WW2

European Theater

Change in Warfare/Tactics:

  • Blitzkrieg: A new form of warfare that emphasized quick, decisive strikes, combining air raids, artillery, and ground forces.

  • Use of Tanks & Air Support: Tanks became essential in the rapid advances of armies, especially during invasions like Poland and France.

Invasion of Poland (1939):

  • Start of WWII: Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, using Blitzkrieg tactics, led to Britain and France declaring war on Germany.

Phoney War/Western Campaign (1939-1940):

  • "Sitzkrieg": A period of minimal military operations on the Western Front after the initial invasion of Poland, but the Allies were still at war with Germany.

  • Fall of France: In May-June 1940, Germany swiftly conquered France in six weeks, utilizing Blitzkrieg tactics.

Battle of Britain (1940):

  • German Air Campaign: The Luftwaffe launched sustained bombing attacks on Britain, aiming to destroy the Royal Air Force and gain air superiority.

  • British Victory: The British Royal Air Force, using radar and effective counterattacks, held off the Germans, marking the first major defeat for Hitler.

North Africa (1940-1943):

  • The Desert War: The fight between Axis powers (primarily Germany and Italy) and Allied forces (mainly Britain and Commonwealth nations) for control of North Africa.

  • El Alamein (1942): Turning point with British victory under General Montgomery, pushing Axis forces back.

Operation Barbarossa (1941):

  • Invasion of the Soviet Union: Hitler broke the non-aggression pact with the USSR and launched a massive invasion in June 1941.

  • Early Success, then Stalemate: Initially successful, but harsh winter and Soviet resilience (e.g., Battle of Stalingrad) stalled German progress.

US Involvement:

  • Neutrality to Intervention:

    • Lend-Lease Act (1941): Allowed the US to send military aid to Allies, signaling the move from neutrality.

    • Atlantic Charter (1941): A statement between the US and Britain outlining post-war goals.

    • Japan’s Expansion: Japan's aggressive actions in Asia, including the invasion of China, caused tensions.

Pearl Harbor (1941):

  • Attack on December 7, 1941: A surprise attack by Japan on the US naval base in Hawaii. This led the US to declare war on Japan, and soon after, Germany and Italy declared war on the US.

European Theater (After Pearl Harbor):

  • Allied War Plans:

    • "Defeat Hitler First": The primary strategy of the Allies, focusing on Germany before Japan.

    • Invasion of Italy (1943): The Allies launched a campaign through Sicily and Italy to knock Italy out of the war.

Battle of the Atlantic:

  • Submarine Warfare: Germany used U-boats to disrupt Allied shipping, and the Allies responded with convoys and better anti-submarine technology.

North Africa Campaign (1942-1943):

  • Operation Torch: Allied invasion of Vichy-controlled North Africa, eventually leading to Axis surrender in May 1943.

Turning the Tides in the Soviet Union:

  • Stalingrad (1942-1943): A decisive Soviet victory, which marked the turning of the tide in the war on the Eastern Front.

Closing the Ring in Europe:

  • D-Day (1944): The Allied invasion of Normandy in France, marking the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.

  • The Liberation of Western Europe: Following D-Day, Allies pushed towards Germany from the west, while the Soviets advanced from the east.

Victory in Europe (VE Day - May 8, 1945):

  • Germany's Surrender: Following the death of Hitler and the fall of Berlin, Germany unconditionally surrendered.

Pacific Theater

Japanese Expansion:

  • Imperial Ambitions: Japan sought to expand throughout East Asia and the Pacific, starting with the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and later China.

Stopping the Japanese:

  • US & Allied Response: Following Japan’s aggression, the US imposed embargoes, including on oil, which contributed to Japan's decision to attack Pearl Harbor.

Coral Sea (1942):

  • First Major Naval Battle: The US and Japan fought to a draw, preventing Japan from invading Australia.

Midway (1942):

  • Turning Point: The US Navy decisively defeated Japan, sinking four aircraft carriers, which shifted the balance of naval power in the Pacific.

Island Hopping:

  • US Strategy: Bypassing heavily fortified islands and capturing strategically important ones to move closer to Japan.

Leyte Gulf (1944):

  • Largest Naval Battle: The US defeated Japan's fleet, securing control of the Philippines.

Okinawa (1945):

  • Last Major Battle in the Pacific: A bloody battle in which the US took Okinawa, bringing them closer to Japan.

Iwo Jima (1945):

  • Critical Island: The US Marines captured Iwo Jima, providing a base for air raids on Japan.

Guadalcanal (1942-1943):

  • First Major Allied Offensive: A long and bloody campaign to capture the island from Japan, marking the beginning of the Allied offensive in the Pacific.

Navajo Code Talkers:

  • Unbreakable Code: Native American soldiers used their language to create an unbreakable code that helped secure US communications.

Atomic Bomb:

  • Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945): The US dropped atomic bombs on these cities, leading to Japan's surrender.

Japanese Surrender (September 2, 1945):

  • End of WWII: Japan formally surrendered, ending the war.

The Homefront

FDR Reelection:

  • 1940 & 1944: Roosevelt was re-elected, providing leadership through much of the war. His leadership helped secure key decisions, like supporting the Allies before direct involvement.

Opposition to War:

  • Isolationism: Many Americans initially wanted to stay out of the war, influenced by groups like the America First Committee.

Women in WWII:

  • Workforce Participation: Women joined the workforce in large numbers, filling roles left vacant by men who went to war.

  • WAC, WAVES, & WASPs: Women served in military auxiliary roles, including nursing, clerical work, and flying non-combat missions.

Government Involvement:

  • War Production: The government took control of industries, converting them for war production.

  • Propaganda: Government used films, posters, and media to rally public support for the war effort.

Minority Groups in WWII:

  • African Americans: Served in segregated units, like the Tuskegee Airmen, and contributed to the war effort.

  • Japanese Americans: Faced discrimination, and many were placed in internment camps.

Internment Camps:

  • Why?: Fearing espionage, the US government forcibly relocated over 100,000 Japanese Americans, mainly on the West Coast.

  • Supreme Court: The case Korematsu v. United States upheld internment as a wartime necessity, but this decision was controversial.

  • Reparations: In 1988, the US government formally apologized and offered reparations to surviving internees.

Wartime Industries:

  • Conversion of Factories: Factories were repurposed to produce war materials like tanks, planes, and ammunition.

Scientific Advancements:

  • Manhattan Project: The US developed the atomic bomb.

  • Radar & Jet Engines: Key technological advances helped shape the outcome of the war.

GI Bill of Rights (1944):

  • Veterans' Benefits: Provided returning soldiers with funds for education, housing, and business loans to help them reintegrate into society.


  1. Stimson Doctrine – Policy where the US would not recognize territory acquired by force.

  2. Operation Torch – Allies campaign in Africa.

  3. The Battle of Britain – German attempt to force Britain to fall.

  4. Sudetenland – Area in Czechoslovakia with a high German population.

  5. War Production Board – Implemented to ensure enough goods were available.

  6. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact – Hitler and Stalin's agreement.

  7. Charles Lindbergh – Leader of America First, strongly opposed America's involvement in WWII.

  8. Peripheral Strategy – Strategy in Europe to attack weaker areas first.

  9. Douglas MacArthur – Swore he would return to the Philippines, led American troops in the Pacific.

  10. Invasion of Manchuria – First act of aggression from Japan.

  11. Battle of Stalingrad – Turning point for the Soviets.

  12. Pearl Harbor Attack – Japanese attack on US soil.

  13. Battle of Midway – The US crushed the Japanese navy at this battle.

  14. Office of Price Administration – Fought inflation by freezing prices.

  15. Jeannette Rankin – Member of Congress to vote against war.

  16. Zoot Suit Riots – Conflict between Mexican Americans and sailors in Los Angeles.

  17. Appeasement – Satisfy a country to avoid conflict.

  18. Battle of the Bulge – Last counterattack by the Germans.

  19. Code Talkers – Native Americans who sent secret messages.

  20. Dwight D. Eisenhower – Led Allied forces in Europe.

  21. Kamikaze Pilots – Japanese suicide pilots.

  22. Battle of the Coral Sea – Battle where the US stopped the Japanese southward expansion.

  23. Italy – The Soft Underbelly of Europe.

  24. Battle of Okinawa – Last major battle of the Pacific theater.

  25. War Bonds – Helped finance the war effort, Americans were encouraged to buy.

  26. War Powers Act – Gave the President authority to conduct the war effort.

  27. Double V Campaign – Fighting racism at home and fascism in Europe.

  28. The Nye Committee Hearings – Hearings that claimed the US joined WWI for financial gain.

A. A. Philip Randolph – He directed the March on Washington movement.

  1. Bataan Death March – 85-mile march for American POWs.

  2. Benito Mussolini – Italian Fascist leader.

  3. Joseph Stalin – Soviet leader.

  4. Operation Downfall – Proposed invasion of Japan.

  5. WACs (Women's Army Corps) – Women who served in support of the Army.

  6. Normandy – Peninsula in France that was the staging point of D-Day.

  7. Rosie the Riveter – Symbol for women to join the workforce.

  8. Island Hopping – Strategy used by the US to get closer to Japan.

  9. Adolf Hitler – German leader.

  10. Neutrality Acts – Passed prior to WWII, limited the power of the President during war in an attempt to remain neutral.

  11. Bracero Program – Created in an effort to get Mexican workers in the US.

  12. Operation Barbarossa – German surprise attack on Soviets.

  13. Honorable Discharge – Undesirable discharge marked with an "HS" (This could also refer to “Dishonorable Discharge,” but the question likely refers to the Honorable Discharge).

  14. Atlantic Charter – Churchill and FDR drafted this prior to US involvement.

  15. Lend-Lease Act – US began aiding Allies in war.

  16. Blitzkrieg – Fast-moving attack.

  17. Manhattan Project – Code name for the Atomic Bomb.

  18. GI Bill – Provided education and loans.

  19. Stalingrad – Bloodiest fighting of WWII.

  20. Poland – First country to be invaded in WWII.