WWII

Who were the leaders of major countries during WWII?

Josef Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Hideki Tojo, Emperor Hirohito, Winston Churchill

What were the 3 Axis Powers?

Japan, Germany, Italy

Who were the major Allied Powers in WWII?

U.S., Soviet Union, China, France, Great Britain

What is a totalitarian government?

A nation in which a single party controls the government and every aspect of people’s lives.

When did WWII begin and end?

WWII began on September 1, 1939, and ended on September 2, 1945.

Define kamikaze.

A Japanese suicide pilot.

What was the Holocaust?

The genocide of Jews in Germany, where they were rounded up and sent to slave labor death camps.

What were the 3 Theaters of War in WWII?

Pacific, Atlantic/Europe, African.

Define Fascism.

A political system based on militarism, extreme nationalism, and blind loyalty to the state and its leader.

Define Communism.

An economic and political system based on the idea that social classes and the right to private property should be eliminated.

What event encouraged the rise of dictators?

The Great Depression.

What was the first Fascist country?

Italy.

Which country did Italy invade first?

Ethiopia.

Define appeasement.

A policy of giving in to aggression in order to avoid war.

What was the Munich Pact?

An agreement which allowed Germany to occupy the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in exchange for promises not to expand further.

What was the Nonaggression Pact?

A pact between USSR and Germany agreeing not to attack each other.

What were the Neutrality Acts?

Laws that forbade the president from giving arms, loans, or assistance to any nation involved in war.

What was the result of D-Day?

The liberation of France.

Who was the general responsible for the Philippines?

Douglas MacArthur.

What was the Bataan Death March?

The forced march of 70,000 soldiers over 65 miles to prison camps, resulting in many deaths.

What was significant about the Battle of Midway?

It was the second turning point in the Pacific Theater.

Where were the Nazi war crime trials held?

Nuremberg, Germany.

What was the Atlantic Charter?

A joint declaration by Roosevelt and Churchill outlining goals for post-war peace.

What cities were the atomic bombs dropped on?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What was the goal of the Tehran Conference?

To discuss the wartime strategy and postwar plans among the Allied leaders.

Which two major Allied countries held up fighting until the U.S. got involved?

Great Britain and the Soviet Union.

What factors caused problems in the USSR for Germany?

The harsh Russian winter and the Soviets destroying their supplies.

What was Hitler's big mistake during the invasion of the USSR?

Attacking too close to winter and failing to prepare for the harsh conditions.

What was the result of the fall of Italy?

Italy surrendered to the Allies after the defeat at El Alamein.

What was the significance of the Battle of Britain?

It marked Germany's failure to get Great Britain to surrender, leading to a shift in strategy.

Explain the significance of the Lend Lease Aid.

It allowed the U.S. to supply the Allies with military aid without direct involvement.

How did life change for women during WWII?

Women gained access to more jobs and better pay during the war.

What were war bonds and their purpose?

Citizens bought war bonds to finance the war effort and control inflation.