Studied by 0 people
blitzkrieg
German term meaning 'lightning war,' used to describe Germany’s novel military tactics in World War II, which involved the rapid movement of infantry, tanks, and airpower over large areas.
European Economic Community (EEC)
An alliance formed by Italy, France, West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in 1957 dedicated to developing common trade policies and reduced tariffs; it gradually developed into the European Union. (Also known as common market)
European Union (EU)
The final step in a series of arrangements to increase cooperation between European states after World War II, formally established in 1994. (Twelve members adopted common currency in 2002)
fascism
Political ideology marked by intense nationalism and authoritarianism, derived from the fasces symbol of ancient Rome.
flappers
Young middle-class women who emerged as a new form of social expression after World War I, flouting conventions and advocating a more open sexuality.
Fourteen Points
Plan of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to establish lasting peace at the end of World War I; Wilson’s vision largely failed.
Franco-Prussian War
German war with France (1870–1871) that ended with France's defeat and the unification of Germany under Prussian rule.
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke
Heir to the Austrian throne whose assassination by a Serbian nationalist on June 28, 1914, ignited World War I.
Great Depression
Worldwide economic depression beginning in 1929 with the New York stock market crash, continuing until the outbreak of World War II.
Great War
The name originally given to the First World War (1914–1918).
Hitler, Adolf
Leader of the German Nazi Party (1889–1945) and Germany’s head of state from 1933 until his death.
Holocaust
Commonly used name for the Nazi genocide of Jews and other 'undesirables' in German society. Jews prefer Shoah not holocaust
Kristallnacht
Literally, 'crystal night'; the night of November 9, 1938, when Nazi-led gangs smashed and looted Jewish shops throughout Germany.
League of Nations
International peacekeeping organization created after World War I, first proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson.
Manchukuo
Japanese puppet state established in Manchuria in 1931.
Marshall Plan
U.S. government initiative to aid in post–World War II restoration of Europe, masterminded by U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall, implemented in 1947.
Mussolini, Benito
Charismatic leader of the Italian fascist party (1883–1945) who came to power in 1922.
Nanjing, Rape of
The Japanese army’s systematic killing, mutilation, and rape of the Chinese civilian population of Nanjing in 1938.
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military and political alliance founded in 1949 for the defense of Europe.
Nazi Germany
Germany ruled by Hitler and the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1945, a fascist state dedicated to extreme nationalism.
Nazi Party
National Socialist Democratic Workers’ Party, founded in Germany after World War I, advocating authoritarianism and nationalism based on racial superiority.
Nuremberg Laws
Series of laws passed in 1935 that forbade sexual relations between Jews and other Germans and mandated Jews to wear the Star of David.
Revolutionary Right (Japan)
Movement in Japanese political life (ca. 1930–1945) marked by extreme nationalism and dedication to foreign expansion.
total war
War that requires each country involved to mobilize its entire population to defeat the enemy.
Treaty of Versailles
1919 treaty that officially ended World War I, imposing immense penalties on Germany. A cause of WW2
Triple Alliance
Alliance consisting of Germany, Austria, and Italy, one of the rival European alliances on the eve of World War I.
Triple Entente
Alliance consisting of Russia, France, and Britain, the rival of the Triple Alliance on the eve of World War I.
United Nations
International peacekeeping organization established in 1945.
Weimar Republic
Weak government that replaced the German imperial state at the end of World War I, leading to the rise of the Nazi Party.
Wilson, Woodrow
President of the United States from 1913 to 1921 noted for his idealistic approach to the end of World War I. 14 points and very respected for is views
World War I
The "Great War" (1914–1918), marked by massive casualties and disillusionment with the idea of ‘progress.’ European civil war with global implications
World War II in Asia
Struggle to halt Japanese imperial expansion in Asia, primarily against Chinese and American foes.
World War II in Europe
Struggle to halt German imperial expansion in Europe, fought by a coalition of allies including Great Britain and the U.S.
zaibatsu
Huge industrial enterprises that dominated the Japanese economy leading up to World War II.
