World War II Key Events and Concepts

Totalitarian governments are characterized by control, suppression of dissent, and the concentration of power in the hands of a single leader or party.

Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany. Mein Kampf is his autobiography, which outlines his Nazi ideology and plans for Germany's future.

<p>Appeasement refers to a policy of making concessions to an aggressor in order to avoid conflict. In the context of World War II, it is often associated with the British and French governments' efforts to appease Nazi Germany in the lead-up to the war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Lend-Lease Act allowed the United States to provide military aid to Allied nations during World War II, even before the US officially entered the war. This was crucial in helping the Allies resist the Nazi threat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration signed by the United States and Great Britain in 1941, outlining their shared goals for the post-war world. Key principles included freedom of the seas, self-determination of nations, and the establishment of a new international organization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack by the Japanese military on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. This attack resulted in the United States' entry into World War II.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'Home Front' refers to the efforts and contributions of civilians in a country at war. In World War II, this involved aspects like rationing, war production, and community support for the war effort.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Office of War Mobilization was a US government agency established during World War II to coordinate the nation's war production. Cost-plus contracts were a type of government contract where the contractor was reimbursed for their costs plus a fixed profit margin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rosie the Riveter was a cultural icon representing American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, replacing men who were away fighting the war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rationing and coupon books were implemented during World War II to control the distribution of essential goods, such as food, fuel, and clothing, due to shortages caused by the war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Executive Order 9066 authorized the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The Korematsu vs. US case involved Fred Korematsu, who challenged this order, but the Supreme Court ultimately upheld its constitutionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Bracero Program was a wartime agreement between the US and Mexico that allowed Mexican workers to come to the US to work in agriculture and other industries. It was a response to labor shortages during the war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Zoot Suit Riots were a series of violent attacks on young Mexican American men in Los Angeles during World War II, who were targeted because of their clothing style. The Navajo Code Talkers were a group of Navajo Native Americans who used their language to create an unbreakable code that was used by Allied forces to communicate securely during war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Double V Campaign, which emerged during World War II, called for a double victory: victory over fascism abroad and victory over racism at home.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Blitzkrieg' is a German word meaning 'lightning war,' which was a military tactic of rapid, overwhelming attacks using armored divisions, air power, and combined arms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hitler's involvement in the war was marked by shifting fortunes, including a string of early victories with Blitzkrieg tactics, but ultimately leading to Germany's eventual defeat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sonar was a new technology used for underwater detection, crucial for countering the threat from German submarines. Convoys were groups of ships traveling together for protection, providing greater safety against submarine attacks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Bataan Death March was a forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Japanese military during World War II. Prisoners were subjected to brutal treatment and many died during the march.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Battle of Midway was a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It halted the advance of Japan and marked a turning point in the war, giving the Allies a strategic advantage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Invasion of Italy was a major Allied operation during World War II. It aimed to liberate Italy from Nazi control and open up a new front against the Axis forces.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>D-Day was the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. It was the largest amphibious military operation in history and a decisive turning point in World War II, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive launched in December 1944 against Allied forces in the Ardennes region. The offensive, while ultimately unsuccessful, stalled the Allied advance and inflicted significant losses on both sides.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>V-E Day stands for 'Victory in Europe'. It marks the formal surrender of Germany to the Allies, effectively ending World War II in Europe.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Kamikaze pilots were Japanese pilots who carried out suicide attacks against Allied ships. 'Island hopping' refers to the Allied strategy of capturing key islands in the Pacific, one by one, moving closer to Japan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Both Iwo Jima and Okinawa were fiercely contested battles in the Pacific Theater of World War II, with the Japanese fighting with fierce resistance. Taking these islands was crucial for the Allies to establish bases closer to Japan, but at a high cost in terms of casualties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Using atomic bombs had the potential to rapidly end the war and save lives by avoiding a prolonged land invasion of Japan. However, using atomic bombs also raised significant moral and ethical concerns, with the potential for massive civilian casualties and the long-term consequences of nuclear weapons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'Manhattan Project' was the top-secret US project to develop the first atomic bombs during World War II.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Holocaust was the systematic genocide of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation, with the US, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France each controlling a zone. The Yalta Conference, a summit of the Allied leaders, agreed on the terms of the postwar world, including the division of Germany and the creation of the United Nations.</p> Signup and view all the answers