World War II Events and Key Figures

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering major events, terms, and key figures from World War II.

Wannsee Conference

A meeting held on January 20, 1942, in Berlin, to determine the 'final solution' for the mass extermination of Jewish people in German-occupied areas.

Battle of Guadalcanal

A pivotal battle from August 7, 1942, where the USA fought to stop Japanese expansion, marking a turning point in the Pacific Theater.

Yalta Conference

A meeting held on February 4, 1945, in Russia among 'The Big Three' (USA, Britain, Russia) to discuss post-war reorganization of Germany and Europe.

Battle of Stalingrad

A significant battle from July 17, 1942, to February 2, 1943, where Russia defeated Germany, marking a turning point in the war.

Operation Paperclip

A program that brought German scientists to America after WWII to acquire intelligence on rockets and missiles.

Operation OVERLORD

The Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day) on June 6, 1944, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe.

Nuremberg Trials

Trials held starting November 20, 1945, in Nuremberg, Germany, where Allies prosecuted major war criminals of WWII.

Liberation of France

Marked by Operation OVERLORD, this was a crucial point in WWII that led to the end of Nazi occupation in France.

Potsdam Conference

Held on July 17, 1945, this meeting involved 'The Big Three' discussing postwar world issues and issuing an ultimatum to Japan.

Invasion of Poland

The event on September 1, 1939, that marked the start of WWII as Germany invaded Poland.

Executive Order No. 9066

Issued on February 19, 1942, this order led to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

Operation Mincemeat

A deception strategy to mislead the Nazis about Allied invasion plans.

S.S. St Louis

A German ship that sailed from Hamburg to Cuba on May 13, 1939, carrying Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany.

Presidential election of 1940

An election in which FDR was re-elected as president of the USA, pivotal during WWII.

Phony War

The period from September 1939 to May 1940 characterized by little fighting between Germany and Britain/France.

Fall of France

The period from May 10 to June 25, 1940, when Germany successfully invaded and occupied France.

V-E Day

Celebrated on May 8, 1945, this day marked the surrender of Germany and the end of the war in Europe.

Invasion of Soviet Union

Referred to as Operation Barbarossa, starting June 22, 1941, where German troops attempted to invade the Soviet Union but ultimately failed.

Battle of Okinawa

The last major battle of the Pacific campaign, fought between April 1 and August 15, 1945, leading to Japanese surrender.

Pearl Harbor

The attack on December 7, 1941, in Oahu, Hawaii, by Japan, which led to the U.S. entering WWII.

Battle of Monte Cassino

Fought from January 17 to May 18, 1944, this battle was an Allied attempt to capture Rome.

Battle of Midway

Fought from June 4-7, 1942, this battle marked a crucial American victory against Japan.

Battle of Britain

An air battle from July 10 to October 31, 1940, where Britain successfully defended against Germany.

Operation Market Garden

A failed Allied campaign to capture key bridges in the Netherlands in September 1944.

Beer Hall Putsch

The failed coup staged by Hitler and other Nazi leaders in November 1923 to overthrow the Weimar Republic.

Rosie the Riveter

A cultural icon representing women who worked in factories during WWII, symbolizing female empowerment.

Battle of El Alamein

A crucial battle in Egypt in 1942 marking the first major Allied victory in North Africa.

Saving Private Ryan

A 1998 film based on real events of WWII, highlighting the experiences of soldiers.

Evacuation of Dunkirk

Operation Dynamo (May 26 - June 4, 1940) that rescued over 338,000 French and British soldiers.

Battle of Coral Sea

Fought from May 4-8, 1942, this marked the first naval battle in which opposing ships never saw each other.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. project from 1942-1945 to develop and detonate the first nuclear weapon.

Dropping of Atomic Bombs

The first use of nuclear weapons in warfare on August 6 and 9, 1945, leading to Japan’s surrender.

V-J Day

Commemorated on August 15, 1945, marking Japan's surrender to the Allied forces.

Enabling Act

Passed on March 23, 1933, granting Hitler the power to enact laws without Reichstag approval.

Kristallnacht

A pogrom against Jewish people on November 9, 1938, led by Nazi paramilitary forces.

Munich Conference

Held on September 30, 1938, where Hitler promised to stop territorial expansion after taking Czechoslovakia.

Casablanca Conference

Held in January 1943 between FDR and Churchill to finalize plans for defeating Germany.

Non-Aggression Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop)

A 1939 agreement between the Soviets and Germans not to attack each other.

Reichstag Fire

The arson attack on the German parliament building on February 27, 1933, which facilitated Hitler's rise to dictatorship.

Doolittle Raid

An air raid on Japanese home islands on April 18, 1942, intended to boost American morale.

Battle of Iwo Jima

A bloody battle fought from February 19 to March 25, 1945, leading to significant U.S. casualties.

Operation Bodyguard

A deception operation aimed at misleading the Germans about the actual target of the Allied invasion.

Navajo Code Talkers

Native Americans who used their language to create unbreakable military codes during WWII.

Auschwitz

A network of concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany from 1940 to 1945.

Gestapo

The political police of Nazi Germany responsible for enforcing the regime's policies and terrorizing targeted groups.

Bataan Death March

A forced march of Filipino POWs by the Japanese in April 1942, resulting in many deaths.

Berchtesgaden

The Bavarian town where Hitler's Berghof estate was located, serving as a retreat for Nazi leadership.

Japan takes over Manchuria

The invasion on September 18, 1931, which initiated Japanese imperialism before WWII.

Battle of the Bulge

The last major German offensive in WWII, fought in the Ardennes Forest during Winter 1944-45.

Easy Company

A unit of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment known for its key role in WWII battles.

Philip Petain

Leader of Vichy France during WWII.

Benito Mussolini

The leader of Italy who aligned with Axis powers in WWII.

Francisco Franco

The Spanish leader who remained sympathetic to Axis powers.

Hideki Tojo

Japanese Prime Minister during WWII, responsible for the Pearl Harbor attack.

Robert Oppenheimer

Leader of the Manhattan Project, known as the father of the atomic bomb.

Neville Chamberlain

British Prime Minister known for his policy of appeasement towards Hitler.

Richard Winters

An American officer known for his leadership during the Normandy invasion.

George Patton

A prominent American general known for his leadership in various WWII battles.

Heinrich Himmler

Reich Leader of the SS and a key figure in the Nazi regime.

Bernard Montgomery

British general known for his role in North Africa and Normandy.

Adolf Hitler

Dictator of Germany whose actions instigated WWII.

Charles DeGaulle

French general and statesman who led Free French Forces during WWII.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister known for his leadership during WWII.

Douglas MacArthur

American general who played a significant role in the Pacific Theater during WWII.

Hirohito

Japanese Emperor during WWII who presided over key events leading to Japan's surrender.

Franklin Roosevelt

President of the United States during most of WWII.

Erwin Rommel

German field marshal known as 'The Desert Fox' during WWII.

Harry Truman

U.S. President who succeeded FDR and led the end of WWII.

Dwight Eisenhower

Supreme Allied Commander during WWII, known for orchestrating significant military campaigns.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union during WWII, allied with the Western Powers.