Interwar & World War II Test Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and events from the interwar period and World War II.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations on Germany.

Fourteen Points

A statement of principles for peace by President Woodrow Wilson to guide post-war negotiations.

The League of Nations

An international organization established after World War I aimed at promoting peace and cooperation.

Economy of the 1920s & 1930s

Characterized by growth and then the Great Depression, leading to widespread unemployment and hardship.

Global depression

The worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 with the stock market crash.

Rise of authoritarian governments

The emergence of dictatorial regimes in various countries during the interwar period.

Fascism

A far-right authoritarian ultranationalist political ideology and movement.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state.

Fascist Italy

The government of Italy under Benito Mussolini characterized by dictatorial power and strong nationalist policies.

Benito Mussolini

The Italian dictator and leader of the National Fascist Party.

Black Shirts

Paramilitary groups that supported Mussolini's Fascist regime in Italy.

Weimar Republic

The democratic government founded in Germany after World War I.

Nazi Germany

The period of German history when Adolf Hitler's National Socialist Party ruled from 1933 to 1945.

Appeasement

The policy of making concessions to dictatorial powers to avoid conflict.

German-Soviet Nonaggression pact

An agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 to not engage in military action against each other.

Adolf Hitler

The leader of Nazi Germany, known for his role in instigating World War II and the Holocaust.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Adolf Hitler outlining his political ideology and plans for Germany.

Lebensraum

The concept of 'living space' used by Hitler to justify territorial expansion.

Blitzkrieg

A military tactic involving rapid and surprise attacks to overwhelm the enemy, used by Germany in World War II.

Invasions of Czechoslovakia

The military interventions by Germany starting in 1938 that contributed to the onset of World War II.

Invasions of Poland

The 1939 invasion by Germany that marked the beginning of World War II.

Invasions of France

The campaigns in 1940 where Germany invaded and conquered France during World War II.

Invasions of USSR/Russia

The 1941 invasion by Germany that led to a crucial turning point in World War II.

Holocaust

The systematic extermination of six million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany.

Blaming the Jews & other 'undesirables'

The scapegoating of Jewish people and other marginalized groups by the Nazis.

V-1 and V-2 rockets

Early cruise and ballistic missiles developed by Germany used to attack Britain.

Axis Powers

The coalition of countries led by Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

‘Crown Jewel’ of Britain’s Empire

Refers to India, which was a significant part of the British Empire.

Allied Powers

The coalition of countries opposed to the Axis Powers, including the U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union.

Two-front war

Conflict occurring on two separate fronts, such as Germany fighting in both Eastern and Western Europe.

Imperial Japan

Japan during its period of expansion and militarization leading up to and during World War II.

Japanese militarism

The political and military ideology in Japan that prioritized military endeavors and expansion.

Expansion into Korea

Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910 and subsequent administrative control.

Expansion into Manchuria

Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 as part of its imperial ambitions.

Expansion into Chinese coast

Military aggressions by Japan against coastal areas of China leading to war.

Rape of Nanking

A mass murder and mass rape by Japanese troops in Nanking, China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

‘Comfort Women’

Women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Post War Japanese constitution

The constitution of Japan established in 1947 that renounced war and promoted democracy.

Military costs to USSR

The severe economic and human costs borne by the Soviet Union during World War II.

‘Scorched Earth Policy’

A military strategy of destroying anything that could be useful to the enemy while retreating.

Western fear of communist revolutions

The apprehension in Western countries of the spread of communism post-World War I and II.

Human rights under a one-party system

The limitations on individual freedoms and rights in countries governed by a single political party.

Liberal governments

Governments that promote civil liberties, political freedoms, and individual rights.

Individual freedom of expression

The right of individuals to express their thoughts and opinions freely.

United States as a ‘superpower’

The emergence of the U.S. as a dominant global power after World War II.

Lend-Lease

A program by which the U.S. provided military supplies to allies during World War II.

U.S. Marshall Plan

An American initiative to aid Western Europe in economic recovery after World War II.

Atomic Weapons

Nuclear weapons developed during World War II, which caused devastating destruction.

Hiroshima

The Japanese city targeted by the first atomic bomb dropped by the United States on August 6, 1945.

Civilians as targets

The strategy employed during WWII where non-combatants were often harmed in military operations.

Battle of Britain

The aerial battle between the German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force in 1940.

Battle of the Bulge

The last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front in December 1944.

Battle of the Coral Sea

A naval battle fought in May 1942, notable for being the first battle fought entirely by aircraft.

Battle of El Alamein

A crucial battle in North Africa in 1942 that marked a turning point in the war for Allied forces.

Battle of Pearl Harbor

The surprise military strike by the Japanese against the United States naval base on December 7, 1941.

Battle of Guam

A battle in 1944 during the Pacific Campaign in which U.S. forces recaptured Guam from Japanese occupation.

Battle of Midway Island

A pivotal naval battle in June 1942 where the U.S. decisively defeated Japan.

The United Nations

An international organization founded after World War II to promote peace and cooperation among countries.

Yalta Conference

The 1945 meeting between Allied leaders to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe.