Peace and Conflict: Conflict in Europe 1935-1945 Flashcards
Who were the Allies?
Britain
France
Commonwealth
USA
USSR
Denmark, Norwar, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg
Who were the Axis?
Germany
Italy
Japan
Hungary
Romania
What was Nazi ideology
- Colonial expansion
- Nation imperial expansion
- Racial theory, blood purity, race is biological, Ubermenshen, Untermenshen, life not worthy of life
- Anti-capitalism
- Lebensraum (living space) in the East
- Anti- Bolshevism
- Fascism
How did WWII start?
Hitler invading Poland, 1st Sep 1939
How did Hitler invasion into Poland, 1st Sep 1939, effect Britain and France?
Decided to end their appeasement and warn Hitler that he needed to withdraw from Poland or war would be declared
When and why was war declared on Germany?
3rd of Sep 1939 when Hitler failed to withdraw
When did Germany occupy Norway and Denmark?
April 1940
What was ‘Case Yellow’?
German attack on low countries and France\
10th of May 1940
How long did it take Germany to take over France?
5 days
When did Germany drive British forces to Dunkirk?
May + June 1940
When did France officially surrender to Germany?
22nd June 1940
When did the Battle of Britain start?
August 1940
Why was France easily invaded?
The put all their effort into defence instead of offence that was spread across the Maginot line. Because of Germany’s Blitzkreig, they were able to easily penetrate into a single sections of the line and take on France of inside the border.
What was the array of defences that France built along its border?
The Maginot line
What were the potential missed opportunities for Britain and France in 1939?
France stayed being the Maginot Line when Germany invaded Poland
The Germans left their frontier with France with only 33 divisions against 70 French divisions (French could have over powered)
France could’ve attacked but their mentality that produced appeasement continued - no attack
Define Blitzkreig
Lightning war
Blitzkreig was a German military tactic relying on…
speed and surprise
Blitzkreig was used to coordinate aircraft and tanks for…
rapid advance
Blitzkreig pin pointed a ____ _____ on the defensive line to attack
weak point
Who won the Battle of Britain
Britain
Where was the RAF stationed?
North London to be more involved
Where was Germany aiming for in the Battle of Britain?
London
Did Germany’s aim towards London take pressure off of or put pressure onto the RAF fighter command?
Took pressure off
Why did the RAF fighter command (Britain) have less pressure against German attacks?
Germany’s attack gave the RAF more opportunities to shoot down German aircraft during their long journey to London
Why was the Battle of Britain considered a turning point of the war?
It was the 1st successful defeat of the German army
Destroyed belief of indestructible German force
When did the Invasion of Balkans and North Africa happen?
October 1940
What axis power fought in Balkans and North Africa?
Italy
Why were German troops delayed for the invasion of the USSR?
They had to help Italy with their invasion of Balkans and North Africa as they were losing and in need of help
When did Germany invade the USSR?
22nd June 1941
What was the operation called to invade Russia?
Operation Barbarossa
How many groups advanced in Operation Barbarossa?
3
What was the aim of Operation Barbarossa?
Liebensraum, agriculture, industrialisation
Where did the 3 groups go to defeat Russia?
Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev
Operation Barbarossa was…
Successful
True or false
Germany had plenty of resources when invading Russia
False, they used up a lot of their resources
Why did USSR citizens and soldiers fight German troops?
They were forced to fight or to be killed by Stalin
According to who:
Stalin stated, “not a step back”
Beyer, 2022
When was the Battle of Stalingrad?
23rd August 1942
What was the aim of the Battle of Stalingrad?
To create a symbol of defeating Bolshevism and to benefit from industrial factories and trade
What was the Volga river and how is it involved in the Battle of Stalingrad?
It was an industrialised trading port that would give Germany the ability to cut off trade with deployment of Allied military
What was another motive for Hitler invading Stalingrad?
As it was named after Staling, it would be an embarrassment to Stalin and prove Nazi superiority
Did Germany win the Battle of Stalingrad?
No
Massive defeat
Battle of Stalingrad:
The city became a battle field filled with…
Street combat, fights over buildings, black smoke, constant bombings and fires lit
What happened to German soldiers in the Battle of Stalingrad?
They ran out of food and gas
Starved and became too weak to fight
Ate their horses
What was Operation Uranus
The Soviet Union’s counteroffensive in the battle of stalingrad
What was operation uranus’ attack?
A surprise attack on weak point of the German army to penetrate and surround troops
basically Biltzkreig on Germany
Why is the Battle of Stalingrad considered a turning point?
Because it was the first major defeat
Who said this?
Germany, “experienced and entire tragedy of a reverse”
General Dietmar
Who was commander Paulus
A German commander who led the Battle of Stalingrad?
What did Hitler tell Paulus to prevent him from surrendering to Russia?
To kill himself because no other German commander had been captured before
Did Paulus listen and obey Hitler’s message about his surrender”
No, Paulus surrendered
How many German soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner?
1.5 million (Poroskov, 2002)
Who gives information on the prosperous industrial factories in Stalingrad?
Janus’, 2022
What information does Williamstown Chronicle Newspaper (1941) have about Battle of Stalingrad?
That the city became a battle field with Street combat, fighting over buildings, black smoke, constant bombings and fires lit
Who believed the Battle of Stalingrad was the “beginning of the end”?
K.L Kinsman (1979)
