World War 2 & Cold War

What is Fascism?

A political philosophy of extreme nationalism, centralized authoritarian rule, and militarism, exemplified by Mussolini in Italy.

Who were the major leaders of Fascism?

Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Emperor Hirohito.

What was Nazi philosophy?

Based on racial purity, antisemitism, and the superiority of the Aryan race, leading to the persecution and genocide of Jews and other minority groups.

What are some of nazi germanys polices for Jews during WW2?

Nuremberg laws- Removal of Jewish rights

What were Stalin's key policies under communism?

Implemented a command economy with state control over agriculture and industry, collectivization of farms, and suppression of dissent through purges and forced labor camps.

What was Stalin's cult of personality agenda?

Stalin cultivated a cult of personality through propaganda, portraying himself as an infallible leader and the savior of the Soviet Union, consolidating his power and suppressing opposition.

How did German aggression start WWII, specifically focusing on the invasion of Poland?

Germany initiated World War II by invading Poland on September 1, 1939, employing blitzkrieg tactics involving rapid armored advances and air support to quickly overwhelm Polish defenses.

What war strategies were prominent during WWII?

Blitzkrieg (lightning war), characterized by rapid, coordinated attacks using tanks, artillery, and air support to swiftly conquer territory. Also attrition warfare like the Eastern Front campaign and naval blockades

What was the Battle of Stalingrad?

A major confrontation on the Eastern Front where Soviet forces successfully defended the city of Stalingrad against German forces, marking a turning point in World War II.

What was D-Day?

The invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, by Allied forces, marking the start of the campaign to liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany.

What was the Battle of Midway?

A decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theater where the United States Navy defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy, halting Japan's advance in the Pacific.

What were the causes of the Spanish Civil War?

Political polarization, socio-economic inequality, regional tensions, and the rise of fascism and communism in Europe.

What were the results of the Spanish Civil War?

Establishment of Francisco Franco's dictatorship: suppression of political opposition, and social and cultural repression.

How did communism grow in China?

The Chinese Communist Party gained support through promises of land redistribution, social reform, and resistance to foreign imperialism.

What was the May Fourth Movement?

An anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student participants in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles.

What was the Pearl Harbor attack?

A surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

What was Japanese internment?

The forced relocation and incarceration in concentration camps in the western interior of the country of about 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of whom lived on the Pacific Coast.

What was the Lend-Lease Act?

A program under which the United States supplied Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945.

What were Japan's imperialistic behaviors during WWII?

Expansionist policies and military aggression in Asia, driven by a desire for resources and regional dominance.

What was the Nanjing Massacre?

A mass murder and war rape committed by Japanese troops against the residents of Nanjing (Nanking), then the capital of China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

What was the Indian partition and independence?

The division of British India into the separate nations of India and Pakistan in 1947, accompanied by widespread violence and displacement.

What were the causes of the Cold War?

Ideological differences between the US and the Soviet Union, post-war geopolitical tensions, and the emergence of nuclear weapons.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

A United States policy to provide economic and military assistance to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling under Soviet influence.