World History Final Exam Study Notes

A military strategy involving rapid, surprise attacks with overwhelming force used by Germany in World War II.

The Nazi regime in Germany from 1933 to 1945, led by Adolf Hitler.

A policy of making concessions to an aggressor in order to avoid conflict.

The evacuation of over 330,000 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, during World War II.

The codename for the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the liberation of France.

A major battle in World War II where Germany launched a surprise offensive against the Allied forces in Belgium and Luxembourg.

A significant naval battle in World War II where the United States Navy inflicted a decisive defeat on Japan's fleet.

A US General who played a crucial role in the Pacific theater during World War II, known for his leadership in the Philippines.

A military strategy used by Germany in World War II, involving a rapid and overwhelming attack with the aim of quickly defeating the enemy.

The policy of giving in to an aggressor's demands to avoid war, often seen as a weakness in the face of aggression.

The trials of Nazi leaders after World War II, aimed at holding them accountable for their crimes, particularly the Holocaust, and emphasizing individual responsibility even during war.

The period of Nazi rule in Germany, from 1933 to 1945, marked by totalitarian control, aggressive expansionism, and the Holocaust.

The competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War to achieve dominance in space exploration.

The First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, who played a significant role in Soviet policy during the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union, starting in 1969, to limit the number of nuclear weapons held by both countries.

The founder of Pakistan, a Muslim state, who advocated for a separate nation for Muslims in India.

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, marking a turning point in World War II. It involved the largest invasion force in history and aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi control.

A 1938 conference where Britain and France agreed to let Nazi Germany annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia in an attempt to avoid war. This is widely seen as a failed appeasement strategy, as it only emboldened Hitler's aggressive expansion.

The reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, driven by the collapse of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall, economic challenges in East Germany, and public demand for unity.

The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, which triggered the United States' entry into World War II.

A political ideology characterized by authoritarianism, nationalism, and totalitarianism. It emphasizes a strong centralized state, militarism, and suppression of opposition.

A form of fascism that emerged in Italy during the 1920s-1940s, led by Benito Mussolini. It focused on promoting an Italian nationalist agenda through state-controlled corporatism and suppression of opposition.

A more radical form of fascism that arose in Germany during the 1930s-1945, led by Adolf Hitler. It combined extreme nationalism with racial purity and anti-Semitism, resulting in the Holocaust.

Initially, Mussolini opposed anti-Semitism. However, after 1933, he allowed some anti-Semitic voices within his party to criticize Jews in the press.

A political movement in Spain led by Francisco Franco, combining fascist ideas with Spanish Catholicism and traditional values. It prioritized national unity and conservative authoritarianism, avoiding the racial focus found in Italy and Germany.

An authoritarian regime in Portugal under António de Oliveira Salazar, characterized by corporatism and a strong role for the Catholic Church. It emphasized national unity and stability while suppressing political freedoms.

Japanese fascism led by military figures like Hideki Tojo, prioritizing militarism, imperial expansion, and emperor worship. It differed from European fascism due to its distinct religious and imperialistic focus.

A Cold War policy aimed at easing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union through arms control and improved relations. It began under President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev but gradually faded in the late 1970s due to factors like the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

A military alliance formed in 1955 between the Soviet Union and its satellite countries in Eastern Europe as a counterbalance to NATO.

The founding figure of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 and the leader of the Communist Party in China.

A policy announced by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 aimed at containing the spread of communism during the early stages of the Cold War. It focused on providing support to countries threatened by communism.

The Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948, intended to pressure the Allies to abandon West Berlin and stop unifying their occupied zones.

The division of British India into two independent nations, India (primarily Hindu) and Pakistan (primarily Muslim), in 1947. This event was marked by religious tensions, violence, mass migrations, and significant loss of life.

A Cold War strategy aimed at limiting the expansion of Soviet influence and communism, primarily in Europe.

The process of Germany reuniting after the Cold War in 1990, after being divided into East and West Germany.

The fear that a reunified Germany would become a dominant military force in Europe, potentially upsetting the balance of power.

The anxiety that Germany's strong economy might overshadow its neighbors, leading to economic dominance or competition.

Concerns about the return of German nationalism, which had led to aggression and war in the past, especially among countries occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II.

A treaty signed in 1990, outlining the conditions for Germany's reunification and including military restrictions and assurances to maintain peace in Europe.

Stalin's goal was to keep Germany weak, fearing its potential threat to the Soviet Union. He opposed the Western Allies' plans for Germany's reconstruction.

The Allied response to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin. They airlifted supplies to the city until the blockade ended in 1949, demonstrating their commitment to West Berlin's well-being.

Mikhail Gorbachev introduced significant reforms during the 1980s, including glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), to encourage political transparency and economic reform.

The USSR followed Marxist-Leninist Communism, aiming for a classless society with state control over the economy. The Communist Party held absolute power, and the government planned economic activities through systems like Five-Year Plans. The goal was to eliminate capitalism, but it became increasingly authoritarian.

Douglas MacArthur, an American general, played a key role in establishing democracy in Japan after World War II. He implemented reforms, including a new constitution that granted civil rights, established a parliamentary government, and limited the emperor's powers.

The Battle of Midway was a turning point in World War II. The Japanese Navy suffered a major loss, including four aircraft carriers, which significantly weakened their offensive capabilities. It boosted American morale and shifted the balance of power in the Pacific.

The Japanese suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of Midway, with over 3,000 killed. This was a major defeat for them and added to their losses.