World War II Studies KEY TERMS AND PEOPLE

Appeasement British and French Policy Allowing Hitler to Annex Territories in Europe

Neville Chamberlin Prime Minister of Great Britain from – Advocated for Appeasement of Germany

Winston Churchill Prime Minister of Great Britain During Most of the War. One of the Major Forces Behind Organizing the Allied Powers and of Resisting Germany.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Helped Heavily in Planning the Allied Invasion of Europe. Future President of the United States (Two Terms)

Hirohito Emperor of Japan From Leader of Japan During WWII Was Allowed to Keep Position After the War’s Completion Never Tried for War Crimes

Adolf Hitler Leader “Fuhrer” of Germany During WWII. Had Absolute Power Over the Country. Advocated for the “Final Solution” – Killing All People of Jewish Descent. – This is what led to the Holocaust

Benito Mussolini Prime Minister of Italy from A Facist Dictator Who Had Absolute Power Over The Country

Franklin Delano Roosevelt President of The United States for Most of the War. Served Four Terms as President Played an Instrumental Role in Keeping the Allies Together

Harry S. Truman President of the United States from Succeeded FDR After His Death Made the Decision to Drop Atomic Bombs on Japan.

Joseph Stalin General Secretary of the Soviet Union from Brutal Dictator in his own Right. Succeeded in Holding Russia Together Through the War.

Allied Powers Alliance of Countries who Opposed Germany’s Wartime Positions Britain, France, United States, Russia, and Many Other Countries

Axis Powers Germany, Italy and Japan’s Military Alliance Other Countries Were In and Out Over the Period of WWII

Blitzkrieg “Lightning War” The German Strategy of Attacking Quickly and With Great Force Applied in Invasions of Poland, France, and Soviet Union

Fascism A Far Right Wing Form of Government, Generally With One Powerful Leader. In Place in Germany (Until 1945), Italy (Until 1943), and Spain (Until 1974) Amongst Others

Final Solution Hitler’s Plan to Exterminate all Jewish Citizens as Well as Members of Other Groups During His Time In Power

Gestapo The German Secret Police Force Largely Responsible for Much of the Removal of Jewish People During the Holocaust

Lebensraum “Living Space” Hitler’s Justification of His Territorial Expansion

Luftwaffe German Air Force

Manhattan Project Secret US Project Designed to Produce the First Atomic Weapon Began in 1942, Continued Until Atomic Weapons Used in 1945

Operation Overlord The Code Name for the Allied Invasion of Europe.