World War II Quiz Flashcards
Allied Powers “FUBS”
France, United States, Britain, Soviet Union
Axis Powers “JIG”
Japan, italy, and Germany
Rape of Nanking
Massacre of Chinese civilians after Japan invades the Chinese capital of Nanking, Over a six week period it is estimated that Japanese soldiers killed as many as 260,000 Chinese civilians and prisoners of war. 20,000+ women were raped and tortured.
Battle of Britain
Germany’s attempt to invade England, aerial combat between the Royal Air Force and the luftwaffe, the two keys to British success were radar and enigma (code breaking system), hitler’s planned invasion fails, Germany turns its attention to invading the Soviet union on the Eastern front
Pearl Harbor
Japanese attack on the US naval base in the Pearl Harbor Hawaii, surprise attack because Japan had declared war against the US before the attack occurred, US naval officers unprepared for attack because it was a Sunday morning and the radar warnings had been ignored, event that brings the US into World War II and dramatically suede public opinion in favor of joining the war
Battle of Midway
Japanese attack on the US controlled islands of Midway, US broke a Japanese code and new that a Japanese attack was planned on Midway, US destroyed Keeneyville ships and Japan never was able to fully recover from losses. Battle became a turning point in the Pacific war. Japan turned on the defensive and allies begin the island chopping campaign to regain control of islands as they moved to Japan.
The battle of Stalingrad
German attack on the Soviet city of Stalingrad, a major industrial city. Bloodiest battle in the history of the war, Soviets around German army and cut off their suppliers and leave them freezing in winter temperatures, first major German defeat and more, battles stops Germany’s eastward advance
D day
Allied invasion of Nazi occupied France, code named operation overlord, led by General Dwight D Eisenhower,largest land Sea air operation in the army history, five beaches in Normandy France were invaded, success of D day results of militaries ability to deliver so many men to the invitation point at the same time, allied success leads to the liberation of Paris two months later in August 1944
Battle of the bulge
German counteroffensive launch to break through the Allied lines in Belgium, German soldiers created a parentheses bolts in the allied lines, but were eventually defeated, Germany’s last offensive attack ends in a defeatand leads to their surrender several months later in April 1945
End of Hitler
Hitler commits suicide in his bunker as the Soviets storm the German capital of Berlin, he and his wife Eva Braun both commit suicide, Germany surrenders eight days later on May 8, 1945. This is known as VE day in Europe
