WWII Test Flashcards
What are the factors leading up to WWII?
- Treaty of Versailles
- Great Depression
- Isolationism
- Totalitarians
- Militarism
How did Stalin rule?
He ruled with an iron fist
What is the Purges?
It is when Stalin removes enemies and undesirable individuals from power through execution of imprisonment
What is Fascism?
The system of government for Italy
Who did Italy invade in 1935?
Ethiopia
What happened to Ethiopia?
Italy invaded this African country in 1935
What does Mussolini want control of?
The Mediterranean
Who is Adolf Hitler?
He was the dictator of Germany. He wanted to be a painter and fought in WWI
What is Hitler upset about after WWI?
- They stripped Germany of colonies & land
- Huge debt/ they had to pay for the war
- Germany had to take the blame for the war
What party was brought up in 1919 that Hitler joined?
Nazi Party
What is Mein Kampf?
Hitler’s book that translates to “My Struggle”
What does Hitler talk about in his book?
- How he will come to power legally
- Wants war to the east
- The Holocaust
How does Hitler come to power?
Hitler runs for president, but he gets 2nd and becomes the Chancellor/2nd in Command. When the president dies, he becomes president. There was a fire and Hitler asks for complete control to find who did it and Reichstag gave it to him.
What does Der Fuhrer translate to?
The leader
What is the Third Reich?
The German period of success
What does Hitler do to pull Germany out of the Depression?
He puts people to work with autobahns, government buildings, and rearming
What is the buffer territory between France & Germany that Hitler militarized in Czechoslovakia?
The Rhineland
What does Lebensraum translate to?
Living space
How did Austria & Germany unite?
Austria had an election and 97% voted in favor of it because they saw how quick Germany pulled themselves out of the Great Depression.
How did Hitler break the Annexation of Sudetenland?
Germany invaded the no violent zone because they needed more living space
What happened at the Munich Conference?
They tried to appease Hitler by giving him Sudetonland
What did Neville Chamberlain say after the Munich Conference?
There is peace in our time
What is the pact between Germany and the Soviet Union?
The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Who is apart of the Axis powers?
Germany, Italy, and Japan
Who is apart of the Allies powers?
United States, British, Soviet Union, and China
How was Poland invaded?
The Soviets attached from the north and Germany attacked from the south
What is Blitzkrieg?
Lightning warfare
What is lightning warfare?
Blitzkrieg
What is the Phony War?
The six month period where no fighting occurred between France, Great Britain & Germany
How did Germany trick France & Great Britain?
Germany fainted to the North and came through the Ardens Forest. While the fight in the north pushed the French back to Dunkirk, the forces that went through the Ardens Forest cut them off from the other side. Which caused the French to be trapped in Dunkirk
What is the Miracle at Dunkirk?
It is where 340,000 of British and French forces slip across the English Channel to fight another day
How was the Battle for Britain fought and who won?
The entire battle was fought in the sky, British won
What was Germany’s initial objective in the Battle for Britain?
They needed air supremacy
What is the Blitz?
The period of terror bombing
Who is Winston Churchill?
The Prime Minister of Great Britain
Why was democracy removed in Japan?
Many blamed the democratic government for the Great Depression that caused high unemployment, strikes,etc.
What is the Manchurian Incident?
A Japanese owned rail line leading from Korea into Manchurian was attacked. The Japanese used it as justification to take Manchurian. Evidence shows that Japan was behind the attack
What happened when the Japanese invaded China?
The Chinese fought hard, but the Japanese had superior fire power
What is the event where the Japanese brutally killed over 300,000 Chinese civilians?
The Rape of NanJing
While Europe is distracted by war, what does Japan do to European colonies?
Japan seizes European colonies
Why is it important for Japan to have control of the European colonies?
Japan wants resorces
What is the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere?
Liberate Asia of European colonizers
Why does the U.S. remain isolated?
The U.S. remain isolated to focus on the Great Depression. Nothing less than an attack will bring the U.S. into the war
Who are the presidents of the U.S. during the war?
FDR, and Truman
What are the Neutrality Acts?
It is a way for the U.S. to remain neutral. No loans & weapons
What is Cash & Carry?
Any side can get weapons from the U.S. they just need to pay cash and carry them out on their own. They replaced the Neutrality Acts
What is the Lend-Lease Act?
The Britains are almost broke, so the U.S. came up with the Lend-Lease Acts. We lend them the weapons and they pay us back later. “Lend you neighbor a hose if his house is on fire.”
What was the Japanese’s plan at Pearl Harbor?
They intend to cripple the U.S. Navy. While the U.S. rebuilds, Japan would expand. This would deter America from fighting a long bloody battle
Where did the Japanese surprise attack occur against the U.S.?
Pearl Harbor
What was not at Pearl Harbor when the attacks occurred?
U.S. carriers
“A date that which will live in Infamy”
They next day Congress declared war. On December 11, Germany & Italy declare war on U.S.
What was the Selective Training & Service Act?
The first peacetime draft
What was the role of the War Production Board?
It was used to convert peacetime industries to war time industries. Companies, like Ford, GM, and Chrysler would make tanks instead of cars
What is the U.S. shortage like?
The U.S. had a shortage of goods, but one thing they weren’t low of was extra cash
What is Rationing and give an example of what they rationed?
The intentional limitations to everyday comsumption. An example is food
What are Victory Gardens?
They were gardens that citizens used to grow vegetables, so they could use the resources for the war
Who is Rosie the Riveter?
She encouraged women to join the work force
The Battle of the Atlantic
It occurs for the entirety of the war.
The North African Campaign
In 1940 the Brits were battling the Italians in North Africa. Erwin Rommel, the general sent by Hitler, pushes back G.B. in several battles toward the Suez Canal. Bernard Montgomery, the general for G.B., eventually gains the upper hand in the east while the Americans gain the upper hand in the west. Rommel will eventually be trapped and will surrender his forces.
What happened at the Casablanca Conference?
FDR & Churchill met at Casablanca to map out a strategy for the war. They decided to focus on Europe first and decided that the Axis powers has to do unconditional surrender if they lose.
The Invasion of Italy
Churchill wanted to attack Italy first because he sees it as the “soft underbelly” of Europe. He thought they would be the easiest to attack and that they would go quickly.
Explain the Invasion of Anzio
The Invasion at Anzio was an attempt to break the Stalemate and take Rome, but it failed.
Why did Germany invade Russia?
Hitler needed resources/living space
What is Scorch & Burn?
Overwhelmed & untrained, the Soviets retreat. As they retreat, they destroy anything of value
What is the turning point in the war?
Battle of Stalingrad
Allied Invasion of France
Allied forces are trying to gain air superiority by carpet bombing strategic targets and cities. After having control of the skies, an invasion can begin
What is the name of the operation of D-Day?
Operation Overlord
Where was D-Day launched from?
Great Britain
Who was the supreme commander of Operation Overlord?
Dwight Eisenhower
Where did Operation Overlord take place?
Normandy
When is D-Day?
June 6, 1944
Explain D-Day
Invasion crafts left England with Brits, Americans, and Canadians on it. They came in three waves. At dawn the first wave of landing crafts hit Normandy. It was the largest amphibious assault in history. D-Day was a success and from here France will be liberated.
Who went first on D-Day?
Paratroopers
What is the Battle of the Bulge?
Hitler’s last offensive
Who gets to Berlin first?
The Soviets
What happened to Hitler?
He committed suicide
What happened at the Yalta Convention?
FDR, Churchill, and Stalin met in Yalta. They decided to split Germany into four and the major allies, Great Britain, America, France, and Soviet Union, each get a zone. They also decide to split Berlin into four.
Besides Pearl Harbor, where else does Japan attack?
Philippines, Guam, and Wake Islands
Who was the general in charge at the Philippines?
MacArthur
What did MacArthur say when he was ordered to Australia?
I shall return
What is the Bataan Death March?
The 60 mile grueling march under terrible conditions that lasted for 6-12 days
What is the Doolittle Raid
The symbolic attack on Tokyo with little strategic value. It was to show them that we can hit them
What is the Battle of Coral Sea?
The battle where both sides never see each other because the entire battle was fought in the sky. It was considered a tie, since both sides sank one aircraft carrier.
What is the Battle of Midway?
This battle is the turning point in the pacific. We ambushed the ambushers
What is the Battle of Guadalcanal?
An island was attacked to get the island for Japanese control and to protect Austria
What is the strategy of selecting specific islands to attack and bypassing others?
Island Hopping
Does MacArthur ever return to the Philippines?
Yes
What does MacArthus say when he returns?
People of the Philippines, I have returned
What is the Battle of Leyte Gulf?
The last major defensive in the pacific theater of Japan. It is also the largest navel battle in history.
What are Kamikazes?
Suicide pilots
Where did we raise the flag? (Be specific, what mountain)
Iwo Jima on Mt. Surabachi
What was the name of the nuclear bomb project?
Manhattan Project
What is the name of the first bomb test in New Mexico?
Trinity Test
Who was the lead scientists on the Manhattan Project?
Oppenheimer
What are the options to end the war?
- Invade Japan with millions of casualties expected
- Blockade and starve Japan
- Demonstrate the Atomic Bomb
- Soften allied demands of unconditional surrender
What were Turman’s feelings on using the Atomic Bomb?
Truman had no difficulty using it and told people who disagreed with it “you should do your weeping at Pearl Harbor”
Describe Little Boy
The Enola Gay dropped it on Hiroshima
What are the names of the atomic bombs?
Little Boy and Fat Man
Describe Fat Man
It was dropped on Nagasaki three days after Little Boy
Why did they drop the bombs on the places they were dropped on?
They wanted to use the bombs on places that hadn’t been hit yet so they could see which one caused more damage
What is the name of the ship that Japan formally surrendered on?
USS Missouri
How many lives were lost in WWII?
72 million
Why did Hitler want to kill the Jews?
- Blamed them for the death of Jesus
- Blamed them for the loss of WWI
- They sold out Germany at Versails
Why is there a need for a scapegoat?
The Depression and to gain national pride
What is Anti-Semitism?
Hostility towards Jews
What expresses Hitler’s Aryan Superiority?
Mein Kampf
How many Jews will die?
6 million
How were Jews discriminated against?
- Jews lost citizenship
2. They were put in Ghettos
Death or Labor Camps
They shipped Jews off to camps. They put them in trains like cattle and sent off. Those who weren’t strong enough were sent to death camps
What is Genocide?
Deliberate destruction of a group of people
What was the preferred method of execution
Gas Chambers
What are U-Boats?
Submarines that the Germans used to distribute trade.
What are wolf pacts?
A pact of u-boats
What are convoys?
A group of ships that are accompanied by armed troops or warships for protection.
What started WWII?
The invasion of Poland
What is the name of the France fortification that is along the German border?
Maginot Line
What was Operation Sea Lion?
Germany’s plan to attack England
What was Germany’s plan to conquer G.B?
Strategically bomb, then destroy the ships, then invade
What caused the Blitz?
There was an accidental bombing of London, so the Britain retaliated by bombing Berlin. The Germans were angry and embarrassed, so they started terror bombing.
What is the Nuremberg Trials?
They Nazi trials, their defense was that they were only following orders
What is the Liberation?
The freeing of the Jews from Concentration Camps
What are the defenses that Britain had that gave them the upper hand?
- Radar/Sonar
- Light aircraft carriers
- Intelligence
