WW2 European Theatre1 Flashcards
1
Q
When did World War II begin?
A
1 September 1939, with the German invasion of Poland
2
Q
When did Britain and France declare war on Germany?
A
3 September 1939
3
Q
What was the Phoney War?
A
An early phase of WWII marked by few military operations in Continental Europe following the German invasion of Poland and preceding the Battle of France
4
Q
What did the French forces do during the Phoney War?
A
Launched the Saar Offensive against Germany but halted their advance and returned
5
Q
What did the British Royal Air Force do during the Phoney War?
A
Dropped propaganda leaflets on Germany
6
Q
When did the first Canadian troops arrive in Britain?
A
During the Phoney War
7
Q
What was the purpose of Operation Weserübung?
A
The German invasion of Denmark and Norway
8
Q
What did the Allies plan to do before Operation Weserübung?
A
They planned an amphibious landing to cut off Germany’s supply of raw materials from Sweden
9
Q
What was the outcome of Operation Weserübung?
A
The Germans repulsed the Allies and defeated the Norwegian armed forces
10
Q
What was the German strategy in the Battle of France?
A
Blitzkrieg
11
Q
When did the German breakthrough at Sedan occur?
A
During the Battle of France in May 1940
12
Q
What happened to the BEF and the best of the French and Belgian armies during the Battle of France?
A
They became trapped in Flanders
13
Q
How did the majority of the British and some French forces escape during the Battle of France?
A
They escaped at Dunkirk
14
Q
When did the Germans commence Fall Rot?
A
After the events at Dunkirk on June 4, 1940
15
Q
When did the Germans take Paris?
A
June 14, 1940
16
Q
When did Italy declare war on the UK and France?
A
During the Battle of France, but made little progress
17
Q
What did French Prime Minister Philippe Pétain do as France was falling?
A
Signed the Second Armistice of Compiègne on June 22, 1940
18
Q
What were the terms of the Second Armistice of Compiègne?
A
Occupation of Northern France, annexation of Alsace-Lorraine into Germany, and a small Italian occupation zone in the southeast
19
Q
What was Vichy France?
A
A rump state of the former French Republic, led by Philippe Pétain
20
Q
What were the combined Allied casualties during the six weeks of fighting in the Battle of France?
A
More than 375,000 killed or wounded, and 1,800,000 soldiers became prisoners of war
21
Q
What were the German casualties during the Battle of France?
A
43,110 killed and 111,000 wounded
22
Q
What did Hitler consider after the fall of France?
A
Ways of dealing with Britain, including a possible invasion
23
Q
What did the Luftwaffe need to achieve for an amphibious landing in Britain?
A
Air superiority or air supremacy
24
Q
What was the Atlantic Wall?
A
A series of defensive fortifications along the French coast of the English Channel
25
What was the purpose of the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942?
A practice attack against the French coast to learn lessons for a future invasion
26
What was the outcome of the Dieppe Raid?
A disaster with almost two-thirds of the attacking force becoming casualties
27
What actions characterized the Western Front between 1941-1944?
Commando raids and guerrilla actions of the resistance aided by SOE and OSS
28
What was the strategic bombing campaign by the Allies during this period?
US Eighth Air Force bombing Germany by day and RAF Bomber Command bombing by night
29
What were some early British raids during the period?
Operation Collar, Operation Ambassador, Operation Biting, St Nazaire, Operation Myrmidon, Operation Abercrombie, Dieppe, Operation Frankton
30
What was the significance of the raid on Sark on the night of 3/4 October 1942?
It led to Hitler's Commando Order instructing that all captured Commandos be executed
31
Who was the commander of OB West in summer 1944?
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
32
What were the three groups commanded by OB West?
Wehrmacht Netherlands Command, Army Group B, Army Group G
33
Which divisions were part of Army Group B's mobile reserves?
2nd Panzer Division, 116th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division
34
Which divisions were part of Army Group G's mobile reserves?
11th Panzer Division, 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, 9th Panzer Division
35
When did Operation Overlord begin?
6 June 1944
36
What was the purpose of Operation Fortitude and Operation Bodyguard?
Deception plans to convince the Germans that the invasion would occur in the Pas-de-Calais
37
What was the result of Operation Cobra?
Allowed the Americans to break out at the western end of the Normandy lodgement
38
What happened in the Falaise Pocket?
Around 200,000 Germans were encircled, with 50,000 killed or taken prisoner and many leaving behind irreplaceable equipment
39
What was the strategic debate among the Allies regarding the advance in France?
Whether to advance on a broad-front or a narrow-front
40
Which strategy did the Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and most of the American high command favor?
A broad-front advance
41
What was Operation Dragoon?
The invasion of Southern France between Toulon and Cannes on 15 August 1944
42
Which armies made up the US 6th Army Group during Operation Dragoon?
US Seventh Army and the French First Army
43
Who commanded the British 21st Army Group during the Liberation of France?
Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery
44
Who commanded the American 12th Army Group during the Liberation of France?
General Omar Bradley
45
Who commanded the US 6th Army Group during the Liberation of France?
Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers
46
When did the Liberation of Paris occur?
25 August 1944
47
Who surrendered Paris to the Allies?
General Dietrich von Choltitz
48
What was the significance of the liberation of Northern France and the Benelux countries for the inhabitants of London?
It denied the Germans launch sites for their mobile V-1 and V-2 weapons
49
What was the Red Ball Express?
The Allied trucking effort to transport supplies from Normandy to the front line
50
When was the port of Antwerp liberated?
4 September 1944
51
What was Operation Switchback?
The campaign to clear the Breskens pocket on the southern bank of the Scheldt
52
What was the result of the Battle of Aachen?
The city was taken by the Allies with 5,000 casualties on both sides and 5,600 German prisoners
53
What was Operation Queen?
A large scale autumn offensive starting on 16 November to drive the Allies to the Rur River
54
What was Operation Market Garden?
A bold attack to take bridges over main rivers in the German-occupied Netherlands and advance into Germany
55
Which divisions were involved in Operation Market Garden?
US 101st Airborne Division, US 82nd Airborne Division, British 1st Airborne Division
56
What was the result of the Battle of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden?
Near-destruction of the British 1st Airborne Division with almost 8,000 casualties
57
What was the German plan 'Wacht am Rhein'?
A massive counter-attack in the West to attack through the Ardennes and swing north to Antwerp
58
When did the Battle of the Bulge start?
16 December 1944
59
Which US Army defended the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge?
US First Army
60
When was the German penetration during the Battle of the Bulge stopped?
25 January 1945
61
What was Operation Nordwind?
A German offensive into Alsace on 1 January 1945 to recapture Strasbourg
62
What was Operation Blackcock?
The clearing of the German bridgehead over the river Roer between Heinsberg and Roermond in January 1945
63
What were Operation Veritable and Operation Grenade?
Allied operations to advance from the Nijmegen area and cross the Roer
64
When did the US Ninth Army cross the Roer?
23 February 1945
65
How many German soldiers were taken prisoner during the 'battle of the Rhineland'?
280,000
66
How many German soldiers were taken prisoner by the time the Allies prepared to cross the Rhine in March 1945?
1,300,000
67
What was Operation Plunder?
The British 21st Army Group's assault crossing of the Rhine at Rees and Wesel on 23 March 1945
68
What was Operation Varsity?
The largest airborne operation in history, part of Operation Plunder
69
When did US forces cross the Rhine at Oppenheim?
Night of 22 March 1945
70
When did the US Seventh Army assault across the Rhine between Mannheim and Worms?
26 March 1945
71
When was Bremen captured by British forces?
26 April 1945
72
When did British and Canadian paratroopers reach Wismar?
2 May 1945
73
Who was the commander of German Army Group B trapped in the Ruhr Pocket?
Field Marshal Walther Model
74
How many German soldiers became POWs in the Ruhr Pocket?
300,000
75
What was the final move by Western Allies towards Berlin known as?
Race to Berlin
76
When did Eisenhower take the unconditional surrender of all German forces?
7 May 1945
77
How many casualties did the Allies suffer on the Western Front?
1,093,000 killed/wounded/missing
78
How many prisoners did the Allies take from the Axis?
About 2 million, mostly French
79
What were the US losses on the Western Front?
147,783 killed and missing, 365,086 wounded, 73,759 captured
80
What were the French losses on the Western Front?
132,590 killed or missing, about 300,000 wounded, 1,454,730 taken prisoner
81
What were the British losses on the Western Front?
58,000 killed, nearly 111,000 wounded, 56,000 captured
82
What were the total Allied losses on the Western Front?
284,000 killed, wounded, and captured
83
What were the German losses on the Western Front in 1944 according to George Marshall?
263,000 killed
84
What were the German losses on the Western Front in 1944 according to Rüdger Overmans?
244,891 killed and missing
85
How many German soldiers were held in POW camps by June 1945?
7,614,790
86
What was the German plan 'Wacht am Rhein'?
A massive counter-attack in the West to attack through the Ardennes and swing north to Antwerp
87
When did the Battle of the Bulge start?
16 December 1944
88
Which US Army defended the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge?
US First Army
89
When was the German penetration during the Battle of the Bulge stopped?
25 January 1945
90
What was Operation Nordwind?
A German offensive into Alsace on 1 January 1945 to recapture Strasbourg
91
What was Operation Blackcock?
The clearing of the German bridgehead over the river Roer between Heinsberg and Roermond in January 1945
92
What were Operation Veritable and Operation Grenade?
Allied operations to advance from the Nijmegen area and cross the Roer
93
When did the US Ninth Army cross the Roer?
23 February 1945
94
How many German soldiers were taken prisoner during the 'battle of the Rhineland'?
280,000
95
How many German soldiers were taken prisoner by the time the Allies prepared to cross the Rhine in March 1945?
1,300,000
96
What was Operation Plunder?
The British 21st Army Group's assault crossing of the Rhine at Rees and Wesel on 23 March 1945
97
What was Operation Varsity?
The largest airborne operation in history, part of Operation Plunder
98
When did US forces cross the Rhine at Oppenheim?
Night of 22 March 1945
99
When did the US Seventh Army assault across the Rhine between Mannheim and Worms?
26 March 1945
100
When was Bremen captured by British forces?
26 April 1945
101
When did British and Canadian paratroopers reach Wismar?
2 May 1945
102
Who was the commander of German Army Group B trapped in the Ruhr Pocket?
Field Marshal Walther Model
103
How many German soldiers became POWs in the Ruhr Pocket?
300,000
104
What was the final move by Western Allies towards Berlin known as?
Race to Berlin
105
When did Eisenhower take the unconditional surrender of all German forces?
7 May 1945
106
How many casualties did the Allies suffer on the Western Front?
1,093,000 killed/wounded/missing
107
How many prisoners did the Allies take from the Axis?
About 2 million, mostly French
108
What were the US losses on the Western Front?
147,783 killed and missing, 365,086 wounded, 73,759 captured
109
What were the French losses on the Western Front?
132,590 killed or missing, about 300,000 wounded, 1,454,730 taken prisoner
110
What were the British losses on the Western Front?
58,000 killed, nearly 111,000 wounded, 56,000 captured
111
What were the total Allied losses on the Western Front?
284,000 killed, wounded, and captured
112
What were the German losses on the Western Front in 1944 according to George Marshall?
263,000 killed
113
What were the German losses on the Western Front in 1944 according to Rüdger Overmans?
244,891 killed and missing
114
How many German soldiers were held in POW camps by June 1945?
7,614,790
115
What were the ambitions of fascist Italy in Europe in 1936?
Hegemony in the Mediterranean–Danubian–Balkan region and the conquest of an empire stretching from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Strait of Hormuz
116
What territories did Italy claim or seek to transform into client states?
Albania, Dalmatia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria
117
What were Italy's covert motives for expansion?
To become the dominant power in the Mediterranean, challenge France or Britain, and gain access to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans
118
When did Mussolini address the Fascist Grand Council on capturing various territories?
30 November 1938
119
What territories did Mussolini aim to capture in his address?
Albania, Tunisia, Corsica, Ticino canton of Switzerland, French territory east of the River Var
120
When did the Second Italo–Ethiopian War begin?
2 October 1935
121
When did Italy invade and occupy Albania?
7 April 1939
122
When was the Pact of Steel between Italy and Nazi Germany signed?
May 1939
123
What were the two stages of Italian foreign policy during the Fascist regime?
Until 1934–35, a modest and responsible course; after that, ceaseless activity and aggression
124
When did Italy declare war on France and the United Kingdom?
10 June 1940
125
What was the Battle of the Mediterranean?
Hostilities between the fleets of Italy, France, and the United Kingdom beginning on 10 June 1940
126
When did the siege of Malta begin?
11 June 1940
127
When did the Western Desert Campaign begin?
11 June 1940
128
What was the result of the Italian invasion of France?
Italy gained a demilitarised zone inside France and an area of 832 km2, including the town of Menton
129
What was the Franco-Italian Armistice?
An armistice signed on 24 June 1940, giving Italy demilitarised zones and territory in France
130
What was the British response to the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir?
The Royal Navy attacked the French fleet on 3 July 1940 to prevent it from falling into German or Italian hands
131
When did the Italian invasion of Egypt begin?
13 September 1940
132
What was the outcome of the Italian invasion of Egypt?
Italian forces advanced to Sidi Barrani and then dug in
133
When did the Italian conquest of British Somaliland occur?
August 1940
134
When did the Greco-Italian War begin?
28 October 1940
135
What was the result of the initial Italian invasion of Greece?
The Greek army repulsed the Italian attack and pushed them back into Albania
136
What was the significance of the Battle of Taranto?
The Royal Navy inflicted a major setback on the Italian Royal Navy on the night of 12/13 November 1940
137
What was Operation Compass?
A British counter-attack in Egypt that drove the Italians out and destroyed the Italian 10th Army in February 1941
138
When did the Battle of Kufra end?
March 1941
139
What was the outcome of the Battle of Kufra?
The Italians lost the desert oasis of Kufra, a vital link between Italian east and north Africa
140
What operation did Germany launch to assist Italy in North Africa?
Operation Sonnenblume
141
Who was the commanding officer of the Afrika Korps?
Erwin Rommel
142
What significant event took place in North Africa in March-April 1941?
Rommel defeated British forces, forcing their retreat
143
Which division fell back to Tobruk in North Africa?
Australian 9th Infantry Division
144
What did the Axis forces capture at the Libyan-Egyptian border?
Halfaya Pass
145
When did the British launch a counter-attack in East Africa?
February 1941
146
What happened to the Italian Viceroy in East Africa?
Duke Amedeo d'Aosta surrendered on 18 May 1941
147
Who was re-established as the ruler of Ethiopia after the East African Campaign?
Haile Selassie
148
What was the last Italian garrison to surrender in East Africa?
Gondar, in November 1941
149
When did the Italians begin guerrilla warfare in Ethiopia?
Until October 1943
150
What did the Greeks initially refuse regarding British assistance?
Allowing British troops into the country
151
When did the Germans, Italians, Hungarians, and Bulgarians invade Yugoslavia?
April 1941
152
What two client states were formed after the invasion of Yugoslavia?
The Independent State of Croatia and Nedić's Serbia
153
What began in spring 1941 in Yugoslavia?
A complex guerrilla uprising led by Partisans commanded by Josip Broz Tito
154
When did the Italian invasion of Greece start?
28 October 1940
155
What did the Germans launch on 6 April 1941 in Greece?
Operation Marita
156
What happened to the British, Australian, and New Zealand forces in Greece?
They were overwhelmed and forced to retreat
157
When did the German invasion of Crete begin?
20 May 1941
158
What was the outcome of the Battle of Crete?
Germans captured the island by 1 June 1941
159
Who did Hitler blame for the failure of the Soviet invasion?
Mussolini's failed conquest of Greece
160
What happened in Iraq when Italy entered the war?
The Iraqi government did not break off diplomatic relations with Italy
161
Who aided the Axis propaganda in Iraq?
Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
162
When did Rashid Ali seize power in Iraq?
1 April 1941
163
What did Rashid Ali's government ask Germany for?
Military assistance in the event of war with the British
164
What did German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop persuade Hitler to do in Iraq?
Return Dr. Fritz Grobba to lead a diplomatic mission
165
What did Germany conclude with Vichy France on 6 May?
A deal to release war materials from French Mandate of Syria to Iraq
166
What happened on 30 April in Iraq?
The Iraqi Army surrounded and besieged RAF Habbaniya
167
What was the outcome of the siege of RAF Habbaniya?
British reinforcements were dispatched, and the Iraqi force was defeated
168
What was restored in Iraq after the defeat of the rebellion?
The monarchy of Faisal II and a pro-British government
169
What was the main objective of Operation Exporter?
To invade Syria and Lebanon from Palestine
170
Which forces participated in Operation Exporter?
Australian, Free French, British, and Indian units
171
When did Operation Exporter begin?
8 June 1941
172
What led to the surrender terms in Operation Exporter?
Negotiations for an armistice started on 11 July and surrender terms were signed on 14 July
173
What was the goal of Operation Countenance?
To open a supply route through Iran for the Soviet Union
174
Why did the Allies invade Iran in August 1941?
The Shah refused to open Iran as a supply route for war materiel to the USSR
175
What was the outcome of the invasion of Iran?
The Shah was deposed, his young son was placed on the throne, and Iranian oil fields were secured
176
What was the aim of Operation Atlas?
To establish an intelligence-gathering base in Mandatory Palestine
177
When did Operation Atlas take place?
October 1944
178
What was the objective of Operation Mammoth?
To sabotage Kirkuk oil fields and create a Kurdish uprising against the British
179
What happened to the German agents in Operation Mammoth?
They were arrested by the British and released several years after World War II
180
What was Gibraltar's strategic importance during WWII?
It commanded the entrance to the Mediterranean
181
What was the role of Force H based in Gibraltar?
To maintain naval superiority and escort convoys to and from Malta
182
What was the significance of Malta during WWII?
It was a target for the Axis powers and a key base for Allied operations in the Mediterranean
183
What were the main challenges faced by the inhabitants of Malta?
Food and commodity shortages due to bombing and naval blockade
184
What was the outcome of the Siege of Tobruk?
Axis forces began a siege, and a small German force advanced into Egypt
185
What was Operation Crusader?
A British offensive launched in late 1941 to push back Axis forces in North Africa
186
What marked the turning point in the North African Campaign?
The Second Battle of El Alamein
187
When did the United States join the war?
7 December 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
188
What was Operation Torch?
The Allied invasion of French North Africa
189
What was the outcome of the Tunisia Campaign?
The unconditional surrender of nearly 240,000 Axis troops on 13 May 1943
190
When did the Allies invade Sicily in Operation Husky?
10 July 1943
191
When did the Allies enter Messina, Sicily?
17 August 1943
192
What happened to Mussolini on 25 July 1943?
The Italian government deposed and arrested him
193
When did the British Eighth Army land in the toe of Italy?
3 September 1943
194
When was the Armistice of Cassibile announced?
8 September 1943
195
What was Operation Avalanche?
The Allied landing at Salerno on 9 September 1943
196
Which German force rescued Mussolini from Gran Sasso?
A German airborne force led by Otto Skorzeny
197
What was the Italian Co-Belligerent Army?
An army created to fight against Mussolini's puppet government and its German allies
198
What was the significance of the Winter Line in Italy?
It was a major defensive line that halted the Allied advance in late 1943
199
What was Operation Shingle?
An amphibious assault at Anzio behind the Winter Line
200
When was the Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino?
Spring of 1944
201
When was Rome captured by the Allies?
June 1944
202
What reduced the importance of the Italian campaign after June 1944?
The Normandy landings and Red Army victories on the Eastern Front
203
When was the Gothic Line north of Rome broken?
Spring offensive of 1945
204
When did German forces in Italy surrender unconditionally?
2 May 1945
205
What was the Dodecanese Campaign?
A campaign where both Germany and the Allies scrambled to occupy the Italian-held Dodecanese Islands after Italy's surrender
206
What was Operation Dragoon?
The Allied invasion of Southern France on 15 August 1944
207
Where did the Allies land during Operation Dragoon?
Between Toulon and Cannes
208
What was the outcome of the invasion of Southern France in Operation Dragoon?
The Allies rapidly broke out of their beachheads and joined with the American 12th Army Group
209
What was the Italian Civil War?
A conflict where Italian forces fought against Mussolini's puppet government and German allies alongside the Italian resistance movement
210
What was the Italian Co-Belligerent Army?
An army created to fight against Mussolini's puppet government and its German allies
211
When did the German battleship Roma sink?
9 September 1943
212
When did German forces occupy Rome and disarm the Italian Army?
After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943
213
What happened to the Italian fleet after the Armistice of Cassibile?
It sailed to Malta
214
What was the role of the Italian resistance movement during the Italian Civil War?
To fight against the puppet government headed by Mussolini and its German allies
215
What was Operation Sunrise?
Protracted, clandestine negotiations with the Allies leading to the German surrender in Italy
