World War Two Study Guide

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to World War II, highlighting events, strategies, and significant individuals discussed in the lecture.

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

A non-aggression treaty signed on August 23, 1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to avoid a two front war.

Stateless Void

A state of lawlessness created when a government collapses, allowing for genocides to occur without legal repercussions.

The Horseshoe Theory

The concept that Stalin and Hitler, while ideologically opposed, shared similar oppressive methods in governance.

The Gleiwitz Incident

A staged attack by German soldiers dressed as Poles, used to justify Germany's invasion of Poland.

Psychological Paralysis

A state in which military leaders are unable to make strategic decisions due to disconnection from battlefield realities.

Armistice at Compiègne

The surrender of France to Germany in a railway carriage that symbolized the humiliation of World War One.

The Blitz

A period of extensive bombing of British cities by the Germans, intended to demoralize the public.

Operation Barbarossa

The code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, which opened the largest front in WWII.

The Hunger Plan

A Nazi strategy aimed at starving millions of Soviet civilians as part of the invasion plan.

The Arsenal of Democracy

The transformation of the U.S. economy to supply weapons and materials for the Allies during WWII.

Witold Pilecki

A Polish resistance fighter who infiltrated Auschwitz to gather intelligence on the Holocaust.

Maximilian Kolbe

A Catholic priest who sacrificed his life at Auschwitz to save another prisoner.

Jewish Survival Rate

A statistic indicating that Jewish survival rates were higher in countries with intact governments compared to those in stateless situations.

French High Command

The leadership of the French military during WWII, noted for its lack of communication and technology compared to the Germans.

Dunkirk Rescue Demographics

The evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk, where a significant number were non-British troops.

Hitler’s Halt Order

A pause ordered by Hitler that allowed British forces to evacuate from Dunkirk, showing a German strategic failure.

British Industrial Reality

The truth that British factories produced more fighter planes than Germany during the early years of WWII.