Unit 13: World War 2 Study Guide

Dictators' Rise to Power

Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin gained power in Europe during the 1930s by promising to revive their nations' economies from the Great Depression and restore them to greatness.

Appeasement Policy

European leaders, like Neville Chamberlain, followed the policy of appeasement towards Hitler, allowing him to violate the Treaty of Versailles to avoid another war due to the trauma of World War 1.

Treaty of Versailles Terms

The Treaty punished Germany by making them take full responsibility for WW1, losing land, paying reparations, limiting their army, and forbidding annexation of Austria.

Non-Aggression Pact

The pact between Germany and the Soviet Union aimed to avoid a two-front war for Hitler, preventing conflict on the Eastern front while dealing with the Western front.

Battle of Britain

The Allies, including Great Britain, the US, and the Soviet Union, held off Germany in the Battle of Britain, crucial for using Britain as a base for the D-Day invasion.

US Foreign Policy

The US followed Isolationism at the start of WW2, avoiding foreign alliances, especially in Europe, until Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor changed their stance.

Axis Power Leaders

Hideki Tojo led Japan, Hitler led Germany with anti-Semitic views, and Mussolini led Italy as fascist leaders during WW2.

Pearl Harbor

The US declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.

Homefront Support

Americans supported the war effort through rationing, buying war bonds, transitioning to a wartime economy, propaganda, and African Americans serving in segregated units.

Japanese Internment

During WW2, Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps, losing their freedom, civil liberties, jobs, and property, with 10 camps opened between 1942-1945.

Hitler's Anti-Semitic Ideas

Hitler gained support for anti-Semitic ideas by blaming Jews for Germany's defeat in WW1 and economic problems during the Great Depression.

Germany's Surrender

Germany surrendered as the US, Great Britain, and allies pushed them back from the West and the Soviet Union from the East, leading to Hitler's suicide and the realization of defeat.

Final Solution

Hitler's goal with the "final solution" was to exterminate the Jewish race in Europe, leading to mass murders in concentration camps like Auschwitz, resulting in an estimated 6 million deaths.