3.6 USSR during World War II

• What was the primary goal of the Five-Year Plans in the USSR before World War II?

  Industrialization
• Collectivization in the USSR led to increased agricultural productivity but also caused severe famine, notably the Holodomor
• Stalin's Great Purge eliminated political opponents and military leaders through trials and executions.
• What foreign policy strategy did the USSR adopt before World War II to secure its borders?

  Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
• Match the key aspect of the USSR before World War II with its description:

  Stalin's leadership ↔️ Centralized power, totalitarian control

  Industrialization ↔️ Five-Year Plans to transform the economy

  Collectivization ↔️ Consolidation of farms

  Great Purge ↔️ Elimination of political opponents

  Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact ↔️ Non-aggression with Germany
• The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact included a secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence
• Which countries fell under the USSR's sphere of influence according to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

  Estonia, Latvia, Finland
• The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed in 1939.
• What was the name of the severe famine caused by collectivization in Ukraine?

  Holodomor
• The USSR initially sought alliances with Western powers before signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
• The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a non-aggression treaty between the USSR and Nazi Germany signed on August 23, 1939
• The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact included an agreement for non-aggression between the USSR and Nazi Germany.
• The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence
• Which countries were included in the USSR's territorial gains under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

  Eastern Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Bessarabia
• Match the country with its territorial gains under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact:

  USSR ↔️ Eastern Poland

  Germany ↔️ Western Poland
• Chronological order of the major battles on the Eastern Front

  1️⃣ Battle of Moscow

  2️⃣ Battle of Stalingrad

  3️⃣ Battle of Kursk
• Operation Barbarossa was launched by Nazi Germany on June 22, 1941.
• One of the primary goals of Operation Barbarossa was to conquer Soviet territories for lebensraum
• What was the third primary goal of Operation Barbarossa?

  Control valuable natural resources
• The Battle of Moscow in 1941 stopped the German advance and boosted Soviet morale.
• Which battle is considered a key turning point on the Eastern Front due to the encirclement and defeat of German forces?

  Battle of Stalingrad
• The Battle of Kursk in 1943 was the largest tank battle in history.
• What was the main objective of Stalin's Five-Year Plans?

  Transform the USSR into an industrial powerhouse
• Collectivization under Stalin led to increased agricultural productivity but also caused severe famine, notably the Holodomor in Ukraine.
• Stalin's Great Purge eliminated political opponents through trials, executions, and exile to labor camps.
• What foreign policy decision did the USSR make to secure its borders before World War II?

  Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
• Why did Stalin sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany?

  To secure the USSR's western borders
• Operation Barbarossa began on June 22, 1941, with the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany.
• In the Soviet war effort, official mobilization was led by Stalin, while grassroots resistance was organized by civilian volunteers.
• Which two countries provided significant economic and military assistance to the USSR during World War II?

  United States and United Kingdom
• Match the type of support with its key contributions under the Lend-Lease program:

  Weapons and munitions ↔️ Tanks, aircraft, artillery

  Industrial equipment ↔️ Machine tools, raw materials
• The total Lend-Lease aid provided to the USSR during World War II amounted to $11.3 billion.
• The Eastern Front was the largest and bloodiest theater of World War II.
• The Eastern Front was critical because it pitted the USSR against Nazi Germany
• The Soviet Union had approximately 12 million soldiers during World War II.
• Arrange the key battles of the Eastern Front in chronological order:

  1️⃣ Battle of Moscow (Oct 1941 - Jan 1942)

  2️⃣ Battle of Stalingrad (Jul 1942 - Feb 1943)

  3️⃣ Battle of Kursk (Jul - Aug 1943)
• What were the main goals of Stalin's Five-Year Plans?

  Industrialize the USSR
• The consolidation of individual farms into collective farms under Stalin's regime led to the Holodomor
• The Great Purge under Stalin eliminated political opponents through trials and executions.
• What was the purpose of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the USSR and Nazi Germany?

  Secure Soviet borders