WWII

Treaty of Versailles

Post-World War I agreement that imposed heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

Appeasement

A diplomatic policy of making concessions to an aggressor in order to avoid war.

Totalitarian Regime

A political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

Blitzkrieg

A military doctrine involving a fast, coordinated attack using tanks, aircraft, and infantry to quickly overwhelm the enemy.

Maginot Line

A line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany.

Dunkirk

The location of a mass evacuation of British and Allied troops from continental Europe, a pivotal moment early in the war.

Luftwaffe

The aerial warfare branch of the German Wehrmacht during the conflict.

RAF

The aerial warfare force of the United Kingdom, crucial in defending against aerial attacks.

Bletchley Park

The principal centre of Allied codebreaking during the conflict.

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

An agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union that publicly pledged neutrality, while secretly dividing Eastern Europe.

Operation Barbarossa

The code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, marking the opening of the Eastern Front.

Battle of Stalingrad

A major battle on the Eastern Front, considered a turning point, where the German 6th Army surrendered.

Tojo Hideki

Prime minister of Japan during much of the conflict, representing the military's rise to political power.

Pearl Harbor

A surprise attack by Japan on a U.S. naval base, prompting the United States to enter the war.

D-Day (Operation Overlord)

The Allied amphibious assault on Normandy beaches, marking the start of the liberation of Western Europe.

VE Day

The day of Victory in Europe, marking the unconditional surrender of Germany.

Manhattan Project

A research and development undertaking during the war that produced the first nuclear weapons.

United Nations

An international organization founded after the war to promote peace, security, and cooperation.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies.

NATO

A military alliance formed by Western countries to provide collective security against the Soviet Union and its allies.

Warsaw Pact

A collective defense treaty established by the Soviet Union and several other communist states in Central and Eastern Europe.

Blitz

The sustained bombing of Britain by Germany, particularly targeting London.

Axis Powers

The alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during the conflict.

Racial Superiority (Japanese)

The belief that the Japanese race was destined to dominate Asia.

Scapegoating

The practice of blaming external powers or groups for economic problems and societal ills.

Propaganda

The systematic dissemination of biased information to promote a particular political cause or point of view.

Invasion of Poland

The event that triggered declarations of war by Britain and France, officially starting the conflict.

German 6th Army

A major German military force that was defeated and surrendered at Stalingrad.

Enola Gay

The B-29 bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Fat Man

The name of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki.

Nanjing Massacre

The mass murder and atrocities committed by Japanese troops against the residents of the capital of China.

Italian Campaign

The series of Allied military operations in Italy, aimed at removing Italy from the conflict and opening another front against Germany.

Island Hopping

A military strategy employed by the Allies in the Pacific War against Japan and the Axis powers.

Kamikaze

A Japanese military tactic of suicide attacks by pilots against Allied naval vessels, aiming to inflict maximum damage.

Lebensraum

The territory that a state or nation believes is needed for its natural development, especially associated with Nazi Germany.

Final Solution

A Nazi plan for the extermination of the Jewish people during the war.

Nuremberg Trials

A series of military tribunals held after the war by the Allied forces, prosecuting prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of Nazi Germany.

Yalta Conference

A wartime meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union to discuss Europe's post-conflict reorganization.

Potsdam Conference

A meeting of the Allied leaders to decide how to administer the defeated Nazi Germany, which had agreed to unconditional surrender nine weeks earlier.

Double V Campaign

A slogan and drive to promote the fight for democracy abroad and within the United States for African Americans during the conflict.

Rosie the Riveter

A cultural icon representing the American women who worked in factories and shipyards during the war.

Internment Camps

The forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans in the United States during the conflict.

Manchuria

A region in northeastern China invaded and occupied by Japan in 1931, leading to the establishment of a puppet state.

Singapore

A strategic British colony that fell to Japanese forces in 1942, marking a significant early victory for Japan in the Pacific.

Philippines

An archipelago nation in Southeast Asia captured by Japan in 1942, serving as a key strategic location in the Pacific theater.

The Holocaust

The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

VJ Day

The day of Victory over Japan, marking the end of the conflict.

Phoney War

A period of relative inactivity on the Western Front after the declaration of war, marked by fortification and anticipation.

Allied Powers

The alliance of Great Britain, United States, Soviet Union, and other nations that opposed the Axis powers.

Little Boy

The name of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Zoot Suit Riots

A series of racial attacks in 1943 in Los Angeles, California, during which American servicemen assaulted Latino and Mexican American youths who wore distinctive clothing.