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WW2 Flashcards

1
Q

Who were the Axis powers?

A

Germany, Italy, Japan

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2
Q

Who were the Allies?

A

Soviet Union, Britain + Commonwealth (inc. Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada), France (surrendered early), US (joined later), Poland

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3
Q

What were the causes of WW2?

A

Treaty of Versailles, weakness of LON, failure of appeasement, alliances, expansionist policies of Axis powers, non-agression pacts

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4
Q

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

A

Treaty signed in Versailles, designed by Britain, US and France for Germany:
- Germany accepts responsibility
- Germany pays 6600 mil. euros in damages
- Germany’s army, navy and weapon production restricted
- Germany gives up all colonies, some of its own land and is not allowed to occupy Rhineland

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5
Q

When did Germany sign the Treaty of Versailles?

A

28 June 1919

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6
Q

How many restrictions did the Treaty consist of?

A

8

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7
Q

Describe the timeline of German aggression and the Allies’ attempt at appeasement.

A
  • Hitler withdraws from LON in 1933 after Germany joined in 1926
  • 1935, Hiter announces conscription
  • 1936, Hitler sends troops to occupy Rhineland - Allies do nothing
  • 1938, he takes troops to Czechoslovakia
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8
Q

What did Hitler do in Czechoslovakia?

A

He claimed Sudertenland in May 1938

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9
Q

How did the Allies react to Hitler claiming Sudertenland?

A

They made the Munich agreement, signed on September 29, 1938, by Britain, France, Italy and Germany
- Germany can’t annex Czechoslovakia but can have Sudertenland - appeasement

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10
Q

What does Hitler do after the Munich agreement?

A

Hitler takes Czechoslovakia anyways in March 1939 and then looks to Poland.

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11
Q

How did Japan show aggression?

A
  • Japan invades Manchuria in 1931
  • Japan invades China in 1933
  • LON orders Japan out of Manchuria so Japan leaves LON
  • 1937, Japan invades East China
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12
Q

What and when was the rape of Nanking?

A

13 December 1937, lasted 6 weeks, Japanese brutally murdered, tortuerd and raped Chinese people

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13
Q

Who had expansionist policies in the 1930s?

A

The Axis powers: Germany, Italy and Japan

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14
Q

How is Germany’s expansionist policy fueled?

A

Germany loses their land in the Treaty of Versailles and want it back.

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15
Q

How are Axis expansionist policies fueled?

A

Many European borders are redrawn eg: Austria-Hungary breaks up.

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16
Q

How was the League of Nations formed?

A
  • US President Woodrow Wilson promotes a League of Nations based upon his 14 points.
  • 40 countries join
  • US citizens don’t want to be a part of LON and Wilson doesn’t even join
  • League of Nations is a minority and powerless without the USA
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17
Q

How were Alliances a cause of WW2?

A

Similar alliances to WW1:
- Grudges/revenge
- If one is attacked, they are all attacked and should respond

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18
Q

What non-aggression pacts were made prior to the War?

A

The non-agression pact between USSR and Germany: They wouldn’t go to war and they would split Poland between them.
- Hitler breaks it with operation Barbarossa on 22 June, 1941

The 3-power pact between Axis powers:
- if 1 was attacked they were all atttacked

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19
Q

What was fascism?

A
  • An extreme form of nationalism
  • Emphasised loyalty to the state and leader (dictator)
  • Promised to restore order and national pride, punish those responsible for hard times and revive the economy
  • believed peaceful countries were doomed to fail
  • wore uniforms, performed salutes and held large rallies
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20
Q

Who was Mussolini and what did he do?

A

Made Il Duce of Italy:
- outlawed all other parties but fascism
- had secret police
- censored the media

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21
Q

Describe the rise of the Nazi party.

A
  • Nazis hated the Weimar Republic, which was democratic
  • promoted Swastika, organised mass meetings and used the media to promote ideas
  • When it was formed in 1919, the Nazis had 50 members and by 1923 it had 50k members
  • Hitler is made Leader
  • Attempted to overthrow the government in 1923, but failed and Hitler was sent to prison
  • Hitler writes Mein Kampf in prison and used Jews as scapegoats for economic woes
  • In the 1930 Reichstag elections, they gained 107 seats, and by Nov. 1932, they had a majority
  • In Jan. 1933, Hitler is made Chancellor of Germany
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22
Q

When does the war start?

A

September 1, 1939

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23
Q

What is the Phoney war?

A

Sept 1939 - Apr 1940
- Allies wait for Germany to attack France
- Little fighting takes place
- Ends when Germany invades Norway and Denmark on April 9, 1940

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24
Q

How did France fall?

A
  • In May 1940, the Germans distract the Allies by invading Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg and then invade France, trapping the Allies in the North
  • Germany uses the Blitzkrieg strategy
  • GB sends boats to rescue soldiers and civilians and rescues 338 000 people from May 26 to June 4
  • Germany takes Paris by June 14
  • French government surrenders on June 22
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25
Q

Describe the battle of Dunkirk.

A
  • On May 20, 1940, Germans trapped Allies at the French port of Dunkirk
  • Churchill calls for help to evacuate British troops and the Germans halt their attack
  • Between May 26 and June 4, GB rescues 338k people
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26
Q

Describe the Battle of Britain.

A
  • 7 September 1940
  • Hitler tries to take Britain by first taking out RAF (Royal Airforce) and then attacking by land
  • Luftwaffe (German airforce) bomb aircraft carriers, bases, aircraft manufacturers and then bomb civilian targets, particularly London
  • Great Britain used Radar and Enigmas (decoders) to defend attacks
  • The Germans began to bomb at night
  • Civilians built bomb shelters, made procedures and sent kids to the countryside for their protection
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27
Q

Describe the Blitz.

A
  • 7 Sept 1940 - 10 May 1941
  • Nightly bombings
  • 43k civilian deaths
  • 1 million London homes damaged
  • Hitler abandoned plan to invade Britain 8 months later
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28
Q

Describe the Battle of the Atlantic.

A
  • Sept 1939 - May 1945
  • British made a naval blockade to stop merchant ships supplying German war efforts
  • Germans responded by sending U-boats (submarines) to torpedo ships carrying supplies from the USA to Britain
  • By 1942, the Germans had destroyed 2600+ ships
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29
Q

When did Italy declare war?

A

10 June 1940

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30
Q

Who did Italy declare war on?

A

Britain and France

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31
Q

Describe the Battle of Greece and Crete.

A
  • Oct 1940 - May 1941
  • Italy invades Greece in October 1941
  • In March 1941, the Allies support Greece
  • on the 5th of April 1941, Germany invades Greece from Bulgaria (its ally) by gaining control of Greek airfields
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32
Q

How was Australia involved in the battle of Greece and Crete?

A
  • The 6th Division of the AIF had a key role in the defence of Greece
  • They began to pull out for service closer to Britain on the 24th of April 1941
  • 320 died
  • 2000 POW’s
  • After they had been evacuated to Crete, the Germans took the island on the 30th of May, 1941
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33
Q

Describe the battle of North Africa.

A
  • June 1940 - 1943
  • Italy attacks from East African colonies of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somaliland
  • Italy invades Sudan, Kenya and British Somaliland
  • Initial success, the British evacuate
  • In Jan 1941, the Allies launch a counteroffensive and regain British Somaliland and by November defeated the Italians in the region
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34
Q

Describe the battles in Libya.

A
  • In Sept 1940, Italy invades British-controlled Egypt to try and control the Suez Canal for trade
  • They outnumbered the British but lost: scattered forces, outdated tanks and machine guns
  • British troops, reinforced by commonwealth soldiers, attacked in December and by early 1941 forced Italians to retreat back to Libya
  • By Jan 4, 1941, the AIF 6th division was able to capture Bardia, then Tobruk and Benghazi
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35
Q

Who were the rats of Tobruk and what is their story?

A
  • 11 April - late Dec 1941
  • General Erwin Rommel laid siege to the port of Tobruk; a strategic resource collection point, Allies defended Suez +Egypt
  • 9th AIF division and part of the 7th defended the port
  • Faced a force twice as large
  • Installed barbed wire and mines
  • German propaganda called them ‘rats in a trap’ - Rats of Tobruk, pride for the 14k Aussies that served
  • Allies only arrived with more people and resources in Nov
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36
Q

What were the Afrika Corps?

A
  • British General Wavell wanted to fully defeat the Italians in Africa, but instead, Churchill transfers troops to Greece
  • German sends General Erwin Rommel and the Panzer Army (Afrika Corps in Africa) - Tanks - to help Italy
  • Rommel forces an Allied retreat
37
Q

Why was Egypt so important to both sides?

A
  • Axis wanted access to Middle-Eastern oil supply
  • Allies wanted a supply route for trade
  • By July 1942, Rommel threatened Allied control of Egypt
38
Q

Describe the 1st Battle of El Alamein.

A
  • July 1942, Allies halt the German advance
  • Both sides stop to rebuild strength
  • General Bernard Montgomery puts pressure on Rommel
  • Plans to build up and train Allied army to defeat Panzer army
39
Q

Describe the 2nd Battle of El Alamein.

A
  • 23 Oct - 4 Nov 1942
  • On Oct 23, Montgomery launches an attack on the Panzer army at El Alamein
  • Germans were protected by barbed wire and 500k mines so the attack failed
  • Montgomery orders the 9th AIF division to attack the Germans’ heavily defended Northern side
  • The week of fighting forces Rommel to call for reinforcements from the south
  • This opened the south up to an Allied tank advance
  • By the 4th of Nov, the Allies broke through German lines and forced a retreat
  • Continued west to Africa controlled by Vichy France
  • Germans in Africa surrendered on the 13th of May 1943
  • Major turning point as the battle had used up many resources and good soldiers
  • Victory gave control of oil and trade and a base to attack the Balkans and Italy
40
Q

What was Vichy France?

A

Southern France, cooperated with and was occupied by the Nazis

41
Q

When was Operation Barbarossa?

A

22 June 1941

42
Q

Describe Operation Barbarossa.

A
  • Hitler breaks non-aggression pact by invading the USSR on 22 June 1941
  • 3.3 million men, 3500 tanks, thousands of Aircraft along 2900km front
  • Take Russia by surprise and capture Minsk and Smolensk and lay siege to Leningrad (starved them), captured Kyiv and almost take Moscow
  • By Nov 1941, 1 million Russians were dead, 3 million were POWs and Russia lost 60% of their metal resources
  • The Russian winter and German shortages stopped Germany from taking Moscow and Leningrad
43
Q

What were Hitler’s goals in Operation Barbarossa?

A
  • Gain lebensraum (living space)
  • Gain resources + oil
  • Gain slave labour (Jews)
  • Destroy the communist government
44
Q

When was the Battle of Stalingrad?

A

Aug 1942 - Feb 1943

45
Q

Describe the Battle of Stalingrad.

A
  • Stalingrad was key for industry, manufacturing and rail and water links
  • 1 million Soviet troops were sent to defend it
  • Germans were cut off from ammunition and food and surrendered on 2 Feb 1943
  • Huge turning point for the USSR, began to regain land
46
Q

When was the Battle of Kursk?

A

July - Aug 1943

47
Q

Describe the Battle of Kursk.

A
  • German counterattack
  • Soviets had weeks of warning and resources
  • Largest tank battle in history, Soviets win
48
Q

How did the Nazis treat Jewish people prior to the war?

A
  • Scapegoated Jews for Germany’s economic problems (Jews were bankers)
  • Passed laws stripping Jews of rights
  • Segregated Jews in Ghettos (then were sent to concentration/extermination camps later)
  • Organised Kristallnacht, Nov 9, 1938: The night of broken glass
49
Q

What and when was Kristallnacht?

A
  • The night of broken glass, Nov 9, 1938
  • Civilians attacked Jews on the streets and vandalised/destroyed Jewish businesses
50
Q

What were concentration camps?

A
  • Created as a way to use Jews for forced labour away from the public and later kill them
  • Jews secretly deported on trains like animals
  • Lack of food hygiene, brutal treatment from Nazis = high death rate even before the gas chambers
  • Mostly located in Poland (highest concentration of Jews), some were even visible from town
51
Q

What was the final solution and when was it ‘created’?

A
  • Created in late 1941, coinciding with the invasion of Russia
  • Made Operation Barbarossa a struggle for the annihilation of communism (Jews)
  • Einsatzgruppen killed Jews around the USSR and Eastern Europe by lining them up, shooting them and throwing their bodies into a ditch
52
Q

What was one of the largest mass killings of Jews?

A

Babi Yar, just outside of Kiev
- Sept 1941
- 34k deaths

53
Q

Why were extermination camps built?

A
  • Einsatzgruppen were inefficient
  • Men suffered psychological trauma from killing
  • It was hard to conceal the killings from the rest of the population
  • Jews deported to be gassed in extermination camps: more efficient, less contact between victims and killers, far away from the population
54
Q

Whose priority was it to defeat Germany?

A

USA’s

55
Q

How would an invasion of Western Europe help the Allies?

A

From 1942, Eisenhower planned an invasion that would relieve the pressure on the Soviets and began bombing military, industrial and civilian targets

56
Q

When was the bombing of Hamburg?

A

July 1943

57
Q

How long was the bombing of Hamburg and how many died?

A

7 days, 40k dead

58
Q

When was the bombing of Dresden?

A

Feb 1945

59
Q

How long was the bombing of Dresden and how many died?

A

3 days, 25k dead

60
Q

When was D-Day?

A

6 June 1944

61
Q

Describe the D-Day invasions.

A
  • 133k troops +23k paratroopers landed at Normandy
  • 10k Allied casualties on the 1st day
  • Troops advanced through France and forced a German retreat
  • Resistance fighters then attacked Germans throughout the EU
62
Q

What was the succession of events that lead to Germany’s surrender?

A
  • In March 1945, the Allies enter German territory
  • Hitler committed suicide on 30 April
  • 8 May all Germans cease fighting
  • 9 May German generals surrender to the USSR (official end of Eu war)
63
Q

When was the Pearl Harbour bombing?

A

7 Dec 1941

64
Q

Why did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour?

A
  • The islands they were conquering required naval invasions
  • the Japanese hated the US for freezing their US assets, restricting trade and providing money to their enemies
  • Wanted to neutralise the US naval threat before the takeover (BAD IDEA!)
65
Q

When did the US declare war on Japan?

A

8 Dec 1941

66
Q

When did Germany declare war on the USA?

A

11 Dec 1941

67
Q

Why did Germany declare war on the USA?

A

Because of the Tripartite pact, alliances were very important in WW2

68
Q

When was the fall of Singapore?

A

Feb 1942

69
Q

Describe the fall of Singapore.

A
  • British believed Singapore was safe
  • Days after Pearl Harbour, Japan invades Singapore from Malaya and occupies it
  • A battle of bombing, submarines and land fighting
70
Q

When was the Darwin Air raid?

A

Feb 1942

71
Q

Describe the fighting seen in North Australia.

A
  • the US established a base in NT against Japan
  • Darwin Air raid in response (95 by 1943)
  • Guerilla warfare, bombing, submarines
72
Q

When was the battle of the Coral Sea?

A

May 1942

73
Q

Describe the battle of the Coral Sea.

A
  • On May 4, the Japanese plan to take Port Moresby
  • Allies find out
  • Battled in the Coral sea
  • 1st time the Allies stop the Japanese in the Pacific
74
Q

When was the Battle of Midway?

A

June 1942

75
Q

Describe the Battle of Midway.

A
  • Japan attacked Midway in an attempt to defeat the US and gain a Naval base to attack other islands
  • The US had warning and won the battle by severely weakening the Japanese Navy to the point of no recovery
76
Q

When was the Battle of the Kokoda Trail?

A

July-Nov 1942

77
Q

Describe the Battle of the Kokoda Trail.

A
  • After the battle of the Coral Sea destroyed the chances of taking Port Moresby by sea, the Japanese tried getting there by land (Kokoda trail)
  • Allies trekked through mud, rain and got diseases to stop the Japanee getting to Port Moresby
  • 600 Aus dead, 10 000 Japanese dead
78
Q

When was the Battle of Guadalcanal?

A

Aug 1942 - Feb 1943

79
Q

Describe the Battle of Guadalcanal.

A
  • Allies launched a surprise offensive
  • Invaded with HMAS Canberra, Hobart and Australia
  • Allies were able to replace men and resources more quickly
  • Japanese suffered 9k killed from diseases
  • Turning point, put the Japanese on the defensive
80
Q

When was the Island Hopping campaign?

A

Nov 1943 - June 1945

81
Q

Describe the Island Hopping campaign.

A
  • Led by Generals MacArthur and Nimitz
    -Involved small battles to capture islands and get within bombing range of Japan
  • Japanese believed dying was more honourable than surrender and called for Kamikaze to use jets as missiles
  • US develop good defence tactics against them
  • There was an initial plan for a land invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall) but the death toll would be too high
82
Q

What was the Manhattan Project?

A
  • Secret US project to develop an atomic bomb
  • Other allies not told
  • Potsdam declaration July 1945, 10 days after successful test: Surrender unconditionally now or face anhiliation
  • Japan fights on
83
Q

When and where was ‘little boy’ deployed?

A

August 6, Hiroshima
- Japanese don’t surrender

84
Q

When and where was ‘fat man’ deployed?

A

August 9, Nagasaki

85
Q

How many died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively?

A

70k and 40k

86
Q

When and why did Japan surrender?

A
  • Emperor, against the government’s will, surrendered on 15 August
  • Government still believed it was honourable to die
  • Emperor thought the loss of life was too great: ‘the war has not developed in Japan’s favour’
87
Q

When and which Australian prime minister declared war on Japan?

A

John Curtin declared war on Japan in solidarity with the US, independent of Britain, in Dec 1941

88
Q

Why did Australians enlist?

A
  • Adventure
  • Duty
  • Part of the ANZAC WW1 heritage

WW2 (1 decks)

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