World war 2

Anschluss

Anschluss

Union of Germany and Austria in 1933

Appeasement

Policy of granting concessions in order to keep peace

Anti-Semitism

Hatred of and discrimination against Jews

Atlantic Charter

Pact signed by Great Britain and the united States that endorsed certain principles for building a lasting peace and establishing free gove

Bataan Death March

During world war II, the forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war under brutal conditions led by the Japanese military

Battle of Coral Sea

World war II battle that took place of war under brutal conditions led by advance in the pacific

Battle of the Bulge

lost major German offense on the western Front during world war II: it was an unsuccessful attempt to push back the Allies that crippled German by forcing it to use more resources than it could afford

Battle of Midway

Turning point of world War II in the pacific, in which the Japanese advance was stopped

Blitzkrieg

“lighting war” that emphasized the use of speed and firepower to penetrate deep into the enemy’s territory.

Bracero program

Plan that brought laborers from Mexico to work on American farms

Omar Bradley

(1893-1981) was a U.S. Army officer who in World War II commanded Allied troops in North Africa, leading them to victory in the campaign. He led his forces in the invasion of Sicily and helped plan the invasion of Normandy. From the Normandy invasion to the end of the war, Bradley commanded the massive U.S. ground forces attacking Germany from the west over 1 million troops in all. After World War II, he served as chief of staff of the Army and as the first Chairman of the U.S. Joint chiefs of staff

Neville Chamberlain

(1869-1940) was prime minister of Great Britain from 1937-1940. To avoid war, he signed the Munich Pact with Germany, giving Hitler part of Czechoslovakia. The agreement became an infamous symbol for the failure of appeasement.

Winston Churchill

(1874-1965) was prime minister of Great Britain from1940-1945, Churchill inspired the British during World War II. After the war, he was not re-elected. However, he resumed again between 1951 to 1955. He strongly opposed the expansion of soviet communism, referring to nations under communism as being behind the “Iron Curtain”

Dwight Eisenhower

(1890-1969) was given command of All American forces in Europe in 1942. After strong performances in North Africa and Italy, he was made supreme commander of Allied Forces, His skillful respect handling of the D-Day invasion and the drive to Germany won wide respect. Eisenhower went to serve two terms as president before retiring.

Executive Oder 8802

World War II measure that assured fair hiring practices in any job funded by the government

Fascism

A political movement that stressed extreme nationalism and autocratic rule

442nd Regimental Combat Team

World War II unit made up of Japanese American volunteers

Holocaust

The Nazi attempt to kill all Jews under their control

Island-hopping

World War II strategy that involved seizing selected Japanese-held islands in the pacific while by passing others

Iwo Jima

During February and March 1945, united states and Japan had a fierce 36 day battle with more than 23,00 casualties. It ended with the Allies taking the island

Kamikaze

Japanese pilots who deliberately crashed planes into American ships during World war II

Kristallnacht

“Night of the Broken Glass,” organized attacks on Jewish communities in Germany on November 9, 1938

Lend-Lease Act

Act passed in 1941 that allowed President Roosevelt to sell or lend war supplies to any country whose defense he considered vital to the safety of the United States

Douglas MacArthur

(1880-1964) commanded American troops in World war I, where he developed a reputation (1942-19445) he accepted Japan’s surrender to end World War II. In 1950, he became commander of UN forces in the Korean war. He retired after his controversial removal from command in 1951, following a dispute with Harry Truman

George Marshall

(1880-1959) became the army’s chief of staff 1939. Marshall used his quiet strength, negotiating skills, and planning genius to build a fighting force as quickly as possible. As secretary of state after the war, he devised a plan of aid, called the Marshall plan, to help western Europe recover. In 1950, he returned as secretary of Defense at the start of the Korean war and helped to prepare the army one more time

Manhattan Project

Code name of the U.S. government research project that developed the atomic bomb

Munich Pact

Agreement between Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France in 1938 that sacrificed the Sudetenland to preserve peace

Benito Mussolini

(1883-1945) was a fascist leader and dictator of Italy between 1922-1945. He was called II Duce(“the leader”) and established a totalitarian dictatorship that promoted extreme nationalism. During his dictatorship Italy invaded Ethiopia and partnered with Germany during World War II

Neutrality Act of 1939

Act that allowed nations at war to buy goods and arms in the united states if they paid cash and carried the merchandise on their own ships

Chester Nimitz

(1885-1966) took command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, under his leadership, the U.S. forces won victories at midway, Tarawa, Marianas, and Iwo Jima, among other places. Nimitz’s quiet leadership was key to the American victory in the Pacific during World War II.

Office of War Information (OWI)

Government agency that encourage support of the war effort during World War II.

Okinawa

Island that contained vital airbase to invade Japan, on April 1945 USA brought half a million troops and 1,213 warships to capture it. It was captured by USA but with about 50,00 casualties

Oppenheimer J. Robert

American Physicist (1904-1976) was the director of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. government research project during World War II that produced the first atomic bombs. After the war, he became head of the Institute for Advanced Study in New Jersey, a center for theoretical research

Patton George S. Jr

A colorful personality and a forceful leader greatly admired by troops under his command, (1885-1945) commanded U.S. tanks during World War I and quickly demonstrated his skill at leading mobile fighting units. During World War II, he led U.S. troops in North Africa and Europe, sweeping rapidly across France and Germany in the closing months of the war

Pearl Harbor

american military base attacked by the Japanese on December 7. 1941

Hideki Tojo

(1884-1948) became Japan’s prime minister in October of 1941 when plans were already underway to attack the united states Navy at Pearl Harbor. He led Japan until July 1944. After the war, he was tried for war crimes and hanged in December 1948.

A. Philip Randolph

(1889-1979) was a strong labor leader and leader of the Civil rights movement for decades. In 1925, he became head of the Brotherhood of sleeping car porters. After more than a decade of battling, he got the pullman corporation to sign the first contract in history between a major company and a predominantly African American labor union. Next Randolph turned his attention to discrimination in war industries, convincing President Roosevelt to issue Executive order 8802 in 1941. After the war, he persuaded president Truman to pass another executive order banning discrimination in the military. Randolph was a driving force behind the 1963 march on Washington

Spanish Civil War

War in which Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco rebelled against the democratic Republican government of Spain

Stanlingrad

Hitler wanted to capture the soviet city but the soviet troops wouldn’t let them and German troops surrendered on January 31, 1943. This was the true turning point, ending Hitler’s plan to dominate Europe. Germans forced to retreat back to Germany, Soviet union now on offense

Tripartite Pact

Agreement that created an alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan during World War II

Harry S. Truman

(1884-1972) was president of the united states from 1945-1953. Truman took office after Franklin Roosevelt’s death and led the nation during the final month of World War II, making the decision to use atomic weapons against Japan. In the early years of the Cold war, Truman worked to rebuild Europe and to oppose the spread of communism. When communist North Korea Invaded south Korean in 1950, beginning to Korean war, Truman sent American troops into the conflict.

Tuskegee Airmen

African American squadron that escorted bombers in the war over Europe during World War II

Women’s Army Corps (WAC)

United States Army group established during World War II so that women could serve in non-combat roles.