WWII Flashcards
What event triggered the start of World War II?
A. The annexation of Austria by Germany in March 1938
B. Germany’s blitzkrieg attack on Poland on September 1, 1939
C. The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
D. The Munich Agreement allowing Germany to take Sudetenland
B. Germany’s blitzkrieg attack on Poland on September 1, 1939
Which of the following is NOT considered a direct consequence of unresolved conflicts from World War I and the Great Depression?
A. The rise of dictators and extreme ideologies
B. The formation of the League of Nations
C. The prevalence of fascism and racism
D. The embrace of irredentism in Europe
B. The formation of the League of Nations
What does ‘blitzkrieg,’ as used in the context of Germany’s attack on Poland, mean?
A. Total war
B. Tactical retreat
C. Lightning war
D. Air strike
C. Lightning war
What event served as a precursor to Hitler’s territorial ambitions, involving the annexation of Austria?
A. The Sudetenland Crisis
B. Anschluss in March 1938
C. The Munich Agreement
D. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
B. Anschluss in March 1938
When did France and Britain declare war on Germany, and why?
A. On August 1939, in response to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
B. On September 1, 1939, after Germany invaded Austria
C. On September 3, 1939, after Germany attacked Poland
D. On June 1941, after the invasion of the Soviet Union
C. On September 3, 1939, after Germany attacked Poland
Which 1941 military operation marked the German invasion of the Soviet Union, breaking a non-aggression pact?
A. Operation Overlord
B. Operation Barbarossa
C. Operation Sea Lion
D. Operation Torch
B. Operation Barbarossa
What was the major turning point of World War II, where Germany faced a significant defeat?
A. The Battle of Britain
B. The Invasion of Poland
C. The Battle of Stalingrad
D. The Invasion of North Africa
C. The Battle of Stalingrad
What was the Lend-Lease Act of March 1941 proposed by Franklin D. Roosevelt?
A. A program to lend and lease military equipment to Britain and other Allied nations
B. A declaration of war on Germany
C. A trade agreement with the Soviet Union
D. A law restricting American involvement in the war
A. A program to lend and lease military equipment to Britain and other Allied nations
What was notable about Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency during World War II?
A. He led the US into war against Britain
B. He served as the only US president elected to a third term
C. He promoted isolationism during the war
D. He formed a military alliance with Germany
B. He served as the only US president elected to a third term
Which agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union was terminated by Operation Barbarossa in June 1941?
A. The Munich Agreement
B. The Treaty of Versailles
C. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
D. The Paris Peace Accords
C. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Why did the United States begin supporting Britain in 1940?
A. Because Britain offered military aid in exchange for U.S. naval bases
B. Because Germany had already defeated France, leaving Britain to stand alone against Germany
C. Because the U.S. needed to protect its colonies in Europe
D. Because Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor
B. Because Germany had already defeated France, leaving Britain to stand alone against Germany
What agreement did the U.S. make with Britain in 1940 to help its naval fleet?
A. The U.S. sold guns to Britain in exchange for control over North African territories
B. The U.S. sent 50 destroyers to Britain in exchange for the use of British naval bases in the Caribbean and North America
C. The U.S. agreed to form a joint military force with Britain against Japan
D. The U.S. provided tanks in exchange for resources from Britain’s colonies
B. The U.S. sent 50 destroyers to Britain in exchange for the use of British naval bases in the Caribbean and North America
What event directly led to U.S. involvement in World War II?
A. The fall of France to Germany in June 1940
B. The German invasion of Poland in 1939
C. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
D. The signing of the Munich Agreement
C. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
What significant action did the United States take to end World War II in the Pacific?
A. Invaded Japan with a full-scale military assault
B. Signed a peace treaty with Emperor Hirohito
C. Dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945
D. Blockaded Japan’s access to essential resources
C. Dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945
Which project was responsible for the development of the atomic bomb used in WWII?
A. Operation Overlord
B. The Manhattan Project
C. The Yalta Conference
D. The Lend-Lease Program
B. The Manhattan Project
What event led to Japan’s surrender in World War II?
A. The defeat of Germany in Europe
B. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945
C. The invasion of Japan by U.S. forces
D. The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
B. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945
Who led the U.S. military government in Japan following Japan’s surrender in WWII?
A. President Harry Truman
B. General Douglas MacArthur
C. Winston Churchill
D. Admiral Chester Nimitz
B. General Douglas MacArthur
How did the U.S. prepare for war in 1940, before officially entering WWII?
A. By increasing military recruitment and passing a law to draft soldiers
B. By forming an alliance with Japan to prevent conflict in the Pacific
C. By launching air strikes on German forces in Europe
D. By establishing military bases in Eastern Europe
A. By increasing military recruitment and passing a law to draft soldiers
What was the significance of the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945?
A. It marked the end of World War I
B. It led to the liberation of France from German occupation
C. It marked the official end of World War II
D. It signaled the start of U.S. occupation of China
C. It marked the official end of World War II
Approximately how many people died during World War II?
A. 20 million
B. 30 million
C. 45 million
D. Over 45 million
D. Over 45 million
What was Hitler’s ‘Final Solution’ during World War II?
A. A plan to invade Russia
B. A vision to rid Germany and Europe of all Jews
C. A strategy for world domination
D. A plan to negotiate peace with the Allies
B. A vision to rid Germany and Europe of all Jews
What is the term used to describe hatred of Jews?
A. Racism
B. Nationalism
C. Anti-Semitism
D. Fascism
C. Anti-Semitism
What was Auschwitz, and where was it located?
A. A concentration camp in Germany where Hitler planned the Final Solution
B. A concentration camp in Poland where at least 500,000 people were killed, mostly in gas chambers
C. A site of Jewish resistance against the Nazis in Warsaw
D. A secret Nazi base used for developing weapons
B. A concentration camp in Poland where at least 500,000 people were killed, mostly in gas chambers
What does the term ‘genocide’ refer to?
A. The act of imprisoning war criminals
B. The killing of individuals due to their political beliefs
C. The deliberate intention to destroy a people based on their ethnicity, race, religion, or nationality
D. The establishment of concentration camps for prisoners of war
C. The deliberate intention to destroy a people based on their ethnicity, race, religion, or nationality