World War II - Midterm

Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was a significant treaty signed on June 28, 1919 laying out the conditions of peace between Germany and the victorious Allies to end WWI. Focused on setting the term of peace for Germany, imposing heavy reparations, territorial losses, and strict limitations on its military capabilities. The treaty’s conditions gave rise of National Socialism and the outbreak of WWII.

League of Nations

After WWI in 1920, the Paris Conference created the League of Nations, based in Geneva, Switzerland, as a mechanism for maintaining the international order to ensure war does not happen again. The League highlighted limited power as it failed to prevent the outbreak of WWII. The League of Nations was disbanded on April 1946, and powers and functions were transferred to the United Nations.

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. His existence in power made a conventional negotiated peace impossible; he played a central role in the initiation of WWII with the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the Holocaust. He succeeded in France in 1940 and half-succeeded in Russia in 1941. In July 1944, a faction of the army attempted to murder Hitler. His aggressive expansionist policies and fascist ideology led to widespread devastation and loss of life during the war. Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945.

Crisis of Liberalism

The Crisis of Liberalism refers to a period of political, economic, and social turmoil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where the foundational principles of liberalism, such as individual freedom, market economy, and democratic governance, faced significant challenges. This crisis was marked by the rise of alternative ideologies like socialism, fascism, and nationalism, which questioned the ability of liberal democracies to address economic inequalities, social injustices, and the escalating tensions between nations. It led to a reevaluation of liberal principles, resulting in reforms that sought to integrate social welfare policies within the framework of liberal democracy to mitigate the disparities and instabilities that had fueled its critique.

Invasion of Manchuria

The Invasion of Manchuria occurred in 1931 when the Imperial Japanese Army seized the northeastern Chinese region of Manchuria, marking the beginning of Japanese aggression in Asia. The army had 2 drives: 1) protection from China and 2) protection from enemy - Soviet Union. This challenged the global status quo that had existed since 1919. The Japanese did this to seek raw materials to fuel its growing industries since Japan did not have access to mineral wealth. The League of Nations’ response was ineffective, and this heightened into the Second Sino-Japanese war and WWII in the Pacific.

Hirohito

Emperor Hirohito was the monarch of Japan from 1926 to 1988, reigning during Japan’s involvement in WWII. Japan wanted to keep him in power in order to allow them to rebuild Japan; he revitalized code, and refueled service to the state. During the invasion of Manchuria, the Japanese planned a coup under his honor (they wanted to protect Japan from China and the Soviet Union), and he did not approve of the coup even though in his honor. When the coup failed and settled the dispute in favor of those insisting on peace, he announced on the radio the surrender of Japan to the Allies.

Japanese Militarism

Japan's military does everything in honor of the emperor. Bushido code, which was a code of samurai, a code of honor, and service to the emperor, that if the emperor says to do something, they are to follow through. The growth of a powerful military establishment advocated for imperial expansion into Korea, China, and Southeast Asia. Japanese militarism played a critical role in the lead-up to and during WWII; culminating in aggressive expansionist policies and atrocities that occupied territories, and led to Japan’s defeat and occupation by Allied forces.

2nd Sino-Japanese War

The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) conflict between China and Japan, was caused by the incident at the Marco Polo Bridge on the night 7-8 July 1937 (Japanese and Chinese troops clashed near the bridge, leading to an escalation of hostilities.

The “China Incident” occurred in 1937, which allowed the Japanese army to capitalize central control of China, carving out territories so that Japanese soldiers could operate on their territory.

Rape of Nanjing

The Rape of Nanjing occurred in November 1937, when Japanese forces captured the Chinese city of Nanjing during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Japanese attempted to achieve a rapid and decisive victory by pushing on to take Nanjing (the modern national capital and burial place of the father of the republic), including the brutal murder and rape of Chinese civilians.

Lebensraum

Lebensraum means “breathing space” in German, was a Nazi ideology advocating the territorial expansion of Germany to provide more space for its population to grow and prosper. It was based on the belief that the expansion of German territory was essential for national survival and prosperity at the expense of nations in Eastern Europe. Lebensraum justified the aggressive foreign policy of Nazi Germany, leading to the invasion of neighboring countries, and the genocide of millions of people was an obstacle to German expansion.

Appeasement

Appeasement was a diplomatic strategy pursued by Britain, France, and other Western powers in the 1930s to avoid conflict with aggressive nations, specifically Nazi Germany. The policy, criticized for its failure to prevent WWII, involved making concesssion to appease the expansionist ambitions of dictators, Adolf Hitler, in the hope of maintaining peace.

(Examples) Appeasement involved annexing Austria (Anschluss) to Germany and allowing the occupation of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia; this policy was to get more time to prepare for war if war were to happen, did not want the war in 1939, wanted the war in 1940.

Sudetenland

Sudetenland refers to a region in Czechoslovakia with a significant German-speaking population located along the country’s borders with Germany and Austria. Leading up to WWII, Hitler demanded Sudetenland’s annexation to Germany, claiming it was necessary to protect the German-speaking population there.

This demand led to the Munich Agreement of 1938, in which Britain, France, Italy, and Germany agreed to the cession of Sudetenland to Germany, a decision made without Czechoslovakia’s consent, in a failed attempt to appease Hitler and prevent a larger conflict.

Munich Conference

The Munich Conference took place in September 1938, British and France leaders sought to avoid war by allowing Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia (a German-speaking region of Czechoslovakia) through appeasement. Sudetenland was sacrificed and this was the last effort for war, Hitler got Slovakia to become a German state and Czech side was annexed. The Munich Conference is criticized for its failure to prevent further Nazi aggression, Hitler did keep promise to not further expand Germany’s territory, leading to WWII.

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed in August 1939 between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, was a non-aggression treaty in which countries agreed not to attack each other and it also secretly divided Eastern Europe. The pact allowed Hitler to launch the Invasion of Poland without fearing Soviet intervention, marking the beginning of WWII.

“Phony War”

The Phony War refers to the initial phase of World War II, marked by a lack of major military operations on the Western Front following the declaration of war by Britain and France against Germany in September 1939, after Germany's invasion of Poland. This period, lasting until the German blitzkrieg attack on France in May 1940, was characterized by an eerie calm in Western Europe, despite the ongoing war, with both sides preparing but not launching significant military engagements. The term "Phony War" captures the contrast between the declared state of war and the apparent absence of active combat, highlighting the anticipation and anxiety of the period before the full scale of WWII's devastation unfolded.

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg means “ligtning war” in German and it was a military strategy by Nazi Germany to find weaknesses; it was characterized by the rapid and coordinated use of ground and air forces and specialized units to achieve swift and overwhelming victories.

Germans had fewer troops in military than France but were trained as officers. There are 3 ways to successful Blitzkrieg: 1) speed of movements - point of attack, always succeeded enemies. 2) speed of communication and decision making – change plans quickly taking minutes over days. 3) over confident enemy – laid telephone lines for communication, Germans took on Allies and Germany took over.

Strategy was effective in early stages of war, such as invasions of Poland and France.

Invasion of Poland

The Invasion of Poland in 1939 by Nazi Germany and Soviet Union marked the beginning of WWII. The swift and coordinated attack, utilizing Blitzkrieg tactics, resulted in the occupation of Poland and prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany. Nazi Germany waited until Poland was weak and Soviets entered Poland from the east and divided Poland into 2; the Soviets killed more Polands than the Germans.

Battle of France

The Battle of France also known as the Fall of France took place from May to June of 1940, during the WWII, when Nazi Germany launched an invasion of France and countries below with blitzkrieg tactics. Allies had more tanks and soldiers, but the German forces rapidly bypassed the fortified Maginot Line; this was decision led to the German victory in 1) occupation of France, 2) establishment of the Vichy government, puppet state aligned with Nazi Germany, and 3) altered the course of the war in Europe.

Maginot Line

The Maginot Line was the heavily fortified defensive line built by France along its border with Germany during the 1930s to prevent a German invasion. However, during World War II, the German forces circumvented the Maginot Line by launching a rapid invasion through the Ardennes Forest, rendering the fortifications largely ineffective.

Dunkirk Evcauation

The Dunkirk Evacuation took place on May 27 to June 4 1940 when Allied forces, primarily British and French, were evacuated 2/3 of troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, after being surrounded by German forces. Operation Dynamo successfully rescued over 300,000 troops, two-thirds British, and one-third French, providing a crucial lifeline for the Allies and allowing them to fight another three weeks.

The French had already suffered a mortal blow but the complete loss of British Expeditionary Force left Britain vulnerable to invasion and led to London’s government to make peace with Hitler’s terms.

Henri Philippe Petain

Henri Philippe Pétain was a French general who rose to prominence during World War I, during the Battle of Verdun, where his defensive strategy held German forces at bay. Following France's defeat by Germany in June 1940 during World War II, Pétain became the head of the French government and chose to collaborate with Nazi Germany, leading the Vichy regime, a puppet state that controlled unoccupied France from 1940 to 1944.

He believed France was an ill society but he said in the long run this may not be a bad thing. Petain discussed French Armistice (June 22), Germans offered occupation of 65%-70% of France, still French territory but occupied by Germany, but Petain did not want to occupy France, instead wanted to invade France to get them out of the war.

After the liberation of France, Pétain was arrested, tried for treason, and initially sentenced to death, a sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment due to his age and World War I service.

Vichy France

Vichy France refers to the collaborationist government established in the unoccupied zone of France after the German occupation in 1940. Led by Marshal Philippe Pétain, Vichy France cooperated with Nazi Germany, implementing anti-Semitic policies and suppressing resistance movements until the Allied liberation of France in 1944.

Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during crucial periods of World War II. Known for his inspiring speeches and steadfast leadership, Churchill played a key role in rallying the British people during the Battle of Britain and throughout the war.

Germany invaded Poland the day Churchill became prime minister, tried to keep France in war, and suggested France British union. Gives a speech to say that his government policy was not to focus attention on Germany, but to focus on rest of the world. Britain does not need to defeat Germany, they just have to thread water until U.S. get involved. Britain does not accommodate Germany.

France surrender, France Navy in Africa.

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain was a pivotal air campaign fought over the skies of the United Kingdom from July to October 1940 during World War II. It was a crucial conflict between the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe, and the RAF's successful defense against German air attacks prevented a German invasion and marked a turning point in the war.

Britain was ready to fight, had Commander Dowding to spread out air bases. German government set up aircraft watching to detect where and when aircrafts are coming, destroy air bases but less successful. Aerial combat (dog fight in sky) Germans lose pilots at fast rate, o German start to target civilians this forces remaining units to fight.

In October 1940, Hitler tells it off and tell them to slow it down, attack at night which which was a disadvantage because could not see aht they were bombing.

The Blitz

The Blitz, short for "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war), refers to the sustained bombing campaign carried out by the German Luftwaffe against British cities, particularly London, during World War II from September 1940 to May 1941. The Blitz caused significant civilian casualties and damage but failed to break British morale or force surrender.

Free France

Free France, led by Charles de Gaulle, was the government-in-exile and resistance movement formed by those opposed to Vichy France's collaboration with Nazi Germany. Free French forces fought alongside the Allies, contributing to the liberation of France and other European nations.

Charles DeGaulle

Charles de Gaulle was a French military navy officer and statesman who played a prominent role during World War II. He led the Free French Forces, a government in exile, and later became the president of post-war France. De Gaulle is widely recognized for his role in shaping modern France and advocating for its independence and sovereignty.

Operation Sealion

Operation Sealion was the code name for Nazi Germany's planned invasion of Britain during World War II. Despite initial preparations and air battles during the Battle of Britain, the invasion never materialized, as the Luftwaffe's inability to achieve air superiority over the Royal Air Force led Hitler to abandon the plan.

Germans plan invasion of Britain: destroy Britain’s navy (never goes beyond Stage 1)

Stage 1: German establishing air spremacy in Britain

Stage 2: paratrooper landings in eastern Britain

Stage 3: cross invasion before getting caught

“People’s War”

The concept of the "People's War" refers to a strategy of total mobilization of a nation's civilian population for war efforts. It was notably employed by the Soviet Union during World War II, where the entire society played a role in the war, contributing to the resilience and ultimate victory of the Soviet forces against the German invasion.

Bismarck

Hunt for Bismarck on May 19-27, 1941, the biggest and fastest German battleship, heavily armed. British concern was that it would interfere with convoys. British try to avoid Germany but find them and Germany shoot the British boat and explodes - shot hit bombs/equip. German Bismark had to stop to get gas, this is advanantage for British because they torpedoed Bimarcck; British fleet on Bismarck and sink it.

Battle of Greece

The Battle of Greece occurred in 1941 when Axis forces, primarily German and Italian troops, invaded Greece. Despite valiant Greek and British Commonwealth resistance, the Axis powers ultimately prevailed, leading to the fall of Greece and Crete and further expanding the Axis presence in the Mediterranean. Last major airborne invasion - poorly armed - prisoners in Greece payback.

Erwin Rommel

Erwin Rommel (1891-1944), also known as the "Desert Fox," was a highly skilled German military commander during World War II. He gained fame for his leadership in the Desert Korps in North Africa, he was sent by Hitler and takes on a group of well-trained soldiers, Desert Korps, and engaged in aggressive campaigns with Italy (not successful) and is known for his innovative tactics and mobile warfare strategies.

North Africa Campaign

The North Africa Campaign was a series of battles fought in the deserts of North Africa during World War II, primarily between the Allied forces, led by the British Eighth Army and later joined by the United States, and the Axis forces led by Germany and Italy. The campaign included famous battles like El Alamein and played a crucial role in securing the Mediterranean and setting the stage for the Allied invasion of Southern Europe.

Italy is fighting Egypt, in 1940, British push Italians back to prevent them from attacking Egypt. General Ritchie tells army not to stop but be cautious not to go too far from lines of supply. Hitler gets involved in North Africa because he is worried he will lose alliance to Italy.

Operation Barbarossa

Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, marking the largest military operation in history. Initiated by Adolf Hitler, the invasion aimed to secure the eastern front, but it ultimately led to a protracted and brutal conflict that played a decisive role in turning the tide of World War II.

Siege of Leningrad

The Siege of Leningrad, lasting from September 8, 1941 to January 27, 1944, was one of the longest and deadliest sieges in history, with the German and Finnish forces blockading the city. The people of Leningrad endured extreme hardships, including famine and harsh winters, but ultimately resisted, contributing to the Soviet victory on the Eastern Front. 600 thousands soviet civilians starve to death.

Einsatzgruppen

Einsatzgruppen, followed after Operation Barbarossa, were paramilitary death squads formed by Nazi Germany during World War II, tasked with carrying out mass killings, primarily targeting Jews, intellectuals, and other perceived enemies of the Nazi regime. They played a significant role in the Holocaust, executing mass shootings and contributing to the genocide of millions of people.

Partisans

Partisans were resistance fighters who opposed Axis occupation during World War II. Operating in occupied territories across Europe, they engaged in guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and espionage, playing a crucial role in disrupting enemy operations and supporting the Allied forces.

Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad (August 1942- February 1943) was a brutal and decisive confrontation between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. It marked a turning point in the war, with the Soviet victory leading to a decline in German momentum on the Eastern Front and setting the stage for the Soviet advance towards Germany.

On February 2, 1943, Field Marshall Friedrick Paulus know he is surrounded, did not capture Stalin, acknowledged defeat, and retreat - Hitler refused Paulus retreat.

Soviet forces launched a counteroffensive against Germans at Stalingrad, quickly encircled an entire German army, in February 1943, surviving German forces surrendered. It was difficult for Germany to succeed in war with 1.3 million American troops in Europe.

“Great Patriotic War”

The term "Great Patriotic War" is the Russian designation for the Eastern Front of World War II, particularly the conflict between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It reflects the immense scale and significance of the Eastern Front, where the Soviet Union played a crucial role in the defeat of the German Army.

“Quisling”

The term "Quisling" became synonymous with collaboration and betrayal during World War II, named after Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian politician who collaborated with Nazi Germany and established a puppet government during the occupation of Norway. Quisling's name came to symbolize those who betrayed their own country for personal or political gain.

Collaborators

Collaborators were individuals or groups who cooperated with occupying enemy forces during World War II. In various occupied territories, collaborators assisted the Axis powers, sometimes for ideological reasons or personal gain, while often facing retribution and condemnation after the war. The collaboration of governments and citizens was a crucial factor in the maintenance of German dominance in continental Europe.

America First Committee

The America First Committee was a prominent isolationist group in the United States during the late 1930s and early 1940s. It advocated for keeping the U.S. out of World War II and avoiding foreign entanglements. However, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the committee disbanded, and public sentiment shifted towards active involvement in the war. Father Coughlin, Catholic priest, was a big supporter of this group, he promoted antisemitic and pro-fascist views.

Neutrality Acts

The Neutrality Acts were a series of U.S. laws passed in the 1930s aimed at maintaining American neutrality and avoiding involvement in overseas conflicts. These acts restricted arms sales, loans, and travel to belligerent nations and reflected the United States' desire to stay out of international conflicts, especially in the lead-up to World War II.

Isoruku Yamamoto

Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) was the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He is best known for planning the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, but he later expressed concern about the long-term prospects of Japan in a protracted war.

Attended Harvard, know U.S. military tactics, know that war with U.S., Japanese will not be able to keep up. August 1941, Japanese governemnt decide to got o war, neutralizing U.S. navy, capture Philippines, then French, Dutch, British treaties. On October 1941, planning, spread resources for wide spread attack.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor refers to the surprise military attack by the Japanese on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan the following day.

Japanese launch air attack naval base in Hawaii, rest of naval fleet attack Philippines and Singapore; hope to neutralize bulk of naval fleet and force U.S. to retreat to California, San Diego. Japan carries release 300 miles bomb strike attack.

Douglas MacArthur

Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) was an American general who played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He led Allied forces in the Pacific, overseeing key campaigns such as the liberation of the Philippines and the island-hopping strategy against Japan. Douglas was sent to the Philippines to prepare Filipino army ready, Japanese bomb planes in Manila, the purpose of Philippines was to hold out, and the U.S. did not hold out. Government wanted MacArthur to retreat back. Japanese capture Corregidor.

Battle of Singapore

The Battle of Singapore in 1942 marked the fall of the British stronghold to Japanese forces, leading to the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. The defeat had significant consequences, influencing the course of the war in the Pacific and signaling the vulnerability of Western colonial powers in Southeast Asia.

Fall of Philippines

The Fall of the Philippines refers to the Japanese invasion and occupation of Philippines in 1941-1942, during WWII. Even though the Philippines had the defense of the leader General Douglas Mac Arthur, the Philippines fell to Japanese forces, leading to the the Bataan Death March and a period of occupation until the Allied liberation in 1944-1945.

Battle of Coral Sea

The Battle of Coral Sea happened in May 1942 was a pivotal naval engagement between the U.S. and Japane, the first fleet-versus-fleet action in which the surface ships of the two sides did not see one another. It prevented a Japanese invasion of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea and was a strategic precursor to the Battle of Midway. U.S. sent two aircraft carriers to intercept the Japanese plan to seize control of the Coral Sea by establishing air bases at Port Moresby in New Guinea. Allied intelligence alerted all available sea and air power.

Battle of Midway

The Battle of Midway was a pivotal naval engagement between the United States and Japan on June 4-5, 1942. The U.S. Navy had accessed to vital intelligence as a ‘force multiplier’; intercepted signal had told Admiral Nimitz that the enemy was coming. U.S. Navy dive bombers sunk all four carriers in Yamamoto’s main force. The Japanese thought the American carriers were still in the South Pacific. Midway secured the eastern Pacific for the U.S., shift of power, halting Japanese expansion in the Pacific. Guam and the Philippines had fallen to the Japanese and there were no forward U.S. bases.

War Plan Orange

War Plan Orange was a series of contingency plans developed by U.S. for potential conflict with Japan in Pacific. It was a guide for U.S. military shaping the response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; a long process island hopping, establishing bases with supply rather than direct strike against Japan.

Lend Lease

The Lend-Lease Act enacted by the United States in 1941, intended to assist the Allies in supplying weapons, equipment, and supplies during WWII. This act played a crucial role in supporting the Allies, especially the Soviet Union and Britain, before the U.S. officially entered the war. Two important things: 1) the U.S. cannot send weapons to Britain, Britain has to pick up the equipment, and 2) Britain cannot afford to buy the equipment from the U.S. At the end of the war, materials were destroyed. The lend-lease was given to Chinese before Pearl Harbor.