Quiz 5 WWII Short Answers Flashcards
Blitzkrieg - step by step and the purpose/goal of the plan
Blitzkrieg was a military tactic that the Germans used against their enemies. It was calculated to create psychological shock and resultant disorganization in enemy forces through the employment of surprise, speed, and superiority in matériel or firepower. The German army used this tactic against unsuspecting towns and cities and caused lots of destruction. The Schlieffen Plan was different from Blitzkrieg because the Schlieffen Plan was the operational plan for a designated attack on France. They were trying to invade France through Belgium instead of attacking it directly, where Blitzkrieg was a full fledged attack.
Fall of France - How did the Germans take it and when/why did it fall. What happened to the government and how did the people respond to their occupations?
The German army kept using the Blitzkrieg method but since the Maginot line was impenetrable they had to go around it. The Maginot line was only along the borders of Germany and ended around the Belgium and Luxembourg areas. Since Germany had already invaded those places they walked around the Maginot borders and continued using the Blitzkrieg. The French were overwhelmed by the Germans and their army was defeated. This led to France surrendering to Germany in June 1940. The government of France was replaced by new leaders who agreed with the Nazi ideas. Some people in France started resistances that dealt with things like sabotaging, stealing information for the Allies, and forming underground movements. Like Charles de Gaulle who made many speeches that helped to rally the French people to stand against the Germans and created the Free French Forces which helped fight against the Axis of Powers.
Evacuation and “Miracle of Dunkirk”?
Massive Evacuation Effort: The evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, in May and June 1940 was one of the largest military evacuations in history. Hundreds of thousands of British and Allied soldiers were trapped by the German advance during the Battle of France, and a desperate rescue operation was launched to evacuate them to safety.
Civilian Assistance: One of the remarkable aspects of the evacuation was the involvement of civilian vessels, known as the “Little Ships of Dunkirk.” Hundreds of private boats, fishing vessels, and pleasure crafts were mobilized to ferry troops from the beaches to larger naval vessels waiting offshore. This civilian contribution played a crucial role in the success of the operation.
Adverse Conditions: The evacuation took place under dire circumstances, with Allied troops facing relentless bombing and strafing from the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) as they waited on the beaches. Despite these perilous conditions, the Royal Navy, along with civilian vessels, managed to evacuate over 330,000 soldiers, including British, French, Belgian, and other Allied troops.
Strategic Retreat: While the evacuation saved hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers from capture or death, it also marked a significant setback for the Allied cause. The successful evacuation allowed a substantial portion of the British Expeditionary Force to escape, but they left behind much of their heavy equipment and vehicles, which were abandoned on the beaches.
Boost to British Morale: Despite the losses and setbacks in France, the successful evacuation of Dunkirk provided a much-needed morale boost to the British people. Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously hailed the evacuation as a “miracle” and emphasized the resilience and determination of the British nation in the face of adversity. The evacuation became a symbol of national unity and defiance, laying the groundwork for the long struggle ahead against Nazi Germany.
Battle of Britain - the battle itself and radar’s role? - The Blitz-explain- what happened, how and why?
The battle was between the RAF (the British) v.s the Luftwaffe (the Germans). The German operation name was operation sealion. For the German Blitzkrieg to work they needed control of the skies and so the Battle of Britain was in the air.
The German air tactics and the changes in order:
Target convoys
Target industrial areas
Target RAF airfields (July- stray bomber hits london and churchill orders Berlin bombed
Target British cities - bombing London especially because it was the closest
The Blitz was the bombing of London and other British cities in one night which was aimed at civilians to scare them into forcing their leader to surrender. During the night over 40,000 civilians were killed. Radar was very important because the Germans didn’t have or know about it and it helped by telling exactly the speed, distance and number of planes that were in the air which gave time for the RAF to prepare for the attacks. This helped the British win and it was also because they had the home field advantage where if a pilot fell out of the sky they could be up in the air very fast compared to Germany where if one fell then it was a loss.
Invasion of USSR - how the battle began and progressed-in favour of the Germans-How the battle progressed-in favour of the Soviets (their tactics and strategy, what went in their favour)
The battle began when Germany lost to Britain and then decided to go for the U.S.S.R. It was titled Operation Barbarossa and it broke the non aggression pact between the two. Hitler thought it would take six weeks like before using the Blitzkrieg method. The army advanced, taking a lot of land, and the blitzkrieg still was found effective. They kept moving upwards and made it 39 km from the capital city of moscow. But the Soviets used a scorched earth tactic which was when the Red Army would retreat but they burned anything and everything that could be in use by the enemy. This proved effective because the Germans were far from reinforcements and were getting hungry without food. So Hitler ordered his men to go to the south for food and to capture the rich oil fields. But winter came and the Germans were ill-prepared because they didn’t have the resources or even winter gear like clothing. Because of this the German army was freezing in the winter and could not turn back and they couldn’t get reinforcements because the Axis powers were also engaged in north africa.
Pearl Harbour - Brief explanation of the reasons of the attack and what happened on Dec 7, 1941 that was successful for Japan
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor. The reason for the Japanese attack was:
Expanding their sphere of influence. Japan sought to Expand sought to expand its territory and influence in the Asia-Pacific region. This expansion conflicted with the interests.
Resource acquirement: Japan’s military expansion required access to strategic resources like oil and rubber, which were largely controlled by Western powers in Southeast Asia. By attacking Pearl Harbor, Japan aimed to cripple the US Pacific Fleet and gain time to secure these resources.
Preemptive Strike: Japan perceived the US as a potential threat to its expansion plans and sought to seize any American intervention by delivering a devastating blow to the Pacific Fleet.
The attack itself involved a coordinated assault by Japanese aircraft carriers, launching waves of bombers, torpedo planes, and fighters against the US naval base at Pearl Harbor. The attack caught the American forces by surprise, causing significant damage:
Four US Navy battleships were sunk: USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, and USS West Virginia.
Four more battleships were damaged, along with other ships and aircraft.
Over 2,400 Americans were killed, and around 1,200 were wounded.
Naval Dominance: By crippling much of the US Pacific Fleet, Japan gained temporary naval dominance in the Pacific, allowing its forces to operate more freely in the region.
Strategic Advantage: The attack bought Japan time to consolidate its territorial gains in Southeast Asia and secure vital resources.
Psychological Impact: The surprise attack shocked the American public and military establishment, galvanizing support for entering World War II.
Pearl Harbour-How and why the attack ultimately not successful
Underestimation of American Resolve: Japan underestimated the determination of the American people and their ability to rebound from the attack. Instead of demoralizing the United States, the attack united the country behind the war effort, leading to a massive mobilization of resources and manpower.
Failure to Destroy Vital Infrastructure: While the attack significantly damaged the US Pacific Fleet, it failed to destroy critical infrastructure such as repair facilities and fuel depots. This allowed the United States to recover and rebuild its naval capabilities quickly.
Missed Targets: Despite causing extensive damage to the battleships, crucial targets like aircraft carriers were not present at Pearl Harbor during the attack. These carriers became instrumental in the later stages of the war, allowing the US to project power across the Pacific.
Limited Long-Term Strategic Gain: Although the attack provided Japan with a temporary advantage in the Pacific, it did not alter the overall balance of power in the region. The United States’ industrial capacity and vast resources ultimately allowed it to outproduce and outlast Japan in the war.
Provoked the United States into War: By attacking Pearl Harbor, Japan provoked the United States into entering World War II, bringing the full weight of American military and economic power against them. This ultimately led to Japan’s defeat and the end of its imperial ambitions in the Pacific.
Hong Kong - Brief Explanation of what happened and Canada’s role (5Ws and How)
Hong Kong was formerly a British colony for trade but it went under attack by Japan. Someone from Hong Kong convinced Canada that they could win and keep the colony, so Canada sent over 15 ~ 20,000. They were no match for the 50,000 Japanese soldiers but they managed to hold for 18 days until they eventually fell on December 25 1941 known as black Christmas. The colony eventually fell because of Japan’s home advantage where as Canada and Britain had to travel far for backup.
Dieppe-What happened and what went wrong?
-What preparations/planning mistakes were made?
-What lessons were learned?
Hitler’s mistakes-upto this point (End of Dieppe)
Nazi Soviet Pact- should have went for the U.S.S.R first
Resting his men for 1 day (pazers) at Dunkirk. Gave the British time to save them
Ordered bombing of British cities instead of Airfields- caused them to lose the Battle of Britain and opened a possible 2nd front in the future
Delayed Invasion of the USSR- The attack lead into Winter
Not giving his men winter equipment
Ordered an army group central (39km from Moscow) to the south- gave Moscow time to prepare defense and bring in Siberian Korps.
Declaring war on the USA
Significance of:
a) Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact
b) Norway
c) Finland
d) Norway
e) Radar/RAF
f) Battle of Britain
g) June 22 1940
h) Dec. 7, 1941
i) North Africa
j) Suez Canal: (Not on this quiz)
k) Dieppe Raid (Not on this quiz)
Significance of:
a) Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact - Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union surprised the world by signing the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, in which the two countries agreed to take no military action against each other for the next 10 years.
b) Norway - The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung.
c) Finland - It was the only European country bordering the Soviet Union in 1939 which was still unoccupied by 1945.
d) Norway - The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung.
e) Radar/RAF - This system allowed Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command to respond to incoming German attacks and use its precious resources of pilots and aircraft to the best possible effect.
f) Battle of Britain - Britain was a huge power of Europe and if they lost this battle then Germany would have full control of Europe and we would have lost the war because Britain was also a good spot to send supplies to and get ready for the battle.
g) June 22 1940 - the French delegation signed the Armistice agreement imposed by Germany at the very location of the 1918 Armistice signing. This entailed France’s surrender in the Second World War.
h) Dec. 7, 1941 - On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii Territory, killing more than 2,300 Americans.
i) North Africa- The North African campaign of the Second World War took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943.
j) Suez Canal: During World War II, the Suez Canal played a vital strategic role as a key maritime route linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, enabling the transportation of goods and military assets between Europe and British colonies in Asia and Africa. Control over the Suez Canal was fiercely contested by the Allied and Axis powers (Not on this quiz)
k) Dieppe Raid - Dieppe was a humiliation for the Allies and a tragedy for those killed, seriously wounded or taken prisoner. (Not on this quiz)
