Questions and Answers
What does 'Blitzkrieg' mean?
Who was Charles de Gaulle?
French general and statesman during World War II.
Who was Winston Churchill?
Noted British statesman who led Britain during most of World War II.
What was the Battle of Britain?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was Erwin Rommel?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Atlantic Charter?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was Isoroku Yamamoto?
Signup and view all the answers
What happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Battle of Midway?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was Douglas MacArthur?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Battle of Guadalcanal?
Signup and view all the answers
Who are considered Aryans?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Holocaust?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Kristallnacht translate to?
Signup and view all the answers
What were ghettos?
Signup and view all the answers
What is genocide?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Final Solution?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Battle of Stalingrad?
Signup and view all the answers
What was D-Day?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Battle of the Bulge?
Signup and view all the answers
What were kamikazes?
Signup and view all the answers
What were the Nuremberg Trials?
Signup and view all the answers
What is demilitarization?
Signup and view all the answers
What is democratization?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Non-Aggression Pact?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Key Terms and Events in World War II
-
Blitzkrieg ("Lighting war"): Fast-paced warfare strategy utilized by Germany, first employed against Poland in 1939, emphasizing speed and surprise.
-
Charles de Gaulle: French general and statesman (1890-1970) known for leading the Free French forces during World War II, he became an influential figure in post-war France.
-
Winston Churchill: Prominent British statesman and Prime Minister during most of World War II, notable for his leadership and strategic planning alongside President Roosevelt, as well as his warning about a divided Europe.
-
Battle of Britain: Fought in 1940, marked a significant conflict where the British Royal Air Force defended the UK against German air attacks, aided by radar technology.
-
Erwin Rommel ("Desert Fox"): Renowned German field marshal who led Axis forces in North Africa, celebrated for his tactical prowess.
-
Atlantic Charter (1941): Joint declaration by the U.S. and Britain outlining shared goals for a post-war world, including self-determination for nations and support for decolonization efforts.
-
Isoroku Yamamoto: Japanese naval officer (1884-1943) who masterminded the attack on Pearl Harbor, playing a pivotal role in Japan's military strategy during World War II.
-
Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941): Surprise military strike by Japan on the U.S. naval base, resulting in significant American casualties and leading to U.S. entry into World War II.
-
Battle of Midway: Crucial 1942 naval battle that marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater, as the United States gained an upper hand against Japan.
-
Douglas MacArthur: Commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific; known for his role in liberating the Philippines and his later involvement in the Korean War.
-
Battle of Guadalcanal: First major Allied offensive against Japanese forces (1942-1943), resulting in Allied victory and a shift in momentum in the Pacific.
-
Aryans: Term used by the Nazis to describe a supposed master race, primarily referring to Germanic peoples.
-
Holocaust: Systematic genocide orchestrated by Hitler targeting Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-Aryans, and the disabled, resulting in millions of deaths.
-
Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass"): A violent anti-Jewish pogrom on November 9-10, 1938, marking a significant escalation in Nazi persecution of Jews.
-
Ghettos: Segregated urban areas established by Nazis where Jews were forcibly confined under dire conditions.
-
Genocide: Intended mass extermination of racial or cultural groups, exemplified by the Holocaust.
-
Final Solution: Nazi plan for the systematic extermination of all Jews in Europe, leading to mass deportations and killings in concentration camps.
-
Dwight D. Eisenhower: American general who led Allied forces in Europe, including planning major operations like D-Day.
-
Battle of Stalingrad: Major confrontation between Germany and the Soviet Union (1942-1943), noted for being a turning point in the Eastern Front due to its devastating German defeat.
-
D-Day (June 6, 1944): Allied invasion of Normandy, France, involving 160,000 troops and thousands of ships and aircraft, crucial for opening a Western front against Nazi Germany.
-
Battle of the Bulge: Last major German offensive (December 1944 - January 1945) during which German forces attempted to push back Allied lines in the Ardennes; the Allies ultimately prevailed.
-
Kamikazes: Japanese aircraft pilots during World War II who committed suicide missions by crashing bomb-laden planes into enemy ships.
-
Nuremberg Trials: Post-war military tribunals held to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany for war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity.
-
Demilitarization: Process of reducing a country's military capabilities, often following defeat or in occupation, to prevent future conflicts.
-
Democratization: Transition from authoritarianism to democracy, often involving the establishment of free elections and civil rights.
-
Non-Aggression Pact: Secret 1939 agreement between Hitler and Stalin, in which both powers pledged not to attack each other and agreed to divide Eastern Europe, notably Poland.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on key terms and figures from Chapter 16 of World War II. This quiz covers significant concepts like Blitzkrieg and prominent leaders like Charles de Gaulle and Winston Churchill. Challenge yourself to remember their contributions and definitions for a deeper understanding of the period.