WWII

Question 1

What totalitarian leaders were the most powerful in the 1930s and 40s? Compare the way two of them gained and held onto power.

Answer 1

• Benito Mussolini (Italy)
  
  • Fascist
• Adolf Hitler (NAZI Germany)
  
  • Chancellor
• Hideki Tojo (Japan)
  
  • Military leader w/ more power than the emperor
• Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)

Adolf Hitler was elected chancellor and them became President of Germany. Thus, the democracy in Germany ended because he and the NAZI had complete power of the German government. Hitler gave himself the title ‘Fuhrer,’ meaning leader in German.
Similarly, Benito Mussolini and his Fascist party gained power in Italy after he forced the king of Italy to give him power. He gave himself the title of ‘Il Duce,’ meaning ‘leader’ in Italian.
Both leaders were focused on expanding their empire.

Question 2

Could WWII have been prevented? Provide 2-3 historical moments when a different action may have yielded a different outcome.

Answer 2

In September, 1938, after making agreeing to an appeasement with Britain’s Neville Chamberlin, Hitler invaded Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia. Then, on September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This action broke the appeasement, and caused France to declare war on Germany. If Germany had honored the appeasement, France would not have declared war, causing a domino effect.

Hitler (Germany) and Stalin (Soviet Union) signed a non-aggression pact, agreeing not to attack each other. Then, on June 22, 1941, the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, thus breaking the non-aggression pact.

Question 3

Discuss Hitler’s actions and military strategy that proved so dominant.

Answer 3

Hitler’s war tactic, called Blitzkrieg (lighting war), was an offensive strategy that optimized Germany’s small army. The troops would focus on one spot in the opposing side’s forces to get behind the enemy’s lines. The Germans used tanks, artillery, and planes. This tactic helped the Germans take over so much territory in 10 years because of its element of surprise and speed.

Question 4

As a conquered nation, what role did France play in WWII?

Answer 4

After France was conquered by Germany, the French government relocated to Vichy. Vichy France was considered a puppet government. France started as a democracy and changed into an authoritarian government.

Question 5

Was the United States truly neutral prior to Pearl Harbor? Why/why not?

Answer 5

No because in March of 1941, the US passed the Lend - Lease Act, allowing them to sell or lend weapons to the Allies.