World War II Overview

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts from a lecture on various aspects of World War II, including military operations, social changes, and significant historical events.

Women's Army Corps (WAC)

A division of the U.S. Army that allowed women to serve in the armed forces during World War II.

Rationing

The controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, as was done in the U.S. during World War II.

Propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view, prevalent during World War II to garner support for the war.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. government project that developed the atomic bomb during World War II.

Battle of Kursk

The largest tank battle in history, fought in 1943, resulting in a significant defeat for Germany.

Operation Overlord

The code name for the Allied invasion of Western Europe on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), primarily at Normandy.

Kamikaze

Japanese suicide pilots who crashed their planes loaded with explosives into enemy ships during World War II.

Holocaust

The systematic state-sponsored mass murder of approximately six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime during World War II.

VE Day

Victory in Europe Day; the day on which Allied forces accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, celebrated on May 8, 1945.

Nuremberg Trials

A series of military tribunals held after World War II to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany for war crimes.