World War 2 Terms Flashcards
What is fascism?
A political ideology that originated in Italy under Benito Mussolini. It is ultra conservative, and includes racism, hatred, violence and intolerance
What is communism?
when the state (aka a few people) own everything, there is no private ownership. Everything is shared and the money you make goes back to the government. practiced by the Soviet union from 1924-1991.
What is Nazism?
Germany’s version of fascism, with elements of anti-semitism. Hitler wanted to establish a ‘master’ race full of people called ‘Aryans’
Who was Benito Mussolini?
“Il Duce”. the fascist leader of Italy
Who was Adolf Hitler?
“Dur Fuhrer”. the anti-semitic leader of Germany. Wrote a book called ‘Mein Kampf’
Who was Joseph Stalin?
“Man of Steel”. the communist leader of the Soviet Union.
What is a dictator?
A leader with total power
Who was Emperor Hirohito?
The fascist leader of Japan
Who were the Allied Powers (“The Allies”)?
Britain, France, Soviet Union, Canada, America (after Pearl Harbour)
Who were the Axis Powers?
Germany, Italy, Japan (Italy later switched alliances)
What is the name of the German Army?
The Wehrmacht
What is the name of the German Air Force?
The Luftwaffe
What was the policy of appeasement?
What countries did Hitler take over first after the Policy of Appeasement
Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland
What is a Blitzkrieg?
A tactic used by Germany. It was an all out surprise attack to overwhelm the enemy (navy, Air Force, military)
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
the minister of propaganda
Who else did Hitler hate besides the Jews?
Communists, members of the LGBTQ+ community
What was Kristallnacht?
“The night of broken glass”. after a polish-german student killed a Nazi officer, the Nazis blamed the Jews. On the night of november 9th Nazis attacked jewish businesses and synagogues. Jews were also attacked and killed
How many were killed in the Holocaust?
11 Million people
What are different ways people were killed in concentration camps?
Worked to death, starved, gassed, burned, shot, buried alive
Define Holocaust
Death by fire / death by burning
Define genocide
Systematic extermination of a nationality
How many Jewish survivors were there after the Holocaust?
3,546,211
What are the steps of isolation?
- Stripping of rights
- Segregation
- Concentration
- Extermination
