World War II - Vocabulary and Key Concepts

Isolationism

  • Definition: A foreign policy stance taken by the United States characterized by its reluctance to participate in international conflicts or alliances, particularly before its entry into World War II. It was driven by a desire to prevent the repercussions of foreign wars and a focus on domestic issues.

Cash and Carry

  • Definition: A policy introduced during the late 1930s that allowed belligerent (aggressive) nations to purchase goods from the United States as long as they paid in cash and transported the goods themselves. This aimed to assist allies while avoiding direct involvement in WWII.

Lend-Lease Act

  • Definition: A legislative act that authorized the United States to supply military aid to foreign nations during WWII, primarily the Allies. This act was seen as a way to support allies without direct military engagement.

Good Neighbor Policy

  • Definition: A diplomatic policy initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s aimed at improving relations with Latin American countries through non-intervention and non-interference in the domestic affairs of the countries in the Americas.

Neutrality Acts

  • Definition: A series of laws enacted in the 1930s aimed at ensuring that the United States maintained its policy of isolationism by restricting trade and travel with warring nations until a declaration of war was formally made by Congress.

Arsenal of Democracy

  • Definition: A phrase used by President Roosevelt in a radio broadcast where he asserted that the U.S. must become the primary supplier of arms to the European democracies fighting against fascism during WWII. This concept illustrated the shift towards greater support for the Allies.

Embargo

  • Definition: A governmental order that restricts trade with specific nations. Prior to WWII, the U.S. imposed embargoes primarily against Japan, particularly on oil and scrap metal, which were crucial to Japan's military efforts.

Atlantic Charter

  • Definition: A pivotal policy statement made in August 1941 by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, outlining their vision for the post-war world, emphasizing self-determination, economic cooperation, and a collective security organization.

Quarantine Speech

  • Definition: A speech delivered by President Roosevelt in 1937 that called for a 'quarantine' against aggressive nations, indicating a shift away from strict isolationism to a more interventionist perspective, advocating for collective economic actions against aggressors.

Day of Infamy Speech

  • Definition: The speech given by President Roosevelt on December 8, 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, where he declared December 7th as a "day that will live in infamy" and requested Congress to declare war on Japan. This marked the official entry of the U.S. into WWII.

League of Nations

  • Relation to WWII: Established after WWI to promote peace and prevent conflicts. Its failure to enforce resolutions and its inability to prevent aggression from totalitarian regimes in the 1930s contributed to the onset of WWII.

Monroe Doctrine

  • Relation to WWII: A U.S. policy from the 19th century stating that European nations should not interfere in the Americas. This policy influenced U.S. relations with Latin America, particularly in light of WWII dynamics.

Roosevelt Corollary

  • Relation to WWII: An extension of the Monroe Doctrine stating that the U.S. would intervene in Latin America to stabilize weak nations. This doctrine impacted how the U.S. engaged during the war period, seeking to maintain influence in the region.

Dollar Diplomacy

  • Relation to WWII: A policy used by the U.S. in the early 20th century to ensure dominance in the Western Hemisphere through economic investments rather than military intervention. It laid groundwork for diplomatic interactions with numerous countries during the war.

Anschluss

  • Definition: The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in March 1938, representing a significant step in Hitler's expansionist policy and a violation of the Treaty of Versailles.

Lebensraum

  • Definition: A Nazi ideology meaning "living space," which justified the expansion of German territory to accommodate what they believed to be the needs of the Aryan race. This concept became a rationale for invasion and aggression during WWII.

Totalitarianism

  • Definition: A political system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, as seen in regimes during WWII, like Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.

Fascism

  • Definition: A far-right authoritarian ultranationalist political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

Blitzkrieg

  • Definition: A German term meaning "lightning war," referring to a military tactic that emphasizes rapid and unexpected attacks to quickly defeat the enemy, utilized effectively by Germany in the early years of WWII.

Luftwaffe

  • Definition: The aerial warfare branch of the German Wehrmacht during WWII, renowned for its strategic bombing campaigns.

Nazism

  • Definition: The totalitarian ideology and policies of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist German Workers' Party, characterized by extreme nationalism, racism, and anti-Semitism.

Appeasement

  • Definition: A diplomatic strategy used by European powers in the 1930s to avoid war by conceding to the demands of aggressive powers like Nazi Germany, culminating in events like the Munich Agreement and contributing to the outbreak of WWII.

Wolfpacks

  • Definition: German U-boat formations that operated in groups to attack Allied shipping during WWII, aimed at disrupting supply lines across the Atlantic Ocean.

Non-Aggression Pact

  • Definition: A treaty signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 in which both nations pledged not to attack each other, allowing Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.

Axis Powers

  • Definition: A military alliance during WWII consisting of Germany, Italy, and Japan, who sought to expand their territories and influence.

Allied Powers

  • Definition: The coalition of nations, including the U.K., the U.S., the Soviet Union, and others, that opposed the Axis Powers during WWII, committed to defeating fascism and restoring peace.

Flying Tigers

  • Definition: A volunteer group of American pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces against Japan before the U.S. entered WWII, known for their distinctive nose art and effective combat tactics.

Destroyers for Bases

  • Definition: An agreement made between the U.S. and the U.K. during WWII, where the U.S. transferred old destroyers to Britain in exchange for land rights for U.S. bases on British territories in the Western Hemisphere.

Neville Chamberlain

  • Role: The British Prime Minister known for his policy of appeasement towards Hitler prior to WWII, particularly through the Munich Agreement, which is often criticized for failing to prevent the war.

Benito Mussolini

  • Role: The Italian dictator and ally of Hitler, responsible for establishing a totalitarian regime in Italy and leading his country into WWII on the side of the Axis Powers.

Winston Churchill

  • Role: The British Prime Minister who succeeded Chamberlain and became known for his defiant leadership against Nazi Germany, particularly his speeches that rallied public morale during the war.

Joseph Stalin

  • Role: The leader of the Soviet Union who initially signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler but later became a key figure in the Allies' efforts after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

  • Role: The U.S. President during most of WWII, who guided the nation from isolationism to a significant involvement in the war effort, adopting policies like Lend-Lease and articulating the Atlantic Charter.

Haile Selassie

  • Role: The Emperor of Ethiopia who symbolized the struggle against fascism during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930s and was a vocal advocate for African unity and freedom during WWII.

Hideki Tojo

  • Role: The Japanese Prime Minister and military leader during WWII, responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor and for Japan's aggressive military strategies in the Pacific.

Emperor Hirohito

  • Role: The Emperor of Japan during WWII, whose role is often debated regarding how much power he wielded in decision-making versus the military leaders of Japan.

Adolf Hitler

  • Role: The Chancellor of Germany and leader of the Nazi Party, known for his pivotal role in precipitating WWII through aggressive expansion and instigation of the Holocaust.

Sudetenland

  • Significance: A region in Czechoslovakia that was annexed by Germany in 1938, highlighting the failures of appeasement and setting the stage for further Nazi aggression in Europe.

Abyssinia

  • Significance: Refers to Ethiopia, which was invaded by Italy in 1935. This event demonstrated the weaknesses of the League of Nations and foreshadowed the broader conflicts leading into WWII.

Invasion of Poland

  • Significance: Occurring in September 1939, this invasion marked the official start of WWII in Europe, as it prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

Internment Camps

  • Significance: Facilities established in the U.S. during WWII where Japanese Americans were forcibly confined following the attack on Pearl Harbor, raising significant ethical and legal issues surrounding civil liberties.

Pearl Harbor

  • Significance: The site of the surprise military attack conducted by Japan on December 7, 1941, which led to the U.S. entering WWII. This event had a profound impact on public sentiment and military policy in America.