Turning Points in World War Two Flashcards
What was another name for the British Home Guard and what was their role?
‘Dad’s Army’ - world war 1 veterans
They defended during the Battle of Britain with anti tank and anti aircraft guns
When did the Battle of Britain begin?
13 August 1940
Describe Germany’s air power
Luftwaffe (German Air Force)
2000 bombers, 1,100 fighters
Fighters called: Stukas and Messerschmitts (SPELL THIS CORRECTLY)
Describe Britain’s air power
Royal Air Force (RAF)
1,100 fighters
Fighters called: Hurricanes and Spitfires
What did Churchill say about the Battle of Britain?
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”
Who is the historian and what is the quote for the Battle of Britain?
John Keegan
“the survival of independent Britain which is assured was the event that most certainly determined the downfall of Hitler’s Germany”
What were major British cities hit in the Blitz? (4)
London, Coventry, Liverpool, Birmingham
When was the bombing of Germany?
Began 1940 BEFORE the Blitz
What were the two major cities hit in the German bombing?
Hamburg and dresden
What method of bombing was used on Germany and why?
Area Bombing
it was ineffective to have specific targets
AND targeting civilian areas had the most devastating impact on morale
Who was the British leader of the Bombing of Germany?
Bomber Harris
When did Operation Barbarossa begin?
22 June 1941
How was the German army organised for Operation Barbarossa?
3 million men in 3 groups
Army Group North - Leningrad
Army Group Centre - Moscow
Army Group South - the Ukraine (‘food bowl’)
What was achieved within 6 weeks of the beginning of Operation B?
- Capture of the Ukraine and 600,000 Red Army soldiers
- beginning of the Siege of Leningrad
What was the event that caused the failure of Operation B?
Georgi Zhukov’s defence of Moscow
Hitler was so confident of quick victory that he didn’t prepare for winter fighting
Why did Operation B fail? (5)
Hitler underestimated nationalism towards “Mother Russia”
Germany sought to achieve too many military goals at once
The front was too wide
Arrogance about a swift victory led to a lack of preparedness for a winter campaign
Red Army discipline enforced by NKVD
When did the Battle of Stalingrad begin?
June 1942 when Hitler dispatched the 6th army to take Stalingrad
Who led the german offensive to Stalingrad?
General Paulus
What was Stalin’s order to the Red Army in defence of Stalingrad?
“Not a step backwards”
Who was the historian and what did they say about the Battle of Stalingrad?
Antony Beevor
“Stalingrad was the psychological turning point of the Second World War”
