World War II Unit 7 Study Guide

Explain the policy of appeasement. Giving into an aggressor’s demands Avoid war Allow Germany to re-militarize Allow Germany to be imperialistic War fatigue German troops entering the Rhineland

What was the Munich Conference What was the Munich Conference? How does it symbolize the policy of appeasement? Meeting of Britain and Germany Munich, Germany Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler Deal: Czechoslovakia to Ger. for promise to end aggression

Describe the events leading to the beginning of WWII. Industrialization Imperialism Nationalism Militarism Appeasement & Isolationism Treaty of Versailles League of Nations Europe and Pacific

How was the Spanish Civil War a prelude to WWII? Republican, democratic government & Communists Vs. Fascists, military USSR supports gov’t Ger./Italy support Franco US, UK, Fra: neutral Fascists win.

What event caused Great Britain and France to declare war against Germany? German invasion of Poland 1939

What was Germany’s strategy to win the war in Europe? Schlieffen Plan Knock out France 1st, then attack Russia (USSR) Better technology: Tanks, armored vehicles make it successful

What was the Allied strategy to defeat Germany? Japan? Invade Europe and defeat Germany 1st Open a western front in Normandy, France against Germany (D-Day) 2nd: Defeat Japan Island-hopping campaign

What type of leader was Winston Churchill What type of leader was Winston Churchill? What made him an effective leader? Uncompromising, tough “Never surrender” Opposed appeasement War hawk

Why did Germany and Russia sign a non-aggression pact? They both wanted Polish territory That was lost in World War I Soviet poster made after 1941 German invasion of Russia

Describe the reasons behind the Holocaust. Mein Kampf Nazi ideology of racial purity of “Aryan” race Genocide of Holocaust the “Final Solution” to accomplish that goal Extermination camps for mass murder

What was Kristallnacht and why did it occur? “Night of Broken Glass” Response to murder of German diplomat in Paris by Jewish teenager Brutal beat down of Jews, their businesses, and synagogues Escalation of hate targeted at Jewish minority

List the similarities between Germany, Italy, and Japan in the 1930s. Industrialized Imperialistic Totalitarian Fascist Axis Alliance

What were the two “teams” of countries in WWII? Axis: Germany Italy Japan Allies: Great Britain U.S.S.R. (Russia) United States

Name the major battles in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific Name the major battles in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific. Why was each important? 1939 Invasion of Poland 1941 Invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) Battle of Britain (England) 1944 D-Day Invasion Battle of Midway: Turning point in Pacific (U.S. victory) Battle of the Bulge: Last German offensive

What were the Nuremberg Trials? Did they accomplish their objectives? War Crimes trials Against Nazi officials Partly successful

How were Japanese-Americans treated during WWII inside the U. S How were Japanese-Americans treated during WWII inside the U.S.? Germans? Italians? Executive Order 9066 Japanese internment camps Manzanar, others Germans, Italians not targeted in same way

How was Japan’s government changed after WWII? Changed to a democracy De-militarized Constitution (Similar to what was tried in Iraq)

Discuss the losses, in people and money, for the major countries of the war. Soviet Union had most casualties (both military and civilian) Polish Jews suffered most deaths

Who were the “Big Three” Allied leaders Who were the “Big Three” Allied leaders? What were the major wartime conferences they had? What decisions were made at those conferences? Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt (Truman after he dies) Potsdam Yalta

How did WWII end in the Pacific? The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Forced the unconditional surrender of Japan to the U.S.

Germany/Italy/Japan Similarities Differences totalitarian goals aggressive expansion in the 1930s Weakness of League of Nations encouraged this. (Japan’s invasion of China was not stopped) Ger/Italy Leaders promised to restore their nations to former greatness Differences Germany & Italy were fascist (NOT Japan)

Vocabulary aryan genocide displaced persons isolationism Great Depression appeasement nationalism

Important People Adolf Hitler (Germany) Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) Emperor Hirohito (Japan) Benito Mussolini (Italy) Frustrated Italy got little land after WWI (territorial gains)

Key Ideas fascism communism anti-Semitism a key component ultra-nationalism allows for only one identity minorities not respected or protected communism failure of democracies to deal with Great Depression Led countries like Italy, Germany, and Spain to choose totalitarian, undemocratic govt.s

Key Countries USSR (Soviet Union) formerly Russia Germany communist totalitarian suffered most deaths in WWII Germany fascist

Asia before and during WWII Japan Invaded Manchuria Invaded China Rape of Janjing China Civil war Communists (Mao Zedong) vs. Nationalists (Chang Kaishek) They united to fight Japan