Module 4: global war

This set covers key military incidents, international pacts, US neutrality laws, and the strategies and occupations defining the early years of World War II.

Marco Polo Bridge Incident (July $1937$)

A local skirmish between Japanese and Chinese forces that began over a missing soldier; it served as a pretext to invade Manchukuo and occupy China, featuring the firebombing of Shanghai.

Rape of Nanjing

A Japanese attack on Nanjing that resulted in the deaths of $200k$ people and was marked by extreme violence, including beheading and raping civilians in the street.

Chongqing

The center of Chinese opposition during the war against Japan where Chiang urged endurance and allied with foreign powers for reinforcement and supplies.

Tripartite Pact (September $1940$)

An agreement signed between Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union intended to deter outside attacks on any of these states.

Japan-Soviet Neutrality Pact (April $1941$)

An agreement to halt conflict and remain neutral; Stalin aimed to buy time and avoid capitalist aggression for as long as possible.

Neutrality Act ($1935$)

A law passed by the US Congress to prevent involvement in foreign wars by banning the export of weapons.

"Quarantine Speech" (October 1937)

A speech by FDR addressing international lawlessness, calling for neutral nations to take action to restrain aggressive regimes rather than remaining passive.

Neutrality Act ($1939$)

A law that lifted the $1937$ arms embargo, allow the US to sell arms under a cash system.

"Destroyers for Bases" (September $1940$)

A policy that increased support for Britain by providing destroyers in exchange for US military bases in Canada.

Lend-Lease Act (March $1941$)

A policy allowing the US to lend weapons to any ally while remaining under a state of neutrality.

Export Control Act (March $1940$)

An act aimed at restricting shipments of oil, lead, and steel to Japan by requiring special export licenses.

"Arsenal of Democracy" Speech (December $1940$)

A radio speech by FDR stating the US should supply materials to the Allies and ramp up military production.

Selective Service Act (September $1940$)

The first peacetime military draft in the US, requiring men aged $21$-$35$ to register with local boards.

The Atlantic Charter (August $1941$)

A document by Churchill and Roosevelt outlining shared norms for the war, including free trade, self-determination, disarmament, and no territorial expansion.

Pearl Harbor

The bombing of the US navy in Hawaii which killed more than $3000$ Americans and served as a preventative strike to incapacitate the US army, drawing the US into WW2.

Blitzkrieg

A "Lightning war" military strategy characterized by surprise and a heavy reliance on tanks and the air force.

Wilhelm Keitel

The individual who pioneered the Blitzkrieg strategy during the invasion of Poland.

General Government

A Nazi-occupied colony in Warsaw governed by Hans Frank; it served as a testing ground for extreme policies like work camps and ghettos.

Hans Frank

The governor of the General Government who used chaos tactics and murdered Polish elites and intellectuals to prevent self-organization.

Germanization

The forced transformation of Polish people into the German language and culture.

Lodz Ghetto (February $1940$)

The first ghetto established to seal off the Jewish population of Lodz, which led to restricted food supplies and rampant disease.

Katyn massacre (April/May $1940$)

The massacre of $22k$ Poles in the Katyn forest by the Red Army, targeting the elite classes whom the Soviets viewed as capitalist parasites.

Lavrenty Beria

The Soviet official who orchestrated the Great Terror and led the Katyn massacre.

Invasion of Finland

A conflict where the Soviets reclaimed territory; despite Finnish resistance, a compromise resulted in $10\%$ of Finnish territory being integrated into the Soviet Union.

Maginot Line

A military defense line along the French border, fortified with tanks and believed by the British to be impenetrable.

The Ardennes

A section of forest not fortified by the Maginot Line through which Germany used Blitzkrieg to break into France.

Miracle of Dunkirk

The British evacuation of $340k$ troops following the defeat of the French military.

Vichy France

A far-right and Nazi-collaborationist regime that ran from Vichy in the north of France after the 1940 defeat.

Philippe Petain and Pierre Lavel

The local leaders who ran the Vichy France regime in collaboration with Nazi occupiers.

Operation Sealion

The planned German ground invasion of Britain, which Hitler pursued while regarding the British as a cousin of the Aryan race.

London Blitz (September $1940$ – May $1941$)

The period of intense German bombing of London which Hitler eventually abandoned.