HISTORY Flashcards
What are the 3 reasons for the cause of WW2?
- Hitler’s Aggression
-Without Hitler’s plan for expansion, there would be no World War 2. - Failure of The League of Nations
-Failed to stop Hitler’s aggression. - Appeasement
-Britain and France gave in to instead of STOPPING him.
What were Hitler’s 3 aims resulting in WW2?
- Creating a Greater Germany
-Uniting all German speakers (Austria, Czechoslovakia) - Destroying the Treaty of Versailles
-Taking back the land Germany had lost, and rebuilding Germany’s army. - Creating lebensraum ‘living space’
-Taking land from USSR and Eastern Europe
What are the 7 steps of Hitler’s took to prepare Germany for war?
1933
Withdrawal from League of Nations
1935
Rearmament and Conscription
1936
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
1938
Anschluss
1938
Munich Conference
1939
Nazi-soviet pact
1939
Invasion of Poland
In 1935, Hitler announced to the whole world that he was going to build up the GERMANY ARMY again. What did the LoN do?
Nothing
When did WW2 STARTand END?
1 Sep 1939 - 2 Sep 1945
1933 World Disarmament Conference
-Hitler proposed France to disarm to the same level of Germany.
-France objected.
-Hitler used their refusal as an excuse to leave League of Nations.
What were the 4 main events of Hitler’s Aggressive Foreign Policy?
- Remilitarisation of Rhineland (1936)
- Anschluss (1938)
- The Munich Conference (1938)
- Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939)
1935 The Saar Plebiscite
-Under the Treaty of Versailles, the Saar had been controlled by the League of Nations for 15 YEARS.
-In 1935, a vote took place to decide whether Germany or France should control the area.
+90% voted for Germany.+
1935 Rearmament and Conscription
In 1935, Hitler announced remilitarisation to the world.
Germany also signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.
This allowed Germany to have a navy one-third the size of Britain’s.
(4) 1935 The ANGLO-GERMAN NAVAL CONFERENCE
-Agreement between Germany and England.
-Allowed Germany to have a navy one-third the size of Britain’s.
-AGAINST the terms of treaty of versailles.
-The Agreement was an example of Appeasement.
What was the Locarno Treaty?
A treaty that guaranteed peace between Germany and France.
How did France, Britain, LoN react to Hitler’s Remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
-The French were busy with elections.
-The British were in no mood for a war.
-The League condemned the act, and did nothing else.
What year was Rhineland remilitarised?
1936
1937 Spanish Civil War
In 1936 a bloody civil war had broken out in Spain between a group of NATIONALIST FASCISTS
(led by General Franco) vs. the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS.
Why were Hitler’s 3 reasons for sending troops and weapons to help General Franco in the 1937 Spanish Civil War?
-He could test out new weapons such as his Luftwaffe (German air force). His troops would also get experience of fighting in a war.
-If Franco won, Hitler would have gained an ally.
-The Communist USSR was supporting Franco’s enemies, and Hitler had sworn to destroy Communism. If the Republicans won in Spain,
Hitler feared that this would become a strong
Communist state in the west. He was
determined not to let this happen.
1938 Anschluss
[NAZIS in Austria started riots]
-Under pressure, Austria called for a plebiscite (vote).
-Nazi troops were stationed at voting booths.
-99.75% of the population voted for Anschluss.
1938 The Munich Conference
-In 1938, Hitler threatened to go to war to take the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) by force.
-Chamberlain met with Hitler and promised to give Hitler the areas where more than 50% of the population were German.
-But Hitler demanded all the Sudetenland.
-Chamberlain next met Hitler at the Munich Conference. At Munich, France and Britain gave in to Hitler and agreed to give him the whole Sudetenland.
-Hitler promised not to take any more land.
What country did Hitler invade in 1939 despite the Munich Agreement?
Czechoslovakia
In 1936, Hitler remilitarised the ______1___________.
In 1938, through Anschluss, Germany merged with _______2________.
In 1938, during the Munich Conference, Hitler took over the _______3_________ without a fight.
- Rhineland
- Austria
3.Sudetenland
1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact (when Germany and USSR agreed to divide Poland)
-Hitler’s next target was Poland.
-He knew that if he invaded Poland, Britain and France would attack from the west, and the USSR would attack from the east.
This was a problem.
Why did Hitler invade Poland?
-Under the Treaty of Versailles, the Polish Corridor had been taken from Germany. Hitler wanted it back.
Why did Hitler and Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
[HITLER]
-Hitler wanted to avoid fighting a war on two fronts.
-The Pact would delay war with the USSR.
[STALIN]
-Stalin signed the Pact to buy more time to build his army and prepare for war.
Were the AALAND ISlANDS a success/failure for LoN?
(Sweden & Finland)
[SUCCESS]
Both Sweden and Finland claimed the Aaland Islands, which were between the two
countries.
● The League decided that the islands should go to Finland.
● However Finland was not allowed to build forts on the islands, so they couldn’t be
used as a base for attack.
● Both countries agreed.’
Was BULGARIA a success/failure for LoN?
(Greek & Bulgaria)
[SUCCESS]
When a Greek soldier was killed on the Bulgarian border, Greece invaded Bulgaria.
● Bulgaria appealed to the League for help. The League condemned the Greeks and
ordered them to withdraw troops and pay compensation.
● Greece thought that the League was being hypocritical, as Mussolini had got away
with similar actions in Corfu.
Was CORFU a success/ failure for LoN?
(Greece & Albania)
[FAILURE]
After WWI, the boundaries of Greece and Albania had to be redrawn.
An Italian general called Tellini was in charge - but he was murdered in Greece while surveying the
land.
● Mussolini, the ruler of Italy, was furious. He demanded the Greeks hand over the
murderers, but the Greeks did not know who had done it. On 31 August 1923, Italy invaded
Corfu (a Greek island). Greece appealed to the League for help.
● At first, the League sided with Greece. But they did not want to upset Italy.
The League soon backed down and ruled that Greece had to apologise and compensate Italy.
This incident showed that the League was powerless against strong countries.
1931 Mukden Railway Incident
In 1931, the Japanese army claimed that Chinese soldiers had blown up a section of the South Manchurian Railway line.
-The railway line was owned by Japan.
-The Japanese army
used the incident as an excuse to invade Manchuria.
Give 4 reasons why the LoN was unable to manage the Mukden Railway Incident
The Japanese army set up a puppet government in Manchuria that did exactly what the army wanted them to.
China asked the League to intervene. But:
1. Japan was a member of the League’s Security Council.
- Manchuria was far away.
- Japan claimed it had acted in self-defence.
- Britain and France were still struggling to recover from the Depression.
1932 Lytton Report
The League of Nations took a long time to decide what to do. A British politician, Lord Lytton, was put in charge of the investigation.
The Lytton Report was finally produced in 1932, over a year after the Japanese had invaded Manchuria.
It said that Japan had acted unlawfully and Manchuria should be returned to the Chinese.
What was Japan’s response to the Lytton Report 1932?
-All members of the League agreed with the Lytton Report, apart from Japan.
-Japan ignored the League and left the organisation.
-The League couldn’t agree how to respond. It didn’t introduce any sanctions.
1935 Italy Invasion of Abyssinia
The League stopped selling weapons to both sides.
Britain and France didn’t close the Suez Canal, so Italy continued shipping war supplies to the war against Abyssinia.
Worst of all, Britain and France secretly signed the Hoare-Laval Pact.
They agreed to give two-thirds of Abyssinia to Italy to stop the invasion.
What is APPEASEMENT?
Appeasement is the policy of giving in to the demands of an aggressive country in order to keep the peace.
What are two examples of appeasement?
- [ The Anglo-German Naval Agreement 1935]
-The agreement allowed Germany to have a navy one-third the size of Britain’s navy.
-This appeared like Britain was encouraging Germany to break the Treaty of Versailles.
- [The Munich Conference 1938]
-Chamberlain gave in to Hitler’s demands to take over Sudetenland.
-War was temporarily avoided, and Chamberlain was welcomed as a ‘hero’ for securing ‘peace in our time’.
6 months later, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Appeasement had failed!
Name 4 reasons why Britain followed appeasement.
- Fear of another war
-World War I devastated both Britain and France.
-The people wanted to avoid another war.
-The Great Depression also made rearmament difficult.
-British PM Neville Chamberlain knew that the British public wouldn’t support war against Germany.
-Most people ignored the remilitarisation of the Rhineland.
People had cheered the Munich Agreement. - Buying time to re-arm
-The Great Depression had badly affected the economies of Britain and France.
-They had less money to spend on the army.
-Britain and France needed more time to build up their armies to match Hitler’s. - Sympathy for Germany
-Many British people felt the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh on Germany.
-Hitler’s actions in Austria and the Sudetenland were seen as self-determination.
-Hitler was admired for restoring German pride and destroying communism. - Fear of Communism
-Many people believed that communism was a greater evil than Nazism.
-They were afraid that communist revolutions would break out in their countries.
-People believed a stronger Germany would act as a shield against the Soviet Union and the spread of communism.
What is self-
determination?
Self-determination is the ability of people to choose who they want to be ruled by.
Which event in 1929 made rearmament difficult?
The Great Depression
(3) Why was Germany defeated in WW2?
- Role of the USA
-US economic and military strength. - Germany’s weaknesses
-Confusing command structure and shortage of resources. - Role of the Allies
-Role of the USSR, Britain and the underground resistance.
Role of USA in WW2.
USA produced… a year.
As the largest economic power in the world, the US converted their factories to produce war equipment.
USA produced:
-120,000 aircraft a year
-70,000 tanks a year
-£84.5 billion spent on war
-More than 16,000,000 US soldiers fought.
What technology did the US help the Allies to develop?
Anti-submarine weapons and radar
(2) USA’s TECHNOLOGY in WW2.
- The US also helped the Allies develop better equipment such as anti-submarine weapons and radar.
-The Allies could blockade German ports, preventing essential resources from reaching the Germans.
- Germany was forced to recall its U-boats in 1943 and lost control of the sea.
-This slowed down German production of war materials.
6 June 1944
[D-Day Landings]
-This was an amphibious landing on France. It was crucial to freeing France from the Nazis.
-Under the experienced leadership of General Eisenhower, the Allied troops were able to defeat German forces.
Who was the US General who led D-Day?
General Dwight D Eisenhower
D-Day was to liberate __________ from the ________. It was an ________________ invasion involving beach landings and paratroopers.
FRENCH, NAZIS, AMPHIBIOUS
WW2 [German Weakness] INEFFECTIVE COMMAND STRUCTURE
-The German army had a confusing system of overlapping authority.
-Hitler wanted to make all decisions himself, ignoring experienced generals.
-In Britain, Hitler ordered attacks on British cities instead of destroying the Royal Air Force.
-In the Soviet Union, Hitler ordered attacks on other Russian cities like Ukraine, instead of focusing on capturing Moscow.
WW2 [German Weakness] (3) SHORTAGE OF WEAPONS
- COMPETITION
-The army, navy and air force competed with each other for limited funds instead of working together. - SPARE PARTS
-The German army produced too many different weapons, which had too many different spare parts. - NOT TESTED
-Some of the weapons were not tested before mass production, resulting in wastage.
WW2 [German Weakness]
SHORTAGE OF OIL
Germany did not have enough oilfields. So, they invented synthetic oil (fake manmade oil).
However, from 1943, Germany’s synthetic oil plants and oilfields were heavily bombed.
The Ploesti oilfields in Romania were also put out of operation.
WW2 [German Weakness]
(2) FIGHTING A WAR ON TWO FRONTS
- After D-Day in 1944, USA invaded Europe. Hitler had to fight both the USA and the USSR at the same time.
- This was very difficult as they already had limited resources due to PETROL SHORTAGES and INEFFICIENT ARMAMENT PRODUCTION.
What were the oilfields in Romania called during WW2?
Ploesti Oil fields
Why were German tanks difficult to produce?
Too many different spare parts
WW2 [German Weakness]
(3) ROLE OF THE USSR
- Leadership
-Stalin reorganised the army, and placed competent generals like Zhukov in charge. - Industry
-Major Russian industries were also moved to central and eastern Russia, beyond German reach. - T-34 Tanks
-The USSR created the T-34 tank, which could be produced in huge numbers.
General Zhukov WW2 USSR
Zhukov was the most acclaimed Soviet military commander of World War Two. His victories over the Germany army, often at great cost in Soviet lives, did much to hasten the end of the war.
T-34 TANK
By mid-1941, the USSR had more than 22,000 tanks—more tanks than all the armies of the world combined, and four times the number Germany had.
By the end of the war, the Soviet Union had produced nearly 60,000 T-34 tanks.
Soviet industries were moved towards the _______ to be safe from the German invasion.
EAST
[THE BATTLE OF STALINGRAD]
23 Aug 1942 – 2 Feb 1943
The Battle of Stalingrad was a turning point. After losing the battle, the German army lost so many soldiers that they never recovered.
Stalingrad was an industrial and communications centre.
Also, it was named after Stalin. This made the city important to Stalin and also important to Hitler, who hated Stalin.
Order 227 “Not One Step Back”
As a result of Order 227, any soldier found guilty of a disciplinary offence would be sent to a special unit for punishment. These units would be used for marching across minefields before the main infantry.
Another new unit created by Order 227 was the ‘blocking battalion’. Men in these units would be at the rear and would shoot anyone who retreated. So soldiers had two options: attack and get shot by the Germans, or retreat and get shot by their fellow Russians.
Why was the Battle of Stalingrad a turning point?
The Germans lost so many soldiers (500,000), they never recovered
(3) Britain’s The Enigma code WW2
- British intelligence also managed to crack German codes.
- They knew where the Germans would attack next.
- This led to Germany’s defeat because it allowed Britain to adapt their strategies accordingly.
1940 Battle of Britain
In 1940 Hitler sent 2,600 Luftwaffe fighters and bombers to destroy the Royal Air Force.
The Hurricanes, with their sturdy frames, took on the bombers. The Spitfires, with their superior speed and agility, were sent up to shoot down German fighters. By the end of the battle the RAF had defeated the Luftwaffe and downed 1,887 German planes. The RAF lost 1,023 planes.
What were the names of the British planes?
The Spitfire and the Hurricane
[ROLE OF ALLIED RESISTANCE]
RESISTANCE GROUPS IN EUROPE
-When Germany attacked the USSR, the Communists, who were used to underground movements, resisted the Nazis.
-The French also resisted the Nazis.
-Lots of resources and effort was spent putting down resistance movements.
(4) Resistance movements by RESISTANCE GROUPS IN EUROPE:
- Sabotaged German operations
- Spread false intelligence to Germans
- Gathered intelligence for Allies
- Helped POWs who had escaped
WW1 Date
1914-1918
Kaiser Wilhelm II
-For the past 30 years, Germany has been ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Germany also has a parliament called the Reichstag.
-The Kaiser abdicates
On 9 November 1918, under pressure from the people, the Kaiser abdicates. He escapes to the Netherlands.
Friedrich Ebert TAKES OVER
On 9 November 1918, Friedrich Ebert became the new leader of Germany. Ebert was leader of
the Social Democrats, the
largest party in the
Reichstag.
(3) The Weimar Constitution
- Elections took place every four years and all Germans over 20 could vote.
It guaranteed every German citizen freedom of speech and religion. - [Proportional Representation]
Each party got the same percentage of seats in parliament as the votes they received. So there were lots of small parties in the Reichstag, making it difficult to pass laws. - [Article 48]
This gave the president additional power during an emergency. But it did not clearly define what an ‘emergency’ was, so the power was overused, which weakened Germans’ confidence in democracy.
Who was the leader of the Weimar government in 1919?
Friedrich Ebert
How did WW1 end?
An armistice (ceasefire) is signed between Germany and the Allies @ 11 November 11am 1918
The Spartacist Uprising, January 1919
And its leader
The Spartacists organise a general strike against the Weimar Government. They take over public buildings and put up red flags in the streets.
Leader:
Rosa Luxemburg was a revolutionary who came to Germany in 1898. She married a German colleague to avoid getting deported, but parted from him right after the ceremony.
She was a brilliant speaker and writer, and had an international reputation as ‘Red Rosa’.
How did Friedrich Ebert and the Weimar government stop the Spartacist Uprising?
By deploying the Freikorps
(4) The Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
- WAR GUILT CLAUSE 231
- MILITARY
-No tanks, aircraft and submarines were allowed.
-Limit of 100,000 soldiers in the army.
-The navy was restricted to 6 battleships. - ECONOMIC
-£6.6 billion reparations - TERRITORIAL
-Saar Coalfield
-Colonies in Africa and Asia
-Rhineland (demilitarised)
-Alsace-Lorraine
-Polish Corridor
March 1920 [Why did the Kapp Putsch happen?]
In March 1920, the government tried to disband the Freikorps. This was to keep in line with the 100,000 men limit placed on Germany’s army.
The Freikorps, led by Wolfgang Kapp, marched into Berlin and declared a new government. The army didn’t stop them.
How did Friedrich Ebert and the Weimar government stop the Kapp Putsch?
By telling the people to go on strike!
1923 [The invasion of the Ruhr]
Germany fell behind on its reparation payments. But France was determined to make Germany pay.
In 1923, 60,000 French and Belgian troops marched into the Ruhr, the heart of industrial Germany.
They took over all mines, factories and railways. They took supplies from shops. The Germans were humiliated.
1923 [Hyperinflation]
In order to solve its economic problems, the government printed more money.
The more money is printed, the less it is worth.
Prices soared. This was hyperinflation.
[In Jan 1919, one US dollar = 9 marks.
In Nov 1923, one US dollar = 200 billion marks.]
People’s savings became worthless overnight.
The Weimar Government were called the _________ for signing the armistice that ended WWI.
November Criminals
During the invasion of the Ruhr, the Germans adopted a policy of passive resistance. What did this involve?
Going on strike!
[1923] The Munich Putsch
-On 8 November 1923, Hitler interrupted a meeting in a beer hall in Munich. Gustav von Kahr, the head of the Bavarian government, was speaking.
-Hitler announced that he was going to take over the whole country. In Munich, Hitler’s stormtroopers
took control of government buildings.
-Then, everything went wrong. Kahr promised to help and was
released, but he contacted
the police instead.
-When Hitler and his supporters were marching through Munich, they were met by armed police. There was a gun battle. Days later, Hitler was arrested.
[TRIAL & IMPRISONMENT]
for Hitler after the Munich Putsch 1923
Hitler’s trial lasted 24 days.
-It was a media sensation. He used the opportunity to
criticise the Weimar
Government.
-He impressed the judges and the people of Germany.
(4) Gustav Stresemann’s Contribution to the recovery of Germany
- Hyperinflation
-Stopped the printing of the old paper money. He replaced it with the RENTENMARK. - Invasion of the Ruhr
-Stresemann called off ‘passive resistance’ and borrowed money from the US to pay their reparations. This was called the Dawes Plan. So French troops left the Ruhr. - Germany’s International Image
-Stresemann improved Germany’s standing by signing treaties like the Locarno Pact and joining the League of Nations. - Germany’s Economy
-With the Dawes Plan, Germany recovered and built factories, houses, schools and roads. People had jobs and earned more money.
1929 THE GREAT DEPRESSION
-> affect on Weimar Germany
In October 1929, the Wall Street Crash occurred. American banks demanded all the money they had lent to Germany. Germany couldn’t pay.
-Unemployment soared. 6 million people lost their jobs.
-Many unemployed people could only afford to sleep on ropes in homeless shelters.
(4) REASONS WHY THE NAZIS ROSE TO POWER
- Hitler’s speaking skills and charisma
- Nazi Ideology
- Reorganization of the Nazi Party
- Fear of Communism
HITLER’S SPEAKING SKILLS AND CHARISMA
Hitler had a charismatic personality, and made people believe that he could make Germany a great nation. A powerful and inspiring speaker, he filled his audiences with hope.
Nazi Ideology
Hitler promised to:
-get rid of the Treaty of Versailles
-make Germany great again
-solve the ‘Jewish Problem’
(5) Reorganisation of the Nazi Party
- Nazi party offices were set up all over Germany.
- The Nazis had rallies and parades.
- The SA protected Nazi meetings and intimidated voters.
- The Nazis used propaganda through radios and posters.
- The Hitler Youth attracted the youth through camps.
Which parties became more popular after the Great Depression?
Why?
- KPD Communist Party
- NSDAP Nazi Party
[Extreme Parties]
Millions blamed the Weimar government. People were willing to listen to extremists like the left-wing Communists and the right-wing Nazis, whose leaders proposed radical (revolutionary) solutions.
(3) German’s Fear of Communism
[Businessman]
-Feared that their businesses would be nationalised.
[Farmers]
-Feared collectivisation.
[Middle Class]
-Feared Communism would destroy their way of life.
