History - WW2

What was the first move towards WW2? What was Britain and France’s responses?

Hitler rearmed Germany - Britain and France didn’t do anything.

What was the second move towards WW2? What was Britain and France’s responses?

Hitler moved troops into the Rhineland (area near French-German border). UK and France didn’t do anything.

What was the third move towards WW2? What was Britain and France’s responses?

Hitler declares a union between Germany and Austria, known as the Anschluss. Britain and France don’t respond.

Define appeasement.

To give into someone’s demands in the hope they will stop demanding.

What was the fourth move towards WW2? What was Britain and France’s responses?

Hitler demands a part of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland which used to be part of Germany. UK and France meet with Hitler and attempt to stop him from invading more nations - he agrees.

What was the fifth move towards WW2? What was Britain and France’s responses?

Hitler invades and conquers the whole of Czechoslovakia, despite agreeing not to. Britain and France don’t respond.

What was the last move towards WW2? What was Britain and France’s responses?

Hitler invaded Poland in September 1939, causing Britain and France to declare war on Germany, sparking WW2.

When did the invasion of Poland occur?

From September 1st to October 6th 1939.

What was Case White?

German plan to invade Poland from three sides - North and northeast from Prussia, west from East Germany, and south from Czechoslovakia.

How large was the Nazi invasion?

66% of all German infantry and 2000 planes.

What were the three consequences of the invasion of Poland?

Britain and France declare war on Germany on September 3rd.

800K Soviet troops enter Poland.

Poland is occupied on both sides - one by Nazi Germany, and the other by the USSR.

What was blitzkrieg?

A German war tactic - Luftwaffe first bombed enemy lines, causing confusion and panic. Tanks would then punch holes through enemy lines while giving cover to infantry. Infantry then eliminated remaining soldiers.

Why was Dunkirk considered a success (2 reasons)?

Many ships - from yachts to warships - saved many lives.

Britain is rich in heroes and anyone who could handle a boat didn’t hesitate to rescue people from Dunkirk.

Why was Dunkirk considered as a failure (2 reasons)?

Dunkirk was a defeat heavier than any army had suffered before - a great victory for the Germans.

2,500 guns, 84,500 vehicles, 77,000 tons of ammunition, 416,000 tons of supplies, 165,000 tons of petrol left behind. 68,000 soldiers also kille

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour because of misunderstandings (3 reasons)?

In 1941, the US was not ready for war.

The US didn’t want to fight Germany AND Japan.

The US wanted Japan to be seen making the first move.

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour due to Japan’s global expansions? (3 reasons).

Japan believed they should control Asia. They needed more land for the growing population.

In 1931, Japan invaded the Chinese region of Manchuria. War broke out in 1937 due to tension.

The US didn’t like the aggression and their relationship with Japan collapsed.

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour due to sanctions? (2 reasons).

Japan relied on the US for resources.

Japan signed treaty with Germany and Italy, which the US didn’t like; they applied economic sanctions and cut oil trading.

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour due to removing threats? (1 reason).

In 1940, the US had a very powerful navy, and most of it was based in Hawaii. Japan needed to remove that threat to conquer southeast Asia.

What happened at Pearl Harbour? (dates, casualties, military, etc.)

Sunday December 7th, 1941. Morning before 8am.

350 Japanese aircraft bombed Pearl Harbour. Raid lasted 75 minutes.

US lost 20 vessels, 340 planes, and 2400 lives.

Japanese only lost 29 planes.

Japan didn’t formally declare war.

US declared war on Japan on December 8th.

Why did Operation Barbarossa occur? (2 reasons).

Hitler wants global domination and ‘lebenraum’ (living space for the Aryan race) - only Russia in their way.

Hitler hated communism.

When did Operation Barbarossa begin?

June 22nd 1941

What was the first major target for the Germans in the Soviet Union?

Kyiv (present-day Ukraine).

Why did the German advance slow down in the winter of 1941? (4 reasons).

Unprepared for harsh winter.

Extreme cold (-40 C).

All supplies, e.g. oil, froze and solidified.

Military equipment failed - artillery failed to fire and tanks failed to move.

How did the Soviets slow the German advance?

Dug many ditches and trenches to slow tanks and troops.

Why was the Soviet Union victorious? (3 reasons).

Communist system meant personal sacrifice was built into society and that the state controlled the industry, so it could be mobilised effectively for war.

The USSR received many materials from the US in the lend-lease program.

New Soviet generals, e.g. Zhukov, gained experience quickly, and turned out to be very skilled.

What was D-Day?

British, French, Canadian and American forces attacked German forces in France by landing at the Normandy beaches.

When did D-Day occur?

June 6th, 1944.

What was the Atlantic Wall?

A series of defences on French beaches to stop the Allies from invading.

Name defences on the Atlantic Wall, and their use.

Belgian gates - 10-foot high steel-framed structures. Anti-tank mines attached to top.

Teller mines - posts angled seaward. Covered at high tide and placed 200yds from the shore.

Ramps - mine-tipped logs driven into the sand.

Hedgehogs - 6-foot high steel rails welded together. Ripped bottoms of landing craft at high tide.

Walls of barbed wire and minefields to slow advance.

Pillboxes and machine gun posts.

Concrete bunkers armed with 88mm guns.

What happened to Hitler before the fall of Berlin?

Hiding in his bombproof bunker under the Reich Chancellery. B