WWII Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

How many Americans died in WWII?

405,400 people

Who threatened to lead a march against Washington DC because of racial discrimination during WWII?

A. Philip Randolph

Who was the leader of the Nazi Party and Dictator of the German Empire?

Adolf Hitler

Which countries comprised the Allied Powers?

Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States Signup and view all the answers

What did the America First Committee want?

To stay out of the war and send aid to Britain Signup and view all the answers

What was Anschluss?

The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 and violation of the Treaty of Versailles Signup and view all the answers

What is anti-semitism?

Discrimination against Jews Signup and view all the answers

What does appeasement mean?

Attempting to avoid conflict by making concessions Signup and view all the answers

What is the Arsenal of Democracy?

FDR's justification for lending weapons to the British Signup and view all the answers

What was the Atlantic Charter?

A secret agreement outlining war aims for self-determination Signup and view all the answers

What was the Axis Alliance?

Alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan Signup and view all the answers

What was the Battle of Britain?

The only battle fought completely in the air Signup and view all the answers

What was the Battle of Midway?

A U.S. naval victory over the Japanese fleet in June 1942 Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad?

The turning point of the war in Eastern Europe Signup and view all the answers

What was the Battle of the Atlantic?

The long fight to control ocean trade routes Signup and view all the answers

What was the Battle of the Bulge?

Germany's last battle Signup and view all the answers

Who was Benito Mussolini?

Fascist dictator of Italy Signup and view all the answers

What was the Berlin Airlift?

Truman's response to Stalin cutting off West Berlin Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Big Three?

Stalin, FDR, Churchill Signup and view all the answers

What does blitzkrieg mean?

German for lightning war Signup and view all the answers

What was the Cash and Carry policy?

A policy allowing Britain and France to buy goods from the U.S. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Chamberlain?

English prime minister who appeased Hitler at Munich Signup and view all the answers

Who was Charles de Gaulle?

Led the Free French and backed the underground Resistance Signup and view all the answers

Who invented blood banks?

Charles Drew Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the Cold War?

US versus USSR from 1946 to 1988 Signup and view all the answers

What does collaboration mean?

To work together with other nations Signup and view all the answers

What were Concentration Camps?

Places where political prisoners were confined Signup and view all the answers

What is containment?

Surrounding Soviet satellites to prevent Communist expansion Signup and view all the answers

What was Czechoslovakia home to?

Sudetenland Signup and view all the answers

What happened on June 6, 1944?

D-Day, Allies land on the beaches in Normandy, France Signup and view all the answers

What was the date of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor?

December 7, 1941 Signup and view all the answers

When did the US declare war on Japan?

December 8, 1941 Signup and view all the answers

Who was known as the Desert Fox?

Rommel (German general) Signup and view all the answers

What was the Destroyer for Bases deal?

A deal between Roosevelt and Churchill for destroyers in exchange for bases Signup and view all the answers

What is a dictator?

A governmental leader with absolute control Signup and view all the answers

What is disarmament?

Reducing or eliminating military weapons Signup and view all the answers

What does the Domino theory imply?

Once communism gains a foothold, everything around it falls as well Signup and view all the answers

Who was J. Robert Oppenheimer?

Developed the atomic bomb Signup and view all the answers

What happened on August 6, 1945?

The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima Signup and view all the answers

What was the Holocaust?

The organized killing of European Jews by the Nazis during WWII Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Internment Camps for Japanese Americans?

Used to hold Japanese-American citizens due to fear of spies Signup and view all the answers

What is interventionism?

Becoming involved in the affairs of another country Signup and view all the answers

What does the Iron Curtain represent?

Eastern Europe under Soviet control Signup and view all the answers

What is island-hopping?

An Allied tactic targeting strategically significant islands in the Pacific Signup and view all the answers

What does isolationism mean?

Withdrawing from world affairs Signup and view all the answers

What was Mexico's action in 1938?

Seized American oil Signup and view all the answers

What was the Manhattan Project?

The secret project to develop atomic bombs for WWII Signup and view all the answers

What was the Marshall Plan?

$ for rebuilding Europe Signup and view all the answers

What were the impacts of the meeting at Yalta?

Founded UN, divided Germany, and Berlin Signup and view all the answers

What does 'loose lips sink ships' (LLSS) mean?

A saying warning against careless talk during wartime Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Luftwaffe?

German air force Signup and view all the answers

What was the Doolittle Raid?

The first American bombing raid on Tokyo Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

WWII Statistics and Key Figures

Approximately 405,400 Americans lost their lives in WWII.
A.Philip Randolph organized a threatened march on Washington to protest racial discrimination during the war.

Major Leaders and Their Roles

Adolf Hitler, as the dictator of Nazi Germany, led the National Socialist Party.
Benito Mussolini was the fascist dictator of Italy, known as "Il Duce."
Hideki Tojo served as Japan's Prime Minister during the war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), the U.S. President, guided the nation through the Great Depression and the onset of WWII.
Harry S. Truman succeeded FDR and authorized the use of atomic bombs against Japan.

Key Alliances and Agreements

The Allied Powers included Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
The Axis Alliance consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan, united by imperial ambitions and totalitarian governance.
The America First Committee advocated for U.S. neutrality and support for Britain.
The Atlantic Charter was a secret agreement between FDR and Winston Churchill outlining post-war aims.
The Lend-Lease Program allowed the U.S. to supply Allies with war materials, effectively ending U.S. neutrality.

Significant Battles and Campaigns

The Battle of Britain was notable for being fought entirely in the air, with Germany attempting to subdue England.
The Battle of Midway marked a critical naval victory for the U.S., shifting the tide against Japan.
The Battle of Stalingrad was a turning point in the Eastern Front, with Soviet forces defeating German troops.
D-Day, on June 6, 1944, was the largest amphibious invasion in history, leading to the liberation of Western Europe.

Ideologies and Policies

Anti-Semitism defined the racial discrimination against Jews in Nazi-led Europe.
Appeasement was a strategy used to avoid conflict by conceding to some demands of aggressors like Hitler.
The Final Solution was Hitler's plan for the systematic extermination of Jews across Europe.
Fascism emphasized the authority of the leader over individual rights and freedoms.

War Outcomes and Effects

The Holocaust represented the genocide of six million Jews and millions of others during WWII.
The Cold War emerged post-WWII, primarily between the U.S. and the USSR.
The Iron Curtain symbolized the division of Europe, with Eastern nations under Soviet control.

Internment camps were established for Japanese Americans due to fears of espionage.
The GI Bill of Rights provided services to returning servicemen, facilitating their reintegration into society.
The Manhattan Project led to the development of atomic bombs that were ultimately dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Notable Events and Dates

December 7, 1941: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor prompted U.S. entry into WWII.
The Dunkirk evacuation was a remarkable retreat of Allied forces from France.
Kristallnacht, on November 9, 1938, marked a significant escalation in violence against Jews in Germany.

Additional Notable Concepts

The term "blitzkrieg" describes Germany's fast-paced military tactics, translating to "lightning war."
"Island Hopping" was a tactic used by the Allies in the Pacific, targeting strategically important islands for capture.
The concept of containment aimed to prevent the spread of communism in post-war geopolitics.

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Test your knowledge with these WWII flashcards covering key figures, statistics, and entities from World War II. This quiz includes important topics like American casualties, influential leaders, and the Allied Powers. Perfect for history enthusiasts and students alike!