WWII Flashcards
Japanese Pan Asianism
-the idea that Asia should unite against European imperialism
Dehumanization: Japanese soldiers treat the Chinese as animals
League of Nations
-failed to maintain peace
racial equality clause- Japanese tries to abolish racial discrimination by cooperating with the league
Problem: this did not apply to neighboring countries
Humanitarian Ideology vs loyalty/patriotism
-Japanese supported loyalty/patriotism
Manchuria
-Japanese invaded Manchuria for raw materials in China
Nanjing
The Nanjing Atrocities: Crime of War
China (nationalist) vs Japan (imperialist)
Nanjing- capital led by Chiang Kai-shek (strategic city; not to be captured)
-lasted 6 weeks
Nanjing Safety Zone
-provides safety for Chinese civilians
Causes of WWII
-Treaty of Versailles
-Great Depression & Rise of Dictatorship
-League of Nations
-Appeasement
-Hitler’s invasion of Poland
Treaty of Versailles
-treaty signed between Germany and the Allies
-Germany lost territories and had to pay for all destruction
-motivated Germany into war for revenge
Great Depression
Great Depression- economic downturn; stock market crash
-Franklin D. Roosevelt (president) wanted to go to war; US remained neutral (FDR believe that the Neutrality Act strengthened Hitler)
-Lend-Lease: America supported and provided supplies for British
-America stopped trading military supplies with Japan
-attack on Pearl Harbor
Rise of Dictatorship
-European governments were unable to handle war crisis and ease pain/suffering of unemployment/inflation
-totalitarian leaders promised economic recovery (nationalist/militaristic)
-dictators aggressively defeat other nations and took away their power
-conflict between countries
Mussolini- Italy
Stalin- Soviet Union
Hitler- Nazis Germany
Tojo- Japan
Franco- Spain
Chamberlain- British (not a dictator)
League of Nations
-failed to prevent war and keep peace
-acted slowly and made poor decisions
-nations believe that aggression and totalitarianism could give protection
Appeasement
-policy of giving enemy nations what they want to avoid conflict
-Britain and France appeased Hitler/Nazi Germany
-this motivated Hitler for wanting more
Munish Agreement- permitted Germany to take Sudenteland, Czechoslovakia (Chamberlain)
Hitler’s invasion of Poland
Nazi-Soviet Pact- secret treaty signed between Germany and the Soviet Union (Hitler and Stalin were enemies)
Blitzkrieg- took enemy by surprise (Lightning War)
-Poland was between Germany and the Soviet Union, giving no chance to escape or call for help from neighboring countries
-Hitler stated that Poland was a threat
-Germany isolated the Jews after surrender
Germany: planes and experienced leadership
Poland: outnumbered/unprepared
Hitler’s invasion of Poland motivated Britain and France to declare war (Sept. 1, 1939)
After invasion (France & Britain)
Maginol Line- line for defense; not strong enough (France)
Dunkirk- French/British are trapped and retreated back to Dunkirk
Fall of France- occupied by German Government
Battle of Britain- couldn’t fight British military; bombing targeted civilians
Warfare
Aircraft- countries were drawn to mass bombing
Military Vehicles: Tanks- provided extra firepower and mobility; they needed to match German production
Electronics/Communication: The Engima Machine- secure methods of communication (Nazis)
-Allied forces developed machines to crack German codes
The Atomic Bomb: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In order to avoid high casualties that would result from “Operation Downfall,” US decided to bring the war to a quick end by using atomic bomb.
Manhattan Project- developed the world’s first nuclear weapons (most advanced and deadliest weapons ever created)
Cold War- period of political and military tension between the US and the Soviet Union after atomic bomb
-atomic bomb led to immediate deaths and destructions; survivors suffered from health problems
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor refers to the surprise military attack launched by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.
-the attack marked the entry of the United States into World War II on Dec 8th, 1941
-Germany & Italy declared war on the US on Dec 11th, 1941 (Japan, Germany, and Italy were allies)
-US cooperates with Churchill (Britain)
Holocaust
(why? process of camps? outcome?)
-Hitler came to power in Germany, Poland (1933)
Shoff- holocaust
The Holocaust was a systematic genocide carried out by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews, along with millions of other victims, including Santi and Roma, prisoners of war, and Poles.
-Jews were separated (marked); they boycotted; religious schools were set on fire; inteligencias were executed; used intimidation by pulling out people and shoot them (willing to kill if you don’t give resources; took away dignity (naked and replaced names with numbers); used poison; Jews being put in positions of limited authority over other Jews
Ghettos: Jews were forcibly relocated to segregated areas known as ghettos, usually located in cities. Conditions in these ghettos were often overcrowded, unsanitary, and characterized by extreme poverty.
Concentration camps: These camps were primarily intended for forced labor, imprisonment, and torture. Prisoners in concentration camps endured harsh living conditions, malnutrition, and brutal treatment. Millions of people, including Jews, perished in these camps due to the terrible conditions and widespread disease.
After Holocaust
-camps didn’t allow education/job training (no future plans)
Displaced Person Camps (DP): camps were established in other countries after World War II to provide temporary shelter and assistance to millions of people who were displaced or left homeless as a result of the war. These camps primarily housed survivors of the Holocaust, along with other displaced individuals, such as former forced laborers and prisoners of war.
Hitler: Germany’s Road to Nazi Dictatorship
After Treaty of Versailles (1919)
-lost land, diminished, and separated
-cannot protect borders of the West (problem)
-Austria-Hungary is separated into smaller countries
Democratic Germany: The Weimar Republic (1919-1933)
Weimar Republic is a form of government that led to economic problems (Kaissar William II)
-weak president (popular votes)
Reichstag- two house legislative (most powerful) elected by the people
-no party could command the Reichstag majority (problem)
Economic Distress
-financial payment disappeared; double prices
-people will rise and overthrow
Fear of Communism (classless society): provided Nazis with money/military equipment
Appeal to Nationalism
War Guilt Clause: Germany’s fault
Nazi Chauvnism: extreme nationalism; gained support from students, veterans, and army officers
Scape Goat: someone must be blamed
-mostly Jews & communists
Hitler attack on Jews: anti-semitic policies gained widespread support
The Beer Hall Putsch, also known as the Munich Putsch, was a failed coup d’état by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler. Hitler and his followers marched on a beer hall where government officials were gathered, intending to seize power and overthrow the Weimar Republic. However, poor planning and misjudgment resulted in failure and the imprisonment of Adolf Hitler.
During his imprisonment, he wrote a book called “Meimkamph.” The title translates to “My Struggle” in English. In this autobiographical and political manifesto, Hitler outlines his ideology, beliefs, and future plans for Germany.
Nazi symbol: the swastika (卐)
In 1933, Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power through legal means. President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellorindenburg, hoping to stabilize the government and balance power. The Enabling Act granted Hitler powers without parliamentary procedures. While Hindenburg initially saw Hitler as a means to maintain stability, he later became increasingly disillusioned with Hitler’s radical ambitions.
Autoban: highway system that allowed quick military transportation
-Germany was rearmed for protection
