WWII Vocab Flashcards
Who was Franklin Roosevelt?
U.S. President for most of WWII, led the nation through the Great Depression and war.
Who was Harry Truman?
Became President after Roosevelt’s death; made the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan.
Who was Dwight Eisenhower?
Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, planned and led the D-Day invasion.
Who was George Patton?
Famous U.S. general known for his aggressive tactics and leadership in Europe and North Africa.
Who was Winston Churchill?
British Prime Minister who inspired the nation and played a key role in the Allied victory.
Who was Bernard Montgomery?
Leading British general, key figure in North Africa and Europe.
Who was Joseph Stalin?
Leader of the Soviet Union; led the USSR through the war and played a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany.
Who was Benito Mussolini?
Fascist dictator of Italy, allied with Hitler, eventually overthrown.
Who was Emperor Hirohito?
Emperor of Japan; while a figurehead, his government led Japan through expansion and war.
Who was Hideki Tojo?
Prime Minister and military leader of Japan, responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Who was Erwin Rommel?
“Desert Fox,” Germany’s top general in North Africa, respected for his tactics.
Who was Adolf Hitler?
Leader of Nazi Germany, responsible for the Holocaust and aggressive war policies that caused WWII.
What was the Battle of Midway?
Turning point in the Pacific; U.S. victory crippled Japanese naval power.
What was Normandy (D-Day)?
Largest amphibious invasion in history, opened a western front against Germany.
What was the Battle of Okinawa?
One of the bloodiest Pacific battles; key for the U.S. to invade Japan.
What was the Battle of the Bulge?
Germany’s last major offensive; resulted in a crucial Allied victory.
What was the Battle of Iwo Jima?
Fierce battle for a strategic island close to Japan, symbolized by the famous flag-raising photo.
What was the North Africa campaign?
Campaign where the Allies pushed Axis forces out of Africa, securing vital oil and supply routes.
What was the Holocaust?
Systematic genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany.
What was the Bataan Death March?
Forced march of American and Filipino POWs by Japanese forces, resulting in thousands of deaths.
What were the Nuremberg Trials?
Trials of Nazi leaders for war crimes, establishing precedents for international law.
Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?
First African-American military pilots, broke racial barriers and served heroically.
What was Aliceville Prisoner of War Camp?
Example of U.S.-based POW camps, showing how the U.S. handled captured Axis troops.
What is Nazism?
Totalitarian ideology of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party, centered on racism, anti-Semitism, and expansionism.
