ww2 Flashcards
(74 cards)
Antisemitism
Hostility toward Jews, which intensified under Adolf Hitler in Germany from 1933–1945, became central to Nazi ideology and led to the Holocaust. It fueled exclusion, violence, and genocide across Nazi-occupied Europe, coinciding with Hitler’s rise and the start of WWII.
Appeasement
In the 1930s, Britain and France gave in to Hitler’s demands—most notably in the 1938 Munich Agreement—to avoid war. This encouraged Nazi aggression and failed to prevent WWII, occurring alongside German militarization and expansion into Austria and Czechoslovakia.
Authoritarianism & Dictatorships
Leaders like Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler rose to power in the 1920s–30s by promising stability through centralized, non-democratic rule. These regimes formed the Axis Powers and were fueled by nationalism, fear, and post-WWI instability.
Communism
Communism, especially under Stalin’s rule starting in 1924 in the USSR, promoted a classless, state-controlled society. It led to brutal purges and tension with fascist regimes, paralleling the rise of Hitler and the eventual Nazi-Soviet Pact.
Fascism
A far-right, militaristic ideology led by Mussolini in Italy (1922) and Hitler in Germany (1933) that emphasized national supremacy and control. It justified expansionism and suppression of dissent, rising during the global depression.
Isolationism
The U.S. avoided involvement in foreign wars during the 1930s through Neutrality Acts, reacting to WWI trauma and economic woes. This ended after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, amid growing global conflict.
Militarism
Nations like Germany and Japan embraced military power in the 1930s–40s, using force to expand territory. This ideology drove invasions (like Manchuria and Poland) and intensified global tensions leading to WWII.
Nationalism
Extreme pride in one’s nation led Germany, Italy, and Japan to justify aggressive expansion and racial policies. Prominent in the 1920s–40s, it fueled conflicts alongside militarism and fascism.
Propaganda
Governments used propaganda to control public opinion and promote ideologies—Nazi Germany excelled in spreading antisemitic and nationalist messages. It shaped public support for war and persecution during the 1930s–40s.
Xenophobia
Fear and hatred of foreigners led to harsh immigration policies and ethnic scapegoating, especially in Nazi Germany and 1930s America. It rose with nationalism and antisemitism, restricting refugee escape routes.
Refugees & Immigration Quotas
Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi terror faced U.S. and European immigration quotas, especially in the late 1930s. The U.S. turned away ships like the M.S. St. Louis, reflecting global reluctance to intervene before WWII.
Supremacy
Nazi racial ideology promoted Aryan supremacy, justifying exclusion, violence, and genocide. It peaked from 1933–1945 and paralleled fascism and antisemitic laws across Europe.
Wehrmacht & Blitzkrieg
Germany’s Wehrmacht used “Blitzkrieg” (lightning war) tactics to quickly conquer Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. It relied on fast-moving tanks and airpower, overwhelming slower Allied forces.
Desert & Vehicular Warfare
Fighting in North Africa involved tanks, trucks, and aircraft across vast desert terrain (1940–43). Harsh conditions made logistics and armored tactics crucial.
Atomic Bomb
Developed by the U.S. through the Manhattan Project (1942–1945), the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. It ended WWII but began the Cold War and raised moral debates.
Cold War
A period of tension between the U.S. and USSR after WWII (starting in 1945), rooted in opposing ideologies. Sparked by nuclear weapons and postwar disagreements, it lasted for decades.
Island Hopping
U.S. strategy to capture key Pacific islands while bypassing others, used from 1943–1945. Battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa were major steps toward reaching Japan.
Kamikaze
Japanese pilots flew suicide missions against U.S. ships late in the war, especially during the Battle of Okinawa (1945). It showed Japan’s desperation and refusal to surrender.
Prisoner of War (P.O.W.)
Captured soldiers faced brutal treatment, especially by the Japanese, as seen in the Bataan Death March (1942). Violations of wartime ethics led to postwar trials.
How did dictators and military leaders seize power in Europe and Asia?
Leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo rose during economic crisis and used propaganda, nationalism, and military control to gain power in the 1920s–30s. Weak democracies and fear of communism helped them take control.
How did Great Britain become the only major Allied Power remaining against the Axis?
After France fell in June 1940, Britain stood alone during the Battle of Britain (summer 1940), resisting German air attacks. The Soviet Union and U.S. only joined later in 1941.
Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor, and why was this attack a mixed success for Japan?
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and secure resources in Asia after the U.S. embargo. It was a tactical surprise but failed to destroy U.S. carriers and provoked full U.S. entry into WWII.
What was Operation Torch, and why was Rommel so difficult to defeat in North Africa?
Operation Torch (1942) was the Allied invasion of North Africa to push out Axis forces. Rommel was hard to beat due to his tactics, desert experience, and tank warfare skills.
How did the Battle of Stalingrad and D-Day Invasion turn the tide of war for the Allies?
Stalingrad (1942–43) stopped Germany’s advance in the East, while D-Day (June 6, 1944) opened a Western front in France. These major wins forced Germany to fight on two fronts and lose ground.
