Defeat of Axis Powers

Why did the Allies target Italy as the "soft underbelly" of Europe?

It was the logical next step after winning North Africa and provided an entry point into Nazi-occupied Europe via the Mediterranean.

On what date did the Allied invasion of Sicily begin?

July 1943.

How many days did it take for Allied forces to defeat the Axis in Sicily?

38 days.

What was the deception plan used to trick Hitler into moving his troops away from Sicily?

Operation Mincemeat.

On what date was Mussolini overthrown and arrested by a new Italian government?

July 24, 1943.

On what date did the Allies reach the port of Messina, and how many German troops had already withdrawn to the mainland?

August 17, 1943; over 100,000 troops.

What were the casualty statistics for the Allied invasion of Sicily?

25,000 American, British, and Canadian casualties.

What was the name of the German defensive line that halted the Allied progress at Monte Cassino?

The Gustav Line.

When did the Battle of Monte Cassino take place?

January to May 1944.

What were the casualty totals for the Allies and Germans during the Battle of Monte Cassino?

Allies: 105,000 casualties; Germans: 80,000 men.

Why was the Allied progress through Italy so slow?

Harsh winter weather (mud and snow); mountainous terrain where Germans held the high ground; and the Allied bombing of the monastery creating a perfect defensive ruin for the Germans.

Why did the Allies delay opening a "Second Front" in the West until 1944?

The British army had not recovered from the 1940 defeat; the US was still expanding its force and fighting Japan; and the Dieppe Raid (August 1942) disaster proved German coastal defenses were too strong.

What was the Atlantic Wall?

A massive system of coastal fortifications built by Hitler along the western coast of Europe to prevent an Allied invasion.

In what year did the German economy switch entirely to "Total War" production?

1943 (following the defeat at Stalingrad).

Why did Hitler invent Fanta in 1940?

To maintain German morale after US supplies to Coca-Cola were cut off due to the war.

On what date did the Red Army begin its final attack on Berlin?

April 16, 1945.

On what date did Adolf Hitler commit suicide in his bunker?

April 30, 1945.

On what date did Berlin officially fall to the Soviets?

May 2, 1945.

How many people died in the final Battle for Berlin?

300,000 Berliners and almost 100,000 Red Army soldiers.

What is the date of VE Day (Victory in Europe)?

May 8, 1945.

What were the main reasons for Germany's military collapse?

Being overwhelmed by Soviet manpower and US industrial production; failure of the Luftwaffe to protect supply lines; and Hitler’s refusal to allow his generals tactical initiative.

What was the "Island Hopping" tactic?

Skipping heavily fortified islands to seize less-defended locations that could serve as airbases for the next advance toward the Japanese mainland.

When was the Battle of Guadalcanal, the first Allied land offensive against Japan?

August 1942 to February 1943.

Why was Guadalcanal strategically significant?

It was central for controlling shipping lanes in the Pacific and provided a vital airfield (Henderson Field).

How many Japanese troops and Kamikaze pilots were ready to defend the mainland by 1945?

4 million troops and 5,000 Kamikaze pilots.

How many casualties did Allied advisors project if a full-scale invasion of Japan occurred?

At least 1 million.

How many people were made homeless by the conventional bombing of Japanese cities between March and August 1945?

22 million.

On what date did Soviet troops attack Japanese forces in Manchuria?

August 8, 1945.

What were the casualty figures for the atomic bombings?

120,000 civilians dead within four days; radiation caused further deaths later.

What are the arguments FOR using the Atomic Bomb?

To end the war quickly; to save 1 million Allied lives; and to stop Soviet expansion into the Far East.

What are the arguments AGAINST using the Atomic Bomb?

It targeted civilians; Japan was already near defeat; and it was used as a "warning" to Stalin, starting the Cold War arms race.

How long did the US occupation and rebuilding of Japan last?

From 1945 to 1952.

Why did General MacArthur insist that Emperor Hirohito remain on the throne?

To secure the surrender of all Japanese forces and avoid making the public bitter about the defeat.

What were the Nuremberg Trials?

Trials of 22 leading Nazi officials for "crimes against humanity," a new category of crime created after the discovery of the Holocaust.

How long did the Nuremberg trials last and how much evidence was examined?

216 days; 100,000 documents, 25,000 photographs, and extensive film footage.

What was the result of the Nuremberg trials for the top Nazi leaders?

12 were sentenced to death; 3 to life imprisonment (Goering committed suicide before execution).

How did the Soviets' treatment of their occupation zone in Germany differ from the Western Allies?

They stripped 1,900 industrial plants and took goods worth $30 billion (tripling the $10 billion agreed upon) to pay for their own war damage.

What was the "Denazification" process for the German public?

Civilians had to answer questionnaires about their involvement; they were categorized as major offenders, offenders, followers, or exonerated.

How did the Tokyo War Crimes Trials differ from Nuremberg?

They assessed a longer period (1931–1945) and involved 11 judges from different countri