27 key terms

• Mein Kampf


  Hitler's goals were to conquer Russia and build an Aryan racial state that would dominate all of Europe (murder Jews)
• Germany's "diplomatic revolution"


  Hitler wanted to strengthen Germany again by removing restrictions by Treaty of Versailles; told others that his intentions were peaceful
• Hitler's aggressive actions
• Withdrew Germany from League of Nations


  His reason was to give Germans the feeling that their country was no longer dominated by other European states
• Invaded/occupation of Rhineland


  France had right to use force against any violation of Rhineland but they wouldn't act without Britain since they viewed this occupation as a reasonable action by a dissatisfied power (appeasement)
• German rearmament


  • Making of weapons, establishing an air force, military draft
• German rearmament


  Led to France, GB and Italy to condemn Germany and warn them but Britain agreed to Anglo German naval pact that allowed Germany to build navy 35% size of GB navy
• Blitzkrieg


  New type of warfare called lightning warfare
• Annexed the Sudentenland (Munich Conference)


  Conference meant "peace for our time" and Hitler promised that this was his last demand
• Invaded rest of Czechoslovakia and Memel


  Hitler did this because he believed that the western democracies were weak and wouldn't fight
• Invasion of Poland (Sept. 1, 1939)


  Believed that the west wouldn't fight for Poland, (west and Soviet against Germany), GB and France declared war on Germany after
• New alliances


  • Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)
  • Anti-Comintern Pact (1936)
  • Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression pact
• Appeasement


  Believed that if European states satisfied the reasonable demands of dissatisfied powers, Europe would achieve stability and peace
• Munich Conference


  Conference meant "peace for our time" and Hitler promised that this was his last demand
• "Polish Guarantee"
• What did Japan want in China?

  Natural resources in northeastern China
• When did WWII begin in Asia?

  1937
• Neville Chamberlain/Appeasement failed


  From Britain, he resigned as Prime Minister because of this and Churchill took over (Chamberlain was blamed for British defeat in Norway)
• Maginot Line (France)


  Series of concrete and steel fortifications armed with heavy artillery along France's border with Germany
• Blitzkrieg


  Lightning war
• Luftwaffe


  • German air force
• Panzer division


  Armored columns supported by airplanes to break quickly through Polish lines and encircle Polish armies
• "Phony war"


  A period of waiting in the war for one winter
• "Miracle of Dunkirk"


  French and British troops were trapped at Dunkirk but were evacuated before Germany would attack them again
• Marshal Henri Petain


  Hitler's puppet
• Vichy government


  Petain established this authoritarian regime which was a Nazi puppet state
• Winston Churchill


  Was an inspiring leader
• Battle of Britain


  Hitler wanted to invade Britain by controlling their air, Britain struggled but regained their strength and won
• "The Blitz"


  When the Luftwaffe dropped bombs all over London and other British cities
• North African theater


  Suez canal, Mussolini (Italy) wanted canal for the trade routes and Hitler wanted Egypt
• Afrika Korps – Erwin Rommel, aka…'the desert fox'


  O'Connor (British general was conquering the rest of Italian North Africa but Churchill sent his troop to Greece against the Germans, at the same time Hitler sent Rommel and the Korps to North Africa to help the Italians
• Battle of El Alamein

  New commander, General Montgomery, took charge of the with army and attacked Rommel's forces (M won)
• Operation Barbarossa – invasion of Soviet Union (June 1941)


  Successful invasion of Soviet Union, destroyed air force, took many prisoners, and captured supplies
• Grand Alliance


  USA, Soviet Union, United Kingdom
• Unconditional surrender


  Allied powers agreed to fight until Axis powers surrendered unconditionally
• Turning point battles
• Italian campaign


  Allied invasion in Italy successful
• Dwight D. Eisenhower


  American general who landed 5 assault divisions on Normandy beaches
• End of war in Europe

  Germany was defeated by Soviet Union, Japan surrender after American atomic bomb drop
• New Nazi Order


  Civil administrations were established in Norway, Denmark and Netherlands because Nazis considered themselves Aryan and more worthy of lenient treatment