WWII Key Terms Flashcards
Humanities study (30 cards)
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
The 1919 peace treaty that ended World War I, placing full blame on Germany, demanding heavy reparations, and severely restricting its military.
What was the Weimar Republic?
The democratic German government established after World War I, lasting from 1919 to 1933, often blamed for Germany’s post-war problems.
What is hyperinflation?
A period in the early 1920s in Germany where the value of money collapsed, causing prices to skyrocket and savings to become worthless.
What is nationalism?
A political ideology centered on strong identification with one’s nation, often placing its interests above others.
What is communism?
A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society and collective ownership of property, famously led by the Soviet Union during the 20th century.
What is antisemitism?
Prejudice, hatred, or discrimination against Jews, which was central to Nazi ideology.
What does NSDAP / Nazi Party stand for?
The National Socialist German Workers’ Party, a far-right political party led by Adolf Hitler that ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945.
Who was Adolf Hitler?
Leader of the Nazi Party and dictator of Nazi Germany; initiated World War II and orchestrated the Holocaust.
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
Nazi Germany’s Minister of Propaganda; he played a key role in spreading Nazi ideology and antisemitic beliefs.
What was The Great Depression?
A worldwide economic downturn starting in 1929, which created massive unemployment and helped extremist political movements gain support.
What was The League of Nations?
An international organization formed after World War I to maintain peace, but it was largely ineffective, especially without U.S. support.
What was the European Theatre?
The area of heavy fighting across Europe during World War II, involving countries like Germany, Britain, the USSR, and the US.
What was the Pacific Theatre?
The area of conflict between the Allies and Japan during World War II, including battles across the Pacific islands and Asia.
What was the Tripartite Pact?
A 1940 agreement between Germany, Italy, and Japan to form a military alliance, creating the Axis Powers.
What was the Munich Agreement?
A 1938 pact where Britain and France allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, in hopes of avoiding war (appeasement).
What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?
A 1939 non-aggression treaty between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which secretly divided Eastern Europe between them.
What were the Axis Powers?
The military alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.
What were the Allied Powers?
The alliance opposing the Axis, including Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and others.
What was the Invasion of Manchuria?
Japan’s 1931 invasion of northeastern China, marking the start of Japanese aggression in Asia.
Who was Winston Churchill?
Prime Minister of Britain during most of World War II; known for his leadership and inspiring speeches.
What was the Invasion of Abyssinia?
Italy’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia (then Abyssinia), highlighting the weakness of the League of Nations.
Who was Benito Mussolini?
Fascist dictator of Italy and leader of the National Fascist Party; ally of Hitler during WWII.
What was the Hoare-Laval Pact?
A secret 1935 proposal by Britain and France to give Italy parts of Abyssinia in return for peace; widely condemned and never implemented.
What is appeasement?
A policy of making concessions to aggressive powers (like Nazi Germany) to avoid conflict, most notably practiced by Britain and France in the 1930s.
