History - World War II Flashcards
(34 cards)
When did World War II begin?
September 1, 1939, with Germany’s invasion of Poland
What were the main causes of World War II?
Treaty of Versailles, rise of fascism, appeasement, expansionism by Germany, Italy, Japan
Who was the leader of Nazi Germany during WWII?
Adolf Hitler
Who was the British Prime Minister during most of WWII?
Winston Churchill
Who was the US President for most of WWII?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Who was the Prime Minister of Australia during most of WWII?
Robert Menzies
What was the Battle of Britain?
The 1940 air battle where the UK defended against German bombing to prevent invasion
Why was the Battle of Britain significant?
It was the first major defeat of Hitler’s military forces
What was the Pacific Theatre?
The part of WWII fought in the Pacific and Asia, mainly between Japan and Allied forces
When did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?
December 7, 1941
What was Australia’s role on the homefront during WWII?
Rationing, enlistment, war production, defending against possible invasion, and supporting Allied efforts
What was the significance of the Kokoda Track campaign?
Key battle in Papua New Guinea where Australian troops stopped Japanese advance in 1942
What was the Holocaust?
The systematic genocide of six million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany
What was the Wannsee Conference?
1942 meeting where Nazi officials formalized the plan for the ‘Final Solution’
What were concentration camps?
Prison camps where Jews and others were imprisoned, forced into labor, and exterminated
What was the Manhattan Project?
The secret US project to develop atomic bombs during WWII
Which two Japanese cities were atomic bombs dropped on?
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
When were the atomic bombs dropped?
August 6 and August 9, 1945
What effect did the atomic bombs have on WWII?
Led to Japan’s surrender and the end of WWII in the Pacific
What was the Lend-Lease Act?
US policy to supply Allies with war materials before officially entering the war
What was the significance of the Battle of Midway?
Major naval victory in 1942 that shifted balance in the Pacific to the Allies
What was the Battle of El Alamein?
1942 Allied victory in North Africa stopping Axis advance
When was the D-Day invasion?
June 6, 1944
