WWII Flashcards
violations of treaty of Versailles
begins to build up Germany’s military
orders troops to Rhineland which was forbidden
peacefully takes over Austria in 1938 known as Anschluss
Sudetenland
hitler demands that Germany be given control of the Sudetenland , western part of Czech which contained German speaking people
appeasement
Britain and France give into hitlers terms
Munich conference sept 1938a
Britain and France agree to let Germany take control of the Sudetenland
hitter Promises to not seek any more land
Chamberlain
***British prime minister chamberlain (large supporter of appeasement) praises this agreement and says bring peace
did appeasement work?
was a total failure … hitler seizes rest of Czechoslovakia (1939)
nazi Soviet nonaggression (August 1939)
hitler and Stalin agreed not go to war w each other
shocking because hitler despised communist
agreement also contained secret provisions
what happened in Poland ? outbreak of war?
Germans invade Poland sept 1939 and shortly after Britain and France declare war
lebensraum
“living space” . hitlers goal was to expand German territory .
Japan’s goal
to gain control of more territory and build an empire “greater east Asia co-prosperity sphere”
in 1931 and 1937 Japan attacked
Manchuria and China (rape of Nanking)
they also conquered much of Southeast Asia in 1940
the US was annoyed at the expansion of Japan so
they banned the sale of key materials to Japan and basically cut off trade , it was a major problem for Japan .
Annoyed by the US, Japan
attacked naval base Pearl Harbor December 7 1941. which caused a large number of casualties
Pearl Harbor caused
the us to declare war on Japan and enter WWII
allies
Britain
U.S.
U.S.S.R.
Axis
Germany
Italy
Japan
Early in war Germany…
dominates and conquers Norway Denmark France Netherlands Belgium
Battle of Britain (1940-41)
German bombs drop on London but the British successfully resist and Germany is unable to conquer
Winston Churchill was
the British prime minister during the war
invasion of Soviet Union (1941)
hitler orders an invasion of the U.S.S.R.
what about the pact??
Soviet Union now on side of allies
key allies victories
El Alamein
German Defeat
Stalingrad
Drive German out Soviet
invasion Italy
Allies attack Sicily
DDay (June 6 1944)
Turning point Allie cross channel and invade nazis in France
Bulge/ Arennes
brutal cold weatherV-E day
allies close in on Germany from all sides
Germany surrenders
hitler kills himself
key battles against Japan
Midway(1942)
early turning point and US victory , puts stop to expansion
Guadalcanal
1st major ground offensive , US victory
Saipan(1944)
“island hopping” success for US
Iwo Jima
costly and bloody US victory
Okinawa
costly US victory , clear Japan losing , Japan use kamikaze
what happens in Hiroshima (August 6 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9 1945) V-J day
US drops atomic bombs and tens of thousands die … unconditional surrender ,
