World War 2

What event is considered the start of World War II in Europe?

Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.

Who were the primary nations that formed the Axis Powers?

Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Who were the major Allied Powers during World War II?

Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France (though largely occupied).

What was the strategic significance of the Battle of Britain?

It was a prolonged aerial campaign in 1940 where the Royal Air Force successfully defended the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force (Luftwaffe), preventing a planned German invasion.

What was Operation Barbarossa?

The codename for Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, launched on June 22, 1941, marking a massive expansion of the war in the East.

What event brought the United States into World War II?

The surprise attack by the Japanese navy on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

What was D-Day?

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, which began the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.

Why was the Battle of Stalingrad a turning point on the Eastern Front?

It was one of the bloodiest battles in history, where the Soviet Union decisively defeated German forces, halting their eastward advance and beginning the German retreat.

What was the "Final Solution"?

Nazi Germany's systematic genocide of European Jews during the Holocaust.

Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for most of World War II?

Winston Churchill.

What was the significance of the Battle of Midway?

A decisive naval battle in June 1942 where the U.S. Navy inflicted irreparable damage on the Japanese fleet, marking a turning point in the Pacific Theater.

What event led to Japan's unconditional surrender and the end of World War II?

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) by the United States.

What was V-E Day?

Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking the formal acceptance by the Allies of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender.

What international organization was formed after WWII to promote peace and prevent future wars?

The United Nations (UN).

What ideology drove the expansionist policies of Nazi Germany?

Nazism, a form of fascism that included extreme nationalism, racism (especially antisemitism), and totalitarian control.

Who became the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II?

Joseph Stalin.

What was the Maginot Line?

A line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany and provide time for French mobilization.

What was the Blitz?

The sustained bombing of the United Kingdom by Nazi Germany between 1940 and 1941, particularly targeting London and other industrial cities.

What was the Lend-Lease Act?

A program under which the United States supplied the Allied nations with food, oil, and materiel between 1941 and 1945.

What was the Manhattan Project?

A top-secret research and development undertaking by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons.

Who was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe?

General Dwight D. Eisenhower.