World War 2 Test – Flashcards
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When did Germany invade Poland?
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september 1, 1939
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secret agreement between Hitler and Stalin not to attack each other and to divide Poland.
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Non-agression Pact
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economic or political penalties imposed by one country on another to force a change in policy
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sanctions
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a policy of making concessions to an aggressor in the hopes of avoiding war. associated with Chamberlain' policy of making concessions to Adolf Hitler.
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appeasement
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a region where no military forces or weapons are permitted.
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demilitarized
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What did Hitler do that violated the Treaty of Versailles?
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created a new air force, began military draft, expanded army to 550,000 troops, and put troops in Rhineland
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How did the policy of appeasement affect Hitler's plans?
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it helped Hitlers plans because if great Britain did not support france then france wouldn't be able to fight Germany.
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How did world war 1 affect european leaders' attitudes toward international aggression?
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European leaders were too scared to do anything, they were too busy focusing on the bad things going on in their own countries
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Why do you think the Japanese used deception to justify their military takeover of Manchuria?
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to present themselves as protectors of the area, make Chinese look like aggressors, and wanted the world to think this was a justified act.
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What countries did Japan plan to build the New Order around?
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china, manchuria, and themselves
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Why was the threat of economic sanctions a concern to Japan?
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it threatened them because they badly needed the oil and scrap iron from the united states
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lebensraum
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"living space"
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Holocaust
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nazi's program during world war 2 to kill people they considered undesirable. millions of jews perished during the holocaust, along with poles, gypsies, communists, socialists, and others.
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When did britain and france declare war on germany?
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september 2, 1939
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the deliberate mass murder or physical extinction of a particular racial, political, or cultural group
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genocide
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"night of the borken glass" the night of november 9, 1938, on which nazi troopers attacked jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues throughout germany.
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kristallnacht
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one who works jintly with others; to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country
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collaborator
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nazi's plan to take all european jews and to relocate them to the island of madagascar
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madagascar plan
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nazi germany's plan and execution of its systematic genocide against european jews during world war 2
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final solution
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entrusted by hitler with administration of the "final solution" to the jewish question, head of ss(gestapo) which oversaw the death camps.
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heinrich himmler
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What were Hitler's plan for many of the lands east of Germany?
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he planned to resettle in the east and to move out the slavic people and replace them with germans
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How did resettlement contribute to the goals of Hitler's New Order?
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He was trying to create more living space for the germans
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special strike forces that carried out Nazi plans, they were given the job to act as mobile killing forces. they followed the regular army into the soviet union rounding up jews in their villages, executing them and burying them in mass graves.
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Einsatzgruppen(ss)
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How did some collaborators help make genocide possible?
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they helped the Nazi's hunt down more Jews
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What characterized the new order in Japan?
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the idea that japan was going to create a great asia for asians.
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What did japan do to the colonies they took over?
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exploited their resources and labor
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a system of allocating goods and services without prices
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rationing
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a permit allowing the holder to receive a given amount of a rationed product
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ration coupon
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limit on the amount of a good that one individual can obtain under a rationing system
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quota
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a market in which economic products are sold illegally
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black market
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what was the home front and civilian lives like in great britain during the war?
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children were evacuated and sent away, had ration coupons to organize their rationing system, they had a quota for the products they got, created a black market, and practiced bomb drills
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WHat did the women in the soviet union do during the war?
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women and girls worked in industries, mines, and railroads. some women served as snipers and in aircrews of bomber squadrons
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What was the home front and civilian lives like in the soviet union during the war?
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bread rationing, farmers expected to grow their own food, and they move factories further away from the fighting
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What was the home front and civilian lives like during the war in the united states?
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they had black-outs, food rationing, each family got food stamps,gasoline rationing with gas stamps, and women helped build the aircraft industry
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What was the home front and civilian life like in germany during the war?
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few women went to work, didnt start rationing until the end of the war, trained hitler youth for fighting, and closed schools theaters and cafes.
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Why did germany not start rationing until the end of the war(1944)?
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he didnt want to ruin their morale
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What was the home front and civilian life like in Japan during the war?
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sent children to the war to participate in suicide bombing, women worked, people gave up their lives to help with the war, changed prices labor and resources, shortage of oil and tin, imported labor from china, and had a shortage of food due to japan taking their rice and sending it overseas.
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limited by law to a certain amount per household
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rationed
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the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The US did this to japanese-americans during world war 2 because they thought they might be spies.
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internment
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japanese suicide pilots who loaded their planes with explosives and crashed them into american ships
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kamikaze
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the british term for the german air raids on british ivies and towns during world war 2
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blitz
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What does "total war" mean?
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all of the big nations are fighting in the war and its is widespread covering most of the world
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How did the bombing of cities impact the home front?
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it made the home front a very dangerous place
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Why did european governments think bombing the cities would help them win the war?
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many leaders believed that it would force governments to make peace
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Who was in the grand alliance that was formed in 1942?
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Britain, soviet union, U.S, and 2 dozen other countries
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What were the turning points in the war?
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stalingrad and El Alamein
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first nazi defeat on land; soviets began the 25 year campaign of pushing the german army back into Berlin. december 1942
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Stalingrad
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british drove the germans out of Egypt
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El Alamein
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What happens to Germany after Stalingrad and El Alamein?
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they were defeated and suffered mass casualties and surrenders.
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Who do the grand alliance invade in 1943?
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sicily and italy
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operation overlord, invasion of normandy(northern french coast)
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d-day
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When does d-day take place?
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june 6 1944
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What happened when the western front was established?
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spelled end of nazi domination of europe
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When is paris liberated?
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1 month later after western front is established
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What kind of war does hitler end up fighting?
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a three front war
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What fronts are in the war?
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eastern front against russians, western front against united States, and the french people
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Who were britain(and france) fighting?
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united states and great britain
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December 1944, hitler's last gasp offensive to drive allies away from western german border, after it failed, allies quickly penetrated deep into germany in 1945
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Batte of bULGE
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germany surrenders(hitler commited suicide a few days earlier)
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V-E Day
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When did V-E Day take place?
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may 8, 1945
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led by eisenhower, over a million troops stormed the beaches at normandy and began the process or re-taking France. The turning point in World War 2.
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D-Day
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What was the largest invasion force in history?
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D-Day
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american general who began in North Africa and became the commander of allied forces in europe
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Dwight D. Eisenhower
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a 1944-1945 battle in which allied forces turned back the last major german offensive of world war 2.
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Battle of the bulge
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devoted or biased in support of a party, group, or cause
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partisan
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FDR, Churchill, and Stalin were in this group. they discussed the important and controversial issues of the treatment of Germany, the status of poland, the creation of the united nations, and russia entry into the war against Japan.
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Big Three
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the allied leaders truman, stalin, and atlee met in germany to set up zones of control and to inform the japanese that if they refused to surrender at once then they would face total destruction
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Potsdam Conference
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first major meeting between the big three at which they planned the 1944 assault on France and agreed to divide Germany into zones of occupation after the war.
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Tehran Conference
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1945 meeting between churchill, stalin, and roosevelt in which the leaders discussed plans for the post-war world and stalin promised to allow free elctions in europe.
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Yalta Conference
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What led to the cold war?
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Stalin's breaking of his promise for free elections in eastern europe.
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an organization of nations that was formed in 1945 to promote peace, security, and international cooperation. The organization is located in New York City.
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The united nations
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Why was Normandy in France chosen as the landing spot for the invasion?
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easy to reach from the coast of Great Britain
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Why is the normandy invasion considered a turning pint in the war?
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it makes Germany have to fight many different fronts
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What was the major disagreement between the US AND SOVIET UNION at the conclusion of WW2?
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roosevelt demanded that there are free elections in Europe but stalin thought that would threaten his goal of controlling eastern Europe.
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What affect did the dropping of atomic bombs have on the world?
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it began the nuclear age, after the world witnessed the bombs many countries then raced to rebuild their own nuclear weapons
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Where did the allied forces island hop?
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iwo jima and okinawa
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What role does Roosevelt play in the big three?
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mediator
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What is roosevelt doing during the tehran conference?
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working towards creating the united nations
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What did Stalin want to do that was against the Atlantic Charter?
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wanted control of eastern Europe and to carve up Germany
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What did churchill demand at the Tehran Conference?
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free elections and a strong Germany
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What did Stalin agree to at the Yalta Conference?
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to hold free elections in Eastern Europe
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Where do the united nations hold their first meeting and when?
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USA IN APRIL 1945
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Who were permanent members of the Security Council?
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USA, Great Britain, USSR, France, and China
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What were the all permanent members of the United nations all allowed?
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they al held the power to veto
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wHAT HAPPENED TO gERMANY after the war ended?
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divided into four occupied zones bY the USA, France, USSR, AND Great bRITIAN.
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At what conference was what happened to Germany decided at?
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The Yalta Conference
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What happened to Poland after WW2 ended?
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forced to have a coalition government of communists and non-communists
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What happens to the USSR after world war 2?
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they are allowed to keep only pre-1939 territory
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What happened to roosevelt in april 1945?
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he died and then Truman became president
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What did the big three issue Japan at the Potsdam Conference?
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issued a warning that they must have unconditional surrender or else they will face utter devastation
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What did Stalin do at the Potsdam Conference?
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he reversed his position on eastern europe and decided to have no free elections
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What did they decide at the Potsdam Conference?
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they decided to have war-crimes trials, demilitarization, and de-nazification of Germany
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What do they believe started the war?
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militarization and nazification
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Why did Truman decide to drop the bomb?
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because we didn't want to lose millions of soldiers in a land invasion
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Where did the US drop the first bomb?
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Hiroshima
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Where did they drop the second bomb?
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Nagasaki
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What did Stalin believe after Nagasaki was bombed?
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he believed this act was a warning/threat to the soviet union since the bomb was dropped right before his troops were planned to invade Japan.
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What did Truman order after the Potsdam Conference?
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dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan
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What does stalin want truman to do with the bomb?
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stalin asked him to wait to drop he bomb but truman goes against this agreement
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What happened to Japan after the 2 bombings?
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they unconditionally surrendured
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How is Europe left after the war is over?
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millions have relocated and are homeless, many cities destroyed,and it takes years to rebuild economically
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nazis are tried and found guilty of war crimes
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Nuremburg Trials
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Who emerged as the two dominant powers(superpowers)?
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THE US AND THE USSR
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What did women do differently after world war 2 than world war 1?
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they played a larger role in the war economy
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What kind of nation does the new constitution turn Japan into?
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democratic nation
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Who leads Japan after they are defeated?
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U.S. General Douglas MacArthur
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What happens to the power of japan's emperor?(symbolic figure)
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its gone
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How does the US begin the process of demilitarization in Japan?
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by drawing up a new constitution: resemble Great Britain
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"lightning war"; germanys newest military strategy including initial strikes by Luftwaffe followed by invasion of fast tanks and infantry in order to quickly destroy another nation
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Blitzkreig
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german air force created by Hitler in 1935 as a violation o the versailles treaty, continuers thought world war 2
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Luftwaffe
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an aerial battle fought in world war 2 in 1940 between the german Luftwaffe(air force), which carried out extensive bombing in Britain, and the British Royal air force, which offered successful resistance with the help of a new radar system that let them know where the german planes were.
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BAttle of Britain
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British-american declaration that stated the countries aims for the outcome of the war. stated that people of every nation should be free to choose their own form of government and live free of fear and want, disarmament, and a permanent system of general security.
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Atlantic Charter
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a national policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs
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Isolationism
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united states military base on hawaii that was bombed by Japan, bringing the united states into world war 2. pearl harbor was attacked on december 7,1941.
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Pearl Harbor
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a refusal to take part in a war between other nations
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Neutrality
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a military strategy used during world war 2 that involved selectively attacking specific enemy-held islands and bypassing others
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island hopping
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german field marshal noted for brilliant generalship in North Africa during world war 2. known as the "desert fox"
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Erwin Rommel
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american general who commanded allied troops in the Pacific during world war 2.
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Douglas MacArthur
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a defense system the french had built along its border with Germany, the line was a series of concrete and steel fortifications armed with heavy artillery.
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The Maginot line
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Why wasn't the magi not line effective in stopping the german invasion of france?
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because the germans decided not to cross the magi not line and to go around it and attacked france with its border with Belgium instead
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Why did the rescue at Dunkirk strengthen the british determination to fight germany?
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it rallied ll of the people together and give them a good morale that kept them feeling strong
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Why did the united states follow a policy of isolationism in the early days of world war 2?
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they wanted to prevent going to any ways and stayed neutral so they wouldn't be drawn in or get involved with any wars
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Why was the control of the skies key to the battle of britain?
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a land-sea invasion could not be made by germany unless they got control of the air
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Why did hitler decide to bomb the british cities rather than military targets?
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he wanted to break the british morale but it didn't work. instead the military targets were able to rebuild their air strength quickly
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What assumptions did hitler make about invading the soviet union?
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assumed they had a pitiful army and could be defeated quickly and that they could defeat them before the brutal winter
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What misjudgments did the axis powers make about the U.S. involvement in the war?
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they believed our pacific would distract us from Europe, and they didn't believe we would actually join the war just that we would do negotiations with Japan.
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What brought the united states into the war?
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the attack on pearl harbor from the japanese aircraft
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Why was it important for the allies to agree to fight until all the axis powers surrendered unconditionally?
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it cemented the grand alliance making it nearly impossible for hitler to divide his foes
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Why was the german assault on Stalingrad a crushing defeat for the germans?
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the entire german sixth army who were the best of the german troops were lost. this made the germans realize that they would not defeat the soviet union.
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new form of warfare used by germany to quickly defeat an enemy by poking a hole in enemy line and cutting off front lines from the rear thus surrounding enemy
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blitzkreig
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What did germany use on one part of the enemy line in a coordinated attack?
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air force, tanks, and artillery
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How long did it take germany to defeat poland?
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one month
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When did partition occur for the germans?
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soviet union attacked from the east
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How did stalin create a buffer zone?
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invades finland and annexes estonia, latvia, and lithuania
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Why did stalin create a buffer zone?
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he believed that hitler will one day invade the soviet union
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after poland, a 7 month lull ensued, causing some to say ww2 was a myth. the world waited to see where Hitler might strike next
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Sitzkreig(phony war)
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Where did hitler invade in the spring of 1940?
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denmark, sweden, norway, netherlands, belgium, and luxemburg
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june 1940 occurred in less than 6 weeks
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fall of france
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thousands of french and british soldiers trapped on beaches of france
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Miracle at Dunkirk
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What happened at the battle of dunkirk before the germans came in for "the kill"?
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an armada of british vessels thousands of soldiers
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upper government that hitler created in southern france because he did not wish to waste time subduing all of france
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Vichy France
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led the "Free French" government and fled to Britain
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General Charles De Gaulle
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japan, germany, and italy
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axis powers
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What was one of the most crucial battles of the war?
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battle of britain
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What did the axis powers have in common?
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three nations who were mad from the paris peace conference and wanted to strengthen and spread their empires
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hitler sought to soften britain up for an invasion
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operation sea lion
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Who was sent to destroy the royal air force?
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Luftwaffe
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an inspirational war leaders of britain
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Winston Churchill
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Where does hitler order a bomb to be dropped?
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london
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After the royal air force recovers how do they defeat the Luftwaffe that forces hitler to call off the invasion of britain?
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use of a new radar system
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Why did hitler call off the invasion of Britain?
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He had to guard against a two-front war
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june 1941, hitler's attempt at Lebensraum
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German invasion of the soviet union
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Soviets destroyed anything of value as they withdrew to deprive german army of resources; 1000s of towns disappeared
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Scorched earth policy
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Where were the germans by winter with their invasion of the soviet union?
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they were at the gates of moscow; lay siege leningrad(900 day siege)
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Japan added Rome-Berlin axis for mutual defense and military support(axis powers)
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Tripartite Act
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churchill and FDR meet secretly after invasion of USSR
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Atlantic Charter
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What did they want to be in the atlantic charter?
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Once axis powers defeated there would be no territorial changes, called for a permanent system of general security(united nations), uphold free trade and self-determination
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What was the point of the united nations?
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To keep peace, protect borders, and deal with acts of aggression
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us gives large amounts of money and supplies to help Brits and Soviets; effectively ends u.s. neutrality
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Lend-Lease Act
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america vs. japan , neither side won a clear victory but it did end japan's advancement toward australia
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Battle of coral sea
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war entirely fought by aircraft between the united states and japan at a valuable airbase from which japan could attack Hawaii. The united states won and regained rival superiority in the pacific
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Battle of Midway
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WHEN DID THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY TAKE PLACE?
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jUNE 4-JUNE6,1942
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What were some of the japanese acts of aggression?
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Annexed korea in 1910, occupied manchuria in 1931, and invaded china
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What did Japan want to do?
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create a greater asia co-properity sphere, gain resources for industry, and create market for japan
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ban on the sale of vital goods
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embargo
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What was the american response to japans aggression?
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an embargo
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What was japan's response to the american embargo?
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an alliance with the axis powers
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When did the attack on pearl harbor take place?
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december 7, 1941
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Where else did Japan attack?
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american island bases in the pacific, british holding in malaya and hongkong
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What happened in the U.S. AND BRITAIN AFTER THEY DECLARED WAR ON JAPAN?
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germany and italy declare war on the united states
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Where do the japanese have victories?
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Phillipines,burma&singapore, dutch east indies, french indochina, and other territories in southeast asia & the pacific
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What did the japanese hope would happen due to their victories?
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they hoped to use these as bargaining tools but it ends up creating more hostility between nations
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Although japan claimed to be creating a better asia for asians what really happened?
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treated conquered people harshly, they forced them to build railways and roads. took rubber, tin, oil, and food.
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What were resistance movements carried out with?
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guerrilla warfare
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hitler announces a boycott of all jewish businnesses this isolates jews both socially and economically from german society
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boycott of jewish businesses
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laws that are passed depriving german jews of their citizenship and banning marriages between jews and non-jews. all jews forced to wear a yellow star of david so they can be easily identified
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nuremburg laws
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on november 10 nazi officials unleash a savage nationwide campaign of terror against Germany's jewish population. many jews are killed and hundreds of jewish shops and synagogues are destroyed.
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kristallnacht
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confined areas within a city that are established in occupied eastern europe. jews from throughout europe are forced from their homes are required to live here.
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jewish ghettos
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jews and other enemies of Nazis were imprisoned, from 1942 on jews are systematically moved to death camps built specifically to exterminate Jews.
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camps
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nazis systematically round up jews thoughout europe and transport them to death camps on eastern europe
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deportations throughout europe
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nazis officially agree to move forward with a plan to kill all european jews. death camps are built specifically for this purpose; deportations throughout europe begin. six million jews are killed
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final solution
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allied troops free approximately 300,000 jews from the concentration and death camps
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liberation
