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anti semitism

Hatred, prejudice, or discrimination against Jewish people.

appeasement

Policy of giving in to an aggressor’s demands to avoid conflict (e.g., Britain and France with Hitler before WWII).

axis/allies

• Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan.

• Allies: UK, USSR, USA, France, China (and others).

Battle of midway

A major naval battle in 1942; the U.S. defeated Japan and turned the tide in the Pacific. Japans forces were permanently damaged.

Battle of Stalingrad

Turning point on the Eastern Front; Soviet Union defeated Germany in 1942–43.

Battle of Britain

Air battle over the UK in 1940; Britain resisted German air attacks and avoided invasion. 57 days straight bombing of Major cities. Blitzkrieg.

Blitzkreig

"Lightning war" – fast, intense military attack using tanks, planes, and infantry.

Censure

An official expression of strong disapproval (used in politics/government).

Concentration camps

Prison camps where Jews and others were imprisoned, enslaved, and murdered by Nazis.

Cradle to the grave

Welfare system that provides support from birth to death (popular after WWII in Britain).

D-DAY

June 6, 1944 – Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France (Normandy); began liberation of Western Europe.

Dieppe

1942 Canadian raid on the French coast; ended in disaster but taught key lessons for D-Day.

Dunkirk

Evacuation of over 300,000 Allied troops from France in 1940 under heavy German attack. Boosted English Morale under Churchill.

Embargo

Ban on trade or other commercial activity with a country.

Fascism

Far-right, authoritarian ideology that emphasizes nationalism, dictatorship, and control (e.g., Mussolini, Hitler).

Bombing of Dresden

Allied bombing of a German city in 1945 that caused massive destruction and civilian deaths.

Genocide

Deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially a particular ethnic group (e.g., Holocaust).

Hitler

Leader of Nazi Germany; started WWII; responsible for the Holocaust. Rose after WWI and became the chancellor of Germany.

Holocaust

Systematic murder of 6 million Jews and millions of others by the Nazis during WWII.

Isolationism

Policy of avoiding involvement in foreign affairs (used by the U.S. before entering WWII).

Lebensraum

Hitler’s idea that Germany needed more territory to grow, often by conquering Eastern Europe.

Lend-Lease Act

U.S. program to supply Allies with war materials before officially entering WWII.

Luffwaffe

German Air Force during WWII.

Manhattan Project

Secret U.S. project to develop the atomic bomb during WWII.

Mussolini

Italian fascist dictator; ally of Hitler; ruled Italy until 1943.

Non Aggression Pact

1939 agreement between Germany and the USSR to not attack each other and secretly divide Poland.

Napoleon

French military leader from the early 1800s; referenced when discussing military invasions of Russia (like Hitler’s failure due to harsh winters)

Nuremberg Trials

Post-WWII trials where Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Operation Barborossa

Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941; failed and turned the war against Hitler.

Pearl Harbor

Japanese surprise attack on U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941; led the U.S. to enter WWII.

Postdam Conference

1945 meeting between Allied leaders (Truman, Churchill, Stalin) to decide post-war Europe’s future.

POWS

A soldier captured and held by the enemy during conflict.

Refugee

A person forced to flee their country due to war, persecution, or disaster.

Sanctions

Penalties or restrictions placed on a country to change its behavior (often economic).

Scorched Earth Policy

Military tactic where retreating armies destroy anything useful to the enemy (used by Soviets against Germany).

Stalin

Dictator of the Soviet Union during WWII; part of the Allied leadership; ruled through fear and repression.

Global Superpowers

Nations with dominant global influence and military strength—mainly the U.S. and USSR after WWII.

Totalitarianism

Government with total control over public and private life, no freedoms or opposition allowed.

UN (United Nations)

International organization formed in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation.

VE Day (Victory in Europe Day)

May 8, 1945 — the day Germany surrendered and WWII ended in Europe.

War Brides

Foreign women who married soldiers during/after WWII and moved to their husbands' home countries.

Yalta Conferences

February 1945 meeting of Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin to plan post-war Europe and divide Germany.