World War II Study Guide

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What is the definition of totalitarianism according to the lecture notes?

A system of government where the state controls nearly every aspect of life.

Who were the two major rivals Joseph Stalin had to defeat or replace to gain control of the USSR?

He gained control after the death of Lenin and defeated rivals such as Trotsky.

What is the definition of appeasement?

Appeasement is giving in to an aggressor’s demands to avoid conflict.

On what date did Germany invade Poland, marking the beginning of WWII in Europe?

$$September 1, 1939$$

How long did the "Phony War" last?

It lasted about $8$ months.

What specific strategy characterized by "lightning war" did Germany use to attack France?

Blitzkrieg, which used fast attacks with tanks, aircraft, and infantry.

What was the historical importance of the Dunkirk evacuation?

It saved hundreds of thousands of Allied troops and allowed Britain to continue fighting.

Which two air forces were the primary combatants in the Battle of Britain?

Germany’s Luftwaffe and Britain’s RAF (Royal Air Force).

What were Hitler's primary goals for Operation Barbarossa?

To gain land and resources, destroy communism, create Lebensraum ($\text{living space}$) for Germans, and invade Ukraine.

Why did Hitler specifically want to capture Stalingrad?

It was a strategic location, an industrial center, and had symbolic importance.

What was the exact date and location of the Japanese attack that brought the United States into WWII?

$December 7, 1941$ at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

What eventually happened to Benito Mussolini in $1945$?

He was captured by Italian partisans, executed, and his body was hung upside down and beaten by a mob.

On D-Day ($June 6, 1944$), which specific beach did the Canadian forces land on?

Juno Beach

What is the meaning of the German word "Holocaust" and what is the estimated death toll of Jewish people?

It means "Burnt offering" and approximately $6,000,000$ Jews were murdered.

What did the Nuremberg Laws specifically ban or take away?

They banned sexual relations between Jews and any other race and took away German citizenship.

Who organized and who ran the Nazi concentration camps?

They were organized by Theodor Eicke and run by the SS (Schutzstaffel).

What was the purpose of the Nuremberg Trials?

To prosecute Nazi leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

What was "If Day" in Winnipeg, Manitoba?

A simulated Nazi invasion involving volunteers to encourage Canadians to support the war effort and buy war bonds.

Who led the Manhattan Project and where was the first nuclear bomb tested?

It was led by Robert Oppenheimer and the first bomb was tested at the Trinity Test in the desert.

What were the names of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

The bomb dropped on Hiroshima was "Little boy" and the one on Nagasaki was "Fat man".

According to the Potsdam declaration, what were the "Big 3" countries and their respective leaders?

USSR (Stalin), Britain (Churchill), and USA (Harry Truman).

What was the fate of Emperor Hirohito after Japan's surrender on $September 2, 1945$?

He remained as emperor but only in a ceremonial position and died in $1989$.

What were the Tokyo Trials of $1946$?

Trials that convicted Japanese military and government officials of war crimes and crimes against humanity, similar to the Nuremberg trials.