Hitler's Expansion and Rearmament Quiz

Study Notes

Hitler's War Path

Hitler announced Germany's rearmament in 1935, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
The Luftwaffe, Nazi air force, was created under Hitler's rearmament program and played a key role in Germany's initial military successes.
In 1936, Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles and confusing European allies.

Axis Powers

The Axis Powers were formed by an alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan.
The coordinated efforts of these three nations made them a formidable force.

Munich Conference

The Munich Conference in 1938 was attended by Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy to discuss Hitler's threat to unleash war unless the Sudetenland was given to Germany.
The leaders agreed to the annexation in exchange for a pledge of peace from Hitler.

Nonaggression Pact

The Nonaggression Pact was signed by Hitler and Stalin in 1939, allowing Hitler to invade Poland's western half while giving Stalin the eastern half.
This pact enabled the Axis powers to continue unchecked.

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war," was a strategy devised by Hitler, using fast-moving tank divisions to strike quickly and overwhelm defenses.
Blitzkrieg tactics led to German victories in Poland, France, and the early stages of the invasion of the Soviet Union.

Battle of Britain

In 1940, Hitler launched massive air raids on British military targets, but British resistance frustrated Hitler, who then focused on bombing cities, including London.
Britain's victory in the Battle of Britain taught that Hitler's attacks could be blocked.

Invasion of the USSR

Operation Barbarossa in 1941 was Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, with an initial rapid German advance, but the Soviets fought back fiercely.
The brutal winter and fierce resistance at Stalingrad marked a turning point on the Eastern front.

Nazi New Order

Hitler's policy of resettlement involved moving Jews into overcrowded ghettos, a step towards the "Final Solution" and the Holocaust.

The Holocaust

Einsatzgruppen, SS special strike forces, were responsible for rounding up Jews into ghettos, playing a key role in the implementation of the "Final Solution".
The Holocaust resulted in the systematic murder of six million Jews.

The US Enters the War

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 prompted the US entry into the war.

Turning Points

The Battle of El Alamein in 1942 was a significant victory that turned the tide in the war, leading to the retreat of the Afrika Korps and German surrender in North Africa.
The Battle of Stalingrad in 1942-1943 was a turning point on the Eastern front, marking the beginning of the end for Hitler's ambitions in the Soviet Union.
The Tehran Conference in 1943 coordinated military strategies against Germany and Japan, agreeing to open a second front to invade Germany from France.

Description

Test your knowledge about Hitler's actions leading up to World War II, including his decision to rearm Germany, creation of the Luftwaffe, occupation of the Rhineland, and formation of the Axis Powers.