World War II: Operation Barbarossa and Allies

A land bridge created after World War I, the Polish Corridor separated East Prussia from Germany and placed German-speaking populations under Polish control.

A principle that allows people to choose their own political status and form of government without external influence.

In 1923, French troops occupied this industrial region in Germany in retaliation for unpaid war reparations. It caused significant economic hardship and contributed to hyperinflation.

A period in Germany following World War I, marked by extreme inflation, economic instability, and political turmoil.

A failed attempt by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to overthrow the Weimar Republic in 1923. It involved a march on the Bavarian government in Munich.

A series of agreements signed in 1925 in Locarno, Switzerland, aimed at creating a system of European security. Germany's borders were guaranteed, and peaceful negotiations were emphasized.

Germany was admitted to this international organization in 1926, signifying its re-entry into the global community after isolation following World War I.

A pact signed in 1928 by many nations, including Germany and France, that renounced war as a means of resolving disputes. It was seen as a step towards world peace.

Germany's military resources were stretched thin due to fighting on multiple fronts, long supply lines, and prioritizing technologically advanced weapons over practical needs.

The U.S. provided vast amounts of supplies and troops to the Allies, while the Soviet Union produced massive amounts of weapons and tanks.

The Allies' ability to coordinate attacks, such as D-Day, overwhelmed German defenses and led to decisive victories.

Germany's economic mobilization was slow and inefficient, and they couldn't match the Allies' industrial output.

Resistance groups within occupied territories disrupted German supply lines, sabotaged infrastructure, and provided valuable information to the Allies.

The Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) marked a turning point on the Eastern Front, highlighting the Soviet Union's resilience and Germany's losses.

The successful Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day, 1944) opened up a new front against Germany.

Germany's last major offensive in the West, the Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945), ended in failure, further weakening their forces.

Hitler's plan to conquer the Soviet Union, launched on June 22, 1941.

Highly mobile Nazi armored units that were instrumental in the early success of the blitzkrieg.

Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union was successful at first, but the harsh Russian winter and fierce Soviet resistance caused the German advance to stall.

Hitler's initial goal in conquering Russia was to secure resources like oil and land, and to expand German power.

Mussolini's failures in Greece led Hitler to intervene, expanding his power in the Balkans and ultimately launching Operation Barbarossa.

The German military was ill-prepared for the harsh Russian winter, suffering heavy casualties from frostbite and cold.

The capture of Kiev was a significant victory for the Germans during Operation Barbarossa, but it ultimately led to a strategic mistake by delaying the attack on Moscow.

Hitler's failure to capture Moscow marked his first major defeat in the war, highlighting the challenges of invading Russia.

The systematic extermination of Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II, often involving deportation to concentration camps.

Camps designed for mass killing, primarily of Jews, characterized by gas chambers and crematoria. These sites were constructed in occupied Poland.

A term referring to people of mixed Jewish and non-Jewish ancestry. They were initially targeted by Nazi Germany, but later exempted due to political considerations.

The process of forcibly relocating people, often to concentration camps, as part of the Nazi regime's systematic persecution of Jews.

The resistance offered by Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto in April 1943, during a final German roundup. It lasted for about three weeks.

The Danish resistance effort that rescued most of the country's Jewish population from deportation to Nazi Germany in 1943.

The refusal of some European governments, including Italy, Hungary, and Romania, to fully cooperate with Nazi Germany in the deportation of Jews.

The confiscation of assets from deported Jews, often including bank accounts, furniture, and apartment contents, by the Nazi regime.

The United States used atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945 to force Japan's surrender in World War II.

The United States used the atomic bomb to end World War II in the Pacific because it was believed that an invasion of Japan would result in heavy casualties for both sides, as the Japanese were determined to fight to the death.

Moreover, the US feared the Soviet Union would join the war and potentially occupy Japan if the US delayed the attack.

Using the bomb instead of an invasion was seen as a way to minimize American casualties and secure dominance in the Pacific.

Herman Goering was a high-ranking Nazi official who played a significant role in the Nazi regime. He was a decorated World War I pilot and used his popularity to rise within the Nazi Party. He was also the architect of the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police.

The Gestapo was the Nazi secret police force responsible for suppressing opposition to the Nazi regime. They carried out widespread surveillance, arrests, and executions of political opponents, Jews, and others targeted by the Nazi regime.

Nazi Germany's efforts to launch a counteroffensive in 1944 were unsuccessful due to insufficient manpower and resources compared to the Allied forces.

During World War II, more than 1 million Canadian women entered the workforce, with many working in war production, contributing to the war effort, and experiencing a significant increase in employment.

While women played a vital role in war production, they were paid significantly less than men for the same jobs, revealing a persistent inequality in the workplace.

By 1945, Soviet forces were on the outskirts of Berlin, closing in from the east, while Allied forces were approaching from the west. This combined pressure from both fronts put immense pressure on the German forces.

Hitler, facing the imminent defeat of Nazi Germany, committed suicide in his underground bunker on April 30, 1945.

Beyond working in factories and farms, Canadian women also volunteered their time and skills to support the war effort, contributing to the Red Cross and other organizations.

Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces on May 7, 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe.

Women were recruited into the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II, serving in the army, navy, and air force though they were not allowed to participate in combat.

The end of World War II did not lead to significant changes in women's social and economic status in Canada. Many women faced pressure to return to their traditional roles as homemakers.

The attack on Pearl Harbor, a US naval base in Hawaii, involved a surprise attack by Japan on December 7, 1941, launching the US into World War II.

The Japanese military's attack on Pearl Harbor, which targeted US battleships and aircraft, brought the US into World War II, significantly altering the course of the global conflict.

The US president at the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt, appointed a commission to assess the Pearl Harbor attack, which ultimately blamed military leaders Kimmel and Short for failing to prevent the attack.