C5 | WWII

Question 1

When was Operation Dynamo?

Answer 1

From 26 May 1940 to 4 June 1940

Question 2

What was the Operation Dynamo’s plan?

Answer 2

To evacuate the British and French troops to Britain using warships

Question 3

Around how many soldiers were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk?

Answer 3

Around 340,000 soldiers (around 215,000 British and 130,000 French)

Question 4

How many boats were used to rescue the soldiers?

Answer 4

Over 800 boats

Question 5

Why was Dunkirk considered as a success?

Answer 5

1. The British government had hoped to rescue at least 50,000 men but in fact, around 340,000 men were rescued
2. The soldiers’ morale was high
3. Dozens of ordinary citizens managed to help out

Question 6

Why was Dunkirk considered as a failure?

Answer 6

1. As said by Winston Churchill, ‘wars are not won by evacuations’
2. Dunkirk was only a miracle escape
3. Huge amounts of weapons, ammunition, vehicles and other supplies were left behind at Dunkirk

Question 7

What did Operation Dynamo became known as?

Answer 7

The Miracle of Dunkirk

Question 8

Why were some people calling Hitler the ‘Master of Europe’ by July 1940?

Answer 8

His armies had successfully invaded most European countries (except for Britain and the USSR)

Question 9

What was Operation Sealion?

Answer 9

It was the name given by Hitler for the planned invasion of Britain in 1940
(It was never carried out during the war as the Germans lost the Battle of Britain)

Question 10

What was Hitler’s aim for Operation Sealion?

Answer 10

To get German soldiers to Britain by 15 September. After that, German troops would move towards London and other major British cities with the goal of controlling the whole country by Christmas

Question 11

Why must Hitler destroy Britain’s air force if he wanted Operation Sealion to be a success?

Answer 11

It would be easier for German ships to transport soldiers over the English Channel to begin the land invasion of Britain. This is because the British planes could not attack the ships bringing across Hitler’s troops if the air force was destroyed

Question 12

RAF

Answer 12

Royal Air Force, the official air force of Britain

Question 13

Luftwaffe

Answer 13

The German air force until the end of the Second World War

Question 14

How many pilots fought against the Germans in the Battle of Britain?

Answer 14

Over 3000 pilots (over 2000 were from Britain)

Question 15

Fighter

Answer 15

A fast military aircraft designed for attacking other aircraft

Question 16

Hawker Hurricane

Answer 16

The most common British fighter plane during the Second World War

Question 17

Supermarine Spitfire

Answer 17

The most famous British fighter plane used in the Second World War

Question 18

Which British fighter plane shot down more German aircraft?

Answer 18

the Hurricane

Question 19

Bomber

Answer 19

An aircraft designed to carry and drop bombs

Question 20

What were the planes of the Luftwaffe?

Answer 20

1. Messerschmitt Bf 109 - most deadly and feared of all German aircraft
2. Messerschmitt Bf 110 - slow and clumsy to turn
3. Heinkel He 111 - most common German bomber, slow

Question 21

Why did Germany lose in the Battle of Britain?

Answer 21

1. The British had new radar technology that allowed them to detect the German planes before they even reached Britain. This made sure the British planes had enough fuel to attack the German planes repeatedly
2. The Germans were losing more planes than the British and more importantly, the Germans were only making about 150 new planes a month while the British were producing over 550

Question 22

After Hitler failed to defeat the RAF by his 15 September deadline, what did he do instead?

Answer 22

He started to target London in huge night-time bombing raids in an attempt to force the British into surrender (the Blitz)

Question 23

What did the RAF pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain become known as?

Answer 23

the Few

Question 24

Evacuation

Answer 24

Being taken from places at risk during war, such as cities, to safer places, such as the countryside

Question 25

Why did evacuation take place?

Answer 25

The government was afraid that British cities and towns would be targets for bombing raids by aircraft since there had been great advances in aircraft technology

Question 26

What did the evacuees carry with them?

Answer 26

1. Suitcases full of clothes
2. A gas mask
3. A name tag tied to their coats

Question 27

What were the two main methods of finding a foster family?

Answer 27

1. Grab a child - the children were lined up and local people would choose the ones they wanted
2. Hunt the home - evacuees were led around the town or village and taken door-to-door and the homeowners were asked if they would foster a child for a while