AP European History Unit 8: 20th Century Global Conflicts (1914-Present)

Appeasement

The policy of making concessions to dictatorial powers to avoid conflict, most notably used by European leaders in the 1930s towards Adolf Hitler.

Invasion of Ethiopia

The 1935 military campaign by Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, aimed at expanding Italian territory in Africa and weakening Ethiopian sovereignty; ultimately successful

Remilitarization of the Rhineland

The 1936 process by which Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles by sending military forces into the Rhineland, thereby increasing tensions in Europe; Hitler did this as a sort of test run to see how Western Europe would react if he directly violated the Treaty of Versailles, and they did not respond

Anschluss

The German annexation of Austria in 1938, which was largely facilitated by Adolf Hitler's regime and violated the Treaty of Versailles.

Sudetenland

A region in Czechoslovakia inhabited by ethnic Germans that was annexed by Germany in 1938, leading to the Munich Agreement. This act further demonstrated Hitler's expansionist policies and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

Munich Agreement

A settlement reached in 1938 between Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy that allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia if he did not take over any farther. This agreement, which was supposed to ensure peace, is often cited as a failed act of appeasement towards Hitler.

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

A treaty signed in 1939 between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that promised neither would attack the other for 10 years and split Poland between the two powers

European Theater

The theater of World War II that encompassed most of Europe, where major battles and campaigns occurred between Allied and Axis powers, primarily from 1939 to 1945.

Pacific Theater

The theater of World War II that involved major battles in the Pacific Ocean, primarily between the United States and Japan, from 1941 to 1945.

Blitzkrieg

A military tactic used by Germany in World War II, characterized by swift and sudden attacks combining air and ground forces to quickly overwhelm the enemy.

Siege of Stalingrad

A major battle on the Eastern Front during World War II, lasting from August 1942 to February 1943, where Soviet forces encircled and defeated the German army.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister during World War II, known for his leadership and speeches that inspired Britain to resist Nazi Germany. He advocated for Allied unity and military strategy throughout the war.

Destroyers for Bases

A deal between the United States and Britain during World War II in which the U.S. exchanged naval destroyers for the right to build military bases on British territories.

Pearl Harbor

A surprise military attack by the Japanese on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States' entry into World War II.

D-Day

The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, marked by beach landings on Normandy; served as a turning point on the Eastern Front in favor of the allies

Battle of Midway

A pivotal naval battle in June 1942 during World War II, in which the United States Navy decisively defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This victory significantly weakened Japan's naval capabilities and turned the tide of the war in the Pacific.

Island-Hopping Campaign

A military strategy used by the Allies in the Pacific Theater during World War II, where they captured select islands, progressively moving closer to Japan while bypassing heavily fortified enemy positions.

VE Day

Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking the official surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe.

Incendiary Bombs

Explosive devices designed to start fires, used extensively by Allied forces in bombing campaigns during World War II to destroy infrastructure and demoralize enemy populations.

Atomic Bomb

A powerful nuclear weapon developed during World War II, primarily by the United States, that was dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender.

VJ Day

Victory over Japan Day, celebrated on August 15, 1945, marking the official surrender of Japan and the end of World War II.

Holocaust

The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jewish people and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators during World War II.

Aryans

according to Hitler, these were the “master race” of the Earth and ought to claim its place of ascendency; he convinced himself that the most virulent threat to the flourishing of the modern master race was the Jewish population in Europe

Nuremberg Laws

Laws enacted in 1935 that stripped Jewish citizens of their German citizenship and imposed severe restrictions on their rights, serving as a legal basis for racial discrimination in Nazi Germany.

Wannsee Conference

Reinhard Heydrich, Heinrick Himmler, and Adolf Hitler articulated the Final Solution

Final Solution

The Nazi plan for the systematic extermination of the Jewish people during World War II, which led to the Holocaust.

death camps

establishing facilities designed for the mass murder of Jews and other targeted groups during the Holocaust.

Auschwitz

the largest and most notorious Nazi death camp where over a million people, primarily Jews, were exterminated during the Holocaust.

Roma

a marginalized ethnic group targeted by the Nazis during the Holocaust, suffering mass extermination and persecution alongside Jewish people.

Invasion of Manchuria

a military campaign initiated by Japan in 1931, which marked the beginning of Japanese aggression in Asia and ultimately contributed to the start of World War II.

Second Sino-Japanese War

a conflict that began in 1937 between China and Japan, marked by brutal warfare and contributing to the broader theater of World War II.

lebensraum

the concept of "living space" promoted by Nazi Germany, which justified expansionist policies and territorial conquests aimed at accommodating the Aryan race.

Dunkirk Evacuation

the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, between May 26 and June 4, 1940, during World War II.

Battle of Britain

the air campaign waged by the German Luftwaffe against the United Kingdom from July to October 1940, aiming to gain air superiority and prepare for an invasion.

Ultra

the Allied codebreaking project that deciphered German communications during World War II, significantly contributing to military intelligence.

Barbarossa

the code name for Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. It aimed to defeat the USSR quickly but resulted in a prolonged and brutal conflict

The Manhattan Project

the secret U.S. research and development project during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons, leading to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Swansea Blitz

the period of heavy aerial bombardment of the city of Swansea, Wales, by the German Luftwaffe during World War II, causing significant destruction and casualties.

Bombing of Dresden

the aerial bombing raids conducted by Allied forces in February 1945, which resulted in devastating destruction and high civilian casualties in the German city of Dresden.

Bands of Brothers

the concept of soldiers not strictly motivated to fight by national sentiment, but moreso by connection with their fellow soldiers

Thomas Mann

a German novelist and Nobel laureate known for works that explore themes of culture, politics, and morality during the interwar period and World War II.

Pravda

a communist newspaper in WWII that editorialized that women should take on more roles in the workforce and contribute to the war effort, reflecting the Soviet government's views on gender equality during this time.

National Service Act

a British law enacted in 1941 that established compulsory military service for women into farming, military, or munitions jobs

Siege of Leningrad

a prolonged military blockade during World War II by Nazi Germany against Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), lasting from September 1941 to January 1944, resulting in severe hardships for the city's inhabitants.

Bengal Famine

a devastating famine that occurred in British-ruled India from 1943 to 1944, resulting in the deaths of millions due to food shortages and mismanagement during World War II.

T4 Project

a covert operation initiated by Nazi Germany during World War II that aimed to systematically exterminate individuals deemed "unfit" or "life unworthy of life," including the disabled and mentally ill.

“Jewish Mundfunk”

a Nazi propaganda radio program targeting Jewish audiences, aimed at spreading disinformation and discouragement during World War II.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

a revolt by Jewish residents of the Warsaw Ghetto in April 1943 against Nazi deportations to concentration camps, representing a symbol of resistance during the Holocaust.

Treblinka Prisoner Uprising

a rebellion by inmates at the Treblinka extermination camp in August 1943 aimed at resisting deportation and destruction, contributing to the overall resistance movement during the Holocaust.

Katyn Massacre

the mass execution of over 20,000 Polish military officers and intelligentsia by the Soviet Union in 1940, which was part of a larger campaign of political repression.

militarism

a cause of WWI; the idea that states desired to increase their military capacity in order to defend and pursue their national interests; European powers exhibit this in industrialization, and therefore have a desire to use what they spent their money on

Otto Von Bismarck

German chancellor who increased the antagonism/antagonistic alliances between Germany and France, creating a cause of WWI

Triple Alliance

A military alliance formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, aimed at strengthening their collective power and deterring aggression from other nations; fed into antagonism between the Triple Entente.

Triple Entente

A military alliance formed in 1907 between France, Russia, and Great Britain, established to counterbalance the power of the Triple Alliance and maintain peace in Europe.

Alsace and Lorraine

a region that Germany secured as a result of the Franco-Prussian War; increased tensions between Germany and France, as France believed that this region rightfully belonged to them

Franz Ferdinand

The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne/archduke whose assassination by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip in 1914 sparked the escalation of tensions that led to World War I.

Gavrilo Princip

A Bosnian Serb nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, leading to the outbreak of World War I.

trench warfare

A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from entrenched positions, characterized by long stalemates and harsh conditions, prevalent during World War I.

machine gun

A rapid-fire, automatic firearm that significantly increased the lethality of warfare during World War I, particularly in the trenches, leading to high casualty rates in battles.

chlorine gas

A chemical weapon used for the first time in warfare during World War I, causing severe respiratory damage and panic among soldiers.

submarines

Underwater vessels capable of independent operation and warfare, notably used by Germany in World War I to disrupt Allied shipping and enforce blockades.

airplanes

Fast aircraft used for reconnaissance, bombing, and dogfights during World War I, marking the beginning of aerial combat.

Total War

A military strategy that involves mobilizing all of a nation's resources and civilian efforts to support the war effort, blurring the lines between combatants and non-combatants; exemplified in WWI

Easter Rebellion

An armed insurrection in 1916 by Irish republicans seeking independence from British rule, leading to significant political repercussions and eventual demands for Irish self-governance.

Home Rule Movement

A political campaign aimed at gaining self-governance for Ireland within the United Kingdom, particularly active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Home Rule Bill

A legislative proposal to grant self-governance to Ireland, advocated in the early 20th century, but faced delays in its implementation due to WWI

Armenian Genocide

The systematic extermination of the Armenian population by the Ottoman Empire during World War I, resulting in the deaths of over a million Armenians.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1919 peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany, and redrawing the map of Europe.

Mandate System

A system established after World War I where territories formerly controlled by defeated powers and the Ottoman Empire were administered by Allied nations under the League of Nations.

Woodrow Wilson

The 28th President of the United States, who led the nation during World War I and advocated for the League of Nations in his idealistic Fourteen Points in the Treaty of Versailles

Fourteen Points

included a provision for the reduction of mass arms among nations, open diplomatic relationships rather than secretive treaties, and the right of self determination among nations

League of Nations

An intergovernmental organization established after World War I aimed at promoting peace and cooperation among countries; US and Russia did not join,

David Lloyd George

the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War I, known for his role in the Paris Peace Conference and for advocating to punish Germany

Georges Clemenceau

the French Prime Minister during World War I, known for his strong leadership and desire to impose heavy reparations on Germany and create a demilitarized zone in the Rhineland after the war.

War Guilt Clause

a provision in the Treaty of Versailles that assigned responsibility for World War I to Germany, requiring it to accept blame and pay reparations.

Land Cessions

territorial losses imposed on Germany and its allies after World War I, specifically outlined in the Treaty of Versailles.

Emile Zola

A prominent French novelist and journalist, known for his role in the literary movement of naturalism and his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair, advocating for justice and truth.

University of Hanoi

A higher education institution in Vietnam, known for its significant role in the education system and contributions to research and scholarship; closed by the French, exacerbating anti-colonial sentiments

Boers

Farmers of Dutch descent in South Africa, involved in conflicts such as the Boer Wars against British imperialism.

The Boxer Rebellion

A nationalist uprising in China from 1899 to 1901, aimed at ending foreign influence and missionary activity, resulted in intervention and massacre by an eight-nation alliance.

Dreadnoughts

A class of battleships introduced in the early 20th century, featuring large caliber guns and heavy armor, which revolutionized naval warfare.

Alliance of Teutonic Peoples

an alliance that Germany wanted to establish with Britain that could, together, defeat the “Latins” of Southern Europe (who he considered inferior)

The Young Turks

A revolutionary group in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aiming to modernize the Ottoman Empire, promote Turkish nationalism, and implement constitutional reforms; squashed revolts for self-rule in the Balkans

First Balkan War

Conflict from 1912 to 1913 between the Balkan League and the Ottoman Empire, resulting in territorial gains for the Balkan states.

Second Balkan War

Conflict from 1913 to 1914 involving Bulgaria against its former allies Serbia and Greece, leading to territorial losses for Bulgaria.

“Blank Check”

A promise of unconditional support given by Germany to Austria-Hungary, encouraging them to take a hard stance against Serbia after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Jean Jaures

French socialist leader and peace activist who was an advocate for workers' rights and opposed World War I. He was assassinated in 1914 while campaigning for peace.

Schlieffen Plan

A military strategy devised by Germany in World War I, aiming to quickly defeat France through a rapid invasion via Belgium before turning to fight Russia.

Otto Dix

A German painter and printmaker known for his vivid and critical depictions of the brutal realities of World War I, influencing the movement of Expressionism.

Emperor Karl

I of Austria, the last Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who reigned during World War I and sought peace negotiations.

Sacred Union

A political strategy during World War I where various political parties and groups in France set aside their differences to support the war effort and promote national unity.

Treaty of Saint-Germaine-en-Laye

A 1919 treaty that formally ended the state of war between the Allied Powers and Austria after World War I, redrawing the map of Central Europe and imposing territorial losses on Austria.

hyperinflation

an economic situation where prices rise uncontrollably, often due to excessive money supply. It significantly devalues currency, leading to severe economic instability; endured by Germany post-WWI when they printed paper money as a response to having to pay reparations

Dawes Plan

1. decreed that Germany pay only the reparations it could afford

2. invested a large sum of USD into the German economy

Kelogg-Brandt Pact

An agreement that aimed to outlaw war as a means of resolving disputes between nations, signed in 1928 by numerous countries including the United States.

overproduction

when WWI ended in 1918, farmers didn’t decrease their production and thereby saturated the market with goods for which there were no buyers; served as a cause of WWII

speculation

the practice of buying assets with the hope that they will increase in value, often contributing to economic instability; US citizens had done this a lot, but the stock market crashed and therefore the US could not afford to finance Europe

Great Depression

a severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s, characterized by massive unemployment, bank failures, and drastic declines in output and investment.

John Maynard Keynes

a British economist who argued that government spending is the mechanism which will increase consumer demand and thus lift and economy out of depression; adopted by Franklin Roosevelt

Franklin Roosevelt

the 32nd President of the United States, who led the country during the Great Depression and World War II, implementing Keynesian systems to spend a large sum of government money to put Americans to work on government projects