World War Two: Controversies and Conclusions (Dec 1944 - Sep 1945)

These flashcards cover key events, terms, and figures discussed in the lecture on World War Two, focusing on the final stages of the conflict and the resulting consequences.

Battle of the Bulge

A major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II, marking Hitler's last significant attempt to turn the tide of the war.

ULTRA

The Allied intelligence program that involved decrypting German communications, providing critical insights into enemy plans and movements.

Yalta Conference

A meeting in February 1945 where Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin discussed postwar Europe and the fate of Poland among other topics.

Dresden Bombing

The controversial Allied bombing of the German city of Dresden in February 1945, resulting in massive casualties and destruction.

Strategic Bombing

A military strategy aimed at destroying an opponent's economic ability to wage war, notably through bombing industrial and civilian targets.

Hiroshima

The first Japanese city to be bombed with an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945, resulting in approximately 80,000 immediate deaths.

Nagasaki

The second Japanese city to be bombed with an atomic bomb on August 9, 1945, where an estimated 40,000 people were killed instantly.

Curtis LeMay

A general in the U.S. Army Air Forces who implemented an aggressive firebombing campaign against Japan during World War II.

Iwo Jima

An island in the Pacific that was the site of a major battle in early 1945, strategic for its airfields and as a base for American bombers.

Auschwitz

The largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, responsible for the deaths of over a million people during the Holocaust.