Vocabulary World War II and Beyond

Fascism A political philosophy that emphasizes the state over the individual. Propaganda is used to convince the people that a strong central government is the way to economic and military success. Opposition is suppressed by threat of violence.

Totalitarianism A term for a government that controls every aspect of public and private life in the country. Usually they use propaganda and surveillance to control the masses. Opposition is suppressed through violent acts.

annexation the incorporation (inclusion) of a country or other territory within the domain of a state

Nazis Nation Socialist German Workers A German political party whose leadership was taken over by Adolph Hitler

Final Solution The Nazi program of exterminating Jews under Hitler

Holocaust *it is specifically referring to the mass destruction of Jewish and other people by the Nazis in World War Two.

Cold War The ideological conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States at the end of World War II

Hydrogen Bomb A bomb, more powerful than an atomic bomb, that derives its explosive energy from the thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes

Arms Race Competition between countries to achieve superiority in quantity and quality of military arms

Superpower An extremely powerful nation, especially one capable of influencing international events and the acts and the policies of less powerful nations

Berlin Wall A guarded concrete wall, 28 miles, with minefields and controlled checkpoints, erected across Berlin by East Germany in 1961 and dismantled in 1989

European Union An association of European nations formed in 1993 for the purpose of achieving political and economic integration