World War II Flashcards
Rise of Dictators
Bc of Great Depression, people promised to restore and rebuild
Dictatorship with government suppressing opponent
Totalitarian Leaders
Mussolini (Italy)
Tojo (Japan)
Hitler (Germany)
Stalin (Russia)
Lebensraum
Need for expansion of living space for Germans
Anschluss
Joining of Austria and Germany
Austria asked League of Nations for help when Germany invaded but it wasn’t recieved
Appeasement
Make concessions to prevent a larger conflict
Expansions
Japan: Manchuria
Italy: Ethiopia
Germany: Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland/Czechoslovakia, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France
Why did WWII start?
Germany invaded Poland
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Agreement between Germany and USSR to not attack each other
They agreed to invade and divide Poland
Later on invaded Soviet Union
Neutrality Act of 1935
First neutrality act; prohibited export of arms, ammunition, and other things to foreign nations at war (need a license to export)
Neutrality Act of 1939 “Cash and Carry”
Can only ship arms if they paid cash and used their own ships
Sent arms to France and the UK
Lend-Lease Act of 1941
Could lend supplies to countries whose defense was vital to the US (Allies)
Japanese military movements in the 1940s
Sino-Japanese War: invaded China
US, Britain, and the Netherlands froze Japanese assets (resources)
Military Plans: Take control of Southeast Asia for resources and expected US to declare war but wouldn’t be willing to fight them
Pearl Harbor
US Pacific fleet was the only obstacle preventing Japan from controlling SE Asia
US broke Japanese code that they were going to attack Pearl Harbor but it was too late
Thousands of Americans killed, hundreds of ships destroyed, and ships sunk
Americans declared war on Japan
EO 9066
Executive order which resulted in the removal of 110,000 people of Japanese descent from the west coast into interment camps
Things that took place after the US joined the war
Selective Service Act of 1940 established
Rationing and recycling
Propaganda
Japanese Internment
Permanent incarceration camps with fences, guard towers, barracks with basic services (schools and hospitals)
Internment of Other Groups
Smaller groups were incarcerated too like German-Americans and Italian Americans
Incarcerated less bc they were more integrated into immigrants have moved earlier so they were more integrated into society and they were white
D-Day
Largest amphibious invasion in history
Storming and capture of Normandy beach and allowed Allies to establish foothold in Europe
Lead to Allies to defeat and Berlin and Germany surrendered
The Pacific Theatre: Island Hopping
American military tactic to limit Japenses advancements in the pacific
Leafrogged around Japanese controlled islands to weaken their supply sources
This weekend Japan and led them to bomb Japan
Battle of Iwo Jima
One of the last islands to Japan
Many deaths so Americans started to think it was not worth it
Operation Downfall
Japan would not agree to end the war so proposed to send troops to defeat Japan
Would have many casualties so many purple hearts were created
The Manhattan Project
Top secret WWII project were the atomic bomb was created
Needed to make bomb before the enemies could or else US would lose the war
Harry Truman
Vice President for FDR and took over when FDR died
Didn’t want to proceed with Operation Downfall due to many casualties so he decided to use the nuclear bomb
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
First bomb was dropped on Hiroshima but Japan did not surrender
Bombed Nagasaki 3 days later and US dropped leaflets beforehand to warn Japanese citizens
Only time nuclear weapons have been used in war
Begun Atomic Era
Japanese witnessed radiation poisoning effects
V-J Day
Victory over Japan day; when Japan officially surrendered
Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms
Paintings were used as propaganda to show the Americans they need to buy war bonds/support the war effort and defend their freedoms.
Double Victory
Social Movement during WWII
James G. Thompson’s letter to the Pittsburgh Courrier illlustrated the paradox of Americans fighting for democracy abroad but denying it domestically
Objects:
Desegregation of Armed Forces
Fair employment practices
Civil rights
