WW1/WW2

Great War

The historical name for World War I ( 1914-1918); Indicated the enormous scale of the conflict.

Gavrilo Princip

Bosnian Serb student who was part of a nationalist Serbian organization called the "Black Hand"; Assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary; assassinated by the "Black Hand" in 1914. His assassination was one of the causes of WWI.

Triple Entente

Military alliance formed in the early 20th century between France, Russia, and the United Kingdom. It was created as a counterbalance to the alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, and played a key role in the lead-up to World War I.

Triple Alliance

Military alliance formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. It aimed to provide mutual support in case any member was attacked, particularly by France or Russia.

Black Hand

Serbian nationalist/terrorist group responsible for the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

militarism

_ before World War I was the widespread belief that national strength came from a powerful military, leading countries to build up massive armies and navies. This arms race, especially between Britain and Germany, increased tensions and made war more likely when conflict arose.

self-determination

principle that people have the right to choose their own government and political status without external influence. In the context of World War I, it became a key idea after the war, especially in President Wilson's Fourteen Points, aiming to give ethnic groups in collapsing empires control over their own nations.

conscription

The mandatory enlistment of individuals into military service, often enforced by governments during times of war like World War I.

propaganda

biased or misleading information used to influence public opinion, often spread by governments during World War I to boost support for the war and demonize the enemy.

reparations

payments or compensation made by a defeated country to cover the damages caused during a war; after World War I, Germany was required to pay _ under the Treaty of Versailles.

Big Four

—Woodrow Wilson

—David Lloyd George

—Georges Clemenceau

—Vittorio Orlando

The main leaders at the Paris Peace Conference after World War I. They shaped the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the postwar world order.

trench warfare

a type of combat in World War I where soldiers fought from long, narrow ditches or trenches, leading to prolonged stalemates and harsh conditions. It became a defining feature of the Western Front, with both sides struggling to gain ground over long periods.

poison gas

A toxic substance used in warfare to cause harm through inhalation or skin contact, often leading to severe injury or death. It was deployed on the battlefield during World War I, resulting in lasting physical damage and psychological terror.

machine guns

A rapid-fire firearm capable of shooting a large number of bullets in a short period, significantly increasing firepower on the battlefield. Used extensively in World War I, it contributed to the high casualty rates and changed the dynamics of warfare.

U-boat

A type of submarine used by Germany during World War I, primarily for attacking enemy ships. U-boats were instrumental in disrupting Allied shipping and enforcing a naval blockade, often through surprise attacks.

Fourteen Points

set of principles proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1918 to promote lasting peace after World War I. They included ideas like open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, and the creation of the League of Nations to prevent future conflicts.

Lusitania

British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. The attack contributed to shifting public opinion in the United States against Germany and was a factor in America's decision to enter World War I.

League of Nations

international organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among countries. It aimed to prevent future conflicts through diplomacy and collective security but ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II due to its lack of enforcement power.

Treaty of Versailles

Signed in 1919, officially ended World War I and imposed harsh penalties on Germany, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations. It aimed to prevent future conflicts but also contributed to economic hardship and resentment, laying the groundwork for World War II.

Zimmermann Telegram

Secret diplomatic communication sent by Germany to Mexico in 1917, proposing a military alliance against the United States. Its interception and revelation to the public helped galvanize U.S. support for entering World War I.

total war

Conflict where nations mobilize all of their resources—military, economic, and civilian—for the war effort. It blurs the lines between combatants and non-combatants, as seen in World War I, where both soldiers and civilians were deeply affected by the scale of destruction and resource allocation.

Weimar Republic

The democratic government of Germany established after World War I, lasting from 1919 to 1933. It faced political instability, economic crises, and rising extremism, ultimately giving way to Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.

Paris Peace Conference

Held in 1919, was a series of meetings where Allied leaders negotiated the terms to end World War I. The most significant outcome was the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed heavy penalties on Germany and redrew national boundaries in Europe and the Middle East.

inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power. In the context of post-World War I Germany, hyperinflation occurred, where the value of the currency plummeted, leading to economic chaos and widespread hardship.

collectivize

To consolidate individual or private farms, industries, or resources into collective or state-controlled entities. This process, often associated with communist regimes, was notably carried out in the Soviet Union during the late 1920s and 1930s.

kolkhoz

collective farm in the Soviet Union where land and resources were shared among farmers, but controlled by the state. It was part of the Soviet government's push to collectivize agriculture, aiming to increase production and strengthen state control over the economy.

corporatism

A political and economic system where various interest groups, such as businesses, labor unions, and state entities, work together to manage the economy and social policies. It often involves a top-down approach with the state playing a central role in coordinating these groups, seen in some fascist and authoritarian regimes.

Great Depression

Severe global economic downturn that began in 1929, triggered by the stock market crash in the United States. It led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic instability across many countries.

Russian Civil War

A conflict between the Bolshevik Red Army and various anti-Bolshevik factions, known as the White Army. It resulted in the Bolshevik victory, leading to the establishment of the Soviet Union.

Spanish Civil War

A conflict between the Republican government, which included left-wing and anti-fascist groups, and the Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco. The war ended with a Nationalist victory, establishing Franco's dictatorship that lasted until his death in 1975.

fascism

An authoritarian and nationalist political ideology that emphasizes centralized control, dictatorial power, and the suppression of opposition. It often promotes militarism, extreme nationalism, and the supremacy of the state over individual rights, as seen in regimes like Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany.

totalitarian state

A government that seeks to control every aspect of public and private life, often led by a single party or leader. It uses propaganda, surveillance, and repression to maintain power, leaving no room for political opposition or personal freedoms.

John Maynard Keynes

British economist whose ideas revolutionized economic policy during the Great Depression. He advocated for government intervention in the economy, including public spending and fiscal policies, to manage demand and reduce unemployment, influencing modern macroeconomic theory.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)

A federal socialist state established in 1922, composed of multiple republics under the leadership of the Communist Party. It was a major global power, led by figures like Lenin and Stalin, until its dissolution in 1991 due to economic struggles and political reforms.

Gulag

A system of forced labor camps in the Soviet Union where political prisoners, criminals, and perceived enemies of the state were sent. It was used by Stalin's regime to suppress dissent, with millions of people enduring harsh conditions and suffering.

Palestine

Historical region in the Middle East, encompassing modern-day Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. It has been the center of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with competing national and territorial claims, especially after the establishment of Israel in 1948.

Balfour Declaration

Issued in 1917 by the British government, expressed support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. This statement fueled tensions between Jewish and Arab communities in the region, laying the groundwork for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Zionists

Individuals or groups who support the establishment and preservation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The movement began in the late 19th century, aiming to create a national home for Jews, culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

Pakistan

A country in South Asia, founded in 1947 as a homeland for Muslims following the partition of British India. It shares borders with India, Afghanistan, China, and Iran, and has a diverse culture with a significant Muslim majority population.

Francisco Franco

Spanish military general who led the Nationalist forces to victory in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and ruled Spain as a dictator until his death in 1975. His regime was characterized by authoritarianism, censorship, and repression of political opposition.

Adolf Hitler

The dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, responsible for the outbreak of World War II and the Holocaust. His aggressive expansionist policies and ideology of Aryan racial superiority led to widespread destruction and the deaths of millions.

Neville Chamberlain

British Prime Minister from 1937 to 1940, best known for his policy of appeasement toward Adolf Hitler in the lead-up to World War II. His signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, which allowed Nazi Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia, is often seen as a failed attempt to prevent war.

Appeasement

Diplomatic policy of making concessions to an aggressor in order to avoid conflict. It was notably used by Britain and France in the 1930s, most famously with Hitler's Germany, but is widely regarded as failing to prevent World War II.

Sudetenland

A region in Czechoslovakia, home to a large ethnic German population, which was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. This was part of Adolf Hitler's expansionist policy, and the region was handed over to Germany following the Munich Agreement, without Czechoslovakia's consent.

Lebensraum

___, meaning "living space," was a key element of Nazi ideology, advocating for the expansion of German territory, particularly into Eastern Europe. It justified the conquest of neighboring countries and the displacement or extermination of their populations to provide resources and land for the German people.

Anschluss

The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. It was a key step in Hitler's expansionist agenda, aiming to unite all German-speaking peoples under one Reich, and was carried out with little resistance, largely due to political pressure and manipulation.

Munich Agreement

signed in 1938, _ was a pact between Nazi Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. It is often cited as a classic example of appeasement, as the Western powers sacrificed Czechoslovakia's sovereignty in an attempt to avoid war with Germany.

Winston Churchill

The British Prime Minister during World War II, renowned for his leadership and speeches that inspired resistance against Nazi Germany. His determination and refusal to negotiate with Hitler played a crucial role in maintaining Allied morale and ultimately leading to victory in the war.

Erwin Rommel

known as the "Desert Fox," he was a German field marshal during World War II, famous for his leadership in North Africa. He gained a reputation for his tactical brilliance, particularly in the Battle of El Alamein, but later became disillusioned with Hitler's regime and was implicated in a plot to assassinate him.

Heinrich Himmler

leading member of the Nazi Party and head of the SS, responsible for many of the atrocities during the Holocaust. He played a key role in organizing the mass murder of Jews, Roma, and other minority groups, and was a key architect of Nazi terror and repression.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The 32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. He led the country through the Great Depression with his New Deal programs and through most of World War II, shaping much of the 20th-century global order before his death in office.

Anti-Comintern Pact

This pact, signed in 1936 between Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, was aimed at countering the spread of communism, particularly from the Soviet Union. It later expanded to include Italy, forming a military alliance between the Axis powers during World War II.

Axis Powers

A coalition of countries led by Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II. They opposed the Allied Powers and sought to expand their territories through military aggression, but were ultimately defeated in 1945.

German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

An agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in which both nations pledged not to attack each other. It included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, and it paved the way for the German invasion of Poland, which triggered the start of World War II.

Nazis

Members of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), led by Adolf Hitler, which governed Germany from 1933 to 1945. The party promoted extreme nationalism, anti-Semitism, and totalitarian rule, leading to the outbreak of World War II and the Holocaust, in which six million Jews and millions of others were systematically murdered.

Reichstag

The German parliament, responsible for lawmaking in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. It became infamous after the Reichstag Fire in 1933, which allowed Hitler to consolidate power, using the event as a pretext to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree and limit civil liberties.

Third Reich

Refers to Nazi Germany, the period of Adolf Hitler's dictatorship from 1933 to 1945. It was characterized by totalitarian rule, aggressive expansionism, and the implementation of genocidal policies, including the Holocaust, leading to immense destruction during World War II.

Mein Kampf

A political manifesto written by Adolf Hitler during his imprisonment in 1924. The book outlines his ideas on race, anti-Semitism, nationalism, and his vision for the future of Germany, which would later serve as the ideological foundation for Nazi policies.

anti-Semitism

prejudice, discrimination, or hostility against Jewish people. It has existed for centuries and was a central component of Nazi ideology, leading to the systemic persecution and genocide of Jews during the Holocaust.

Nuremberg Laws

A set of racial laws in Nazi Germany that institutionalized anti-Semitism. They stripped Jews of German citizenship, prohibited intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews, and segregated Jews from the rest of society, laying the groundwork for further persecution.

Ghetto

A segregated area where Jews and other marginalized groups were forcibly confined, especially during World War II in Nazi-occupied territories. These areas were overcrowded, poorly supplied, and served as a precursor to the mass deportations to concentration and extermination camps.

Final Solution

The Nazi plan, devised during World War II, to systematically exterminate the Jewish population of Europe. It led to the Holocaust, where six million Jews were murdered in concentration and extermination camps, along with millions of others deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime.

Holocaust

The state-sponsored genocide carried out by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945, during which six million Jews, along with millions of other minorities, political dissidents, and disabled individuals, were systematically murdered. It is one of the most horrific atrocities in human history.

Kristallnacht

A violent anti-Jewish pogrom that took place on November 9-10, 1938, in Nazi Germany and Austria. Synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses, and homes were destroyed, and tens of thousands of Jews were arrested or killed, marking a significant escalation in Nazi persecution.

Pearl Harbor

A surprise military attack by the Japanese on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II, as the following day, the U.S. declared war on Japan.

island-hopping

Military strategy used by the Allies in the Pacific during World War II. It involved selectively attacking and capturing strategic islands, while bypassing others, to gradually move closer to Japan and weaken its defenses.

D-Day

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, during World War II. It marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation, with over 156,000 troops landing on five beaches, ultimately leading to the defeat of Germany.

V-E Day

Victory in Europe Day was celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking the official surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. It signified the defeat of Adolf Hitler's regime and was a moment of joyous relief and celebration for the Allied nations.

Hiroshima

Japanese city that was the target of the first atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, by the United States during World War II. The bombing caused immense destruction and loss of life, leading to Japan's eventual surrender and the end of the war.

Nagasaki

Japanese city that was bombed by the United States on August 9, 1945, three days after Hiroshima, with an atomic bomb during World War II. The bombing contributed to Japan's surrender, effectively ending the war, but caused massive devastation and loss of life.

V-J Day

Victory over Japan Day marks the day Japan officially surrendered to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II. The surrender was announced on August 15, 1945, and formalized on September 2, 1945, when Japan signed the instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri.

blitzkrieg

Fast and intense military strategy used by Nazi Germany during World War II. It combined rapid movements of infantry, tanks, and air support to quickly overwhelm and defeat enemy forces, aiming for swift victories and minimal resistance.

Luftwaffe

The aerial warfare branch of the German military during World War II. It played a key role in the early successes of Nazi Germany, especially in the Blitzkrieg campaigns, and was involved in strategic bombing, including the attack on Britain during the Battle of Britain.

firebombing

The use of incendiary bombs to cause widespread fires, often targeting civilian areas. During World War II, it was used by both Axis and Allied forces, with notable instances including the bombing of cities like Dresden, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan, which caused massive destruction and civilian casualties.

Armistice Day

, observed on November 11, marks the day when World War I ended in 1918, with the signing of the armistice between Germany and the Allies. It is now commemorated as Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in other Commonwealth nations, honoring military veterans and those who died in the war.

Asia for Asiatics

Slogan used by Japan during its expansion in Asia in the 1930s and 1940s. It promoted the idea of Asian unity and independence from Western powers, but in practice, it was used to justify Japan's imperialist actions and occupation of other Asian countries during World War II.

Balkanization

The fragmentation or division of a region or state into smaller, often hostile, entities. The term originated from the complex and violent breakup of the Balkan Peninsula in the early 20th century, where ethnic and political conflicts led to the creation of several independent, often conflict-ridden states.

influenza epidemic

A global pandemic that occurred in 1918-1919. It infected about one-third of the world's population and caused an estimated 50 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history, surpassing even World War I in terms of mortality.

Lost Generation

A group of American writers and intellectuals who came of age during or shortly after World War I. They were disillusioned by the war's aftermath and the moral and cultural upheavals of the time, often expressing feelings of aimlessness and disillusionment in their works, with notable figures including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

International Criminal Court

A permanent international tribunal established in 2002 to prosecute individuals for crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It aims to hold perpetrators accountable when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so, providing justice for victims and promoting global human rights.