World War II Flashcards
Big Three
Alliance between England, United States, and Soviet Russia
Appeasement
Policy used by Western Europe toward Germany because:
Great Depression & Inflation
They couldn’t afford another war
There was more fear of communists than fascists.
Lack of Allies (no more US or Russia)
Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, and Japan
Spanish Civil War
1936-1939
Francisco Franco leads a military coup.
^fascists v. Spanish Republic
Fascists win and Franco becomes dictator until 1970.
Served as a battlefield test for Hitler’s weapons.
Hitler’s Goal
Overturn Versailles
Regain German land lost due to Versailles.
Subdue France and ally with England.
Conquer Slavic nations (for living space and use as labor force)
Eliminate undesirables.
Anglo-German Naval Agreement (1935)
Allows Hitler to start building a navy and building up military power and armaments.
Lend Lease Act
March 1941
Allowed America to lend or sell war materials to any country in order to aid in their defense.
Pearl Harbor
December 7th, 1941
Japanese surprise attack on U.S naval base.
Provoked the United States to join WWII
Battle of the Bulge
December, 1944
The final push from Germany which resulted in the Allies pushing back all the way to Berlin
Served as the dress rehearsal for WWII
The Spanish Civil War
“D day” or “Operation overload”
June 6th, 1944
Assault on France through the beaches of Normandy.
Starts the 2 front war
Blitzkrieg
“Lightning war”
Hitler’s plan to defeat enemies including air bombardment and tanks
Holocaust
The elimination of targeted groups such as Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, Deviants, and Political Prisoners.
Anschluss
The unification of Germany with Austria
Atlantic Charter
August 1941
Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to a slightly modified version of Wilsons 14 points.
Theoretical basis for the peace they sought.
