world war 2 study guide

Who was Joseph Stalin?

The leader of the Soviet Union from the mid 1920’s to 1953, known for the defeat of Nazi Germany in the battle of Stalingrad.

What was the Holocaust?

A genocide that killed 6 million Jews by Nazi Germany from 1941-1945, led by Adolf Hitler.

Who was Winston Churchill?

The Prime Minister of the UK during World War II, known for his role in creating the Allied powers.

What is totalitarianism?

A political system where the government has full control over everyone's lives.

What is genocide?

A systematic killing of a large group of people.

What was the Battle of Midway?

A battle between Japan and the United States from June 4th to June 7th, 1942, where the US won, sinking 4 Japanese aircraft.

Who was Benito Mussolini?

A fascist leader of Italy from 1922-1943, known for creating the fascist powers and working with Hitler during World War II.

Who was Adolf Hitler?

The dictator of Nazi Germany from 1934-1945, known for starting World War II by invading Poland and leading the Holocaust.

What was the significance of Iwo Jima?

The island where the major battle of World War II, the Battle of Iwo Jima, took place between the US and Japan from February 19 to March 26, 1945.

What is fascism?

A political ideology characterized by a leader wanting total control over the government and society.

What are Kamikaze pilots?

Japanese pilots during World War II who carried out suicide missions by crashing their planes into enemy territory.

What is a non-aggression pact?

An agreement between two or more countries promising not to attack each other in war.

Who was A. Philip Randolph?

A black civil rights leader known for pressuring President Roosevelt to ban discrimination in government jobs.

Who was Robert Oppenheimer?

The scientist who created the atomic bomb during World War II.

What was the War Production Board?

The agency that organized the production of war materials and supplies during World War II.

What was the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps?

A US military organization that allowed women to contribute to the war effort.

What cities were devastated by atomic bombs?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the cities where the US dropped atomic bombs, killing thousands.

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

A peace agreement that ended World War I and limited Germany, contributing to the start of World War II.

What is the G.I. Bill?

A law passed to help soldiers return to society after the war.

What were the Nuremberg Trials?

Multiple trials where Nazi officials were prosecuted for war crimes, including genocide.

Who was Neville Chamberlain?

The British Prime Minister who signed the Munich Agreement and appeased Hitler.

What was the Battle of the Bulge?

A battle that occurred in December 1944, marking Germany's last major attempt to win World War II.

What was the Manhattan Project?

The secret code name for the project that developed the atomic bombs the US would use in World War II.

Who was Douglas MacArthur?

An American general who led the allied powers in island-hopping campaigns against Japan.

Who was Dwight Eisenhower?

The man overseeing the preparation for D-Day.

Who was Franklin Roosevelt?

The president during most of World War II who led the country through the Great Depression and the war.

What is appeasement?

Giving in to what a country wants in order to maintain peace.

What was D-Day?

The Allied powers' invasion of Normandy, France on June 16, 1944, marking the beginning of the end for the Nazis.

Who was Fred Korematsu?

A civil rights activist who fought against Japanese-American internment during World War II.

What is a concentration camp?

A place where people are held against their will, often for political or discriminatory reasons.

Who was George Patton?

An American general known for his bold tactics and for leading a successful march through France.

What is rationing?

When the government limits the amount of goods people can buy.

What is a ghetto?

An area where a group of people is forced to live under poor conditions.

Who was Erwin Rommel?

A German general known as the 'Desert Fox,' famous for commanding the Afrika Korps.

What was the Lend-Lease Act?

A policy that allowed the US to provide loans and war supplies to Allied powers.

What is anti-semitism?

Hatred and discrimination directed against Jews.

What was Kristallnacht?

A violent attack against Jews in Nazi Germany, marked by the destruction of homes and businesses.

Who was Hideki Tojo?

The Prime Minister of Japan who planned the Pearl Harbor attacks.

What is a pogrom?

A violent attack against a specific group of people.

Who was Harry Truman?

The president during the last few months of World War II who decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan.

Who was Francisco Franco?

The dictator of Spain who kept Spain neutral during World War II.

What is blitzkrieg?

A military tactic used by Germany meaning 'lightning war,' characterized by quick and powerful attacks.

when was battle of the bulge