WW2 Flashcards
When did World War II begin and end?
World War II began on September 1, 1939, with Germany’s invasion of Poland, and ended on September 2, 1945, with Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri.
What event triggered the United States’ entry into World War II?
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 (“a date which will live in infamy”) prompted the U.S. to declare war on Japan, and subsequently, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.
Who were the main Axis Powers?
Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan formed the main Axis alliance, though other nations like Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria also joined.
Who were the main Allied Powers?
The “Big Three” Allied Powers were Great Britain (led by Winston Churchill), the United States (led by Franklin D. Roosevelt), and the Soviet Union (led by Joseph Stalin).
What was the Holocaust?
The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and genocide of six million European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1941-1945.
What was D-Day?
D-Day (June 6, 1944) was the largest amphibious invasion in history, where Allied forces landed on five beaches in Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe.
What was the Battle of Stalingrad?
A major turning point on the Eastern Front (1942-1943), where Soviet forces defeated the German 6th Army, marking Hitler’s first major defeat and the beginning of the Soviet push westward.
What was the Manhattan Project?
The secret U.S. program that developed the atomic bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, led by scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
What was the Battle of Britain?
The 1940 air campaign by Nazi Germany to gain air superiority over Britain. The RAF’s successful defense prevented a German invasion and was Britain’s finest hour.
What was the “Final Solution”?
The Nazi code name for their plan to systematically murder all European Jews, implemented primarily through death camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau.
What was the Battle of Midway?
A decisive naval battle in June 1942 where the U.S. Navy defeated the Japanese fleet, marking a turning point in the Pacific War.
Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?
African American pilots who served with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Forces, overcoming racial discrimination to become one of the most successful fighter groups.
What was the role of women during the war?
Women took on unprecedented roles in manufacturing (“Rosie the Riveter”), military support, and intelligence, fundamentally changing their social and economic status.
What was the Bataan Death March?
A 1942 forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Japanese military, resulting in thousands of deaths from brutal treatment.
What were the Nuremberg Trials?
Post-war military tribunals where Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity, establishing important precedents in international law.
