history WWII

Treaty of Versailles and Its Impact on Germany

The Treaty of Versailles was an agreement with the allies to put all the blame for WW1 on Germany. They developed rules for the Germans, and provoked them to pay for the damages. This made the Germans mad and caused them Hyperinflation.

the great depression

The Great Depression was caused by major inflation and a stock market crash in the US. Value of stocks went from 27 billion to 87 billion. Most jobs were cut which created social and political problems. 

Radical Totalitarianism

-Led by a dictator

-Rejected parliaments and liberal ideas

-Sought control over everything

Fascism

-Extreme expansionist, nationalist, and antisocialist

-Aligned with powerful capitalists and landowners

-Violent, glorifies war and the military

Problems in Italy pre-WW2

They were weak politically and economically after World War I.  They were also bitter that they did not receive more in the aftermath of World War I

Nazi Ideology and Racial Beliefs

-To build a German Empire and establish the superiority of the Aryan land.

-Maintaining racial purity

-Believing that Jews were a threat and the reason the Germans lost the first World War. 

how Hitler rose to power

-Economic Recovery

-For the masses, greater equality, and more opportunities

-A German Empire

-Propaganda

Appeasement

A diplomatic strategy that involves making concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict.

reasons for appeasement

-Guilt over the Treaty of Versailles

-Pacifism following WW1

-A greater fear of communism

-Underestimation of Hitler

Blitzkrieg

A military tactic by Nazi Germany in WW2. Involved in fast moving tanks, aircraft, and infantry. Aimed to overwhelm enemies quickly and by surprise.

Invasion of Poland

The invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939 marked the beginning of World War II

holocaust

The state-sponsored persecution and mass murder of millions of europeans Jews, Romani people, the intellectually disabled, political dissidents, and  the undesirables by the German Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945

battle of statingrad

90,000 German soldiers surrendered to the soviet union. As a turning point of the war in the East, the Germans did not launch or win any more battles in the East.

D-day

Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and began the invasion of West Europe and the liberation of France. Despite brutal German resistance, 2 million allied soldiers occupied France by July.

attack on Pearl Harbor

The Japanese attacked America at Pearl Harbor in order to cripple the American fleet.  This attack brought the United States into World War II

battle of Midway

The US navy defeated the Japanese attack against Midway atoll. Considered a turning point in the Pacific War.

atomic bombing of Japan

The atomic bombs that were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These bombings made the Japanese surrender and an Allies victory.

the united nations

was a way to bring all sorts of countries together to create world peace and security. Replaced the pre-existing League of Nations which proved weak and ineffective.

Benito Mussolini

He was an Italian prime minister and ruled as a Fascist. He was an inspiration to Adolf Hitler.

Joseph Stalin

believed that instead of focusing on other countries, he should focus on the problems in Russia. Was the leader of the first Communist country (Soviet Union)

Hideki Tojo

Tojo believed that the army was the most important thing in Japan. He engaged in aggressive imperialism and overall affected Japan.  He was an ardent militarist and believed the only way Japan could earn the world's respect was through expansion.

Adolf Hitler

Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945

Franklin Roosevelt

He was the president of the U.S. during WWII. He was part of the Grand Alliance between Russia and Britain and helped create the plan of Europe First.