World War II: Key Concepts, Leaders, and Events

Totalitarianism/Fascism

A government system where the state has total control over people's lives and individual freedoms are limited. Fascism is an authoritarian system that emphasizes extreme nationalism, loyalty to the state, and a powerful leader.

Joseph Stalin

Dictator of the Soviet Union from the 1920s-1953. He used fear, propaganda, forced labor camps, and purges to maintain control.

Gulag

A system of harsh Soviet labor camps where political prisoners and criminals were sent, often under terrible conditions during Stalin's rule.

Benito Mussolini

Fascist dictator of Italy who ruled from 1922-1943 and helped establish fascism as a political movement.

Adolf Hitler

Dictator of Germany from 1933-1945 and leader of the Nazi Party. He started World War II and was responsible for the Holocaust.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Hitler while in prison that explained his political ideas, including German nationalism, antisemitism, and expansion.

Appeasement

A policy of giving in to aggressive demands in order to avoid conflict or war. European leaders used appeasement toward Hitler before World War II.

Munich Conference

Meeting in 1938 where Britain and France allowed Hitler to take part of Czechoslovakia in hopes of preventing war.

Neutrality Acts

Laws passed by the United States in the 1930s to avoid involvement in foreign wars by limiting trade and loans to countries at war.

Invasion of Poland

Germany attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, causing Britain and France to declare war on Germany and beginning World War II.

Hitler Youth (Nazi Youth)

Organization created by the Nazis to train German children to support Nazi beliefs and prepare boys for military service.

Winston Churchill

British leader known for inspiring speeches and strong leadership against Nazi Germany during World War II.

Dunkirk evacuation

Rescue operation in 1940 where hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers were evacuated from France to Britain using military and civilian boats.

Battle of Britain

Air battle between Germany and Britain in which the British Royal Air Force successfully defended Britain from German attacks.

Lend-Lease Act

U.S. law passed in 1941 that allowed the United States to send military supplies and aid to Allied nations before officially entering World War II.

Atlantic Charter

Agreement between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill that outlined goals for the postwar world, including democracy and free trade.

Hideki Tojo

Japanese military leader and prime minister who supported Japan's expansion and approved the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Surprise attack by Japan on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leading the United States to enter World War II.

Doris Miller

African American sailor who became a hero at Pearl Harbor after helping wounded sailors and operating an anti-aircraft gun during the attack.

Douglas MacArthur

American general who commanded Allied forces in the Pacific and famously promised, 'I shall return' to the Philippines.

Bataan Death March

Forced march by the Japanese military in which thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war suffered starvation, abuse, and death.

Doolittle Raid

First U.S. air attack on Japan during World War II, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, which boosted American morale.

Battle of Midway

Major naval battle where the United States defeated Japan, marking a turning point in the Pacific War.

Four Freedoms

Goals described by President Franklin D. Roosevelt: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Battle of Stalingrad

Brutal battle in which the Soviet Union defeated Germany, becoming a major turning point on the Eastern Front.

North African campaign (N. Africa Campaign)

Series of battles between Allied and Axis powers for control of North Africa; ended with Allied victory.

Internment of Japanese Americans (Japanese Internment)

Forced relocation of Japanese Americans into camps during World War II due to fear and prejudice after Pearl Harbor.

Korematsu v. United States

Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of Japanese American internment during World War II.

Double V Campaign

Movement by African Americans calling for victory against fascism abroad and racism at home during World War II.

Tuskegee Airmen

First African American military pilots in U.S. history who served with distinction during World War II.

Rosie the Riveter

Symbol representing women who worked in factories and shipyards while men served in the military.

Antisemitism

Prejudice, discrimination, or hatred against Jewish people. Antisemitism was a major part of Nazi ideology.

Nuremberg Laws

Laws passed by Nazi Germany that took away rights and citizenship from Jewish people and banned marriage between Jews and non-Jews.

Kristallnacht

"Night of Broken Glass," when Nazis attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Germany and Austria.

Concentration camps

Prison camps where Nazis imprisoned Jews and other groups under brutal conditions during World War II.

Final Solution

Nazi plan to systematically murder Europe's Jewish population during the Holocaust.

Casablanca Conference

Meeting between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill where the Allies planned strategy and demanded unconditional surrender from Axis powers.

Italian campaign

Allied effort to remove Axis forces from Italy after invading Sicily in 1943.

Normandy landings (D-Day)

Massive Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, helping begin the liberation of Western Europe.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

American general who led Allied forces in Europe, including the D-Day invasion.

Battle of the Bulge

Germany's last major offensive in Western Europe; the Allies eventually defeated the attack.

Harry S. Truman

Became president after Franklin Roosevelt died in 1945 and made the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan.

Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day)

Celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking Germany's surrender and the end of the war in Europe.

Navajo Code Talkers

Navajo Marines who used their language to create an unbreakable military code for the United States during the war.

Island Hopping

A U.S. military strategy in the Pacific during World War II where Allied forces captured key Japanese-held islands and bypassed others to move closer to Japan.

Kamikaze

Japanese suicide pilots during World War II who deliberately crashed their planes into enemy ships to cause destruction.

Battle of Iwo Jima / Battle of Okinawa

Two extremely bloody Pacific battles in 1945 that brought American forces closer to Japan and showed how intense a possible invasion of Japan would be.

Manhattan Project

Secret U.S. program that developed the first atomic bombs during World War II.

Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day)

Celebration marking Japan's surrender in 1945 and the end of World War II.

United Nations

Global organization created after World War II to prevent future wars and promote international cooperation.

Nuremberg Trials

Series of military tribunals where Nazi leaders were prosecuted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

What treaty imposed harsh penalties on Germany after World War I?

The Treaty of Versailles (1919)

What were the consequences for Germany under the Treaty of Versailles?

Pay heavy reparations, give up land, and reduce military.

What global event in the 1930s contributed to the rise of dictators?

The Great Depression

What did the Great Depression lead to in terms of political leadership?

People became desperate for strong leaders.

Which three countries were part of the Axis Powers during World War II?

Germany, Italy, and Japan

What was the policy of appeasement?

Britain and France allowed early aggression to avoid war, which encouraged further expansion.

What was a major weakness of the League of Nations?

It had no real military power to stop aggression.

How did Adolf Hitler rise to power in Germany?

He took advantage of economic collapse and anger after WWI, promising jobs and national pride.

What was Hitler's plan for Germany?

Expand territory ('Lebensraum'), unite German-speaking people, and persecute targeted groups.

How did Benito Mussolini rise to power in Italy?

He used fear of communism and economic problems, promoting fascism and nationalism.

What was Mussolini's goal for Italy?

Restore a modern 'Roman Empire' and expand territory.

Who gained control of Japan's government during World War II?

Military leaders

What was Hideki Tojo's plan for Japan?

Expand Japan across Asia and the Pacific and secure resources.

What were the two main theaters of World War II?

European Theater and Pacific Theater

Name a major event in the European Theater.

D-Day (Normandy invasion)

Which countries were the major Allied Powers in the European Theater?

United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France (Free French forces)

What was a significant battle in the Pacific Theater?

Battle of Midway

What major event marked Japan's attack on the United States?

Pearl Harbor

What was the purpose of the island hopping campaign?

To capture strategic islands in the Pacific and move closer to Japan.

What were the names of the cities where atomic bombs were dropped?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

War Production Board (WPB)

Controlled factories and raw materials, shifted production from consumer goods to weapons, tanks, planes, and helped coordinate the 'Arsenal of Democracy'.

Office of War Information (OWI)

Controlled propaganda and war messaging, promoted support for the war, and encouraged enlistment and unity.

Selective Service Act (Draft)

Required men to register for military service and built a large U.S. army quickly.

Rationing System

Limited goods like gas, sugar, meat, and rubber; citizens used ration coupons to ensure supplies for soldiers.

War Bonds

Citizens loaned money to the government to fund the war, promoted through posters and celebrity campaigns.

Factory Conversion

Car factories made tanks and planes instead of cars.

Victory Gardens

Families grew their own food to support soldiers.

Women in the Workforce

Women filled factory and industrial jobs, symbolized by Rosie the Riveter.

Office of Price Administration (OPA)

Controlled prices and prevented inflation.

Red Cross

Provided medical support and supplies for soldiers.

Civil Defense

Trained civilians for air raids and emergencies.

Segregation in the Military

The U.S. military was still segregated; Black and white soldiers served in separate units.

Tuskegee Airmen

First Black military pilots in U.S. history who escorted bombers and had an excellent combat record.

Japanese American Internment

Over 100,000 Japanese Americans were forced into camps after Pearl Harbor due to fear and racism.

Korematsu v. United States

Court upheld internment of Japanese Americans as 'constitutional' at the time.

Double V Campaign

Supported by African Americans for victory against fascism abroad and victory against racism at home.

Mexican Americans

Worked in factories and agriculture but faced discrimination; essential to wartime labor.

Native Americans

Served in large numbers, including the Navajo Code Talkers who used Native languages to create unbreakable military codes.

Overall Impact of WWII

WWII exposed contradictions of fighting for freedom overseas while having segregation and racism at home.

What were the Nuremberg Laws?

Laws that stripped Jewish people of citizenship, banned marriage between Jews and non-Jews, and legally separated Jews from German society.

What was Kristallnacht?

Also known as the 'Night of Broken Glass,' it was an event where Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed, and Jews were arrested and sent to camps, marking a major escalation toward violence.

What was the purpose of concentration camps during the Holocaust?

They were prison and forced labor camps targeting Jews, Roma, disabled people, and political prisoners.

What was the Final Solution?

The Nazi plan to systematically murder all European Jews, leading to mass deportations and extermination camps.

What were extermination camps?

Death camps like Auschwitz built for mass killing, where millions were murdered, mostly in gas chambers.

What was the U.S. response to the Holocaust before and early in WWII?

The U.S. largely followed isolationist policies and had immigration restrictions that limited Jewish refugees fleeing Europe.

What was the U.S. focus during WWII regarding the Holocaust?

The U.S. focused on military victory first and had limited direct action to stop genocide early on.

What was the War Refugee Board?

Created in 1944, it helped rescue some victims of the Holocaust late in the war.

What happened when U.S. troops liberated concentration camps?

Troops discovered camps like Dachau and Buchenwald, shocking the world with evidence of genocide.

Who was Cordell Hull?

U.S. Secretary of State during WWII, known as the 'Father of the United Nations' and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945.