WWII Study Guide
Important People
F. D. Roosevelt
President of U.S. during WWII
Joseph Stalin
Leader of the Soviet Union (Russia)
Winston Churchill
Prime Minister of England during WWII
Emperor Hirohito
Leader of Japan
Harry Truman
Benito Mussolini
Becomes President after Roosevelt dies/ makes
decision to drop atomic bombs
Leader of Italy
Adolf Hitler
Leader of Nazi Germany
1. Describe Germany’s aggression in Europe? What was the cause? How did Germany deal
with it?
• Reaction to Treaty of Versailles
• Appeasement
2. Describe Japan’s aggression is Asia? What did Japan not have that they wanted? How did
they plan to get what they wanted?
• Japan invaded Manchuria (China)
• Need more resources
3. Before 1939 how did the allies (Britain and France) respond to Hitler’s attempts to break
the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles? Why do you think they responded in that way?
• Used policy of Appeasement
• Wanted to avoid another World War
4. The use of atomic weapons to end World War II remains a controversial decision. Identify three “pros” and three
“cons” for using this weapon to end the war.
Pros
Cons
1 Didn’t have to attack Japan with Many Japanese civilians
U.S. troops
2 U.S. wanted to show the Soviets
killed
Damage to land
we had atomic weapons
3 Caused Japan to surrender
quickly
Long term effects of
radiation
5. Identify the Axis Powers.
• Germany, Japan, Italy
6. Identify four key countries that were part of the Allies at the end of the war.
• U.S., France, Great Britain, Russia
7. Analyze this political cartoon. What is its message?
The allies were
not doing well
in 1942
Notes:
The book says “David and Goliath and
David slew the giant”
Ribbon on baby says: “1942”
Pile of rocks says: “Allies”
8. Complete the following chart.
# Date the
Event
event
occurred
6
US uses the atomic bomb
5
Germany surrenders
7
Germany and Japanese leaders are
placed on trial for War Crimes
1
Germany invades Poland
2
Battle of Britain
4
Battle of the Bulge
3
Pearl Harbor is attacked
Historical Significance
Causes Japan to Surrender
Allies win in Europe
Nuremburg Trials
Start of WWII
1st major battle in the air
Last German offensive of war
Caused U.S. to enter the war
9. Explain the significance and/or define the following terms.
Kamikaze
Suicide bomber Japanese pilots - flew into U.S. naval
ships
Blitzkrieg
“Lightning War”
German military tactic that was very successful at
start of WWII
Total War
Using ALL the resources of a country to help fight a
war
Non-Aggression
Pact
Agreement between Hitler and Stalin to divide
Poland
Policy of
Appeasement
France and Britain allowed Germany to conquer
Austria, Rhineland, and Czechoslovakia without
opposition in order to avoid another war
German leaders were tried for crimes committed
Nuremberg Trials
during the war
Concentration
Camps
Nazis sent Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, and
handicapped people to these camps for hard labor
or death
Totalitarian
Government
Gov’t in which a dictator is in charge and personal
freedom is limited
Manhattan
Project
Secret U.S. project to develop the Atomic Bomb
Japanese
Internment
Camps
Japanese-Americans were forced to live here b/c
they were suspected of being disloyal to U.S.
Final Solution
Nazi plan to kill all of the Jews of Europe
Extermination
Camps
Nazi death camps
Treaty of
Versailles
Genocide
Treaty that punished Germany for WWI and led to
WWII
Killing of people who belong to a particular racial,
political, or cultural group
Six Million Jews killed in the Holocaust
Great Purge
Stalin killed or sent to labor camps anyone who
opposed his gov’t - Millions killed
Atomic Bomb
First nuclear weapon
Developed by U.S.
Used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force Japanese
surrender
Isolationism
Policy adopted by the U.S. before WWII
Stay out of the affairs of other countries
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