WWII

Question 1

Treaty of Versailles

Answer 1

6 battle ships, 100,000 men, no airforce or tanks, US$269b in reparations (today’s money), 10% land, 16% coal. War guilt clause.

Question 2

Dolchstosslegende

Answer 2

Stab in the back legend (Jews + November Criminals [people who signed the TOV])

Question 3

Other contributors to Hitler’s rise to power

Answer 3

Great depression + hyperinflation (1929-33). Charisma, good public speaker.

Question 4

Appeasement

Answer 4

Hitler broke TOV and the others did nothing. Czechoslovakia, ANCHLUSS (annexation of Austria).

Question 5

What were the different theatres of war?

Answer 5

The European Theatre, the Pacific Theatre and the North African Theatre.

Question 6

Australia Involvement

Answer 6

1m Australians and fought the Italians, germans and Japanese

Question 7

Poland invaded in what year

Answer 7

1939 split between Hitler and Russia.

Question 8

Blitzkrieg + the early war

Answer 8

Lightning warfare. Combination of air and ground attacks. By late June 1940, 60% of France lost, low countries + Denmark and Norway also invaded.

Question 9

Dunkirk

Answer 9

May 1940 the bulk of the British force with some French and Belgians (340,000 total).

Question 10

Battle of Britain

Answer 10

Luftwaffe (the German airforce), goal: destroy the RAF (royal air force). Failed: British had better leadership and communication, better radar and better fighters.

Question 11

The Blitz

Answer 11

Sep 1940 - May 1941 bombing London (and other major civilian areas). Failed: increase morale and national unity. Only 43,000 civilians were killed, 1 million homeless.

Question 12

Battle of the Atlantic

Answer 12

Late 1939 - mid 1945. 1939 –> Britain blockades Germany. Germany retaliates by sending U-boats to torpedo merchant vessels. By late 1942, 2600 merchant vessels had been sunk. By 1943, sufficient protection of merchant vessels.

Question 13

Greece and Crete

Answer 13

1940 - 1941. 1940: Italy invaded Greece. Early 1941: allied reinforcements arrived and smashed the Italians. In response, the Germans came in and smashed the allies with Blitzkreig (lots of POWs, also lost Crete).

Question 14

East Africa

Answer 14

Mid-1940 Italy attacks British colonies. Failed: British counterattack neutralises all Italian forces.

Question 15

Libya

Answer 15

Late 1940, 236,000 Italians vs 36,000 British, British were able to hold them off. Early 1941: Allied counterattack with 60,000 men, Italian routed and Allied forces stopped short of the Libyan capital. German counterattack in response (Rommell and the Afrika corps).

Question 16

Rats of Tobruk

Answer 16

April 1941, 14,000 Australians. At seige in Tobruk as the Germans advanced around them. 560 dead. 2500 wounded. Lasted for 8 months.

Question 17

Why Africa

Answer 17

Oil, Suez canal

Question 18

Egypt

Answer 18

Mid 1942 1st battle of El Alamein: German halted allied advance. Late 1942 2nd battle of El Alamein: successful British attack (Rommel routed).

Question 19

May 1943

Answer 19

British and US forces surround the Africa corps led to 250,000 German prisoners of war

Question 20

What caused war in the Pacific theatre?

Answer 20

Japanese imperialism: highly militarised society (statocracy), humiliated after ww1, suffered during the great depression, no strategic resources (oil).

Question 21

Italy’s position in the 2nd world war

Answer 21

Economically weak, poorly trained military, leader was Mussolini (first fascist dictator - very expansionist).