World War II: The War Instructions: Use the knowledge gained in the reading to respond to the following questions and prompts. Paraphrase = all responses should be in your own words. Do NOT copy and paste answers. Causes and Early Actions of WWII 1. Why did each of the following countries dislike the Treaty of Versailles (1919)? Germany The Soviet Union Germany was targeted, and forced to pay tons of money towards the British, and their economy was in shambles. USSR was forced to give up lots of land on the western side, and their economy was also messed up. 2. [Totalitarianism] is a form of government in which a single party and/or leader completely controls the lives of its people. 3. Complete the chart for each of the following dictators. Leader Country Examples of Totalitarianism Josef Stalin USSR Executed many to control the overall belief that he was supreme. Benito Mussolini Italy Added more to the Italian Miltary, and convinced people to follow him. Adolf Hitler Nazi Germany Convinced the German population to practically worship him, and preached the Aryan race theories as well as a German takeover of Europe. Francisco Franco Spain --- Japan Invasion of Manchuria and brutal slaughter of the people in Manchuria; ultranationalist and expansionist; arrests of left-wing political dissidents (opponents); propaganda, censorship, and statecontrol of the media; government seized control of major industries Emperor Hirohito and Hideki Tojo 4. [Appeasement] is the policy of compromising with a potential enemy in order to maintain peace. 5. In an effort to avoid war, Congress passed the [Neutrality Acts], or laws that banned loans or arms sales to nations that were at war. The Axis Powers are Victorious Early in the War 6. Complete the timeline of Nazi aggression leading up to WWII. Date Description of what happened and/or why it’s important 1930s Lebensraum: increase the amount of territory in the possession of Nazi Germany. 1938 Anschluss: German idea that uniting with Austria would be better. 1938 Nazi Germany was granted the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia by way of the Munich Pact. March 1939 1939 Sept. 1, 1939 Hitler conquered Czechoslovakia. Hitler and Stalin agree to the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, which stated that neither country would attack one another and they would divide up the territory of Poland. Hitler attacked Poland, other countries had enough, and WW2 finally began. 7. What is blitzkrieg? Answer Here --> Translated as lightning war and meaning that battles were fought at rapid, and quick pace with continuous movement. 8. Describe three ways that the German army was successful in combating the Allies early in the war. #1 Lightning war proved successful #2 Surprise attacks all over Europe. #3 Germany took over France, which got them in a valuable position. 9. What was the Battle of Britain? Answer Here --> A bombing of London, over and over, until Britain finally outlasted Germany’s abilities. The U.S. Joins the War 10. Explain how the U.S. wasn’t truly neutral during this period of time; specifically address the “cashand-carry” provisions. Answer Here --> The U.S. was supplying and supporting Britain with everything it needed. 11. The U.S. allowed Britain to “borrow” weapons, tanks, planes, bullets, etc. to help them fight the war. This is known as the [Lend Lease Act] of March 1941. 12. The [Atlantic Charter] was a statement of goals between the U.S. and Great Britain. It stated that the people in the nation had a right to choose their own form of government and to seek peace. This agreement was eventually signed by 26 nations which became known as the Allies. 13. On September 4, 1941, a German [U-Boat] fired on a U.S. merchant ship. This led to an escalation in the conflict between the U.S. and Germany and war seemed inevitable - or like it couldn’t be avoided. 14. Describe the tensions between the U.S. and Japan leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Answer Here --> Japan had been expanding greatly, and it posed a threat to the U.S., so we cut off a lot of their needed supplies. 15. Because our attention was focused on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, [Germany and Italy] declared war on the U.S. 16. How did Americans exemplify their rage and slogan “Remember Pearl Harbor”? List three ways. #1 Joining the war #2 Introducing Non-combat tasks for women #3 Minority Groups also participated 17. Explain the two issues faced by minority groups serving in WWII. Mixed Feelings Some had mixed feelings due to their lack of nationalism and domestic issues. Segregation Units of African-American soldiers were segregated and didn’t fight till later. The Allies Turn the Tide 18. Describe the convoy process. Answer Here --> Groups of ships would be escorted by planes, and larger ships, attempting to withstand German U-Boats in the Atlantic. 19. How did the Soviet army turn the tide against the German army in 1942 and 1943? Answer Here --> They trapped the army and were more suited for the cold winter. 20. How did saturation and strategic bombing help the Allies in the war against Germany? Answer Here --> It helped the US save resources and do more 21. [Insert answer here] - the largest land-sea-air operation in history; Allied forces crossed the English Channel and landed on five separate beaches in Northern France known as Normandy. British, American, and Canadian forces met with fierce German resistance. 22. Complete the chart for important terms, people, organizations, and/or battles of WWII. Term Definition Tuskegee Airmen An African American squadron Omar Bradley A general who opened a huge hole in the German lines. George Patton American general Battle of the Bulge A month of fighting after Hitler’s counterattack the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany V-E Day Douglas MacArthur Commander of the US Army Bataan Death March When 7000 US men died after surrendering to the Japanese and being marched thousands of miles Battle of Midway Battle of Coral Sea island-hopping Turning point in the Pacific navy prevented Japan from taking New Guinea Moving from island to island to fight Suicide attacking Japanese soldiers kamikaze Robert Oppenheimer Hiroshima & Nagasaki Yalta Conference Physicist who created the atomic bomb Where atomic bombs were dropped Decisions on war reparations The Holocaust 23. What is the Holocaust? Answer Here --> the systematic murder more than 11 million people in Europe 24. On November 9, 1938, an organized attack was carried out against Jewish places of worship and businesses. It happened all across Germany and Austria. Synagogues were burned, holy books were destroyed, shops had their storefronts busted, and belongings were taken from them. Over 300 Jewish men were arrested and sent to jail. This event is known as [Kristallnacht.], which means “night of broken glass.” 25. Why weren’t many Jews allowed to come into the United States at this time, even though they tried to immigrate? Answer Here --> The US was still anti-Semitic and had strict immigration laws. 26. Which groups of people were targeted, murdered, imprisoned, and persecuted during the Final Solution? Answer Here --> Communists, Socialists, liberals, Roma and Senti, Freemasons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, disabled, black Germans, terminally ill 27. Define the terms and describe what they were like for the people confined to them. Term Definition Description Ghetto segregated Jewish areas where they worked in factories or starved Jews made the best of what they had, but it was nothing compared to the rest of society Concentration Camp Death Camp Killed Jews by using them for work cheaply These camps had gas chambers that could kill 12,000 people a day they suffered hunger, illness, overwork, torture, and death Prisoners were miserable and used for horrible acts of murder 28. How did “Righteous Gentiles” help victims of the Holocaust (see insert)? Answer Here --> People assisted those persecuted with escaping the camps and were honored later for their bravery 29. How could the U.S. have helped more people suffering from Nazi persecution? Answer Here --> They could have accepted the Jews when they needed a place to stay, and they could have done a better job informing society of the atrocities that were taking place until it was international news. 30. The [Nuremberg Trials] were trials held by an international tribunal and were meant to hold Nazi leaders responsible for their crimes during the war and especially during the Holocaust.
