Road to World War II

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following was a direct consequence of the Treaty of Versailles?

  • Reduced feelings of bitterness and betrayal in Germany.
  • The rise of the United States as a global power. (correct)
  • The dissolution of all existing international alliances and treaties.
  • The immediate economic stability and growth of Germany due to war reparations.

How did the Great Depression contribute to the outbreak of World War II?

  • By creating a global demand for goods and services, stimulating international cooperation.
  • By bolstering international banking systems and preventing economic instability.
  • By encouraging governments to invest heavily in social welfare programs, easing social unrest.
  • By weakening international trade and creating widespread economic hardship, which fostered extremism and nationalism. (correct)

What was the primary strategic significance of the Battle of Britain?

  • It forced Germany to abandon its plans to invade Britain, marking a key turning point in the war. (correct)
  • It secured air superiority for Germany, paving the way for a successful invasion of Britain.
  • It demonstrated the effectiveness of submarine warfare in controlling sea lanes.
  • It led to the immediate entry of the United States into World War II.

How did the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936 affect the balance of power in Europe?

<p>It violated the Treaty of Versailles and emboldened Hitler, as it met with no significant opposition from Britain and France. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Consider the following events: (1) Munich Agreement, (2) Invasion of Poland, (3) remilitarization of the Rhineland. Which of these demonstrated the failure of appeasement as a diplomatic strategy?

<p>Events 1, 2, and 3. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main objective of the German 'Blitz' strategy during the Battle of Britain?

<p>To systematically bomb British cities and industries, aiming to demoralize the population and cripple the country's war effort. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of 1939 influence the start of World War II?

<p>It enabled Germany to invade Poland without Soviet intervention, removing a major deterrent to war. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II?

<p>It was the turning point on the Eastern Front, where the German army suffered a major defeat and began its long retreat. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a main consequence of the failure of the German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa)?

<p>The two-front war for Germany, stretching its resources and contributing to its eventual defeat. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following most accurately describes the strategic goal of the D-Day invasion (Operation Overlord)?

<p>To liberate France from German occupation and open a Western Front against Germany. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did the Spanish Civil War play in the lead-up to World War II?

<p>It gave Germany and Italy a training ground for tactics and equipment, while exposing the weakness of democratic powers. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a key component of the Holocaust?

<p>The systematic extermination of Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-Aryans, and mentally and physically disabled people by the Nazi regime. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Japanese aggression in Asia contribute to the start of World War II?

<p>It diverted resources and attention from Europe, emboldening Germany and Italy. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the Manhattan Project during World War II?

<p>To develop atomic weapons before Germany could. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the attack on Pearl Harbor?

<p>It prompted the United States to enter World War II. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Munich Accords

A treaty between Germany, France, and England that allowed Hitler to annex German-populated areas of Czechoslovakia, with the promise of no further expansion.

Non-Aggression Pact (1939)

A secret agreement between Hitler and Stalin in 1939 where they agreed not to attack each other and to divide Poland.

Invasion of Poland

The event in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, leading to Britain and France declaring war on Germany.

Battle of the Atlantic

German's attempt to cripple England by using submarines to control the ocean shipping lanes between U-Boats and Allied ships.

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Battle of Britain

Series of air battles in 1940 between the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe, which the RAF won.

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The Blitz

The sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 1940 and 1941.

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Axis Powers

The alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

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Allies (WWII)

The alliance of England, France, the United States, and Russia (after their pact with the Nazi Regime was violated) during World War II.

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Appeasement

Accepting demands in order to avoid conflict.

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Blitzkrieg

"Lighting war", typed of fast-moving warfare used by German forces against Poland in 1939

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Manhattan Project

The secret American program during World War II to develop an atomic bomb.

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Pearl Harbor

United States military base on Hawaii that was bombed by Japan on December 7, 1941, bringing the United States into World War II.

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Operation Barbarossa

Hitler's code name for the invasion of the Soviet Union, which ultimately failed.

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The Holocaust

The systematic destruction of the jews by Hitler

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Two Japanese cities on which the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

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Study Notes

  • World War I resulted in huge casualties, the Holocaust, and German economic problems, ultimately contributing to World War II.

Factors Leading to World War II

  • German economic issues, the Treaty of Versailles, Nazi ideology, a rise in extremism, World War I, the war guilt clause, and the Great Depression all contributed to World War II.

Consequences of the Treaty of Versailles

  • Created bitterness and feelings of betrayal.
  • Germany was forced to pay for the war.
  • Germany had to surrender certain areas.
  • The US emerged as a world power.

Consequences of the Great Depression

  • Demand for goods decreased.
  • Businesses and farms went bankrupt, leading to bank failures and loss of life savings for many.
  • Over 6,000 banks in the US failed.

Remilitarization of the Rhineland

  • In 1936, Hitler rebuilt the German Army and occupied the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles, while Britain and France appeased him.

1936

  • Remilitarization of the Rhineland occurred.
  • The Spanish Civil War began, with Germany and Italy supporting Franco against the elected liberal government.

The Anschluss

  • The union of Austria and Germany took place.

Munich Accords

  • A treaty involving Germany, France, and England agreed to let Hitler take a German-populated area of Czechoslovakia, with Hitler immediately breaking the agreement afterward.

Non-Aggression Pact

  • In 1939, Hitler and Stalin made a secret agreement not to attack each other and to divide Poland.

Invasion of Poland

  • Germany invaded Poland, breaking their agreement, leading Britain and France to declare war and start World War II.

Battle of the Atlantic

  • Germany attempted to cripple England using submarines in the fight for control of ocean shipping lanes, between U-Boats and Allied ships

Battle of Britain

  • In 1940, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe engaged in air battles, with the RAF winning, marking a turning point in World War II.

The Blitz

  • Sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany occurred between 1940 and 1941.

Axis Powers

  • Germany, Italy, and Japan formed an alliance during World War II.

Allies (WWII)

  • England, France, the United States, and Russia joined forces after the Nazi Regime violated their pact.

Appeasement

  • Accepting demands in order to avoid conflict.

Blitzkrieg

  • "Lighting war," a fast-moving warfare tactic used by German forces, was first seen against Poland in 1939.

The Maginot Line

  • A line of defense built by France stretched from Belgium to Switzerland to protect against German invasion.

Fall of France

  • By June 1940, France and most of Europe were conquered by Germany, leaving Britain alone against Hitler.

RAF

  • British Royal Air Force.

Luftwaffe

  • German Air Force.

Kamikaze

  • Japanese suicide pilots crashed planes loaded with explosives into American ships.

Manhatten Project

  • The secret American program during World War II was to develop an atomic bomb.

Pearl Harbor

  • Japan bombed the United States military base on Hawaii, bringing the United States into World War II on December 7, 1941.

Barbarossa

  • Hitler unleashed Blitzkrieg to invade the Soviet Union, resulting in total failure.

Stalingrad

  • A decisive battle in the German invasion of Russia led to the systematic destruction of surrounded Germans.

Leningrad

  • The German Wehrmacht surrounded and besieged Leningrad, cutting off all supplies and trapping the people inside.

Operation Overlord

  • The codename was for the Allies Invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day).

D-Day Invasion

  • Allied troops landed at Normandy Beach to start liberating France from German control.

Spanish Civil War

  • In 1936, a rebellion erupted in Spain against the elected Republicans, Socialists, and Communists, led by Franco, with the Soviet Union providing arms and advisers and Germany and Italy sending support to Franco.

The Holocaust

  • Hitler's plan was to eliminate Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-Aryans, and the mentally and physically disabled, with the Nuremberg Laws denying Jewish people German citizenship, resulting in about 10-12 million deaths.

Japanese Aggression in Asia

  • In 1931, Japan seized Manchuria, and in 1937, Japan invaded China, prompting the US to halt steel and oil exports, leading Japan to become more aggressive.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

  • The United States dropped atomic bombs on these two Japanese cities to end World War II.

The Munich Pact

  • In 1938, Great Britain, Germany, and France gave part of Czechoslovakia to Germany, with Chamberlain claiming it guaranteed "peace in our time."

Kristallnacht

  • On November 9, 1938, mobs throughout Germany destroyed Jewish property and terrorized Jews.

Phony War

  • Germany said they were going to war with Poland but instead invaded them which ended on April 1, 1940.

Franco-German Armistice

  • On June 22, 1940, France was divided into two zones: Northern (Germany) and Southern (Puppet Vichy Government).

Potsdam Conference

  • The three leading Allies planned the postwar peace, avoiding the mistakes of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, with participants including the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Unconditional Surrender

  • Giving up to an enemy without any demands or requests.

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