AP World Unit 7.3 (Cram)

Treaty of Versailles fallout

The consequences of the Treaty of Versailles that contributed to the causes of World War II.

economic depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that contributed to the rise of totalitarian regimes.

totalitarian regimes

Governments that control everything, characterized by no free speech, no opposition, and constant surveillance.

appeasement

The policy of making concessions to dictatorial powers to avoid conflict, notably used before WWII.

expansionist moves

Actions taken by countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan to expand their territories prior to WWII.

Adolf Hitler

Fascist leader of Germany (1933-1945) who started WWII and led the Holocaust.

Nazi Party

Hitler's political party that promoted Aryan supremacy and was responsible for fascism and genocide.

Nanjing Massacre

A 1937 event where Japanese troops brutally murdered and assaulted hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians.

Axis Powers

The alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during WWII, known as the 'bad guys'.

Allied Powers

The alliance of the United States, Soviet Union, Britain, France, and China during WWII, known as the 'good guys'.

Operation Overlord

The massive Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, marking the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.

Battle of Stalingrad

A brutal turning point in WWII (1942-1943) where Soviet forces defeated the Nazis in harsh conditions.

Yalta Conference

A meeting in February 1945 between Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill to discuss post-war arrangements.

Atomic Bomb

A weapon of massive destruction developed by the U.S. that changed warfare and ended WWII in the Pacific.

Hiroshima

The first city hit by an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945, resulting in 80,000+ immediate deaths.

Nagasaki

The second city hit by an atomic bomb on August 9, 1945, leading to Japan's surrender.

Holocaust

The systematic genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others by the Nazis during WWII.

Nuremberg Trials

Trials held after WWII to prosecute Nazi leaders for war crimes and set a precedent for international justice.