Defeat of Axis Powers in WWII (Germany & Japan)

Question 1

Arsenal of democracy

Answer 1

The belief that one should be a storehouse of ammunition and contribute to safeguard democracy by actively supporting nations in their fight against anti-democratic forces. In the case of WWII, Americans perceived themselves as the engine that will spur the fight against dictatorship and autocratic rule by Hitler.

Question 2

Lend-Lease Policy

Answer 2

Policy by Americans to support Allied forces by providing them resources (military, economic) to sustain war efforts on lease (i.e. they can pay back after the war)

Question 3

American Economic might

Answer 3

As the world’s greatest industrialising nation, America could convert its industries in support of war time production. They were producing four times more aircrafts than Britain in 1944 and have capacity to produce 41 billion bullets, largely outproducing the Axis capacity altogether. Americans were also well-stocked with coal/crude oil, asbestos, all of which were crucial in sustaining war efforts.

Question 4

US Military Might

Answer 4

US was superior in military standing, having the world’s greatest fleet of air craft carriers capable of offensive launches across both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. E.g. include USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise (notable air craft carriers) with the latter being the first to sink a full-sized war ship in the Pacific.

Question 5

Direct US Involvement (1941)

Answer 5

A shift in American policy towards affairs of Europe & Asia which is a move away from isolationism. Americans now, convinced of their need for involvement, were sacrificing young lives and participating in war at a much more intimate manner than before – aside from merely providing resources.

Question 6

D-Day / Operation Overlord (6 June – 30 August 1944)

Answer 6

The largest seaborne invasion in history against the Germans in the beaches of Normandy involving allied forces and tapping on US expertise. The invasion was a watershed event that turn the tides in the Western front, reclaiming France and pushing Germans back to their borders.

Question 7

Battle of the Atlantic

Answer 7

Britain depended on vital supplies from North America and the Empire in the Second World War. These had to be transported in merchant ships across the Atlantic Ocean, where they could be attacked by German submarines (U-boats) and warships. To combat this threat, the merchant ships were grouped into convoys escorted by British & American warships and, if possible, aircraft. Success at the Atlantic was crucial as it provided Allied forces with American resources to sustain war efforts.

Question 8

War machines

Answer 8

The military resources of a belligerent country considered as a whole; including its industrial capacity to produce military equipment

Question 9

Inappropriate use of German resources and funds

Answer 9

Slow and inefficient armament production by slave labourers (e.g. POWs, Jews, Slavic internees); discouraging women from war efforts; shortage of important equipment like trucks, warm clothings. Even R&D was time & resourceful wasting, focusing on small and minor improvements rather than mass production of effective weaponry (e.g. the Panzer / Panther)

Question 10

Overlapping authority

Answer 10

All decisions made by Gerrman High Command had to go through Hitler; led to delays in decision-making and also mistakes taken (e.g. attack on London vs. attack the RAF)

Question 11

War on Two Fronts

Answer 11

Breaking away from the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in 1941 and attacking USSR for Soviet oil resulted in war on two fronts; led to thinning of resources.

Question 12

Petroleum

Answer 12

Germany heavily reliant on imports for oil & petroleum; did not have own natural oil reserves. They depended on Romania and use of synthetic oilfields which were easily targeted by Allied powers (esp. RAF) and crippled their advance.

Question 13

Nazi-Soviet Non- Aggression Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact)

Answer 13

To secure the Eastern Front, Hitler signed a pact with Stalin to ensure non-conflict between both entities in an event Poland would be invaded. It also agreed to share Poland with the USSR.

Question 14

Reorganisation of USSR

Answer 14

Initial losses led to Soviet retreating inland. Benefiting from USA’s Lend-Lease Act, USSR rebuilt its military and by 1943, staged an effective counter attack on the Germans (80% of German forces retreated)

Question 15

Battle of Dunkirk

Answer 15

The Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation to Britain of British and other Allied forces in Europe from 26 May to 4 June 1940. It revealed the motivation of the British people where private fishing boats and yatchs were tapped on in the rescue plan.

Question 16

Battle of Britain (1940-41)

Answer 16

The Germans launched a eight months long campaign for Britain through air raids on civilian populace. It had the counter effect of motivating the British forces and people to persisting through war. The ‘Blitz’ was initially effective but Hitler’s change of focus to attack the civilian sites gave the RAF time to recover (they retaliated by attacking Berlin too)

Question 17

La Resistance

Answer 17

Literally meant ‘Free France’; active resistance force primarily in Vichy France that worked actively against Nazis and Vichy government by providing intelligence and sabotaging German plans.

Question 18

Virginia Hall

Answer 18

Example of an American spy who worked with the British Special Ops; helped to provide intelligence to coordinate activities of French resistance

Question 19

The Avengers

Answer 19

A Jewish reistance group in Poland; smuggled weapons and trained resistance fighters; sabotaged railways and ambush German convoys; destroyed armament production factories

Question 20

Woman Ordnance Workers

Answer 20

Women joined the war efforts by helping out in the production of war materials like ammunition, served in the frontlines as medical service officers

Question 21

Doolittle Raid

Answer 21

Series of raids on Tokyo, led by James Doolittle that made Japanese civilians rethink their success at war (which is what they heard on the media)

Question 22

Battle of Coral Sea

Answer 22

Reflected the military success of the Americans. Due to ability to predict Japanese arrival through decoding of Japanese messages, US was able to prevent a successful takeover of Port Moresby.

Question 23

Battle of Midway

Answer 23

Significant naval battle in the Pacific from 4–7 June 1942. Midway was an important strategic location in the Pacific due to its location between Hawaii and Asia. Japan’s Imperial Navy was superior (200 ships, 600 aircrafts and 8 carriers) against the Americans (76 ships, 3 aircraft carriers – could hold more planes though). But as the Americans were able to anticipate and decode Japanese message, they inflicted great damage on the Japanese and they lost 4 of their best carriers (destroyed), along with pilots and experienced crew. Midway generally hailed as success of Americans and changed the tide in the Pacific.

Question 24

Island-hopping strategy

Answer 24

Instead of ‘land-grabbing’, US chose to conquer only areas vital to their advance, leading to acquisition of strategic islands like Okinawa, Iwo Jima. This proved to be sound economically and militarily, reduce wasted efforts.

Question 25

POW Labour

Answer 25

Use of POW labour proved to be inefficient due to the malnourished conditions of POW; most visible in the Death Railway where many died in process of building it.

Question 26

Overextension of Japanese empire

Answer 26

Japanese ‘land-grabbing’ mindset led to acquisition of territory without being successful at consolidating and ensuring secure supply lines and command chain. Resistance groups became increasingly brazen and with a lack of resource, Japan struggled to hold these territories together.

Question 27

Kamikaze attacks

Answer 27

Tokubetsu Kōgekitai or ‘divine wind’; consist of veteran pilots / young talented pilots appointed to the mission as service to Emperor to launch suicide flights. Used as a form of desperate attempt at overcoming challenges in the Pacific but was highly inaccurate (only 19%).

Question 28

Unconditional surrender

Answer 28

In this arrangement, the defeated was not entitled to anything. The winner of the war could march into the defeated one’s capital and change anything, and reshape borders however they wanted

Question 29

Atomic bombs

Answer 29

Two bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively on 6 and 9 August 1945 that catalysed the Japanese surrender.

Question 30

Annexation

Answer 30

Forcible acquisition of one state’s land by another, usually by force or without permission and is typically considered illegal

Question 31

Militarism

Answer 31

The belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests

Question 32

Expansionism

Answer 32

A policy of territorial or economic expansion in search for power, wealth or influence through economic growth, soft power, military empire-building or colonialism

Question 33

Pacifism

Answer 33

The belief that war and violence are unjustifiable and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means

Question 34

Isolationism

Answer 34

A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries

Question 35

Warmongering

Answer 35

The act of encouraging or advocating aggression towards other countries or groups.

Question 36

Theatre of War

Answer 36

An area in which important military events occur or are progressing. It can include the entirety of the airspace, land and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations