Week 12- World War II and the Holocaust

What was the Spanish Civil War and when did it occur?

A bloody and brutal war from 1936 to 1939, marked by increasing violence and systematic killings, with significant involvement from foreign powers.

Which foreign powers supported the nationalists in the Spanish Civil War?

Fascist Germany and Italy sent military supplies, soldiers, and bombs targeting civilians.

What was the significance of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War?

It was the first mass civilian target bombed by German planes.

What was Germany's action in violation of the Versailles Treaty upon Hitler's rise to power?

Germany began to rearm in secret and then openly in 1935.

What was the goal of Hitler's policy of 'Lebensraum'?

To reunite all Germans within German borders and expand the territory for living space.

When did Hitler remilitarize the Rhineland, and why was it significant?

In 1936, it was a direct violation of the Versailles Treaty, demonstrating Germany's aggression.

What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

A non-aggression treaty signed on August 23, 1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

What led to the invasion of Poland by Germany?

Germany invaded Poland under the agreements of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, which included a promise from the Soviet Union not to attack.

What happened during the Battle of Stalingrad?

It was a brutal battle lasting 6 months, involving over 2 million soldiers, marking a turning point as the Soviets began to push back.

What was Operation Bagration?

A major Soviet offensive from June 22 to August 19, 1944, resulting in significant gains against German forces.

What was the significance of the Nuremberg Trials?

They were held to punish those deemed responsible for the war, with 12 German military officials executed.

What humanitarian crisis followed the end of World War II in Europe?

Europe became a continent of displaced persons, with 50 million refugees and ethnic cleansing targeting Germans after the war.

What were the conditions of Jews in Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland

Many were killed in gas chambers, and survivors faced forced labor, with children often killed upon arrival.

What was 'The Final Solution,' to the “Jewish Question” and how was it implemented?

The Nazis' plan to systematically murder the Jewish population, resulting in the deaths of 6 million Jews.

What was the result of the German invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941?

It led to brutal battles, including Moscow and Stalingrad, fundamentally changing the course of the war.

What was the impact of the Battle of Kursk?

It was the largest tank battle in history, involving 6000 tanks and 2 million soldiers.

What did Stalin receive as reparations to WWII?

• Stalin expected to be compensated for the mass destruction Soviets faced 

• Insisted on a buffer zone 

• These states got stalinized and turned into Satellite States under the Soviet Union influence (Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Albania, and East Germany)