vocab ww2

defensive alliance

A military alliance where each partner is pledged to defend every other member should any be attacked by another nation.

Triple Alliance

A Bismarck forged military defensive alliance between Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary that lasted until the start of World War I in 1914.

Triple Entente

A military defensive alliance formed by France, Russia, and Britain to counter-balance the Triple Alliance.

Alsace – Lorraine

An historic region between France and Germany, ethnically German but under French control for centuries.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

A region in the Balkan Peninsula populated by South Slavs, controlled by Austria-Hungary but sought after by Serbia.

nationalism

An emotional political philosophy glorifying the nation as the unifying bond of people with a common background.

Archduke Francis-Ferdinand

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne whose assassination in June 1914 triggered World War I.

“blank check”

A phrase meaning to give someone unrestricted power to do as they wish, originating from banking.

ultimatum

A final demand or list of demands with the threat of further action if rejected.

mobilize

The process of a government calling up military forces in preparation for active service.

von Schlieffen Plan

A German military strategy for quickly defeating France before turning to Russia, which ultimately failed.

two-front war

A conflict fought simultaneously in two separate regions, requiring a combatant to divide their forces.

Allies

The coalition during World War I primarily consisting of Britain, France, and Russia, later joined by other nations.

Central Powers

The alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria during World War I.

poison gas

A deadly weapon used in World War I, with Mustard Gas and Chlorine Gas being the most common types.

U-Boat

The German term for submarines, used extensively during World War I.

HMS Lusitania

A British luxury liner sunk by a German U-Boat in May 1915, resulting in over 1,100 civilian deaths.

reconnaissance

The act of observing enemy movements and actions.

dogfight

Combat between two or more airplanes.

genocide

The intentional killing of a specific group or race of people.

Armenian Genocide (1915 – 1917)

The first mass murder of the 20th century, in which over 1,500,000 Armenian Christians were killed by the Ottoman Empire.

total war

A conflict that impacts every aspect of a combatant’s economy, resources, and population.

“Canary Girls”

British nickname for young women in the munitions industry whose skin turned yellow due to sulfur exposure.

Easter Rebellion

An uprising by Irish nationalists against British rule in April 1916, which was ultimately suppressed.

unrestricted submarine war

Germany's policy of sinking any vessel, Allied or neutral, trading with Britain, which contributed to US involvement.

Zimmermann Telegram

A message from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the US, intercepted by the British.

President Woodrow Wilson

The US President during World War I who initially kept the nation out of the conflict until 1917.

14 Points

A plan by President Wilson outlining his vision for peace after World War I, including arms limitations and the creation of the League of Nations.

League of Nations

An international organization aimed at promoting peaceful dispute resolution and preventing future conflicts.

armistice

A temporary truce between warring parties while a treaty is being negotiated.

Treaty of Versailles

The treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh penalties on Germany including territorial loss and reparations.

Big Four

The leaders of the four major Allied nations (Britain, France, Italy, and the US) who negotiated the Treaty of Versailles.

reparations

Payments made by the defeated in a war to the victors.

Russian Revolution of 1917

A pivotal occurrence resulting in the overthrow of the Romanov monarchy and the establishment of the first communist government.

Provisional Government

The government formed after Tsar Nicholas II's overthrow, which ultimately lost popular support.

Duma

The parliament of Russia.

Bolshevik

The faction that led the communist movement in Russia and eventually established the Soviet Union.

Vladimir Lenin

The leader of the Bolshevik revolutionaries and the first ruler of the Soviet Union.

Petrograd

The name of St. Petersburg during wartime.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

The 1918 treaty between the Soviet government and the Central Powers, forcing large territorial concessions from the Soviets.