World War II: Campaigns and Events

Questions and Answers

What was the North Africa Campaign focused on?

Defeating the Soviet Union

Gaining access to oil and raw materials (correct)

Conquest of Italy

Control of the Suez Canal (correct)

The Battle of Stalingrad occurred from August 1942 to February 1943.

True

What was the primary objective of the Italian Campaign?

To take Italy from Axis control.

What was The Holocaust?

A campaign by the Nazis to exterminate the Jews of Europe. Signup and view all the answers

The no-strike pledge required labor unions to wait 30 days before ___ during wartime.

striking Signup and view all the answers

What are wildcat strikes?

Strikes not authorized by union leaders. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main task of the Office of Price Administration?

To fight inflation. Signup and view all the answers

What did the War Production Board oversee?

Military purchases and production. Signup and view all the answers

The Allies used Britain's Ultra Project to gather intelligence using the ______ machine, which created codes for Germany's communication, but was also used by the British to crack them.

Enigma Signup and view all the answers

Who was A. Philip Randolph?

President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Signup and view all the answers

The Fair Employment Practices Commission banned discrimination in the workplace.

True Signup and view all the answers

What did the 1943 Detroit Riot signify?

Increased migration from the rural South Signup and view all the answers

What was the Congress of Racial Equality?

An organization mobilizing popular resistance to discrimination. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Navajo Code Talkers known for?

Using traditional languages as a code for military communications. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Braceros Program?

An agreement allowing Mexican contract laborers to work in the U.S. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Zoot Suit Riot associated with?

Teenage Mexican Americans Signup and view all the answers

What was Japanese internment?

The forced relocation of Japanese Americans during WWII. Signup and view all the answers

The Korematsu decision declared Japanese internment as unconstitutional.

False Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of swing music during WWII?

To comfort and entertain people. Signup and view all the answers

What are USO clubs?

Clubs providing entertainment for soldiers. Signup and view all the answers

What did Rosie the Riveter symbolize?

The importance of female industrial workers. Signup and view all the answers

What did Dr. New Deal and Dr. Win-the-War symbolize?

Shift of focus to military victory Signup and view all the answers

What was D-Day?

The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Battle of the Bulge?

It was Germany's last major offensive campaign. Signup and view all the answers

What happened during the firebombing of Tokyo?

The US killed 80,000 people. Signup and view all the answers

What was The Manhattan Project?

A project to develop nuclear weapons during WWII. Signup and view all the answers

What is radioactive fallout?

Residue left from a radioactive bomb. Signup and view all the answers

The United States dropped atomic bombs over the cities of _____ at the end of WWII.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

North Africa Campaign

Allies and Axis powers fought for control of the Suez Canal and access to Middle Eastern oil and Asian raw materials.
Campaign lasted from June 10, 1940, to May 13, 1943, ending with German surrender in Tunisia.

Battle of Stalingrad

Fought from August 1942 to February 2, 1943; significant conflict between Germany and the Soviet Union.
Despite initial advances and capturing key cities, the Germans were ultimately halted during the harsh winter.
Resulted in a pivotal Soviet victory, leading to a significant decline in German forces on the Eastern Front.

Italian Campaign

Involved Allies, including the U.S., Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, aiming to conquer Italy from 1943 to 1944.
Italy’s surrender followed numerous beach landings and military operations.

The Holocaust

A tragic genocide orchestrated by the Nazis to exterminate European Jews, occurring primarily from 1942 to 1945.
Over 6 million Jews perished during this horrific campaign.

No-Strike Pledge

Enacted under the Smith-Connally Act in 1943, requiring labor unions to wait 30 days before striking.
Prohibited strikes during wartime to ensure production continuity for the war effort.

Wildcat Strike

Unauthorized strikes conducted by workers without union approval, often spontaneous and localized.

Office of Price Administration (OPA)

Established in 1941 to combat inflation during WWII.
Moderated price control issues but struggled against the rise of black markets and profiteering.

War Production Board (WPB)

Created by FDR in January 1942 to oversee military purchases, though faced operational challenges.
Complaints about contracts favoring larger companies led to eventual transition to the Office of War Mobilization.

Ultra Project; Enigma Machine

Allies' intelligence program that successfully decoded German communications using the Enigma machine.
Polish intelligence developed the Bombe to assist in deciphering Enigma codes.

A. Philip Randolph; Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

Leader in labor and civil rights, advocated for integrated workplaces and led the march on Washington.
His union was the first African American organization chartered by the American Federation of Labor.

Fair Employment Practices Commission

Established following Randolph's threats of protest, aimed at preventing workplace discrimination against African Americans.

1943 Detroit Riot

Resulting from increased African American migration to cities for war jobs, leading to urban tension.
The riot caused 34 deaths, primarily among the black community.

Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)

Founded in 1942, this organization galvanized mass resistance to racial discrimination.

Navajo Code Talkers

Native Americans who developed an unbreakable military code using their languages for secure communications.

Braceros Program

1942 agreement allowed Mexican contract laborers to work temporarily in the U.S. to meet labor demands in war industries.

Zoot Suit Riot

Ethnic tensions rose in June 1943 in Los Angeles, targeting Mexican American youths wearing distinctive zoot suits, leading to violent riots.

Japanese Internment

Over 100,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to internment camps due to wartime suspicion.
Conditions in camps resembled prisons, despite many being loyal citizens.

Korematsu Decision

1944 Supreme Court ruling upheld the constitutionality of internment camps for Japanese Americans during WWII.

Swing Music

Served as a source of comfort during the war; musicians formed military bands to boost morale.

USO Clubs

Provided entertainment and social events for servicemen; women hostesses managed events, with strict rules on interactions.

Rosie the Riveter

Iconic image representing the critical role of women in the industrial workforce during World War II.

Dr. New Deal/Dr. Win-the-War

"Dr. New Deal" symbolized FDR’s focus on economic recovery, transitioning to "Dr. Win-the-War" as the emphasis shifted entirely to wartime victory.

D-Day

Launched on June 6, 1944, as the Allied invasion of Normandy to liberate Western Europe from Nazi control.
Involved a massive coordinated landing with extensive logistical planning and deceptive operations.

The Battle of the Bulge

Last major German offensive on the Western Front, fought in the winter of 1944-1945.
Named for the German advance creating a "bulge" in the Allied line, ultimately leading to significant German losses and the war's conclusion.

Firebombing of Tokyo

A devastating air raid by the U.S. that killed 80,000; internal pressures in Japan intensified as military leaders resisted peace.

The Manhattan Project

A secret project to develop atomic weapons led by the U.S. during WWII, aiming to outpace Germany's nuclear capabilities.

Radioactive Fallout

Residue remaining after a nuclear explosion, indicating residual radioactivity in affected areas.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Cities where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs at the end of WWII, significantly contributing to Japan's surrender.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key campaigns of World War II, including the North Africa Campaign, Battle of Stalingrad, and the Italian Campaign. Explore the significant events and their impacts, as well as the tragic history of the Holocaust. Delve into the battles that shaped the course of the war.