WW2 Flashcards
What are the three components of Blitzkrieg? What is Blitzkrieg tactics?
- Tank - Panzer divisions
- Infantry
- Luftwaffe (Air Force)
Speed and surprise
When did the invasion of Poland (Case White) occur, and what were its key events?
September 1939; Warsaw was attacked first, Poland collapsed in 2 weeks, SS occupied Poland, and Polish Jews were first targeted and put into death camps/slave labor.
What was the Phoney War/Sitzkrieg, and when did it occur?
October 1939 to April 1940; both sides got positioned and ready but did not engage in major action despite Poland being attacked.
INACTION
Maginot Line failed cauase Germany invaded through Belgium
How did Phoney War end
with Germany’s invasion of Denamrk and Norway on April 9 1940
What marked Hitler’s first move towards Western Europe?
The attack on Holland/Netherlands and Belgium.
Chamberlain resigned, cities were bombed, Holland surrendered in 5 days, and Belgium surrendered in 2 weeks.
What was the significance of the Fall of France (Case Yellow) in June 1940?
Quick and humiliating
How? Panzer divisions cut the Allied army in half, Nazis marched toward Paris, the battle lasted 2 weeks for France, and Britain attacked the French navy to prevent it from falling into German hands.
What was Operation Dynamo at Dunkirk, and what was Hitler’s 1st key mistake?
Critical evacuation in 1940
British soldiers (1/3 million) escaped back to Britain after being pushed to the English Channel. Hitler halted his drive and turned southward, allowing the evacuation. He underestimated effectiveness of evacuation efforts. This was the 1st key mistake of WWII.
What was the Battle of Britain, and what was Germany’s plan?
From July to September 1940, Germany planned “Operation Sea Lion,” aiming to destroy the RAF with massive air raids. Radar system (Chain Home Network) saved Britain.
What incident led to Hitler shifting bombing tactics during the Battle of Britain?
A German bomber accidentally dropped bombs on London, leading Britain to retaliate by bombing Berlin. Outraged, Hitler shifted bombing to British cities (civilians).
What was the 2nd key mistake of WWII made by Hitler?
Shifting bombing targets from the RAF to British civilians during the Battle of Britain, allowing the RAF to rebuild.
What were the “Dark Days” of the Battle of the Atlantic (1940-1942)?
Lowpoint for Allies
Germany controlled the Atlantic with U-boat supremacy. By 1943, U-boats were stopped by radar convoys (detect u-boats) and depth charges (weapon).
What was the purpose of the U.S. Lend-Lease policy in 1941?
FDR plan to aid countries that supported U.S. interests, primarily helping Britain, USSR, and China fight Nazi Germany without direct U.S. involvement.
Success in material support
What was Operation Barbarossa, and when did it begin?
June 22, 1941; Germany launched the largest military attack in history against the USSR, involving 8 million men and spanning from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
What key strategies and challenges defined Operation Barbarossa?
Soviet “scorched earth” policy: as they retreated, Soviets would destroy crops, livestock, and food suppplies to prevent the Gemrans from using these resources.
German advances stopped by rain and winter.
German army froze.
BUT Hitler refused to recall his troops.
What was Hitler’s 3rd key mistake in WWII?
Invading the USSR during Operation Barbarossa.
What were the key events of the Battle of Stalingrad (Sept 1942 - Jan 1943)?
Turning point on the Eastern Front
USSR Success
Hitler’s obsession with capturing Stalingrad led to a 4-month battle where Russians fought fiercely over the summer.
When did the Soviets strike back in WWII, and what was the outcome for the German army?
In November 1941, the Soviets surrounded and forced the German army to surrender.
How long did the Siege of Leningrad last, and what were the consequences?
Sept 1941 - Jan 1944
Leningrad was vital industrial hub
The siege lasted 900 days, cutting off 3,000,000 inhabitants from all supplies, leading to over 4 million deaths. But through resilience, Soviet won,
What is the War in the Desert?
North African Campaign during WW2, began in 1940-43. This began with Italy. Mussolini invaded Egypt from its colony in Libya. Great Britain was tasked with defending Egypt and counterattacked
What was Rommel’s role in the War in the Desert, and what was its impact?
German field marshal Rommel, “The Desert Fox,” led Afrika Korps in 1941, known for aggressive policies, but because he was underresourced, he was pushed back into Egypt by the British, leaving the Suez Canal wide open.
What key event occurred at El Alamein in 1942?
Second Battle of El Alamein was turning point in which Allies won
Churchill visited Egypt, put General Montgomery in charge, and the Germans retreated 1000 miles.
