WWII Flashcards
Anschluss
Region of German annexation in Austria, search for lebensraum, linguistically/culturally similar
Sudetenland
Region of German annexation in Czechoslovakia, search for lebensraum, linguistically/ culturally similar
Appeasement
Allies allow Hitler’s expansion thinking he gets what he already took, but no more, in order to avoid war
Munich Conference
1938, the meeting (between Germany, Britain, France, and Italy) where the appeasement policy was decided
Neville Chamberlain
Prime Minister of Britain from 1937 to 1940, known for his role in appeasement
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
1939, agreement between Stalin and Hitler to not invade each other, Hitler now feels like he can take other lands
Blitzkrieg
German war tactic, “lightning war,” very effective-took most of Europe this way, tanks supported by aircraft followed by army
Dunkirk
French and British troops trapped on Dunkirk beaches in France by German forces, British navy and private boats evacuated troops to Britain
The Battle of Britain
1940-41, air battle for Britain (last free Allied European country), Royal Air Force has tech advantage with radar, Britain wins
Total War
WWII affected everybody (soldiers and civilians) in many ways, targeting civilians as a war tactic (bombing, war crimes), propaganda, rations,
Japanese Empire in Asia (Pan-Asianism)
kind of like Nationalism but on a larger scale, defending Asian countries and kicking out Western empires in favor of home rule
Operation Barbarossa
1941, German land invasion of the Soviet Union, breaks Nazi-Soviet Pact and surprises Stalin, Soviets move factories and civilians out German reach
Rape of Nanking
Mass rape of Chinese citizens by Japanese soldiers during their invasion/occupation of the Chinese city of Nanking
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese bombing of the US military base in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the beginning of the US’s involvement in WWII
The Battle of Midway
US planes destroyed attacking Japanese ships, US established naval superiority in the Pacific
Island Hopping
The US/Allied strategy in the Pacific, seizing some islands (while leaving unuseful ones) working their way towards mainland Japan.
1942 Turning Point
The Axis powers, mostly Germany, go from offense to defense, Allies are in favor to win
Battle of Stalingrad
1942-43, largest battle in WWII, Hitler wanted to capture the oil rich region around the Black Sea, Soviets succeed
Normandy Invasion/D-Day/Operation Overlord
Over 150k Allied troops cross the English Channel and land in Normandy (amphibious invasions), ready for land invasion of Germany
Victory in Europe
May 8 1945, Allies invade Germany (USSR in Berlin) and Germany surrendered
Potsdam conference
Meeting in 1945 between the Allies to establish post war order, Truman (US) Churchill (UK) and Stalin (USSR) were the biggest names there
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The two Japanese cities that the US dropped atomic bombs on to end WWII
Allied Powers
1939-Britain, France
1941-USA, USSR, China
Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, Japan
