Causes and Course of WWII

Invasion of Ethiopia

• In 1935, Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia to build an empire.
• Showed the failure of the League of Nations to stop aggression.

Rome–Berlin Axis

• Alliance between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini (1936).
• Formed the base of the Axis Powers in WWII.

Concentration Camps

• Places where Nazis imprisoned and abused people (Jews, minorities, opponents).
• Many died from forced labor, hunger, and violence.

Kristallnacht

• “Night of Broken Glass” (1938) - violent attacks on Jewish homes, shops, synagogues.
• Marked a major step toward the Holocaust.

Anschluss

• In 1938, Germany annexed (took over) Austria.
• Violated the Treaty of Versailles but was not stopped.

Appeasement

• Policy of giving in to Hitler’s demands to avoid war.
• Used by Britain and France → failed to stop WWII.

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

• 1939 agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union.
• Promised not to attack each other and secretly split Poland.

Blitzkrieg

• “Lightning war”, fast attack using tanks, planes, and speed.
• Used by Germany to quickly defeat enemies early in WWII.

Battle of Britain

• 1940 air battle between Germany and Britain.
• Britain successfully defended itself from German air attacks.

Operation Barbarossa

• 1941 German invasion of the Soviet Union.
• Broke the pact and opened the Eastern Front.

Pearl Harbor

• 1941 surprise attack by Japan on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii.
• Caused the U.S. to enter World War II.

Holocaust

• Nazi plan to systematically kill Jews and other groups.
• About 6 million Jews were murdered.

Potsdam Conference

• 1945 meeting of Allied leaders after WWII.
• Decided how to punish Germany and organize postwar Europe.