POST WWI

Invasion of Ethiopia

• In 1935, Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia to build an empire.
• Showed the failure of the League of Nations to stop aggression.

Rome–Berlin Axis

• Alliance between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini (1936).
• Formed the base of the Axis Powers in WWII.

Concentration Camps

• Places where Nazis imprisoned and abused people (Jews, minorities, opponents).
• Many died from forced labor, hunger, and violence.

Kristallnacht

• “Night of Broken Glass” (1938) - violent attacks on Jewish homes, shops, synagogues.
• Marked a major step toward the Holocaust.

Anschluss

• In 1938, Germany annexed (took over) Austria.
• Violated the Treaty of Versailles but was not stopped.

Appeasement

• Policy of giving in to Hitler’s demands to avoid war.
• Used by Britain and France → failed to stop WWII.

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

• 1939 agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union.
• Promised not to attack each other and secretly split Poland.

Blitzkrieg

• “Lightning war”, fast attack using tanks, planes, and speed.
• Used by Germany to quickly defeat enemies early in WWII.

Battle of Britain

• 1940 air battle between Germany and Britain.
• Britain successfully defended itself from German air attacks.

Operation Barbarossa

• 1941 German invasion of the Soviet Union.
• Broke the pact and opened the Eastern Front.

Pearl Harbor

• 1941 surprise attack by Japan on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii.
• Caused the U.S. to enter World War II.

Holocaust

• Nazi plan to systematically kill Jews and other groups.
• About 6 million Jews were murdered.

Potsdam Conference

• 1945 meeting of Allied leaders after WWII.
• Decided how to punish Germany and organize postwar Europe.

Totalitarianism

• A system where the government controls everything (politics, media, economy, people’s lives).
• No freedom of speech or opposition allowed.

Black Shirts

• Paramilitary group that supported Benito Mussolini.
• Used violence and fear to silence opponents in Italy.

March on Rome

• In 1922, Mussolini and his supporters marched to take power in Italy.
• The king gave him power → start of Fascist rule.

Mein Kampf

• Book written by Adolf Hitler.
• Explains his ideas: racism, anti-Semitism, and expansion.

Enabling Act

• A 1933 law that gave Hitler full power to make laws without parliament.
• Turned Germany into a dictatorship.

Nuremberg Laws

• Laws in Nazi Germany that took away rights from Jewish people.
• Made racism and discrimination legal.

War Communism

• Policy during Russian Civil War under Vladimir Lenin.
• Government took control of industry and food, causing shortages.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

• Lenin’s policy that allowed some private business and trade.
• Helped the economy recover after War Communism.

Collectivisation

• Under Joseph Stalin, farms were forced to join large state farms.
• Led to low food production and famine.

Kulaks

• Wealthier peasants in the Soviet Union.
• Seen as enemies by Stalin, therefore many were killed or sent to labor camps.

Holodomor

• A man-made famine in Ukraine (1932–1933) under Stalin.
• Millions died due to forced grain collection and policies.

Wilson’s 14 Points

• A plan by Woodrow Wilson after WW1

• He wanted fairness, peace, and a League of Nations to prevent future wars.

Demilitarization

• A country reduces or removes its army and weapons.

• After WWI, Germany was forced to greatly limit its military.

War Reparations

• Money a losing country must pay for damage caused during war.

• Germany had to pay reparations to the Allied countries.

War Guilt Clause

• Part of the Treaty of Versailles

• Said Germany was responsible for starting WWI, so it had to accept punishment and reparations.

Self-determination

• The idea that people should choose their own country and government.

• Many new countries in Europe were created using this idea.

Dawes Plan

• A 1924 plan to help Germany pay reparations.

• The U.S. gave loans to Germany to stabilize its economy.

Kellogg-Briand Pact

• A 1928 agreement where countries promised not to use war to solve problems.

• Many countries signed it, but it did not actually stop wars.

Munich Beer Hall Putsch

• A failed coup attempt in 1923 by Adolf Hitler in Germany.

• Hitler tried to take power but was arrested and sent to prison.

Weimar Republic

• The democratic government of Germany from 1919–1933 after WWI.

• Faced economic crisis, political instability, and extremist groups.

Treaty of Locarno

• A 1925 agreement between Germany and Western European countries.

• Countries promised to respect borders and keep peace in Europe.