Military History- WWII

Question 1

Hitler was the Fuhrer of the ___ party

Answer 1

German National Socialist (Nazi)

Question 2

Germany started WWII in ___, later joined by ___ in ___, then ___ in ___. Together they formed the major ___ nations.

Answer 2

1939, Italy, 1940, Japan, 1941, Axis

Question 3

What is a Blitzkrieg? What country did the Germans first attack?

Answer 3

“Lighting attack”, Naval, air and ground forces concurrently attack. Poland

Question 4

At the start of WWII, Japan invaded ___ and Italy invaded ___

Answer 4

China, Ethiopia

Question 5

Hitler annexed ___ in 1938, followed by the ___ province of Czechoslovakia, costing Czech its fortifications and industry. Czech president, ___, eventually signed over Czech to Germany.

Answer 5

Austria, Sudetenland, Emil Hacha

Question 6

Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact (WWII)

Answer 6

secret agreement between Germany and USSR. Red Army entered eastern Poland

Question 7

Munich Pact (WWII)

Answer 7

England and France try to appease Germany to secure “Peace in Our Time”

Question 8

Between 27 May and 4 Jun 1940, a total of 693 ships that brought back 338,000 British and French troops back to Britain. Heavy equipment was abandoned.

Answer 8

Operation Dynamo

Question 9

Failed German amphibious and air attack on the British. British had radar which was crucial to success.

Answer 9

Operation Sea Lion

Question 10

Designed to knock Italy out of WWII. Planted false papers, open Mediterranean up for Allies to hit heart of Germany.

Answer 10

Operation Husky

Question 11

___, under president ___, was a large amount of War material sent to the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin to aid against Germany in WWII.

Answer 11

Lend-Lease, Franklin Roosevelt

Question 12

In 1939, Hitler signed a ___ pact with the USSR. Germany was busy on other fronts and the USSR wanted to “buy time”

Answer 12

non-aggression

Question 13

Beginning in June of 1941, 3 million German troops and allies conquered most of the USSR.

Answer 13

Operation Barbarosa

Question 14

What were the unified forces of Nazi Germany called?

Answer 14

The Wehrmacht

Question 15

German failed attack in this major city of the USSR. Many soldiers died of starvation or exposure.

Answer 15

The Battle of Stalingrad

Question 16

One of the largest tank engagements in world history. Pivotal battle that Soviets won but led to staggering losses on both sides.

Answer 16

The Battle of Kursk

Question 17

June 6th, 1944. The largest seaborne invasion in history. 3 years of planning. Normandy. 5 beaches secured by the end of the day.

Answer 17

D-Day

Question 18

What 5 beaches were invaded on D-Day?

Answer 18

Omaha
Utah
Sword
Juno
Gold

Question 19

Strong German defense along this 7,000 yard shoreline. Positioned 170 feet above. WWII

Answer 19

Omaha beach

Question 20

First wave landed 2,000 yards south of the planned beach but secured it nonetheless . WWII

Answer 20

Utah beach

Question 21

What was the nickname of the widely used Douglas C-47 of WWII? towed gliders and dropped paratroopers

Answer 21

Gooney Bird

Question 22

What was “Paris Liberated”

Answer 22

Allied forces led by French, liberated Paris on 25 Aug 1944

Question 23

Dec 1944- Jan 1945. Huge, final attempt by Germans to change tide of War. they failed. The “Victory in Europe” led by Russia, Britain and US, freed the US to direct War efforts to the Pacific Theater.

Answer 23

Battle of the Bulge

Question 24

Part of “Battle of the Bulge”, Germans met disaster in this battle due to poor terrain and Allied air superiority. 101st Airborne division led the defense.

Answer 24

Battle of Bastogne

Question 25

On April 16, 1945, ___ troops attempted to capture ___. German troops fought to the last man but defeat was inevitable. On the day before Hitler’s death, all German troops in ___ laid down their arms.

Answer 25

Soviet, Berlin, Italy

Question 26

___ ordered Germans to surrender on May 8th in French city of Reims. Russians insisted a separate surrender take place in ___ on the 9th.

Answer 26

Eisenhower, Berlin

Question 27

When was Pearl Harbor?

Answer 27

Dec 7th, 1941

Question 28

Describe the Battle at Midway.

Answer 28

US cracked Japanese code.
Planned attack on carriers while Japs were attacking Midway.
US started off very unsuccessful but eventually destroyed most of the Japanese fleet and aircraft.
Hiryu carrier sunk USS Yorktown

Question 29

In Feb of 1945, US Marines landed on the small island of ___ and took control of an airstrip within range of Japan after 36 days of combat.

Answer 29

Iwo Jima

Question 30

In April of 1945, ___ Americans landed on the island of ___ and defeated the Japs.

Answer 30

180,000..Okinawa

Question 31

Because Japan was unwilling to surrender, President ___ ordered use of the Atomic bomb on ___ on Aug 6th 1945, and then again on ___ 3 days later. Japan surrendered on ___

Answer 31

Harry S Truman
Hiroshima
Nagasaki
Aug 14th, 1945

Question 32

Major technological advancements implemented during WWII:

Answer 32

• Airborne operations
• Submarines
• Tanks
• Aircraft/bombers
• Atomic bomb
• Rockets (V1-slow, V2-fast)
• Colt .45 1911 (John Browning) replaced the 38 revolver (more powerful)