World War II: Key Events and Agreements

A policy during WWII that required all people of Japanese descent, regardless of citizenship status, to be placed in internment camps. This included thousands of US citizens.

The three key leaders of the Allied powers during WWII: Winston Churchill (UK), Franklin D. Roosevelt (US), and Joseph Stalin (USSR).

The group of nations that opposed the Allied powers during World War II. This included Germany, Japan, and Italy.

A pivotal battle in World War II, fought in the Soviet city of Stalingrad from August 1942 to February 1943. This battle was a turning point in the war, marking the decline of the German forces.

The German army's numerical strength at the start of the Battle of Stalingrad, including men, artillery, tanks, and planes.

The Russian army's numerical strength at the start of the Battle of Stalingrad, including men, artillery, tanks, and planes.

The battle saw a fierce clash of forces, with the German army losing over 300,000 men and the Russian army over 470,000 during the six months.

A turning point in the war in Europe. The defeat of the German 6th army at Stalingrad crippled the German war machine and opened the path for an Allied victory.

The Munich Conference (1938) marked a key moment in the lead up to World War II, where Britain and France appeased Hitler by allowing him to annex the Sudetenland. It reflects the strategy of giving in to aggressor demands to avoid war.

A defensive line built by France along its border with Germany, intended to deter a German invasion. However, it proved ineffective against Hitler's Blitzkrieg tactics, highlighting the limitations of static defenses against mobile warfare.

The German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, marked the official start of World War II. It marked an aggressive expansionist strategy by Nazi Germany, triggering a chain reaction of alliances and confrontations.

A military tactic used by the German army during World War II, characterized by rapid, coordinated attacks using armored forces and air power. It was highly effective in the early stages of the war, leading to swift victories against unprepared enemies.

The evacuation of British and French troops from Dunkirk, France, in June 1940, following the German advance. It was a remarkable feat of rescue and logistics, but it also signified a major setback for the Allied forces in the early war.

The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (August 1939) was an agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union to stay neutral in each other's territorial ambitions. This pact allowed Germany to invade Poland without Soviet interference, leading to the start of WWII.

The Sudetenland was a region in Czechoslovakia inhabited by ethnic Germans. It was given to Czechoslovakia after World War I but was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938.

The Munich Conference was a meeting between Germany, France, Britain, and Italy in 1938. It resulted in the appeasement of Nazi Germany's demands for the Sudetenland. The conference is considered a failed attempt to avoid war.

Appeasement is a policy of giving in to demands, often by an aggressor, to avoid conflict. It was used in the Munich Conference as a way to appease Hitler's demands for the Sudetenland.

The event that officially triggered World War II was Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939. This action violated international agreements and led to the declaration of war by Britain and France.

The Lend-Lease Act was a program passed by the United States in 1941 to provide military aid to Allied nations, particularly Britain, during World War II. It allowed the US to lend or lease weapons, supplies, and other essential goods to countries fighting against the Axis powers.

The Lend-Lease Act was significant because it allowed the US to support Allied nations without directly entering the war. It provided a vital lifeline of resources to Britain and other Allied countries, helping them to resist the Axis powers.

Britain was in dire need of supplies and resources to continue fighting against Germany in World War II. The Lend-Lease Act provided these essential supplies to Britain, allowing them to sustain their war effort.

The U.S. Lend-Lease Act was a crucial turning point in World War II. It helped to strengthen the Allied nations and ultimately contributed to the Allied victory.