world war II Flashcards
What did the Treaty of Versailles do to Germany?
- war guilt clause
- military downfall
- pay reparations ($33 billion)
- took away territory
How did Germany feel about the Treaty of Versailles?
treaty created bitter fillings in Germany
Did the United States ever sign the Treaty of Versailles?
no
Who was Adolf Hitler?
- WWI veteran
- made soldiers believe they were betrayed by German government
- felt Germany had been betrayed by Weimar government, Jews, and Communists
What got Hitler arrested?
“Beer Haul Putsch” in Munich in 1923
What does Hitler do while in prison?
- writes Mein Kampf
- translates to “my struggle”
What does Hitler write about in his book?
- what he would do if he was in power
According to his book, what would Hitler do if he was in power?
- rebuild military
- need for “Lebensroum” or “living space”
- take back territory
- hatred for Jews and their culture
- biological and racial anti-semitism
- anti-communist
What happens to Hitler once he gets out of prison?
- becomes leader of Nazi Party
- gains a lot of influence
- used popularity and book to seize power legally
What led to a dramatic increase in votes for Hitler and the Nazi Party?
- depression, unemployment, and hard times in Germany
- the more unemployment, the higher amount of votes for Hitler
What happens when the Nazis gain influence?
- gains votes in Reichstag (Parliament, Congress)
- Hitler named Chancellor in 1933
How does Hitler present his speeches?
- speaks with passion and hatred
- very popular
When did the Reichstag building catch on fire?
February 27, 1933
What happened after the Reichstag building caught on fire?
- Reichstag voted for Hitler to have emergency power to deal with Communists
- banned all political parties except Nazi
- restricted freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and press
What happened when Hitler gained power as leader?
- Germany economy improved
- people were happy
- no opposing political parties
- began rebuilding German army
How did Italy feel after WWI?
- not satisfied
- didn’t gain as much territory as they had been promised
- huge war debts
- high unemployment
Who started to gain power in Italy?
Benito Mussolini
How did Mussolini gain support?
violence and intimidation
What did Mussolini do after becoming Prime Minister?
- suspended elections
- outlawed other political parties
- established dictatorship
- nicknamed himself “IL Duce” (the leader)
- convinced Italians they needed to return to glory of Roman Empire
Who was the communist leader in the Soviet Union?
Joseph Stalin
What happened when Stalin took over farmland?
- dramatic fall in agricultural production
- mass starvation
What did Stalin use money on?
- money and labor in industrialization
- not in necessities like housing and clothing
- low standard of living
What did Stalin do to eliminate opposition?
- series of purges
- removal of enemies from positions of power
- all levels of society hurt
- millions executed or sent to forced labor camps (gulag)
What did Hitler start doing by defying the Treaty of Versailles?
- actions that would expand army and gain more territory
- remilitarized Rhineland
- created Rome-Berlin Axis with Mussolini
What did Hitler’s army invade that European leaders appeased?
invaded Austria and threatened to invade Czechosloviakia
Who was Neville Chamberlain and what did he say about Hitler’s actions?
- British Prime Minister
- “peace in our time”
What is an appeasement?
granting concessions to maintain peace
When was World War II declared?
- Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939
- Britain and France declared War
What was Blitzkrieg?
- lightning war
- massive coordinated attack using planes, tanks, infantry, etc. in Poland
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- signed by Hitler and Stalin
- divided Poland
- nations agreed to not attack each other
What is another name for the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
Non-Agression Agreement
What was the “Phony War”?
after Poland fell, the war entered a quiet period
What was the quiet period after Poland fell called?
press called lack of combat a “Sitzkrieg”
What was the Maginot Line?
- massive string of fortifications built by France
- along borders with Germany
When did Germany start attacking nations and what nations were they?
- April and May 1940
- conquered Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
- went around Maginot Line and attacked France
What was the Battle of Dunkirk?
- France and British soldiers retreated to French coastal city of Dunkirk when Germany advanced on France
- hundreds of thousands of soldiers ferried to Great Britain
What was the Battle of Britain?
- German Lutfwaffe bombs Britain nightly
- new Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspires courageous defense
What is communism?
- classless society
- no religion
- no private property
- single party system
- looking for support from factory workers and agriculture
- in theory, looking for international change
What is fascism?
- defined social classes
- supported by big businesses and wealthy landowners
- promised a strong government
- glory of the state is the most important thing
- extreme nationalism
- aggressive foreign expansion
What are the similarities between communism and fascism?
- communism resulted in social classes as government workers giver preference
- both became totalitarian (powerful Lears, oppressive government, few rights for citizens)
- drew power from blind devotion to the state or party
- leader became the embodiment (symbol) of the state
- used terror to guard their power
Why did many Americans support isolationism?
because of the war and other foreign affairs happening
Why did President Roosevelt support internationalism?
he felt trade promoted prosperity and helped prevent wars
How did President Roosevelt assist Britain while maintaining US neutrality?
- Roosevelt convinced Congress to pass “Cash and Carry” legislation
- allowed US to sell goods to warring nations if they paid cash and picked the materials up themselves
- Britain can no longer pay cash for supplies
- FDR makes “Lend-Lease Act”
How did the US try to slow Japan’s advances in the Pacific?
they stopped trading with Japan
What did foreign affairs cause the United States to feel?
increased feeling of isolationism
What was the Neutrality Act of 1937?
banned the selling of arms to warring nations
What was the Lend-Lease Act?
allowed the US to lend arms to use in exchange for use of British bases in the Atlantic
How does helping Britain get oppressed?
- “America First Committee” opposes assisting Britain
- Charles Lindbergh becomes powerful spokesman for the group
Who was Charles Lindbergh?
- first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean
- one of the leaders of the America First Committee
- believed America should follow isolationism
What happened in 1931?
Japanese military invades Manchuria (in China) without permission of government
What happened in 1937?
- Japan invades mainland and rest of China
- “Rape of Nanking”
What happened in 1940?
- Japan invades IndoChina (now Vietnam)
- announce the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”
What happened in July 1940?
- Roosevelt limits what Japan could buy from US
- enter negotiations
- US wants Japan out of China nd IndoChina
- Japan wants US to restore trade
What did Roosevelt limit Japan from buying?
oil, metal, freezes assets to US
When was the attack on Pearl Harbor?
December 7, 1941
What were the losses from Pearl Harbor?
- 2,403 Americans killed
- 1,178 Americans wounded
- over 300 aircraft destroyed or damaged
- 21 ships destroyed or damaged
What happened after Pearl Harbor?
Congress agreed to approve FDR’s declaration of war against Japan
What happened after the US declared war on Japan?
Germany and Italy declared war on US
What happened after Mussolini became Prime Minister?
- economy and military improved
- conquered Ethiopia in May 1936
When was the Battle of Britain?
August ‘40 - June ‘41
