World War 2 Flashcards
spanish flu - causes
- began in the US
- WW1 troops
- trade routes spread disease
- after world war 1
spanish flu - effects
- 50-100 million died
- 27% of world population infected
- slowed global economy
women’s suffrage - causes
- by 1890, most industrial nations had granted male suffrage
- women played big role during WW1
- women believed they deserved the same rights as men
- organized protests; seneca falls
women’s suffrage - effects
- 1893: New Zealand was first to grant
- 1920: US, 19th amendment
- more rights
- further gender equality
the great depression - causes
- european economies were in a state of decline after WW1
- stock market crashed
- roaring 20’s: too much bought on credit
- pulling $$ out of banks
- war debt
the great depression - effects
- unemployment
- lose faith in capitalism and democracy
- authoritarian leaders took control
- misery
how did japan change after WW1
- in the 1920’s, Japan’s economy soared, Japanese exported goods to allies
- young Japanese backed democratic changes and rejected traditions
- after WW1, underlying problems began to surface and militarists + extreme nationalists gained power
how did the Great Depression affect Japan?
The Great Depression crushed Japan’s economic growth because it meant a loss of foreign markets
how did acts of aggression challenge peace in JAPAN in the 1930’s
- 1931: seize Manchuria
- this seizure was condemned by League of Nations; Japan withdrew from the League
- 1937: took over much of China starting the second Sino-Japanese war
manchuria
a region of NE China, historically the home of the Manchus, rulers of China from 1644 to 1912
how did acts of aggression challenge peace in ITALY in the 1930’s
- 1935: Mussolini invades Ethiopia
- Ethiopia asked League for help
- League condemned the invasion but did nothing
how did acts of aggression challenge peace in GERMANY in the 1930’s
- began rebuilding the German army
- German troops enter the Rhineland, a 30 mile buffer zone between France and Germany
- these actions both violated the TOV
- league did nothing
Rome - Tokyo - Berlin Axis
Germany, Japan, and Italy agree to work together to fight communism and to not interfere with each others imperialist goals
how did great britain and france react to the new axis trio
- Great Britain and France followed a policy of APPEASEMENT
- France and Britain feared another war
appeasement
this is when nations give in to an aggressor to preserve the peace
how did the US react to the new axis trio
- US adopts a policy of neutrality: congress passes Neutrality Act, banning the sale of arms to ANY nation at war
how was the spanish civil war a dress rehearsal for WW2
- 1931: King of Spain leaves the throne due to revolts/unrest
- Italy and Germany send troops/supplies to help him and the Nationalists
- Britain and France remain neutral
- featured modern warfare tactics, such as air raids and urban warfare
- Francisco Franco came to power as the leader of the Nationalist faction
how did Germany continue it’s agression
- Hitler seeks to unite all German speaking people into the 3rd Reich
- 1938: Hitler takes over Austria (“Anschluss”)
- Hitler then seeks the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia
Munich Pact
- meeting between France, Germany, and Britain
- convince Czechoslovakia to give Germany the Sudetenland without a fight
Nazi Soviet Non-Aggression Pact:
- August 1939: Hitler & Stalin agree that they will not attack one another
- agree to divide Poland
How did WW2 begin?
- Britain and France agree to protect Poland
- Sept. 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland
- 2 days later, France and Britain declare war
hitler’s war strategy
- used the “blitzkrieg” or “lightening war”
- speed, massive warfare
- conquered Poland in 3 weeks
- the “Phony War”; Maginot Line
- April 1940: Conquer Denmark and Norway
“Phony War”
- Period of little fighting on Western Front (Sept. 1939 - May 1940)
- French, British fortified defenses, Germans planned next moves
- Ended with German invasion of France and Low Countries, beginning of Blitzkrieg
Maginot Line
- French defensive fortifications along German and Italian borders
- built in 1930s after World War I
- Concrete bunkers and artillery emplacements
- Bypassed by Germans in 1940 invasion
How was Germany able to conquer France
- Germany soon took it’s blitzkrieg to France
- May 10, 1940: the invasion begins
- Great Britain sent a fleet to save the allied troops trapped on the beach
Battle of Britain
- after the fall of France, Hitler looks to invade Great Britain
- Operation Sea Lion: Hitler plans to destroy Royal Air Force, then invade Britain
- Germany bombs factories and cities
- stunned by BRITISH resistance, Hitler calls off the attack
- German’s continued to bomb, especially London
in what ways was the Battle of Britain a turning point
it proved that Hitler could be resisted
Battle of El Alamein
- Oct. 23 - Nov. 11, 1942
- British forces defeat Axis powers in North Africa securing the Suez Canal
- Open up Allied supply lines to the Middle East and puts Axis forces on the defensive
Invasion of Italy
- Sept. 3, 1943
- Allied forces land in Italy, aiming to weaken Axis control
- Forces Axis powers to divert resources and attention away from the other fronts
Battle of Stalingrad
- August 23, 1942 - Feb 1943
- Soviet forces successfully defend Stalingrad, halting German advance
- 1st major defeat of German forces and turns the tide of the Eastern Front
Hitler Invades the Soviet Union
- June 22, 1941
- German forces invade USSR, breaking the non-aggression pact
D-Day
- June 6, 1944
- Allied forces land in Normandy, France, launching the liberation of West Europe
- marks the beginning of the end for Germany’s control over West Europe
Invasion of Pearl Harbor
- December 7, 1941
- Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor leads US to enter WW2
- alters the balance of power by bringing the industrial might of the US into the conflict
what strategies did the allies use in fighting Japan?
- used “island hopping”
- take over one island, use it as a base for the next invasion
- eventually they will reach Japan
How did the US end war with Japan
- used the atomic bomb
- 110,000+ died
- many died later from radiation
Hiroshima:
- August 6, 1945
- 70,000 died
Nagasaki:
- August 9, 1945
- 40,000 died
What was the cost of WW2
- 75 million killed
- 22.5 million in the USSR alone
- 292,000 US killed
- 20 million refugees in Europe
- Hunger, disease, mental illness scarred Europeans
- 6 million Jews killed in Holocaust
- cities, factories, farms destroyed
- no job / money
- war debts
Nuremberg War Trials
- over 200 Germans and Austrians tried
- 22 top Nazi officials put on trial for “crimes against humanity”
- 12 sentenced to death
- held in Nuremburg, Germany
United Nations
- est. 1945
- world problems can be addressed
occupation of Japan and Germany
- US occupies Japan
- worked on creating democracy
- Allies occupy west Germany; promote democracy
- USSR occupy East Germany; communism
how did Treaty of Versailles set the stage for WW2
- War Guilt Clause blamed Germany for WWI, creating resentment
- Territorial losses weakened Germany, fueled desire for revenge
- Military restrictions left Germany militarily weakened
- Reparations burdened German economy, led to instability
- Humiliation and nationalism fostered by treaty terms
- Destabilization of Europe due to unresolved disputes and economic hardship
Leader of Italy
- Benito Mussolini
- Fascism
- Came to Power: King refused to fight against Fascists and appointed him PM. He had the right to make his own laws.
- Goals: The est. of a fascist dictatorship to restore Italian pride and expand
Leader of Soviet Union
- Joseph Stalin
- Communism
- Came to Power: After the death of Vladmir Lenin, he outdid his political rivals within the Communist Party and took control
- Goals: Industrialize and modernize the Soviet Union while solidifying his own power through authoritarian rulers
Leader of Japan
- Hideki Tojo
- Militarism
- Came to Power: Through his role as the military leader and influence in Japanese politics during the early 20th century
- Goals: Aggressive expansionism in Asia and establishing a Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere
Leader of Germany
- Adolf Hitler
- Nazi
- Came to Power: Democratic means, exploiting economic turmoil, nationalist sentiments, and fear of communism
- Goals: Est. of a racially pure totalitarian state, expansion through conquest extermination of “enemies”
sudetenland
- Sudetenland: German-speaking border region of Czechoslovakia
- Became a geopolitical issue due to Hitler’s expansionist policies
- Munich Agreement of 1938 allowed Germany to annex Sudetenland
- Demonstrated appeasement policy of European powers
- Seen as a precursor to WWII
Weimar Republic
- German government from 1919 to 1933
- Established after WWI, replaced the German Empire
- Faced economic challenges, including hyperinflation in 1920s
- Politically unstable, plagued by extremist movements
- Ended with Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933
Why did the U.S. follow the policy of neutrality or nonalignment in the beginning of WWII?
- Legacy of World War I trauma
- Desire to avoid entanglement in another European conflict
- Economic focus on recovering from the Great Depression
- Lack of direct military threat to the United States
- Public opinion favoring neutrality
- Legislative restrictions like the Neutrality Acts
Why did Japan take on a policy of imperialism?
- Need for resources like oil, coal, and iron
- Overpopulation and limited land in Japan
- Economic growth and industrialization
- Nationalism and desire for prestige
- Military and strategic concerns
- Response to Western imperialism in Asia
a. Why did the Japanese want to acquire Manchuria?
- resources: coal, iron, timber
- strategic: buffer against soviet union, access to Chinese market
What was the Rape of Nanking
- mass atrocities in Nanking
- mass killings, rape, looting
- shocked international community, contributed to WW1
What was the importance of the D-Day invasion of 1944?
- Opening of Western Front
- Turning point in Europe
- Meticulous planning and coordination
- Significance of Normandy beaches
- Psychological impact on Allies and Axis
- Accelerated Allied advance and downfall of Nazi Germany
Why were the people of Italy, Germany, and Spain willing to accept Fascist governments/leaders?
- Promised solutions to economic instability
- Appeal to nationalism and revanchism
- Presented as strong leaders restoring order
- Exploited fear of communism and socialism
- Utilized propaganda and manipulation
- Established repression and control over dissent
What is Fascism
Authoritarian ideology emphasizing nationalism, dictatorship, and anti-democratic principles
How did Mussolini pursue his goals of
imperialism?
- Invaded Ethiopia in 1935 to expand Italian empire
- Aimed to restore Roman glory and establish dominance in Mediterranean
- Used military force and propaganda to justify conquest
- Saw empire as crucial for economic resources and national prestige
