Exam I Short Identifications

Question 1

“cash and carry” basis

Answer 1

allowed allies to buy things from the U.S. - wasn’t open to Germans, showed that US was already picking a side despite declaring neutrality & were questioning isolationism

Question 2

“Drowned Earth”

Answer 2

the chinese government weaponized the Yellow River, altering its course and and flooding out millions of people. they redirected the river to prevent japs from taking the city. blamed the japanese but the truth comes out and the area that was flooded becomes huge in communist recruits for future civil war. 1/2 million die and 5 million affected. didn’t give warning

Question 3

“Fleet-in-being”

Answer 3

definition: a fleet that exists and its very existence is a potential threat. italy had 6 new modern battleships and brits always had to be prepared to face off against them. led to state of fear for brit leaders. to defeat this fleet, admiral cunningham attacked italian naval base at taranto. it was a night attack upon main italian fleet at main base (throwing out rule book). 3/6 were damaged. huge victory, forced italians to abandon and move base, furthering them from main lines of transportation

Question 4

“Return to Normalcy”

Answer 4

1. avoid upholding WWI outcome or treaty terms
2. disengage from international system (location bred illusion that world’s problems weren’t their problems)
3. dropped out of League of Nations membership (senate wouldn’t ratify bc didn’t want to engage)
4. limited immigration (placed heavy quotas)

• president harding’s election campaign

Question 5

“Stab in the Back” (check recording)

Answer 5

a myth that replaces the reality and blams Jews for revolution in the rear areas at home, which is why Germany couldn’t win WWI (army was undefeated until this) (check recording)

Question 6

“Gibraltar of the Pacific”

Answer 6

Gibraltar was a powerful british military base between Spain and North Africa. Singapore was the Gibraltar of the pacific because it was perfectly located to control a vital waterway. brits put resources into developing defenses on singapore to dispel attack by sea, didn’t imagine anyone would travel down peninsula to take singapore by land. japs attack landward side, no defenses on landward side. was last line of supplies bc priority was given to europe and middle east

Question 7

American-British Conversations (check recording)

Answer 7

agreed that when America enters the war, defeating Germany is first priority, despite what is happening in Asia.
U.S. uses bases in Iceland to spot German subs, relieving British forces.

Question 8

Atlantic Charter (check recording)

Answer 8

joint declaration between brit and u.s.

• right of all peoples to choose governments
• affirmed anglo-american dedication to peace
• rejected any territorial aggrandizement as a result of war
• august 1941

Question 9

Autarky

Answer 9

many countries established autarky in hopes of coming out of economic depression
Italy was overpopulated and weak in natural resources, so they needed more living space and needed to take it away from someone else. focus on africa (libia, somolia) and antagonize U.S. and Brit
Japan focused on manchuria/china for coal, iron, and space
Germany: no colonies and still had to pay reparations so wanted to expand across eastern europe for living space (Lebenstraum) and racial ideology

Question 10

Bataan Death March

Answer 10

after MacArthur’s failure to protect Bataan, jap. underestimated number captured in Bataan, so lacked resources to transport all to POW camps. POW treated poorly bc Japs believed in never giving up to enemy. 7,000 military personnel died during march

Question 11

Husband Kimmel

Answer 11

received general warning that something could happen

Question 12

MAGIC

Answer 12

US broke Japanese diplomatic codes, led to myth that US knew about attack on pearl harbor and fdr did nothing to stop it bc wanted US to be mad enough to join war

Question 13

Mannerheim Line

Answer 13

line of defense in finland tied to swampy ground. constructed 20 miles of defenses knowing natural routes of advance. soviets planned on rushing the line without knowing what was there (suicide charges)(little knowledge of terrain), which led to massive casualties. soviets cancelled offensive after heavy losses.

Question 14

Mitsubishi “Zero” fighter

check recording

Answer 14

initially a jap military strength bc zero fighter was lighter and could land on flight craft (superior to land-based aircraft). japs couldn’t develop better models so allies were able to identify weakness and alter own crafts accordingly

Question 15

Motti tactics

Answer 15

used by the Finnish, would use ski troops and heavy machinery. snipers would target officers, goal was to separate and target links of Soviets and harass
- Soviets used excessive amo bc fear (fired at every noise)

Question 16

Parallel War

Answer 16

Mussolini sees success of germany and doesn’t want to be left out bc he’s also a great leader. ignores the fact that italy was unprepared to join war and lacked steel, coal, and fuel needed for industrial war, but was caught up in own jargon and joining war and expanding autarky seemed like a good idea when france was essentially already beaten and britain was on the ropes. navy was weakened by lack of fuel and air force and army were behind in equipment, but still hoped parallel war would give italy same success as germany

Question 17

Panzer IIIe tank

Answer 17

this tank seemed like it wouldn’t be able to compare to the SOMUA because the armor was thinner and the range shorter. the guns also weren’t as impressive. however, radios were standard and these tanks show importance of communication.

Question 18

Rape of Nanjing

Answer 18

for 6 weeks, Japanese soldiers in Nanjing terrorized the Chinese citizens to assert racial superiority. the jap. military lost discipline and said it was revenge for Shanghai, though troops didn’t fight in Shanghai. still considered nanjing a military protected city even though the chinese army left.

Question 19

Red Army Purge

Answer 19

• Stalin feared military leaders would try to get rid of him, executed 3 of 5 military leaders.
• half of army officer corp was removed and 90% generals removed
• makes soviets more vulnerable, those who were innovative were removed bc tradition = loyalty

Question 20

Richard Sorge (check recording)

Answer 20

was a Soviet intelligence operative stationed in Tokyo who reported the start date of opperation barbarossa and reported that japs wouldn’t attack siberia in 1941

Question 21

SOMUA-35 tank

Answer 21

the French tank that opposed the german panzer IIIe tank. the design seems better bc the armor is thicker and the range is longer than the panzer at the same speed. the guns also seem to be better. radios are not standard.

Question 22

Yamamoto Isoroku

Answer 22

high ranking in IJN, insisted any attack against Dutch would lead to US attack, supported aircraft based warfare, didn’t believe Japan would last long if US entered war, studied at Harvard