HIST 1004 - WW2

Key terms from lectures on WW2.

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

A 1939 non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR that allowed Germany to prevent facing enemies from both sides and led to the division of Poland after invasion from both nations. The pact was always meant to be temporary, allowing the USSR to gain strength before an eventual invasion.

Fall Weiss

German plan for the 1939 invasion of Poland to quickly gain control of the country to stop the onset of a two front war.

Wehrmacht

The unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945.

Fuhrerweisung No. 1

Order for the invasion of Poland and an outline for how to react in the case of the interference of other countries.

Gleiwitz

A town in Upper Silesia that was raided by undercover German forces to provide evidence of Polish provocation that would justify Germany’s invasion.

Phoney War

Inaction by the West after the invasion of Poland in September of 1939 until the invasion of Denmark and Norway in April of 1940, despite Britain and France’s official declaration of war on September 3, 1939. Also referred to as the “Sitzkrieg” by Germans.

Maiginot Line

Established defensive French fortifications to prevent an invasion from Germany, positions on the Maiginot Line were maintained early in the war rather than mounting an offensive. This led to failure as Germany took the country by entering through Belgium.

Evacuation of Dunkirk

British troops that were expected to support the French in defense against Germany became surrounded in Northern France, choosing to evacuate in a successful rescue mission of 300,000 at the port town of Dunkirk.

Vichy France

The collaborative government of France under Nazi influence following the June 22, 1941 surrender of France to Germany. The Northern half of France was administered by the Nazis and funded by the French government, while Southern France remained a “neutral zone” governed by Phillipe Petain.

Lebensraum

German settler colonialism that sought to acquire more territory in Eastern Europe to give Germans more resources and room to expand their population.

General Government

Region of Poland under the control of Germany after the 1939 invasion. Separated from German majority regions and Soviet controlled areas, this region of Poland was viewed as impossible to assimilate due to the ethnic make up of its population and was controlled Hans Frank. This region contained the majority of concentration and death camps built by the Nazis.

Home Army

Polish resistance group loyal to the Polish government in exile in London.

People’s Army

Polish resistance group loyal to the Communist Party and supported by the USSR.

February Strike

Two day worker strike in 1941 in the Netherlands to protest German abuses of Jewish citizens.

Westerbork

Transit camp outside of Amsterdam that held Jewish citizens before sending them to concentration camps in Eastern Europe.

Atlantic Wall

Coastal barrier built by Germans to defend holdings in Northern Europe, made with Dutch slave labour.

Three German Objectives of Operation Barbarossa

Destroy the Soviet military, capture political and industrial centres, and capture Soviet resources like the Ukrainian “Bread Basket”.

Red Army

Armed forces of the USSR, which in the beginning of WW2 were weak due to Stalin’s purges of the officer corps.

Vyacheslav Molotov

Foreign minister and close ally of Stalin who gave a speech to the USSR to encourage defense of the “homeland” from German invasion.

Resistenz

German resistance to Nazi occupation that largely started during the war and was the exception to the widespread collaboration with the Nazis.

Father von Galen

German church official who was an outspoken critic ofthe Nazi regime's policies, particularly against euthanasia and the persecution of the church.

T4 Program

Nazi Germany's initiative for the systematic euthanasia of the disabled and those deemed unfit, resulting in thousands of deaths. The methods used in this program were exported to the death camps in Poland.

White Rose Movement

A non-violent resistance group formed by students in Munich during the winter of 1942, known for distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets and promoting civil disobedience against the regime. The leaders, Hans and Sophie Scholl and their friend Alexander Schmorell were executed for spreading “malicious and defeatist” rumors.

Rosenstrasse Protests

Protest in early 1943, initiated after orders to deport the last remaining Jews in Berlin who were spouses of non-Jewish Germans. This caused a gathering outside of the jail where they were being held before deportation with many sympathetic Germans joining the wives of the imprisoned. It was ultimately successful as Hitler caved, fearing morale losses.

Operation Jubilee

A failed Allied raid on the German controlled French port of Dieppe on August 19, 1942. The assault failed and caused high Canadian casualties, but was used as a learning experience for the later invasion of Normandy. It was a symbolic gesture to Western Europe, particularly the French Resistance that they had not been forgotten.

Battle of Stalingrad

A grueling defeat for the Wehrmacht in Russia in a prolonged battle that lasted from August 23, 1942 until February 2, 1943 when the Germans surrendered. This victory for the USSR showed that Germany was not invincible and was evidence of the declining leadership of Hitler.

General VI Zhukov

General who led the Red Army to victory at Stalingrad and further victories in Eastern Europe as a forceful leader.

Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus

Commander of the 6th Division at Stalingrad who ultimately surrendered at Stalingrad becoming the first field marshal to do so in German history.

Operation HUSKY

A primarily Canadian amphibious operation to take Sicily in July and August, 1943.

Marshal Pietro Badoglio

Fascist leader of Italy who replaces Mussolini after a coup. Badoglio turns his back on the Germans and negotiates with Allies.

Otto Skorzeny

German who leads a team to rescue the deposed Mussolini and reinstall him as leader.

Karl Wolff

German commander in Italy who sees inferior German position and negotiates a surrender against Himmler’s orders to stop the bloodshed and achieve a better personal position.

Tehran Conference

A 1943 meeting of Allied commanders to discuss plans for Operation OVERLORD.

Operation BAGRATION

The June 22, 1944 invasion of German controlled territories planned by the USSR to coincide with Operation OVERLORD.

Fortress Europe

Germany’s defensive infrastructure in Northern Europe that was designed to prevent an invasion with ports transformed into fortresses and beachfront obstacles and walls.

Mulberry Harbors

Artificial harbors made by Allied forces to facilitate the storming of Normandy beaches.

American Beaches on D-Day

Utah and Omaha

British Beaches on D-Day

Gold and Sword

Canadian Beach on D-Day

Juno

Dresden Bombing

An Allied campaign to destroy morale by targeting a largely untouched German city. The bombing took place on February 13 to 15 and resulted in mass civilian casualties between 25,000 to 35,000.

Army Group Vistula

The only assembled army groups in 1945 that is able to defend the city of Berlin.

Volkssturm

Elderly men and young boys who were hastily pressed into inexperienced units to defend the city of Berlin in 1945.

Potsdam Agreement

The August 1, 1945 agreement between Allied leaders to divide postwar occupied territory between America, Britain, France, and the USSR.

Fours Ds of the Postwar Plan

Demilitarization, Democratization, Denazification, Decentralization

Potsdam Declaration

A July 26, 1945 declaration issued by the Allies that Japan’s failure to unconditionally surrender would lead to a large scale invasion.