Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union not to fight one another, which allowed Hitler to concentrate on a one front war once the war started
September 1, 1939
Date WWII began with German invasion of Poland
Blitzkrieg
Lighting war", typed of fast-moving warfare used by German forces against Poland n 1939
Battle of Britain
an aerial battle fought in World War II in 1940 between the German Luftwaffe (air force), which carried out extensive bombing in Britain, and the British Royal Air Force, which offered successful resistance.
New Order
commonly refers to the post-Cold War era vision in which world affairs would not be dominated by the competition between the two nuclear superpowers; a positive and hopeful vision for the future.
Vichy France
this portion of France was the portion that was not occupied with Germany but followed Germany's every command
Marshall Petain
A French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France.
Einsatzgruppen
SS mobile paramilitary death squads that systematically killed civilians, mostly Jews, Communists and intellectuals.
Final Solution
final solution of the Jewish question-murder of every single Jew-had begun-mass arresting, and trafficking of Jews to the concentration camps-mass killings occurred as well in the gas chambers
concentration camps
prison camps used under the rule of Hitler in Nazi Germany. Conditions were inhuman, and prisoners, mostly Jewish people, were generally starved or worked to death, or killed immediately.
Holocaust
A methodical plan orchestrated by Hitler to ensure German supremacy. It called for the elimination of Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-Aryans, and mentally and physically disabled.
Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere
A imperialistic system founded by Japan consisting of other Asian countries during the early 20th century. Japan reduced its members to puppet nations, taking their raw materials and using them as new markets.
Pearl Harbor
United States military base on Hawaii that was bombed by Japan, bringing the United States into World War II. Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941.
Great Alliance
coalition of US, Britain, and the Soviet Union that defeated the axis powers in WWII
Axis of Powers
in World War II the alliance of Germany and Italy in 1936 which later included Japan and other nations
Great Patriotic War
The portion of World War II from June 22, 1941, to May 9, 1945, against Nazi Germany and its allies in the Eastern Front. It was called this to raise Russian Patriotism
1942
Japanese Internment Camps begin
Battle of Alamein
heavy fighting in North Africa led to British defeat of Italian and German forces in El Alamein. Soon after the Allies were able to take back more land from the Vichy Government, which was the French puppet state ruled by Nazis.
Pacific-Midway
June 1942
Japanese code was broken and US was able to reinfore midway.
US won. Japan lost 4 aircraft carries and was forced to retreat
protected Hawaii from Japanese invasion
soft underbelly
Instead of the Allies invading Nazi-held France, they attacked the German's in North Africa and then Italy.
D-Day
June 6, 1944 - Led by Eisenhower, over a million troops (the largest invasion force in history) stormed the beaches at Normandy and began the process of re-taking France. The turning point of World War II.
Hiroshima Nagasaki
nuclear attacks during World War II against the Empire of Japan by the United States of America at the order of U.S. President Harry S. Truman
August 14, 1945
The date the emperor of Japan announced he would surrendor to avoid more nuclear attacks because his nation had nearly been destroyed