Causes of WWII: Totalitarian Leaders and Treaties

A type of government where a single leader (dictator) has complete control over all aspects of the country, including politics, military, economy, social, and cultural systems.

A form of government that emphasizes nationalism, militarism, and a strong state, often led by a dictator with complete control.

A leader who is charismatic and appeals to the emotions and desires of the population, often promising drastic change and stability.

A violent and systematic persecution of a group of people, especially Jews, during World War II by the Nazi regime.

A set of laws enacted in Nazi Germany in 1935 to systematically strip Jews of their citizenship and rights, leading to their marginalization and persecution.

A policy of appeasement is the practice of giving concessions to an aggressor hoping to maintain peace. It often leads to the aggressor demanding further concessions.

An extreme form of nationalism that often involves the belief in racial superiority and the expansion of a nation's power.

A policy of military aggression used by Nazi Germany in the early stages of World War II, characterized by rapid, surprise attacks with the goal of swift victory.

The Battle of Britain was a crucial aerial campaign during World War II, fought between the Royal Air Force (RAF) of Great Britain and the Luftwaffe (German air force) during 1940.

The Battle of Britain was a fight for air supremacy over England. Germany needed to control the skies to effectively invade Britain.

Germany's Luftwaffe attempted to bomb Britain into submission hoping to scare the people into surrendering.

Hitler had planned to invade Britain after defeating France in 1940, but was forced to abandon this plan after the Luftwaffe's defeat in the Battle of Britain.

The RAF was able to defend against the Luftwaffe's attacks, and with the help of Allied pilots, managed to win the Battle of Britain.

Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, known as Operation Barbarossa, began on June 22, 1941.

Hitler broke his non-aggression pact with Stalin and launched a surprise invasion of the Soviet Union, seeking land and resources to fuel his war machine.

Operation Barbarossa began with rapid German advances, but as the war dragged on, the Soviets proved remarkably resilient and the Nazis eventually faced defeat.

A key turning point in WWII, where the Allies captured Rome after a four-month long battle against the German army. The capture of Rome marked a significant strategic victory for the Allies.

The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 allowed the United States to provide weapons and financial aid to Allied countries fighting against the Axis powers. This act was crucial in supporting the Allied war effort.

The sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945 by the Japanese was a tragic event that resulted in the deaths of over 800 men and the survivors enduring a harrowing ordeal in the open ocean.

The War Measures Act gave the Canadian government sweeping powers during WWII, allowing them to control the economy, censor news, and detain suspected enemies. This act was a controversial form of wartime legislation.

A key event in Canadian history where Parliament voted overwhelmingly to declare war on Germany, aligning Canada with other Allied nations.

The Battle of Ortona was a fierce urban battle fought during WWII between German and Allied forces. The battle lasted for several days and resulted in heavy casualties for both sides.

The execution of Benito Mussolini, the former Italian dictator, by Italian partisans marked the end of his fascist regime and a significant shift in the political landscape of Italy.

The Allied offensive in Italy was a crucial campaign in WWII, aimed at pushing back the German forces and liberating Italian cities. The campaign lasted for several years and involved various Allied armies.

A policy of separating Jews from the rest of society by forcing them to live in designated areas.

Nazi established 356 ghettos in Poland, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Hungary.

Ghettos were filthy and overcrowded, with poor sanitation and limited food.

Concentration camps were established by the Nazis to hold Jews, Communists, homosexuals, opponents, Roma/Gypsy, and union members.

Families were separated, with men and boys sent to work camps and women and children sent to death camps.

People in concentration camps were given numbers and stripped of their identities.

Einsatzgruppen were mobile killing units that targeted entire Jewish communities, and the T-4 program aimed to eliminate people deemed 'unworthy of life.'

The Nazis carried out a systematic genocide of Jewish people, along with other groups, during World War II, leading to the deaths of millions.

The destructive aftermath of an atomic bomb explosion, consisting of radioactive materials spread into the atmosphere.

The height of the mushroom cloud created by an atomic bomb explosion determines how long it takes for the radioactive debris to settle back to Earth.

The Manhattan Project, a secret American effort to develop the atomic bomb, was extremely costly, putting pressure on using the bombs to justify the investment.

The US President Harry Truman made the decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan, despite German surrender, due to the high cost of the Manhattan Project and the stalled negotiations with Japan.

Before dropping the bombs, the US attempted to warn Japan about the impending attacks by dropping flyers over major cities.

The first atomic bomb, "Little Boy", was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6th, 1945, causing immense devastation and estimated casualties of over 200,000.

The second atomic bomb, "Fat Man", was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9th, 1945, further increasing the devastation and leading to Japan's surrender.

After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered to the US on August 15th, 1945, ending World War II.

The forced relocation and imprisonment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, under the War Measures Act. Many were sent to camps in British Columbia, while some men were sent to labor camps elsewhere in Canada.

A set of emergency powers that the Canadian government can invoke in times of national crisis. It allows the government to take extraordinary measures to protect national security.

The government's ability to restrict or limit individual freedoms in the name of national security. This can include actions like travel restrictions, curfews, and even detention without charge.

The deliberate targeting of civilian populations with atomic bombs by the United States during World War II. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in immense destruction and loss of life.

A secret research project during World War II aimed at developing the first atomic bomb. It involved collaboration between scientists from different countries, notably the United States and Canada.

A strategy used by the American Navy during World War II to push back Japanese forces in the Pacific. This involved capturing islands strategically, leading to a long and bloody conflict.

Japanese pilots who flew suicide missions during World War II. These pilots crashed their aircraft into enemy ships and targets, ultimately sacrificing their lives.

The extremely high heat generated by an atomic bomb explosion, capable of reaching millions of degrees. This intense heat is a major factor in the destructive power of the weapon.