World War 2 And Germany (nazi) Flashcards
When did World War Two begin?
3 September 1939
What event triggered the start of World War Two?
The German invasion of Poland
Which countries declared war on Germany after its invasion of Poland?
Britain and France
What was the German public’s perception of the invasion of Poland?
A reaction to Polish aggression and a reclaiming of lost territory
What was Hitler’s public offer after the defeat of Poland?
To make peace with the western allies
What did Hitler secretly plan after offering peace?
An invasion of France
How did the German people react to the outbreak of World War Two?
With resignation
What was different about the German public’s reaction in 1939 compared to 1914?
Less enthusiasm due to memories of World War One
What contributed to the general support for the war among Germans?
Reluctant support due to the pain of past defeats
What was the extent of opposition to the war within Germany?
Difficult to assess due to Nazi control of information
What weakened enthusiasm for the war among the German population?
Allied bombing campaigns
When did the morale of German civilians collapse?
In 1945 when the Reich was invaded
What was the most notable opposition to the Nazi regime from the military?
Assassination attempts on Hitler by army officers
What was Operation Valkyrie?
A failed assassination plot against Hitler involving a bomb
Who was involved in the assassination attempt at the meeting with Hitler?
Claus von Stauffenberg
What happened to Stauffenberg after the assassination attempt?
He was shot the same day
What was the fate of 5,000 people following the assassination attempt?
Executed in a crackdown on opposition
Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?
A youth group that opposed the Nazis by singing anti-Nazi songs
What happened to members of the Edelweiss Pirates in 1942?
Over 700 were arrested
What did the White Rose group do?
Published anti-Nazi leaflets
Who led the White Rose group?
Hans and Sophie Scholl
What types of youth groups emerged during the war?
Swing Youth and Jazz Youth
What did the Nazis think of jazz music?
They rejected it as ‘degenerate’ and called it ‘Negro music’
Who was Cardinal Galen?
A figure who publicly criticized the Nazi regime
