history topic 9 lesson 5

What was the Allied strategy for defeating Germany in Europe?

To encircle Germany from the south, west, and east

Which two Allied armies met at the Elbe River?

American and Soviet forces

Where is the Elbe River located?

Eastern Germany

What did the meeting at the Elbe River symbolize?

The collapse of Nazi Germany

What were kamikaze attacks?

Suicide attacks by Japanese pilots against Allied ships

Why did Japan use kamikaze attacks?

To slow American advances in the Pacific

What happened to kamikaze pilots during their attacks?

They crashed their planes and died

Which side was targeted by kamikaze attacks?

The Allies

Who was the President of the United States in 1945?

Harry S. Truman

Who was James Byrnes?

U.S. Secretary of State

What ship carried Truman and Byrnes to the Potsdam Conference?

USS Augusta

What was the Potsdam Conference?

A meeting of the Big Three Allied leaders

Who were the Big Three leaders?

Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin

When was the Potsdam Conference held?

Summer 1945

Why was the Potsdam Conference important?

The Allies discussed postwar plans and the end of the war

What did the Allies demand from Japan before the atomic bombings?

Unconditional surrender

Did Japan initially accept Allied surrender terms?

No

Which two Japanese cities were targeted with atomic bombs?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Who ordered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Harry S. Truman

Why did Truman order the atomic bombings?

Japan refused to surrender

What was the result of the atomic bombings?

Massive destruction and Japan's surrender

What new weapon was used against Japan in 1945?

The atomic bomb

What ended World War II in the Pacific?

Japan's surrender after the atomic bombings

What were the Nuremberg Trials?

Trials of Nazi leaders after World War II

Why were the Nuremberg Trials significant?

They were the first trials for crimes against humanity

What are crimes against humanity?

Serious crimes committed against civilians during war

Who was tried at the Nuremberg Trials?

Nazi leaders and war criminals

What was the goal of the Nuremberg Trials?

To hold Nazi leaders accountable for their actions

Who was Hideki Tojo?

Japan's Prime Minister during much of World War II

Was Tojo as powerful as Hitler or Mussolini?

No

What happened to Hideki Tojo after the war?

He was tried and executed for war crimes

What are war crimes?

Violations of the laws and customs of war

Which organization helped promote peace after World War II?

The United Nations

Who was Ralph Bunche?

A United Nations diplomat and mediator

What conflict did Ralph Bunche help resolve?

The conflict between Israel and Egypt

What did Ralph Bunche help negotiate in 1948?

A ceasefire between Israel and Egypt

What is a ceasefire?

An agreement to stop fighting

What historic achievement did Ralph Bunche earn?

He became the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner

When did Ralph Bunche win the Nobel Peace Prize?

1950

Why did Ralph Bunche receive the Nobel Peace Prize?

For helping negotiate peace in the Middle East

What happened to Germany as Allied forces advanced from all directions?

It was surrounded and defeated

What was one reason Japan resorted to kamikaze attacks?

Desperation as the war turned against them

What major event marked the beginning of accountability for wartime atrocities?

The Nuremberg Trials

What was one important goal of the United Nations after World War II?

Promoting peace and resolving conflicts

What event demonstrated cooperation between American and Soviet forces?

Their meeting at the Elbe River

What ultimately forced Japan to end the war?

The atomic bombings and subsequent surrender