History

Triple Entente

Countries Britain, France, and Russia that joined together for mutual support.

Triple Alliance

Countries Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy that formed an alliance for mutual protection.

Militarism

The belief in building up strong armed forces; contributes to competition and conflict between nations.

Stalemate

A deadlock situation in warfare where neither side can achieve victory.

Life in trenches

Conditions facing soldiers including mud, rats, diseases, and constant danger.

Reichstag Fire (1933)

Event used by Hitler to justify repression against communists after the German parliament building was burned.

Fascist leaders

Prominent leaders like Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler who promoted authoritarian nationalism.

Communist leaders

Key figures in the movement including Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty that imposed heavy reparations and blamed Germany for WW1.

Wall Street Crash

The 1929 economic collapse that precipitated the Great Depression.

Hyperinflation

Rapidly rising prices in Germany that devalued currency and created severe economic hardship.

Appeasement

Policy of conceding to avoid conflict, notably practiced by Britain and France before WW2.

Munich Agreement

Pact allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland; perceived as a failed peace effort.

Phoney War

Period of inactivity by Britain after the start of WW2 despite the official declaration of war.

Maginot Line

French defense fortifications intended to deter German invasion, which were circumvented.

Blitzkrieg

German military strategy focusing on rapid and surprise attacks.

Dunkirk Evacuation

Mass evacuation of about 350,000 British soldiers in 1940 during a German attack.

Battle of Britain

Conflict for air supremacy in 1940, where RAF defended against German attacks.

Chain Home

Radar system used by Britain to detect incoming enemy aircraft.

Operation Barbarossa

Nazi Germany's invasion plan of the Soviet Union during WW2.

Stalingrad

City in Russia that became a major turning point during WW2 with fierce fighting.

Tehran Conference

Meeting in 1943 where Allied leaders discussed strategy against Axis powers.

Operation Overlord

The Allied operation for D-Day, involving a massive invasion of Normandy.

D-Day

June 6, 1944, the largest amphibious invasion in history during WW2 at Normandy.

Atlantic Wall

Fortifications built by the Germans along the coastline of Western Europe.

Phase One of D-Day

Over 13,000 paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines to secure key locations.

Phase 3 of D-Day

Bombardment and subsequent invasion of German defenses by Allied forces.

Phase 4 of D-Day

The land invasion involving 156,000 soldiers and 6,939 vessels.

German surrender

Germany's capitulation on May 7, 1945, effectively ending the war in Europe.

Hitler's death

Adolf Hitler shot himself on April 30, 1945, as defeat loomed.

RAF

Royal Air Force of Britain, known for their crucial role in defending against German air attacks.

Spitfires and Hurricanes

Famous British fighter aircraft used during the Battle of Britain.

Causes of WW1

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

Central Powers

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

Allied Powers

Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, United States

Western Front

Area of fighting in Western Europe during WW1, characterized by trench warfare

Eastern Front

Area of fighting in Eastern Europe during WW1

Reasons for US entry into WW1

Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany, Zimmerman Telegram

Propaganda

Information used to promote a particular political cause or point of view

Total War

A war that involves the complete mobilization of resources and people, affecting the lives of all citizens in the warring countries

League of Nations

An international organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among nations

Collective Security

A system where multiple states agree to mutually defend each other against attack

Weimar Republic

The democratic government founded in Germany after World War I, which faced numerous economic and political challenges.

Reparations

Compensation imposed upon Germany after World War I, meant to cover the war costs of the Allies.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic depression that took place during the 1930s, starting with the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

Rise of Fascism

The growth of authoritarian and nationalistic political ideologies, particularly in Italy and Germany during the interwar period.

Benito Mussolini

The Fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943, known for his nationalistic policies and alliance with Hitler.

Adolf Hitler

The Nazi dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945, responsible for initiating World War II and the Holocaust.

Nazi Party

The political party led by Adolf Hitler in Germany, characterized by extreme nationalism, racism, and expansionist policies.

Lebensraum

Hitler's expansionist theory based on a drive to acquire 'living space' for the German people in Eastern Europe.

Appeasement Policy

A diplomatic policy of making political or material concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict, used by Britain and France towards Hitler.

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

A non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed in 1939, which included secret protocols for dividing Eastern Europe.