WWII

erwin rommel

German general known as the desert fox that took over Axis operations in North Africa

atlantic charter

Churchill and Roosevelt met and established this document with goals for post-war Europe

dwight eisenhower

United States general in charge of planning and executing the D-Day operation at Normandy, France

adolf hitler

leader of Germany responsible for breaking the treaty of Versailles by using aggressive expansion in Europe

joseph stalin

leader of the Soviet Union that signed non-aggression pact with Hitler, only to have him break that treaty in 1942

munich conference

meeting before WWII between Hitler and the leaders from Britain and France where the western nations appeased Hitler, creating "peace in our time"

miracle of dunkirk

more than 300,000 allied troops are saved as both military and civilian boats carried soldiers across the English Channel to keep them from being captured by the Germans

baatan death march

more than 76,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war were bound, beaten, or killed by their Japanese captor in the Philippines

axis powers

name given to the countries of Germany, Italy, Japan, and the others that joined them

hiroshima

on August 6, 1945 the United States dropped the first atomic bomb here. death toll estimates are between 90,000 and 140,000

nagasaki

on August 9, 1945 the United States dropped the second atomic bomb here. between 60,000-80,000 people were killed. This led to the surrender of Japan and the end of WWII

pearl harbor

on December 7, 1941 the Japanese led a surprise attack on this American naval base. Almost 3,000 Americans lost their lives

d-day

on June 6, 1944 allied troops crossed the English Channel and attacked German troops stationed at Normandy. The allies gained a foothold to begin their re-conquest of France

kamikaze

pilots that undertook suicide missions in hopes of saving Japan from certain defeat

franklin roosevelt

president of the United States at the beginning of WWII. delivered speech after pearl harbor that resulted in the United States declaring war on Japan

harry truman

president of the United States that decided to drop bombs on Japan. Led to surrender of Japan

winston churchill

prime minister of England during WWII. Put little faith in the policy of appeasement, made it clear Hitler could not be trusted

blitzkrieg

the German army used this method when attacking

operation barbarossa

the Germans gave this codename to their attack on the Soviet Union in June of 1941. As a result, Soviets joined forces with the Allies

battle of the bulge

the allies and german forces square off in one final major battle in Europe. GERMANY'S LAST OFFENSIVE ATTACK. the allied advance on Germany is slowed but not stopped.

battle of midway

the battle took place in the pacific that is considered the turning point there. after this battle, THE JAPANESE WERE NOT ABLE TO LAUNCH ANOTHER OFFENSIVE ATTACK

battle of stalingrad

the german invasion of the Soviet Union where Russian troops surrounded the Germans and forced their surrender. This turning point in the war begin the Soviet push back towards Germany

poland

the invasion of this country is considered the first event of WWII

yalta conference

the meeting between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin when they made decisions about what to do with Europe after the war, as well as dividing Germany into occupation zones

battle of britain

the planned invasion of Britain in 1940. massive strikes were carried out to weaken the British, but ultimately Hitler was forced to abandon his plan

appeasement

the policy followed by European powers in an attempt to avoid another major war. it resulted in Hitler gaining Sudetenland

island hopping

the strategy used by the United States in the Pacific in preparation for an invasion of Japan

amphibious

the term used to describe a land and sea invasion

anschluss

the union of Austria and Germany

sudetenland

this area of Czechoslovakia was basically given to Hitler at the Munich Conference in an effort to appease him and prevent war

lend-lease act

this established that President Roosevelt could provide money or supplies to countries that he felt were vital to the security of the United States

spanish civil war

this event took place before WWII ever started. european countries took sides based on their political goals. this is considered by some as a dress rehearsal for WWII

rhineland

this is the disputed region between France and Germany that Hitler sent troops to occupy before WWII, which violated the Treaty of Versailles

phony war

this term is used to describe the time when British and French troops were sent to the Maginot Line to await German attack. No fighting happened.

december 7, 1941

when did Pearl Harbor happen?

september 3, 1939

when did WWII begin?

june 6, 1944

when did d-day take place?

el alamein

erwin rommel is defeated by British forces in Egypt. This battle eventually leads to the defeat of Hitler's African army

benito mussolini

fascist leader of Italy who was ultimately executed by his own people near the end of the war

august 6, 1945

attack on hiroshima

august 9, 1945

attack on nagasaki

united nations

created at the end of WWII as a peace keeping organization. similar to the league of nations, but decision making power is given to the Security Council and member nations.

neutrality acts

declared that the United States could not conduct trade, provide loans, or sail on ships belonging to nations at war