WWII part 2 Flashcards
What causes US to become in WWII?
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
Give details of Pearl Harbor attack. How many were killed? How many planes were destroyed? How many ships damaged?
Dec 7, 1941: 7:00 AM - US soldiers on the radar spot planes, but they were told to ignore it; 8:00 AM - Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor.
2,300 Americans killed
323 planes destroyed
21 ships damaged
Were the AMericans aware that Pearl Harbor was going to occur before it happenned?
yes
When soldiers tried to warn leaders about the Pearl Harbor attack, what was their response?
ignore it
What was the date of the Pearl Harbor attack?
Dec 7, 1941
What did FDR say about Pearl Harbor?
it will live in infamy
Describe the Battle of Leningrad. Who signed a pact? How many were killed? How many were wounded?
Hitler and Stalin signed a pact. Hitler broke the pact and invaded Leningrad. 1 million Russian soldiers died, 2 million were wounded.
What was the code name for the Battle of Leningrad.
Operation Barbarossa
What was scorched earth policy?
when Russian retreat and urn everything in their path so that no one can use the resources
How many days was Leningrad under attack?
872
What was the purpose of Lake Ladoga?
used to bring supplies to Russia when it wasn’t frozen
What were the conditions in Russia during the Battle of Leningrad? Temperatures?
Russians had nothing: no food, water, heat, nor electricity
Temperatures were around -40º
What was Leningrad named from 1703-1914
St Petersburg
What was Leningrad called from 1914-24?
Petrograd
When was it called Leningrad? What do we call it now?
1924-1991
St Petersburg
What was the turning point in the Pacific? What year?
midway 1942
Describe Midway
It was June 1942. Japan thought that if they could draw the US in and beat them in battle, the US would surrender
Who was Chester Nimitz?
Admiral Chester Nimitz could see Japanese planes by using Naval inteligence.
NAme 2 reasons 35 of the planes were shot down at Midway.
- draw fire of the Japanese zeroes (get the attention of)
- to make it possible for the dive bombers to come down and beat the Japanese
What was the turning point on the Eastern Front?
when Russia beat Germany in Stalingrad
Name 3 reasons Hitler wanted Stalingrad.
1.on Volga River -> good transportation
2. wanted oil
3. named after Stalin
Within 4 months, how much of Stalingrad did Hitler control?
90%
Name the good news, bad news, good news, and mistake of Hitler’s takeover of Stalingrad.
Good news: Stalingrad still belonged to Russia
Bad news: Russia = exhausted
Good news: Russia brings in new recruits
Mistake: Hitler had weak planks.
Who was Zhukov?
Russian general who realized Hitler had weak flanks.
What is the counter offensive called?
Operation Uranus
What was the turning point of the war in Africa?
El Alamein
Describe El Alamein.
Italy was taking the Suez canal from Saudi Arabia, but failed against the British. Hitler helped Italy.
Describe Germany’s plan in Africa.
1st take Alexandria -> Suez Canal -> Saudi Arabia = the Germans get all the oil
Who was Rommel? What was his nickname?
Rommel was a German General. His nickname was the Desert Fox
Who was Montgomery? What was his nickname?
British General - Monty
What was Dwight D. Eisenhower’s nickname?
Ike
How did Mussolini die?
Mussolini (Il Duce) was killed by his own people.
Describe Normandy. Include purpose and plan. Who controlled Normandy?
Normandy/D-Day was June 6, 1944. Its purpose was to retake France from Germany. The plan was to go across the English channel and invade Normandy (controlled by Germany)
What date is D-Day?
June 6, 1944
Who was the American general at Normandy?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
What is Operation Tiger? Where did it happen and why?
it was the practice session ongoing to Normandy. It happened at Slapton Sands because it looks like the beaches in Normandy.
What was the significance of Operation Tiger compared to Normandy.
4 times as many people died in Operation Tiger than Normandy.
What escorted the 8 landing ship tankers during Operation TIger?
a corvette and a destroyer
What was Operation Overlord?
codename for invasion of north western Europe (France at Normandy)
What was Operation Neptune?
smaller battle of Operation Overlord in Normandy
Who was the main leader of Operation Neptune? What was the main objective?
Dwight D Eisenhower led the operation
the objective was for France to take back land and things taken from them in previous years
What 5 beaches did the allies land on?
Omaha, Gold, Utah, Juno, Sword
Give reasons the allies were successful:
- air force
- they caught Germans by surprise
- allies were able to establish beachheads
Describe the Battle of the Bulge. What was its significance?
The Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 16, 1944), was America’s biggest battle of WWII. It was Hitler’s last counter attack and he put in everything. The US, GB, and French fought him.
Describe Hitler’s desire to divide the armies.
Hitler wanted to divide the armies. At first, he succeeded. 2 reasons Germany caught us by surprise: the weather was bad and the air force couldn’t attack. In 2 days, Hitler pushed back the allies 60 miles. Germans asked the US to surrender. General McAuliffe responded with a fake surrender. On Dec 22, weather cleared up and the allies pushed Germany back to Berlin. Jan 15, Germany ran out of fuel.
Who was Hitler married to? What was her profession? How long had they known each other before they got married.
Eva Braun
Photographer
at least 16 years
What happened April 30, 1945?
Eva Braun and Hitler committed suicide together.
What happened May 7, 1945? what did it stand for
VE Day -> Germany surrenders (Victory in Europe Day)
Name 6 results of WWII.
- Germany split in two East->Russia West->Allies
- United Nations was set up to keep peace
- East Europe controlled by Soviet Union
- US and Soviet Union are superpowers now
- West Europe is no longer a superpower
- Atomic age begins
What was the Maginot line? Describe it.
line of fortification that was 200 mi long and made of steel and cement
French and German border
Describe the Yalta Conference (date, purpose).
Feb 1945 -> divide Germany in two
Who were the Big 3?
Yalta Big 3: Stalin, Churchill, FDR
Potsdam Big 3: Stalin, Atlee, Truman
Describe the Philippines. Who led the US?
The Philippines were run by Japan. General Douglas Macarthur led the US and was sent to take over the Philippines. Before he left, he said he would return. He was fired for giving a plan to bomb China, Japan, and Russia to the president.
Describe the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. (name and Date)
it was called Little Boy - Aug. 6, 1945
What was the plane called? Who was the pilot? How many were killed? How many were injured?
Enola Gay
Paul Tibbets
80,000-14,000 died
100,000 injured
Describe Nagasaki (name, date). What was the plane’s name? Who was the pilot?
Aug 9, 1945 the bomb Fat Man dropped from the plane Box Car and was piloted by Charles Sweeney
How many were killed at Nagasaki? How many were injured?
killed 74,000 people and injured 75,000.
Give details of Japan’s surrender (Where, what was it called)>
Japan surrendered on the Battleship Missouri. It was called VJ day - Victory in Japan Day.
