9.3 World War 2

Where and when was the Treaty of Versailles drafted?

Paris at a conference starting 18th of January 1919.

When was the Treaty of Versailles submitted to Germany, and when were counterproposals submitted?

7th of May, and 29th of May (all rejected).

When did Germany sign the Treaty of Versailles, and what forced them to?

The Allies threatening to restart the war, signed on 28th of June.

What was George Clemenceau's main ambitions?

Make Germany pay and for France to take Alsace-Lorraine & Rhineland.

What was Vittorio Orland's main ambitions?

For Italy to take the Adriatic Coast.

What was Woodrow Wilson's main ambitions?

Impose his 14 points, particularly creating the League of Nations.

What was David Lloyd George's main ambitions?

Allow Germany to recover and demilitarise Rhineland.

What was the Ludendorff Offensive?

Once Russia was defeated, Germany took troops from East to West in early 1918, aiming to break stalemate before USA troops arrived.

When did Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate, and when did the Allies defeat Germany?

8th of November, with the Allies defeating Germany on 11th of November 1918.

What was the 'war guilt' cause?

Article 231, where Germany accepted sole blame for causing WWI.

How much in reparations was Germany forced to pay?

6600 million pounds.

What were Germany's military restrictions?

100 000 volunteer army, 15 000 navy with 6 ships, no submarines, air force, heavy artillery, poison gas, tanks, or troops in Rhineland.

What did Germany lose because of war guilt?

Many overseas colonies, 16% of coal and 10% of land, and ability to make alliance with Austria.

What did the German people refer to the signers of the Treaty of Versailles, and what is its significance?

'November criminals', who were very hated and eventually caused the Weimer Republic to be overthrown.

What was the Roaring 20’s?

A time of excess, positivity, technological advancements, Jazz, culture, and increased women’s rights (due in part to ‘flappers’).

What was the Great Depression?

Economic downturn, widespread poverty and unemployment, low wages, businesses collapse.

What was the effect of the Great Depression on the Weimar Republic?

Weakened their reign, leading to the rise of the Nazi party.

What was the effect of the Great Depression on women?

More women had to work out of necessity, leading to revolution in their right’s.

What is fascism?

Extremely nationalistic, militaristic, and totalitarian viewpoint that puts the interests of the state first. Believes in private ownership.

What are the causes of fascism throughout the interwar years?

Great Depression, fear of communism, and extreme nationalism.

What is communism, and how does Soviet communism differ?

Classless society with no private ownership. Soviet communism was a little more totalitarian.

What is Nazism?

Form of fascism with extreme nationalism and totalitarian views, emphasising superiority of ‘Aryans’, anti-semitism, and need for lebensraum in Europe.

What is anti-semitism?

Hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people.

What is lebensraum, and how does it relate to WWII?

‘Living space’, which the Germans believed they deserved in Europe.

What was Beer Hall Putsch?

Failed coup from Hitler to take power in 1923. However, it gave him a platform to voice his ideas.

When does Hitler become Germany’s leader, and through what party?

1933, through the Nazi party (National Socialist German Workers Party).

What did Hitler promise that made him so popular?

Better economic state of Germany, restoring the country’s greatness and having one German country.

How did Hitler improve national moral?

Unveiling huge air force and spending millions on works that created nationalism and improved unemployment.

What were the Nuremberg Laws?

Laws that prohibited Jews from having citizenship, access to restaurants and schools, and segregated them.

How was someone determined a Jew, and how were they identified in Germany?

If their grandparents were Jewish, and they had to wear a yellow scarf at all times.

What were the enabling acts?

Allowed Hitler to enact new laws without German parliament.

When did Germany reoccupy Rhineland, and what is its significance?

7 March 1936, proving the Allies wouldn’t enforce the rules they set out in the Treaty of Versailles.

When did Austria re-join with Germany?

13 March 1938.

When did Germany invade Czechoslovakia, and what happened afterwards?

30 September 1938, British & France PM’s sign the Munich Agreement, essentially giving them Czechoslovakia in exchange for stopping their invasions.

Why did France & Britain give Germany Czechoslovakia?

Because they were in no economic state to fight again, and they believed Germany was treated poorly so this could make up for that.

What was Kristallnacht?

‘Night of broken glass’ where many Jewish shops and temples were looted and destroyed, and Jews were executed in Germany.

When was Kristallnacht?

9 November, 1938.

When was the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed, what did it say, and what was its significance?

23 August 1939, also called Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, said that they would split Poland and not fight each other.

When does Hitler invade Poland, and when does Britain and France declare war?

1 September 1939 invasion, 3 September declaration of war.

What is the significance of the 1922 March on Rome?

March on Rome, conducted by ‘Blackshirts’, saw Mussolini take power, legally, through being made PM by the King.

Why did Italy turn to fascism?

Bad economy, fear of communism, weak democratic foundations, and a bruised national pride because of lost land.

What did Mussolini do once he took power?

Abolished democracy, implemented secret police, censored media, used propaganda, outlawed unions, and aligned himself with industrialists and Hitler.

What is Mein Kampf?

A book written by Hitler emphasising a distinction in race, the damage done by Treaty of Versailles, and his need for political power through propaganda.

Why did America never join the league of nations?

Because Congress voted no, as they didn’t want to be drawn into foreign conflicts.

Why did Japan start militarisation?

Growing nationalism and fear of aggression, due to distrust with US over unequal treaty.

What was the Meiji restoration?

Reforming Japanese political and military systems to European styles.

What happened in 1905 in relation to Japan?

Defeated Russia - first Asian country to defeat European power.

Who did the Japanese believe they were descended from, and what is the significance?

Shinto Gods - made them racially superior.

Who was the Japanese emperor supposedly descended from?

Amaterasu.

What did the government and education system do in Japan?

Regulated media to avoid uprising and education instilled militarism.

What happened on 18th September 1931?

Japanese Imperial Army set off bombs, framing Chinese and invading Manchuria.

What happened on 15th May 1932?

Japanese Imperial Army assassinated PM, with the military taking over.

When did Japan withdraw from the League of Nations?

1933

What was the Anti-Comintern?

An anti-communist agreement Japan signed with Germany (1936) and Italy (1937) to counter growing communist influences.

When did Japan invade China?

1937

When did Japan invade French Indochina, and for what reason?

1940, due to stalling war with China.

When did Japan sign treaty with Germany and Italy, forming the Axis powers?

1940

When was the Pearl Harbour attack, and what was its goal?

1941, knock out America before it could join in the Pacific.

Why did Australia join WWII?

To support Great Britain and counter German aggression.

Why did Australia support appeasement, and did they support the war?

Due to WWI impacts, however eventually did support the war.

When did Australia declare war on Japan, and for what reason?

1941 to support US, seeing this as the only hope against Japan.

When was the second AIF formed?

1939

Who joined the AIF in WWII?

The unemployed, people who supported Britain, sons of Gallipoli veterans, or veterans themselves.

How many Indigenous Australians served, and when were they actively recruited?

3000, actively recruited from 1942.

What determined if Indigenous Australians were treated equally?

Served alongside white Australians they were equal, all-Indigenous units received half pay. Had to serve overseas for full veteran benefits.

Did newspapers and political parties support the war in Australia, and what group didn’t?

Yes, for the most part they did, however pacifist groups, like Jehovah’s Witness, didn’t support it.

What was the view of the war in 1939 Australia?

It was a ‘phoney war’ due to no real combat.

When did Germany launch Biltzkrieg, and what was its significance?

June 1940, and by September Britain was the only country left standing.

What caused Australian fear of invasion, and what was the response?

Japan entering the war, evacuation of civilians from Northern Australia and government controls.

What are some examples of government controls in WWII Australia?

No weekday sporting events, personal identity cards, higher pay and enlistment opportunities for women.

How much of male pay did women get at the start of the war, and did this increase?

54%, increased to 70%.

Describe how women were able to do farm work through government organisations?

Initially CWA, which AWLA took over. Farmer paid for work and women could travel around as needed for maximum 12 months.

How many women enlisted in military?

80 000, however only 5% served overseas due to concerns of it damaging their femininity.

What did women do in the WAAAF, and how many joined?

They were trained telegraph operators, with 18 000 women by 1944.

What did women do in the RAAFNS, and where did they serve?

Nurses, rescuing servicemen from New Guinea and Indonesia.

How many recruits did the AWAS have, and what did they do?

31 000 recruits, taking communications and transport responsibilities, and 100 served in Cowra when Japanese prisoners broke out in 1944, and 500 served in New Guinea.

What did the voluntary aid detachments evolve into?

The AAMWS, with 10 000 women.

What was notable about the AANS?

Only nurses to serve overseas, beginning with Palestine.

What were some of the losses the AANS experienced?

65 escaped Singapore when the Japanese sunk the ship in February 1942. May 1943 11 nurses died when a Japanese submarine was sunk.

When was the National Security Act enacted?

9 September 1939.

What were manpower controls?

Government dictating where people could work.

What were rationing controls?

Limiting how much food, gas, and other resources people could have.

How were breaches of rationing controls penalised?

Fines.

What was the state of the Australian army when the war started?

Depleted with only 300 men.

What was the citizen military force like when the war started?

80 000 men, but under-equipped and a poor reputation.

What was the RAAF like when the war started?

3500 men, but lacked effective aircraft.

What was the navy like when the war started?

5400 men, four light cruisers, two heavy cruisers, which were modern.

When did compulsory training start, and what did it entail?

1940, with unmarried men turning 21 undertaking 3 months training with the CMF.

Where was the compulsory service zone?

South-West Pacific Zone, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, east Java, Southern Borneo, and various islands up to the equator.

Who was censorship controlled by?

The Department of Information, headed by Keith Murdoch.

What did censorship do?

Prevent secrets from falling into enemy hands and keep public morale high.

How did censorship work?

Checked letters and ensured media produced positive reports on the war.

When did France fall, and what happened after?

June 1940, then Hermann Goering on June 30 gave the order for the RAF to battle the British.

What did the Blitzkrieg strategy involve?

Stuka bombers softening the enemy, sending tanks in after enemy has retreated, and then tank attacks supported by artillery.

What were the impacts from the Battle of Britain?

Deaths, damaged infrastructure, financial strain, rationing, but ‘Blitz Spirit’ (shared spirit and comradery), prevented German invasion, and Britain as the Allied base.

What are Maginot lines, and did they work?

French ‘super trenches’ with steel reinforced concrete bunkers, artillery posts, machine guns, bulletproof metal plates, barbed wires, tank traps. No, German forces bypassed it through forested Belgium region.

What is notable about codebreakers during WWII?

British codebreakers, specifically Alan Turing, developed the bombe that could break sophisticated German code.