WWII Exam #2

Question 1

Winston Churchill

Answer 1

British Prime Minister during most of WWII; known for his leadership, stirring speeches, and refusal to surrender to Nazi Germany. He worked closely with Allied leaders like Roosevelt and Stalin and played a key role in planning the defeat of the Axis powers.

Question 2

Lend-Lease Program

Answer 2

A U.S. policy during WWII that allowed America to send military aid and supplies to Allied nations like Britain, the Soviet Union, and China without immediate payment. It marked a shift from neutrality to active support for the Allies before the U.S. officially entered the war in 1941.

Question 3

Chiang Kai-shek

Answer 3

Leader of the Republic of China during WWII and head of the Chinese Nationalist Party. He resisted Japanese invasion and was one of the major Allied leaders, working with the U.S. and Britain while also facing internal conflict with Chinese Communist forces.

Question 4

Casablanca Conference

Answer 4

A 1943 WWII meeting between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt in Casablanca, Morocco. They planned the next phase of the war, including the Italian campaign, and declared that the Allies would only accept unconditional surrender from the Axis powers.

Question 5

Cross-Channel Invasion

Answer 5

Also known as D-Day or the Invasion of Normandy, this was the Allied operation on June 6, 1944, to invade Nazi-occupied France by crossing the English Channel. It was the largest amphibious invasion in history and marked a major turning point in the war in Europe.

Question 6

Douglas MacArthur

Answer 6

U.S. General who led Allied forces in the Pacific during WWII. Famous for his leadership in the Philippines, his “I shall return” promise, and overseeing Japan’s surrender in 1945. He later played a key role in postwar Japan’s reconstruction.

Question 7

Battle of Midway

Answer 7

A decisive naval battle in June 1942 where the U.S. Navy defeated a larger Japanese fleet near Midway Island. It marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater, as Japan lost four aircraft carriers and shifted to a defensive strategy for the rest of the war.

Question 8

Operation Torch

Answer 8

The Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942, targeting French-controlled territories held by Axis-aligned Vichy France. It was the first major U.S. involvement in the European-North African theater and helped prepare for the invasion of Southern Europe.

Question 9

Battle of El Alamein

Answer 9

A major battle in North Africa in October–November 1942, where British forces under General Montgomery defeated the German-Italian army led by Rommel. It marked a turning point in the North African campaign, halting Axis expansion and beginning their retreat westward.

Question 10

Victor Emmanuel III

Answer 10

King of Italy during WWII who initially supported Mussolini and the Fascist regime. In 1943, he played a key role in Mussolini’s arrest and Italy’s switch from the Axis to the Allied side, contributing to the fall of Fascism in Italy.

Question 11

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Answer 11

The largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp during WWII, located in Poland. It became a symbol of the Holocaust, where over 1 million Jews, along with Romani people, Polish resistance fighters, and others, were murdered.

Question 12

Huff Duff

Answer 12

A nickname for the High-Frequency Direction Finding (HF/DF) system used by the Allies during WWII to detect and locate enemy radio transmissions. It played a critical role in intercepting U-boat communications and contributed to the success of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Question 13

Corvette

Answer 13

A small, fast warship used primarily by the Allies during WWII, especially for convoy escort duties and anti-submarine warfare. Corvettes were vital in protecting merchant ships from German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Question 14

Magnetic Mines

Answer 14

Naval mines that detonated when ships passed within a certain distance, triggered by the magnetic field of the ship’s hull. Used extensively by the Germans during WWII to disrupt Allied shipping and block naval passages, especially in the English Channel.

Question 15

“Wolf Pack”

Answer 15

A term used to describe a group of German U-boats that would work together to attack Allied merchant convoys during WWII. By coordinating their attacks, wolf packs were able to overwhelm convoy defenses and inflict significant damage on Allied shipping in the Atlantic.

Question 16

“Hedgehog”

Answer 16

A British anti-submarine weapon used during WWII, the Hedgehog was a spigot mortar that launched multiple small bombs in a pattern around a target. It was effective for attacking submarines by delivering a spread of explosive charges in close proximity to the enemy vessel, typically launched from ships or escorts.

Question 17

Enigma Cipher

Answer 17

A complex encryption device used by Nazi Germany during WWII to encode military communications. The Allies, particularly through efforts at Bletchley Park, successfully cracked the Enigma code, which played a crucial role in the defeat of the Axis powers by providing intelligence on German movements and strategies.

Question 18

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Answer 18

32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. He led the U.S. through the Great Depression and most of WWII, providing critical support to the Allies through programs like Lend-Lease and playing a central role in shaping post-war diplomacy, including the creation of the United Nations.

Question 19

Harry S. Truman

Answer 19

33rd President of the United States, who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. Truman made the decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of WWII. He also played a key role in post-war reconstruction and the early stages of the Cold War.

Question 20

Charles de Gaulle

Answer 20

Leader of the Free French Forces during WWII and later the President of France. He played a crucial role in organizing resistance against Nazi occupation and was instrumental in restoring France’s position in post-war Europe, founding the Fifth Republic in 1958.

Question 21

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Answer 21

Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during WWII, overseeing the successful D-Day invasion in 1944 and the subsequent liberation of Western Europe. After the war, he became the 34th President of the United States, focusing on Cold War diplomacy and domestic prosperity.

Question 22

SONAR

Answer 22

Sound Navigation and Ranging technology used during WWII to detect submarines and underwater objects. By emitting sound waves and measuring their echoes, SONAR helped Allied forces locate and track German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic, significantly improving anti-submarine warfare.

Question 23

Battle of the Coral Sea

Answer 23

A significant naval battle in May 1942 between Allied forces (primarily the U.S. and Australia) and Japan. It was the first battle in history fought entirely by aircraft carriers, and although it was a tactical draw, it stopped Japan’s advancement toward Australia and set the stage for the Battle of Midway.

Question 24

Chester Nimitz

Answer 24

Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during WWII and a key naval strategist in the Pacific Theater. He led American forces to victory in major battles like Midway and the Philippine Sea, and oversaw the island-hopping campaign that brought the U.S. closer to Japan.

Question 25

Bernard Montgomery

Answer 25

A senior British Army officer during WWII, best known for his leadership in the North African campaign and victory at the Battle of El Alamein. He later commanded Allied ground forces during the D-Day invasion and played a crucial role in the liberation of Western Europe.

Question 26

Benito Mussolini

Answer 26

Fascist dictator of Italy and ally of Nazi Germany during WWII. He led Italy into the war on the Axis side, but was overthrown in 1943 as Italy faced military defeats. Mussolini was later captured and executed by Italian partisans in 1945.

Question 27

Operation 1005

Answer 27

A secret Nazi operation during WWII aimed at covering up the Holocaust by exhuming and destroying evidence of mass graves. Beginning in 1942, the SS forced prisoners to dig up bodies from extermination sites and burn them to eliminate proof of genocide. This included burning the bodies and crushing their bones.

Question 28

Pearl Harbor

Answer 28

A surprise military attack by Japan on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The attack led to the destruction of U.S. battleships and aircraft and resulted in the United States formally entering WWII the next day.

Question 29

Mid-Atlantic Operational Gap

Answer 29

A stretch of the North Atlantic Ocean during WWII where Allied convoys were temporarily out of range of land-based air cover. This "gap" made convoys vulnerable to German U-boat attacks until longer-range aircraft and escort carriers closed the gap later in the war.

Question 30

Battle of Kasserine Pass

Answer 30

A battle in February 1943 in Tunisia, where inexperienced American forces suffered a defeat against German troops led by General Rommel. It was the first major clash between U.S. and Axis forces in North Africa and exposed weaknesses that led to improvements in American leadership and tactics.

Question 31

Degaussing

Answer 31

A method used during WWII to protect ships from magnetic mines by reducing their magnetic signature. This was done by installing special electrical cables around the ship that created a magnetic field to cancel out the ship’s own, making it less detectable to mines triggered by magnetism.

Question 32

Hunter-killer Group

Answer 32

A naval task force used during WWII to locate and destroy enemy submarines, especially German U-boats. These groups combined aircraft carriers, destroyers, and escort ships equipped with sonar and depth charges to patrol the Atlantic and protect Allied convoys.

Question 32

Acoustic Torpedo

Answer 32

A type of torpedo used during WWII that homed in on the sound of a ship's propellers or engine noise. It was more accurate than previous torpedoes because it could automatically track and target a moving vessel based on its underwater noise. Acoustic torpedoes were especially effective against submarines and surface ships during WWII.

Question 33

Doolittle Raid

Answer 33

A surprise air raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities on April 18, 1942, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle. The raid was the first U.S. attack on the Japanese mainland, boosting American morale and demonstrating that Japan was vulnerable to American airstrikes.

Question 34

Joseph Stalin

Answer 34

Leader of the Soviet Union during WWII, Stalin played a key role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. Despite his brutal regime, he led the USSR through major battles such as the Battle of Stalingrad and oversaw the Soviet Union's pivotal role in the Eastern Front, ultimately contributing to the Axis powers' defeat. His alliance with the U.S. and Britain, though marked by tension, helped ensure the defeat of the Nazis.

Question 34

Atlantic Charter

Answer 34

A joint declaration made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill in August 1941, outlining the Allied goals for the post-war world. It emphasized self-determination, economic cooperation, and the establishment of a permanent system of general security, which later contributed to the formation of the United Nations.

Question 35

Combined Chiefs of Staff

Answer 35

A military coordination body formed during WWII, consisting of senior military leaders from both the United States and the United Kingdom. It was responsible for planning and overseeing joint military operations and strategies between the two nations, helping to ensure effective cooperation in the defeat of the Axis powers.

Question 36

Unconditional Surrender

Answer 36

A demand made by the Allies during WWII, notably by Roosevelt and Churchill, that the Axis powers must surrender without any negotiated terms. This policy aimed to ensure the complete defeat of the Axis and prevent any possibility of a negotiated peace that could allow them to retain power or influence.

Question 37

Teheran Conference

Answer 37

A meeting held in November–December 1943 between Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin in Tehran, Iran. It marked the first major meeting of the "Big Three" and focused on strategic military decisions, including the planning of Operation Overlord (the D-Day invasion) and discussions on the post-war world order. The conference solidified the cooperation between the Allies and set the stage for the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.

Question 38

Guadalcanal

Answer 38

A major battle in the Pacific Theater from August 1942 to February 1943, where Allied forces, primarily U.S. Marines, launched a campaign to capture the island of Guadalcanal from the Japanese. The victory marked the first major Allied offensive against Japan, turning the tide in the Pacific and beginning a series of successful campaigns known as "island hopping".

Question 39

Erwin Rommel

Answer 39

A German Field Marshal during WWII, known as the "Desert Fox" for his leadership in the North African Campaign, particularly the Battle of El Alamein. Rommel was renowned for his tactical brilliance and leadership, but he was also involved in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler, leading to his forced suicide in 1944.

Question 40

Francois Darlan

Answer 40

A French admiral and political figure who served as the head of the Vichy government’s military during WWII. Darlan initially collaborated with Nazi Germany but later agreed to cooperate with the Allies after the Allied invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) in 1942. His assassination in December 1942 by a French resistance member complicated the political situation in Vichy France.

Question 41

Pietro Badoglio

Answer 41

An Italian general and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Italy after Mussolini’s fall in 1943. Badoglio signed an armistice with the Allies, effectively ending Italy’s participation in WWII as an Axis power. His government then faced challenges, including dealing with the German occupation of northern Italy and the continuation of the war until Italy’s eventual liberation.

Question 42

Einsatzgruppen

Answer 42

Mobile killing units of Nazi Germany, primarily composed of SS and police forces, responsible for mass killings of Jews, Romani people, and other groups deemed undesirable by the Nazis. These units carried out mass shootings in Eastern Europe, particularly during the invasion of the Soviet Union, and were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, playing a significant role in the Holocaust.

Question 43

Treblinka

Answer 43

A Nazi extermination camp located in occupied Poland during WWII, where approximately 870,000 Jews were murdered as part of the Holocaust. It was one of the deadliest death camps, using gas chambers to kill large numbers of people. Treblinka was dismantled by the Nazis in 1943 in an attempt to cover up the crimes.

Question 44

Singapore

Answer 44

A British colony in Southeast Asia that was strategically important during WWII. In February 1942, it fell to the Japanese after a swift and decisive attack, marking one of the worst defeats in British military history. The fall of Singapore was a significant turning point in the Pacific War, as it allowed Japan to consolidate its control over Southeast Asia.

Question 45

Convoy System

Answer 45

A military strategy used during WWII in which merchant ships traveled in groups, escorted by military vessels such as destroyers and cruisers, to protect them from enemy submarines and aircraft. This system was especially effective in the Battle of the Atlantic, helping to reduce shipping losses from German U-boats and ensuring the flow of supplies between the United States and the Allied forces.

Question 46

Q-ship

Answer 46

A disguised warship used during WWI and WWII to lure enemy submarines into attacking, only to reveal hidden guns and engage them in combat. Q-ships were primarily used by the British Royal Navy and were effective in deceiving German U-boats, contributing to the Allied efforts in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Question 47

Milk Cows

Answer 47

German U-boats equipped with the ability to resupply other submarines at sea during WWII. These "milk cows" provided fuel, food, and ammunition to U-boats operating far from port, allowing them to stay operational for longer periods and extend their range in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Question 48

Schnorkel Breathing Tube

Answer 48

A device used by German U-boats during WWII that allowed them to run their diesel engines while submerged. The schnorkel extended above the surface of the water, providing fresh air for the U-boat without having to surface, thus reducing the risk of detection by enemy aircraft and ships.

Question 49

Operation Husky

Answer 49

The code name for the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 during WWII. Led by the United States and Great Britain, the operation marked the beginning of the Allied campaign to liberate Europe from Axis powers. It successfully opened the Mediterranean theater and forced the Axis to withdraw from the island, contributing to the eventual downfall of Mussolini's regime in Italy.