World Civ. Chaoter 12

Question 1

Manchuko

Answer 1

Manchukuo was a puppet state established by Japan in northeastern China (Manchuria) in 1932. It was part of Japan’s expansionist policy in Asia, which aimed at securing resources and territory. The creation of Manchukuo was a significant event leading up to the Pacific theater of World War II.

Question 1

Neutrality Acts

Answer 1

These were a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1930s to prevent America from being drawn into external conflicts. They prohibited arms sales and loans to countries at war and aimed to maintain U.S. neutrality in international conflicts, particularly the growing tensions in Europe and Asiaact made it illegal for Americans to travel on belligerents’ ships at all, and established the “cash-and-carry” policy for nonmilitary exports. would only sell to non explosive things.

Question 2

Austrian Anschluss

Answer 2

1938.The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler sought to unite all German-speaking peoples, and Austria was incorporated into the Third Reich. The international response was largely passive, and the event paved the way for further German expansion.

Question 3

Munich Conference

Answer 3

1938.This was a meeting between Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, where European leaders agreed to allow Hitler to annex the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) in exchange for a promise of no further territorial expansion. It was an example of the policy of appeasement, which ultimately failed to prevent World War II.

Question 4

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Answer 4

1939.Officially known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, this was a non-aggression treaty signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union just before World War II. The pact allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention, and it included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between the two powers.

Question 5

Blitzkrieg

Answer 5

A German military strategy known as “lightning warfare,” characterized by fast-moving, combined arms tactics involving infantry, tanks, and air support. It was highly effective in the early stages of World War II, leading to rapid German victories in Poland, France, and other countries.

Question 6

Maginot Line

Answer 6

A line of fortifications built by France along its border with Germany, designed to defend against a German invasion. However, the Maginot Line proved ineffective in 1940, as the Germans bypassed it by invading France through Belgium.

Question 7

Battle of Britian

Answer 7

1940. A pivotal air battle between the German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force (RAF). The battle marked the first major defeat for Hitler’s military and prevented Germany from gaining air superiority over Britain, thereby thwarting plans for a German invasion.

Question 8

Winston Churchill

Answer 8

Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, renowned for his leadership, speeches, and determination to resist Nazi Germany. He became a symbol of British resilience during the war, especially during the Battle of Britain and after the fall of France.

Question 9

Inavsion of Russia (Operation Barbaossa)

Answer 9

1941.The German invasion of the Soviet Union, launched in June 1941, was one of the largest military operations in history. It marked a turning point in the war, as the harsh Russian winter and Soviet resistance eventually led to a German retreat, signaling the beginning of the downfall of Nazi Germany.

Question 10

The Holocaust

Answer 10

The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews, along with millions of others (including Romani people, disabled individuals, political dissidents, and others), by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Holocaust is one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.

Question 11

Lend-Lease

Answer 11

1941.A U.S. policy that allowed the supply of military aid and supplies to Allied nations during World War II, particularly to Britain and the Soviet Union, without requiring immediate payment. This was a key way the U.S. supported its allies before entering the war.

Question 12

Undecleared Naval War

Answer 12

Refers to the clashes between Germany and the United States in the Atlantic Ocean before the U.S. officially entered the war. German U-boats targeted American shipping, and the U.S. Navy responded, though the two countries had not yet declared war on each other.

Question 13

Pearl Harbor

Answer 13

The surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, led to the U.S. entry into World War II. The attack killed over 2,400 Americans and led to the U.S. declaring war on Japan, and subsequently, on Germany and Italy.

Question 14

Battle of Stalingrad

Answer 14

1942-1943. One of the turning points of the war, the Battle of Stalingrad was a brutal confrontation between German and Soviet forces. The Soviet victory marked the beginning of a major Soviet offensive that would eventually drive German forces out of Eastern Europe.

Question 15

Doolittle Raid

Answer 15

1942. A daring American air raid on Tokyo, Japan, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle. While it caused limited damage, it boosted American morale and demonstrated Japan’s vulnerability to American attacks on its homeland.

Question 16

Invasion of Sicily/Italy

Answer 16

1943. The Allied invasion of Sicily was the first major step in the campaign to defeat Axis forces in Europe. It led to the eventual surrender of Italy and the removal of Mussolini from power. The Allies then moved to invade mainland Italy, leading to a protracted campaign in Italy.

Question 17

Strategic Bombing

Answer 17

A military strategy used primarily by the Allies during World War II, involving the large-scale bombing of enemy cities, industrial centers, and military targets to disrupt enemy supply lines and morale. The most controversial aspect of strategic bombing was the targeting of civilian areas, as seen in the bombing of Dresden and Tokyo.

Question 18

American Pacific Strategy

Answer 18

The United States’ strategy in the Pacific theater focused on “island hopping,” capturing key islands to use as bases for launching further attacks on Japan. The goal was to isolate and weaken Japan without having to attack every island. Iwo Jima, Okinowa

Question 19

D-Day Invasion (Normandy)

Answer 19

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, was a turning point in the war in Europe. It opened a second front against Nazi Germany and led to the liberation of Western Europe from German control.

Question 20

The Atomic Bomb

Answer 20

1945. The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. The bombings remain controversial due to the massive civilian casualties and the moral implications of using nuclear weapons.