World War Two

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appeasement: a policy of giving agressor nations what they wanted in order to avoid war
facism: a form of government in which a dictator and supporters cooperate to seek more power for their country
blitzkrieg: means "lightning war"; a term used to descrive the fast way Germany attacked Poland and other countries
Holocaust: the deliberate extermination of millions of European Jews and other citizens
lend-lease: a policy wherin the U.S. would lend goods to Britain, which Britain could return of replace after war; President Roosevelt's way of getting around the Neutrality Acts
List 5 facts, as stated in your notes, about WWII:: 1. WWII Killed more people, destroyed more property, and had more consequences than any other war in history.
2. Brought the downfall of Western Europe as center of world power.
3. Led to the rise of the Soviet Union
4. Led to the development of the nuclear bomb.
5. It was fought all over the world.
What major powers made up the Allied Side?: Great Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union
What major powers made up the Axis side?: Germany, Italy, and Japan
Who was U.s President (until 1945) during WWII?: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Who was Premier of Japan during WWII?: Hideki Tojo
Who was Prime Minister of Great Britain during WWII?: Winston Churchill
Who was Premier of Italy during WWII?: Benito Mussolini
Who was the Leader of the Soviet Union during WWII?: Josef Stalin
Who was the Prime Minister of France during WWII?: Charles de Gaulle
Who was Chancellor of Germany during WWII?: Adolf Hitler
Who was the 2nd U.S. President during WWII?: Harry S. Truman
What events eventually led the Japanese into war?: First, Japan began taking over areas in SE Asia for resources needed in their growing industries. Then, Japan allied w/the Axis Powers, causing the U.S. to cut off some and eventually all exports to Japan. The U.S. continually tried to get Japan to respect China's "Open Door" policy, but they would not. Lasty, Pearl Harbor was planned and then executed on December 7th, 1941.
What was the Anschluss?: This was when the German troops marced into Austria and united the two countries. Many people in both countries applauded this move.
What was the Spanish Civil War?: In 1936, rebel forces under Francisco Franco tried to take over Spanish government. Hitler and Mussolini sent troops, weapons and aircrafts to Spain to help the rebels.
What was Appeasement?: In 1938, Hitler decides that he wants the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia that holds 3 million people of German descent. British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain meets w/Hitler. Chamberlain gives him what he wants, thinking that Hitler will back off once he receives what he wants=Munich Agreement
Why did Germany want to control Norway?: Germany wanted to control Norway so that they could have bases for their ships and submarines.
What was the "Miracle at Dunkirk"?: This was when 340,000 troops were rescued by British destroyers, yachts, ferries, and fishing boats. This was needed b/c British and French troops fell into a trap at Belgium.
What was the Battle of Britain?: Germany thought that Great Britain would seek peace after the fall of France, yet Britain fought on. Germany first had to fight the RAF (Royal Air Force) before it could send in ground troops. In August, the Germans attacked RAF bases, and by September were attacking civilian targets. After months of bombin, Germans decided to turn their attention elsewhere, which allowed the British to rebuild their RAF.
What was the German Invasion of Russia?: Operation Barbarossa began on June 22, surprising the Soviet Union. Soviet citizens attacked railroads, dams, food supplies, anything that could be useful to the Germans. After mistakes on the part of the Soviet Union, Germans were w/in a few miles of Moscow by November. Winter set in w/-40 degree temperatures, the Germans were unprepared, and never got any closer to Moscow. The Germans left in 1943.
What was the Battle of Midway?: The Battle of Midway began on June 4th w/a Japanese bombing raid on Midway Islands. The battle lasted 3 days with the Japanese losing 4 aircraft carriers and 200 planes. The U.S. lost 1 aircraft carrier and 150 planes. THis was the first clear Allied victory over Japan.
What was Guadalcanal?: On August 7th, U.S. Marines invade Guadalcanal, part of the Solomon Islands. Japanses are bulding a airbase their to better attack Allies and Australia. Battle lasted for 6 months, it was vicious, the U.S. was successful despitte losing many Marines and Ships.Afterward, Americans implemented a style of "island hopping", taking Pacific island after island until they reached the Phillipines.
What was North Africa?: Allied forces attack North Africa in November instead of Europe because of American inexperience and no gain base in Africa. George Patton led American forces in Operation Torch. Dwight Eisenhower is named head of the Allies in Europe. The Germans eventually surrender in May 1943.
What was Normandy?: On June 6th, American, British, and Canadian forces led an amphibious assault on French coast of Normandy. 2,700 ships and 176,000 troops crossed the English Channel, attacking 5 branches. Nicknamed Operation Overlord and "D-Day", and was the largest seaborne assault in history. The attack at Normandy helped lead to the eventual liberation of Paris.
What was the Phillipines?: The Americans attack the Phillipines on October 23rd, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. 282 ships are used in the attack, largest such in history. Kamikazes become a serious weapon of destruction for Japanese. The Phillipines were eventually liberated in January, 1945.
What was the Battle of the Bulge?: On December 16th, Hitler launced an offensive against the Allies in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. THe Germans made a vicious attack, but the Allied lines held. Many thought Hitler was crazy for attacking, the winter weather was grueling for both sides. HItlers forces stopped fighting in January 1945.
What was Iwo Jima?: On February 19th, 1945, US Marines land on the island of Iwo Jima, 750 miles south of Japan. The Japanese troops hide in a network of underground caves and bunkers. The operation was supposed to take a week, but took 36 days and cost many lives.
What was Okinawa?: The Allied troops landed at Okinawa on April 1. The Japanese use kamikazes extensively offshore. More ships sunk here than were lost in Pearl Harbor. 50,000 US soldiers and 110,000 Japanese were kille, ending on June 21.
What was the Dropping of the Atomic Bombs?: 1. The Japanese continued to fight, and the US feared a Japanese invasion would cost about a million lives. On August 6th, a US B-29 Bomber "Enola Gay" dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. There was no Japanese response, so another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 70 thousand. Japan surrenders on September 2nd, that day is declared "v-J Day" (Victory in Japan Day)
What day did Germany's invasion of Poland begin?: September 1, 1939
What day was Pearl Harbor attacked?: December 7th, 1941
What day was Normandy invaded?: June 6th, 1944
What day was declard V-E Day?: May 8th, 1945
What day was declared V-J Day?: September 2nd, 1945
How did Adolf Hitler die?: He committed suicide.
Approximately how many Jews were killed by the Germans duing WWII?: Approx. 8 million
Whar does the word "kamikaze" mean?: It means "divine wind"
The Soviets were first to arrivein this German capital city in 1945:: Berlin
What was the name of the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb?: B-29 Bomber "Enola Gay"
What was the nickname for the American plan to retake islands help by the Japanese in the Pacific?: "island hopping"
What country had signed a non-aggression pact with Germany before WWII began?: The Soviet Union

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