Nazi Germany, WWII, and Russian Revolution Key Terms and Concepts

Gestapo

Nazi Germany's secret police that suppressed opposition through surveillance, arrest, and terror.

Hitler

Adolf Hitler, dictator of Nazi Germany (1933-1945) who led WWII in Europe and orchestrated the Holocaust.

Russo-Japanese War

1904-1905 war where Japan defeated Russia, showing an Asian power could beat a European one.

Balkan Wars

Conflicts (1912-1913) in Southeast Europe that weakened the Ottoman Empire and increased tensions before WWI.

Black Shirts

Mussolini's paramilitary group that used violence to support fascism in Italy.

Stalin

Soviet leader who industrialized the USSR and ruled as a totalitarian dictator using purges and terror.

Nicholas II

Last Russian tsar, overthrown during the Russian Revolution.

Land

A key demand of peasants in revolutions (especially Russia), meaning redistribution of land.

Lenin

Leader of the Bolsheviks who led the Russian Revolution and created the Soviet Union.

Profit

Economic goal of capitalism; also criticized by communists as exploitative.

Gulags

Soviet forced labor camps under Stalin.

Mussolini

Fascist dictator of Italy (1922-1943).

New Economic Policy (NEP)

Lenin's policy allowing some private business to rebuild the Soviet economy.

Peace

A major demand in Russia during WWI ("Peace, Land, Bread").

Bolsheviks

Communist party led by Lenin that seized power in 1917.

Concentration Camps

Detention centers (notably used by Nazis) for imprisoning and often killing targeted groups.

Schutzstaffel (S.S.)

Elite Nazi organization responsible for enforcing racial policy and running death camps.

Competition

Key feature of capitalism; contrasted with socialist planned economies.

Duma

Russian parliament created after the 1905 Revolution.

Night of Long Knives

1934 purge where Hitler eliminated rivals within the Nazi Party.

Bread

Symbol of food shortages and worker demands in Russia.

USSR / Soviet Union

Communist state formed after the Russian Revolution (1922-1991).

Benito Mussolini

Same as Mussolini; fascist leader of Italy.

Keynesian

Economic theory (John Keynes) advocating government spending to boost demand.

Nazi Germany

Totalitarian state under Hitler promoting fascism, militarism, and racial ideology.

Arab Revolt

Arab uprising against Ottoman rule during WWI, supported by Britain.

The New Deal

FDR's programs to combat the Great Depression through relief, recovery, and reform.

WWI production

Shift to total war economies where governments controlled industry for war needs.

anti-communist

Opposition to communism, common in fascist regimes and Cold War policies.

military spending

Government investment in armed forces; often increased during war or tension.

Assembly Line

Mass production method that increases efficiency (Ford).

banking system

Financial institutions managing money, loans, and credit.

Autobahn

German highway system built under Hitler, boosting jobs and military mobility.

The United States

Major global power, especially after WWI and WWII.

margin buying

Buying stocks with borrowed money; contributed to the 1929 crash.

Adolf Hitler

Leader of Nazi Germany.

infrastructure projects

Large public works (roads, dams) to stimulate the economy.

credit

Borrowed money used for investment or consumption.

Roaring 20s

Period of economic growth and cultural change in the U.S.

speculation buying

Risky investment hoping prices will rise.

demand-side

Economic theory focusing on boosting consumer demand (Keynesian).

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

U.S. president who led during the Great Depression and WWII.

John Keynes

Economist who promoted government intervention in the economy.

nationalistic

Strong pride in one's nation; often led to conflict.

Hoover Dam

Major U.S. public works project providing jobs and electricity.

Social Security

U.S. program providing financial support to elderly and unemployed.

Republicans

U.S. political party; associated with less government intervention (historically).

Nanjing

Chinese city where Japan committed a massacre in 1937.

Non-Aggression Pact

Agreement between Germany and USSR (1939) not to attack each other.

Appeasement

Policy of giving in to aggressors to avoid war (e.g., Britain toward Hitler).

Poland

Country invaded by Germany in 1939, starting WWII.

Pablo Picasso

Artist who painted Guernica, depicting horrors of war.

United Kingdom

Major Allied power in both world wars.

Sudetenland

Region of Czechoslovakia annexed by Germany in 1938.

Guernica

Town bombed in Spanish Civil War; symbol of civilian suffering.

increased taxes

Government raising revenue, often to fund programs or war.

Munich Agreement

1938 deal allowing Hitler to take Sudetenland (appeasement).

Nationalists

People advocating for national independence or unity.

Italy

Fascist state under Mussolini in WWII.

Gypsies

Ethnic group persecuted by Nazis.

Austria

Annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938 (Anschluss).

Pan-Germanism

Idea of uniting all German-speaking peoples.

Civilian Conservation Corps.

New Deal program creating jobs through environmental work.

France

Major European power; fell to Germany early in WWII.

Francisco Franco

Spanish dictator after the Spanish Civil War.

Japan

Militaristic empire that expanded in Asia and fought in WWII.

Jews

Primary victims of the Holocaust.

Stalingrad

Major WWII battle; Soviet victory turning point against Germany.

Auschwitz

Largest Nazi death camp.

United Kingdom

Allied power resisting Germany.

Radar

Technology used to detect enemy aircraft and ships.

Midway

1942 naval battle; turning point in the Pacific against Japan.

Treblinka

Nazi extermination camp in Poland.

D-Day

Allied invasion of Normandy (1944).

Operation Barbarossa

German invasion of the Soviet Union (1941).

Slavs

Eastern European peoples targeted by Nazi racial policies.

blitzkrieg

"Lightning war" tactic using fast, coordinated attacks.

firebombing

Bombing strategy causing widespread fires in cities.

sonar

Technology using sound waves to detect submarines.