they could not be enforced because the League of Nations doesn’t have an army.
What happened during the Spanish Civil War?
Francisco Franco led a revolt against the Republic of Spain. His Nationalist supporters were composed of Fascists and
right-wingers and were even supported by the Church. Supporters of the Republic were known as Loyalists. Loyalists were composed of socialists and communists and were partially pro-democracy. Before this civil war, Spain was a far-left constitutional monarchy. Franco was supported by Hitler and Mussolini while the Republic was supported by Stalin.
What was the Lincoln Brigade?
The Lincoln Brigade was composed of Cubans who supported the Republic during the Spanish Civil War.
What was the Condor Legion?
The Condor Legion was composed of volunteer German pilots who helped Franco during the Spanish Civil War.
How did Hitler defy the Treaty of Versailles?
Hitler defied the Treaty of Versailles by building up the German military and by seizing the Rhineland.
What was Hitler’s argument for German expansion?
Hitler argued that Germany needed more breathing room and that the German people were superior to other people such as the Slavs. Additionally, he felt that Germany required the economic boost from acquiring raw material.
How did Germany annex Austria?
Prior to the annexation, a union of Germany and Austria existed that was known as the Anschluss. Germany sent troops into Austria in attempt to “keep the peace”. The Prime Minister of Austria basically gave up and invited Hitler over.
What was the Czech Crisis?
Following the annexation of Austria, Germany turned to Czechoslovakia. Hitler invaded without invitation because he argued that Germans living in the Sudetenland (Czech region) should have autonomy. (right of self-government) The Munich Pact allowed Germany to annex certain portions of Czechoslovakia.
Europe remained silent, employing a policy known as Appeasement.
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
In August of 1939, Germany and Russia promised peaceful relations between themselves. In reality, they both sought to fairly divide up Poland when they both it invaded rather than fighting over it. There was a mutual benefit.
How did Germany invade Poland?
One week after the Nazi-Soviet Pact, Germany moved in to Poland and mainly targeted Warsaw, their capital, and Brest. Germany utilized Stuka, a type of aircraft for dive bombing, during this invasion. Dive bombers served as the alternative to heavy, medium, and torpedo bombers. The Stuka was effective because Poland barely had an air force. They were equipped with the intimidating and iconic Jericho Siren. The weakness of the Stuka was that it was extremely slow. However, Poland did not identify this. Britain and France declared on Germany during this event.
What is the Blitzkrieg Tactic?
The Blitzkrieg Tactic started off by softening targets with the Luftwaffe, Nazi Germany’s aerial warfare branch. The Luftwaffe would bomb airfields, factories, towns, and cities with their Stuka. Next, fast-moving tanks and motorized vehicles would move in. Finally, infantry would mop up the remaining survivors.
What happened when Stalin moved west?
Stalin took land as he moved west. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were all forced to hold USSR bases. Additionally, parts of Finland were seized.
Why did some reporters at the time call this the “phony war”?
They called it the phony war because Hitler did not conduct immediate action after his invasion of Poland.
What was the Maginot Line?
It was a line of forts on the French border that was reinforced following Stalin moving west and Hitler’s invasion of Poland. Britain reinforced it as well.
What was the “Miracle at Dunkirk”?
In April of 1940, Hitler invaded Norway and Denmark. He also attacked the Netherlands and Belgium, which were quickly defeated. A month later, Germany attacked through the Ardennes Forest of Belgium to avoid France’s Maginot Line. British troops retreated to Dunkirk, a coastal city in France, where they were trapped. All available vessels were sent across the English Channel to rescue them. The rescue mission was successful and about 300,000 troops were saved.
What events led to France surrendering?
Germany head to Paris after moving through Belgium’s Ardennes Forest. Italy also declared war on France and attacked from the South. At this point, France surrendered. Some French people actually escaped and set up an exile government led by Charles de Gaulle. The surrender was signed on the same railway car that Germany surrendered in during World War I.
What happened during the Battle of Britain?
Britain stood alone in the West as their allies around them fell to the Axis powers. Winston Churchill had replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister. The Nazi plan was to invade Britain under the codename Operation Sea Lion. They started off with airborne assaults and bombing that lasted 57 nights in a row. Thousands lost their lives. Britain ultimately won this battle.
Why did Operation Sea Lion fail?
It failed because the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, never gained air superiority.
What is the Messerschmitt?
It was the principal German fighter plane during the war. It had a swastika and a cross.
