World War II Part 1 Flashcards
Isolationism
policy in which a country avoids entanglement in foreign conflicts
Interventionist
believed the US should get involved to help people fighting aggression
Blitzkrieg
“Lightning War”
Appeasement
Giving into someone to avoid conflict
Embargo
an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country
Draft
enlisted recruitment for military service
Causes of WWII
- Treatment of Germany- Resentment over Treaty of Versailles
- Economic Problems- The Great Depression
- Nationalism- New radical political groups
- Rise of Dictatorships- Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Hirohito
Joseph Stalin
Dictator of Soviet Union
Adolf Hitler
Dictator of Germany (Nazi Party) “der Fuhrer”
Benito Mussolini
Dictator of Italy “IL Duce”
Emperor Hirohito
Emperor of Japan
Hideki Tojo
General of Japan
Mein Kampf
The book that he wrote in prison of all his goals. It means "my struggle" Goals: 1. Rebuild 2. Unite 3. Lebensraum 4. Promote
Lebensraum
One of the goals means “living space” for the German people (retake lost land)
1936 Olympic Games
They were the Nazi Olympics. Jesse Owens, won four gold medals. The American Team won 12 men’s track gold medals; the success of the African American athletes was considered a blow to Hitlers Aryan ideals.
The Rhineland
In Treaty of Versailles Germany was not allowed to have any military force in the Rhineland area
The Neutrality Acts 1935-1937
mandatory arms embargo for countries at war
discretionary travel restrictions
no loans to countries at war
Franklin Roosevelt
the president of US
America First Committee
Formed to promote isolationism; stay out of conflict in Europe
The spokesperson was Charles Lindbergh
Annexation of Austria
1938 Germany “annexes” Austria (Hitler’s plan to unite Ger. people under gov’t) The “Anschuluss”
Sudetenland
fall of 1938 Germany wants to annex the Sudetenland- region of Czechoslovakia with large German population- countries of Europe are very concerned with this,
Munich Agreement
September 1938
Meeting between Great Britain, France, and Germany
GB and FR agree to let Hitler have the Sudetenland; he promises “that’s all I want”
Neville Chamberlain- Br. Prime Minister- travels to Munich, Germany to meet with Hitler.
Winston Churchill
outspoken with anti-Hitler views, League of Nations does nothing to protect Czechoslovakia from being taken apart
Non-aggression Pact
by march of 1939 Hitler had take control of the rest of Czechoslovakia Hitler signs a “Non-aggression Pact” with Stalin in August 1939
Invasion of Poland (DATE)
SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1939, Shocks the world, soviet union and Germany have a secret term where Hitler gets western Poland and soviet union gets eastern Poland.
The Phony War
Hitler invades Denmark and Norway after 6 months of “sitzrieg”- media calls this time following invasion of Poland a “phony war”
Invasion of Denmark, Norway
Hitler wants control of Denmark and Norway to control water access to the Baltic Seas and the North Sea; also, hide submarines in Norwegian inlets, bomb great Britain from North.
The Maginot Line
Line of French defenses along German border meant to protect France from German attack
France falls
Germany attacks France through Ardennes forest
Nazis invades Paris in June
France surrenders by end of June
GB now stands alone against Hitler
“Cash and Carry” Neutrality Law
US could sell materials to countries at war IF they paid CASH and picked up their purchases in their own ships to CARRY them home
The Battle of Britain
German Luftwaffe launches bombing attacks on GB- meant to prepare for German land invasion. “the blitz”
German attack on the Soviet Union
mistake?- Germany has a peace agreement w/ the Soviet Union (non-aggression pact)
Timing- Hitler begins his attack in late June and is caught by the Russian winter in October
Hitler underestimated the power of the Soviet Military
Now Germany is fighting on 3 fronts
Eagle Squadrons
volunteer American pilots serving in units with the British Royal Air Force (RAF) fighting against Germany
Axis Powers
Japan becomes partners w/ Germany and Italy, forming the axis powers (equator)
Selective Service Act
first peacetime military draft
Atlantic Charter
outlines US and British beliefs for a peaceful world
becomes the basis for later United Nations plan
discuss plans for winning WWII
The Lend- Lease Act
The US lend or lease (rent) war materials/ weapons to any country believed to be vital to the defense of the US
purpose to stay out of war, but help allies
Japanese Aggression and Expansion
1931- Japanese invasion of Manchuria quest for natural resources- coal, oil, minerals, land (room for population expansion). League of Nations and US condemn Japanese actions- Japan leaves the League
1937- Japanese attack China south of Manchuria capturing cities of perking and Shanghai, US condemns action- begins embargo of some industrial materials; breakdown of commercial relations
1940- Japan becomes partner w/ Germany and Italy, forming the Axis powers.
July 1941- Japan invades French Indochina (southeast Asia) they wanted to gain more territory and resources
US reacts and places oil embargo, freezes Japans assets in the US
Diplomatic negotiations break down over the next few months
“Magic”
US government had cracked the Japanese codes
military info, diplomatic info
info gained from Japanese codes was nicknamed “magic”
military radio traffic in Pacific gives hints of possible attack
Attack on Pear Harbor
Nov. 26th- Japan launches aircraft carrier strike force from Japan; sails across Pacific undetected by US- 300 miles from Hawaii
DECEMBER 7TH, 1941- 7:55AM SUNDAY MORNING
First Wave- 183 Japanese planes attack US military and naval facilities on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu- 30 minute attack
Second Wave- 15-30 minute pause- 8:40- second wave of 170 planes launched lasted 1 hour
Third Wave- Never happens
Positives from Attack
US aircraft carriers not in port
Pear Harbor shallow most ships sunk or damaged could be raised and repaired
Fuel Oil storage tanks not destroyed- 3rd wave
Attack came on a Sunday- many officers on shore
Japanese underestimate effect of attack on US citizens
