WWII VOCAB Pacific Theater European Theater Non-Aggression Pact D-Day Island Hopping Lend-Lease Act
Standard (part 2) World War II
9. The War Begins in Europe A. Germany launches a Blitzkrieg, or “lightning war” against Poland. The Soviet Union attacked Poland from the opposite side. B. Germany takes over Denmark, Norway, Netherlands and Belgium C. By May of 1940, France falls to Nazi Germany. D. Hitler’s next target was Great Britain. He believed no country would be left to help the British.
10. The Battle of Britain A. I n 1940 Hitler ordered the German Air Force to begin bombing Britain. B. W inston Churchill, Britain’s Prime Minister, declared that Britain would not surrender. C. T he British used radar and were able to intercept and decode German messages.
11. Other Fighting… A. The war was also fought in North Africa because Germany wanted to control the Suez Canal. B. Hitler attacked Yugoslavia and Greece in C. By June of 1941 Hitler broke his pact with Stalin by invading the Soviet Union. A.The Germans were unsuccessful in taking Leningrad (Moscow) and 500,000 Germans died.
11. The United States Helps A. Despite the Neutrality Acts, FDR knew that Britain needed help. B. The US helped Britain by selling them weapons for cash: cash and carry policy. C. This did not help the Allies enough so the U.S. passed the Lend-Lease Act, allowing us to give supplies directly to our “allies.”
Meeting in the North Atlantic President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill met on the HMS Prince of Wales to sign the Atlantic Charter in Roosevelt could promise much needed help, short of fighting. The Lend-Lease Program grew out of these talks. America loaned equipment for fighting. Roosevelt used plain talk to convince Congress of the need to help. “If your neighbor’s house is on fire, wouldn’t you lend him your water hose and water? In fact, wouldn’t you hold the hose for him? If something happened to the hose he could pay you back after the fire was over.” We still lease bases in England according to this plan.
12. Pearl Harbor A. A. The United States placed an oil embargo on Japan. B. B. On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. C. C. The next day, the U.S. entered the war.
13. The Pacific Theater A. A. Japan began to take over territories across the Pacific. B. B. The United States saved Australia in the Battle of the Coral Sea. C. C. The United States won the Battle of Midway and from there began “island- hopping” across the Pacific. D. D. A turning point in the Pacific Theatre occurred at the Battle of Guadalcanal, the first battle to include allied forces by land, sea, and air.
A. U.S. General Eisenhower defeated German General Rommel’s forces in North Africa. B. The Germans were defeated by the Soviets in the Battle of Stalingrad. C. The Allies entered Rome and Mussolini was killed by his own men. 14. Meanwhile, back in Europe…
15. Invasion of Europe Allied Forces invaded Europe on June 6, 1944: D-Day! Allied Forces invaded Europe on June 6, 1944: D-Day! They were able to liberate France by September. They were able to liberate France by September. Hitler’s last attempt to win the war was the Battle of the Bulge. Hitler’s last attempt to win the war was the Battle of the Bulge. –The Germans were pushed back, Germany was invaded, and Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 7, 1945: VE Day!
16. And, back to the Pacific A. The US moved closer to defeating Japan by victories at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. U.S. President Harry Truman decided the way to end the war quickly, and sparing American lives, was by dropping an atomic bomb on Japan. U.S. President Harry Truman decided the way to end the war quickly, and sparing American lives, was by dropping an atomic bomb on Japan. Atomic Bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Atomic Bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered: VJ- Day! On September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered: VJ- Day! THE WAR WAS OVER! THE WAR WAS OVER!
Three of the six flag-raisers were killed before Iwo Jima was secured.
The Atomic Bomb The Atomic Bomb