Chapter 1-7: Key Concepts and Events Leading to WWII

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary terms and concepts discussed in the lecture on the lead-up to World War II, including important historical figures, ideologies, and events.

Fascism

A political ideology that exalts nation and often race above the individual, and stands for a centralized autocratic government led by a dictatorial leader.

Lebensraum

A German term meaning 'living space,' used to justify the expansionist policies of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Blitzkrieg

A military strategy used by Nazi Germany during World War II that means 'lightning war,' characterized by fast and powerful attacks.

League of Nations

An intergovernmental organization founded after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among countries, though it was ultimately ineffective.

Collective security

An agreement among countries to act together to provide mutual safety and security, particularly against aggressor states.

Hyperinflation

An economic condition characterized by extremely high inflation, causing a rapid decrease in the value of a currency.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews.

Totalitarianism

A political system in which the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life.

Propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Isolationism

A foreign policy stance where a country avoids involvement in international affairs, focusing instead on its own interests.

D-Day

The Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, which were the largest seaborne invasion in history and marked the turning point for the Allies in World War II.

Nazi Germany

The period of German history during which Adolf Hitler's National Socialist German Workers' Party controlled the country, from 1933 to 1945.

Rationing

The controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, typically during wartime to ensure equitable distribution among the population.

Holocaust

The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators during World War II.

Munich Agreement

A settlement reached in 1938 allowing Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia, aimed at preventing a wider conflict.

Manchuria

A region in Northeast Asia that was occupied by Japan in the 1930s, significant for its resources and strategic location.