039 - Chapter 39 - Approaching World War II (1919-1939)

Great Purge

(1934), Stalin cracked down on Old Bolsheviks, his net soon widened to target army heroes, industrial managers, writers and citizens, they were charged with a wide range of crimes, from plots to failure to not meeting production quotas.

National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party)

(Nazi Party) was a far-right, racist political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945.

Axis Powers

Alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

Munich Agreement (1938)

An agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland; is widely regarded as a failed act of appeasement toward Nazi Germany. This settlement between France, Great Britain, Italy, and Germany, permitted Germany to annex the Sudetenland in exchange for Hitler's guarantee that Germany would make no more territorial demands in Europe.

Why did Germany sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?

Because Germany realized that war was likely to break out, so they tried to establish a peace treaty with the Soviet Union. {Explanation - Before Germany invaded Poland, the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was signed in late August 1939. This agreement basically gave Germany a free hand to invade states, without having to worry about Soviet intervention.}

Why did Mussolini manage to claim power in Italy in 1922?

Because King Emmanuel III requested that Mussolini form a government to restore order in response to strikes in Northern Italy. {Explanation - In 1922, King Victor Emmanuel III asked Mussolini to form a government. During the following three years, Mussolini dismantled the Italian democracy and finally declared himself Il Duce, or The Leader.}

Anti-Comintern Pact (1936)

Concluded between Germany and Japan in 1936, in which they agreed to maintain a common front against communism.

Which of the following is the BEST example of national self-determination, as expounded by Woodrow Wilson?

Creating a democratic Polish state for the ethnic Poles {Explanation - Wilson wanted postwar Europe to draw its boundaries to allow for various ethnic and linguistic groups to determine their own boundaries and their own types of government.}

All of the following events took place in the 1930s in the years prior to the start of WWII, EXCEPT:

EXCEPT: The German invasion of Russia {Explanation - During the 1930s, Hitler organized the Gestapo to persecute those he saw as his opponents, introduced the oppressive Nuremberg Laws, and annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia in the name of uniting all ethnic Germans. The German invasion of Russia took place in 1941.}

The fascist government of Benito Mussolini did all of the following EXCEPT _____.

EXCEPT: expanded the rights of the working class, including the right to assemble and the right to strike {Explanation - The Mussolini regime stripped workers of the right to strike, and its repressive policies led to decreased average pay among Italians by 1929.}

What were significant contributing factors to the Nazi party's success in the 1930 election?

Economic insecurity following the Great Depression and massive campaign by the Nazi party in the lead-up to the election. {Explanation - The Nazi party staged a massive campaign in the lead up to the 1930 elections, and the German people, frustrated with living conditions following WWI and the Great Depression, responded with considerable support. Hitler was not named Chancellor until after the Nazi party's success in these elections.}

Which of the following is FALSE regarding Italy's participation in World War II?

FALSE: In July of 1943, allied troops invaded the Italian island of Sicily and managed to apprehend and execute Mussolini by the end of the month {Explanation - Mussolini was killed two years later, in an attempt to flee the country and the advancing allied army, Mussolini and his mistress were discovered by a group of communist leaders.}

What programmes did Stalin institute to direct industrial and economic output in the Soviet Union?

Five Year Plans {Explanation - The Five Year Plans set goals for economic production, but they were often outrageous and rarely honestly met.}

The term 'Anschluss' refers to the _____.

German annexation of Austria {Explanation - In March 1938, Germany annexed the Republic of Austria in what is called the Anschluss.}

Gestapo

German secret police

Stalin's nonaggression pact with a country allowed him to invade several eastern European countries the Russian Empire had lost after WWI? Name the country.

Germany {Explanation - Stalin's non-aggression pact was signed with Adolf Hitler of Germany but the pact was broken when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union.}

Neville Chamberlain

Great British prime minister who advocated peace and a policy of appeasement

Why did Benito Mussolini flee Italy for Switzerland, only to return to Italy in 1904?

He fled to avoid military service. {Explanation - Mussolini was originally a socialist and fled to avoid the compulsory military service required by Italian law.}

How did Woodrow Wilson affect the re-organization of Europe after World War I?

He was the primary proponent of national self-determination in Europe after World War I. {Explanation - Wilson was the most outspoken proponent of national self-determination after World War I.}

Which of the following military blunders significantly contributed to the eventual defeat of the Nazis?

Hitler's ill-conceived and unsuccessful invasion of Russia {Explanation - The German invasion of Russia in 1941 was extremely costly and difficult for the German armed forces. The invasion was a costly mistake, and Germany was ultimately defeated following the Battle of Stalingrad.}

How did the reorganization of the Ottoman Empire differ from that of the other countries such as Germany and Austria-Hungary following World War I?

In contrast to a focus on national self-determination for countries such as Germany and Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman empire was carved up with an imperialist mindset. {Explanation - The settlement in the former Ottoman territory was far different than the one in Eastern Europe; rather than national self-determination ruling the day, the Ottoman Empire was carved up with an imperialist mindset. Large parts of the Middle East were given as international 'mandates' to Great Britain and France and reduced to little more than colonies.}

Treaty of Trianon (WWI)

June 1920 Treaty with Hungary Hungary losses 2/3 of its territory Slovakia and Ruthenia were given to Czechoslovakia Transylvania was given to Romania Burgenland was given to Austria Slovenia and Croatia were given to Yugoslavia

Which of the following countries was created as a result of the post-WWI treaties?

Lithuania Finland Czechoslovakia Poland {Explanation - Lithuania, Finland, Czechoslovakia, and Poland were all created as a result of post-WWI treaties.}

Stalin's collectivization of Soviet farms was informed by which ideology?

Marxism {Explanation - Marxist principles dictated a centrally-controlled, command economy.}

All of the following are true, EXCEPT:

NOT TRUE: In order to 'appease' Hitler, France, and Great Britain betrayed Poland by refusing to provide support. German involvement in the Spanish Civil War allowed German weaponry to be tested in battle. Germany secretly developed an air force training under the mantle of the German Air Sports Association. The Munich Agreement was negotiated without the consent of Czechoslovakia.

Identify which of the following is likely NOT a profile of a person directly targeted by Italy during the reign of Fascism.

NOT: A middle-aged unemployed Christian from Naples who was NOT concerned with politics {Explanation - Early in Mussolini's tenure as Il Duce, he used the immense powers of the fascist state to marginally improve Italy - social welfare programs to help the unemployed were instituted. Although Mussolini's politics had a highly negative effect on Italy and targeted Jews, union members and socialist, they did not directly target the unemployed that were not politically engaged.}

Which of the following countries was NOT annexed or invaded by the Soviet Union in the 1930s and 1940s?

NOT: Sweden {Explanation - The Soviet Union DID NOT invade Sweden.}

Which of these groups was NOT targeted by Hitler's Final Solution?

NOT: The Japanese {Explanation - The Final Solution was about the systematic elimination of the Jewish race, the disabled, and any foreign nationality Hitler came across which he despised, in particular Russians and Poles. The Japanese were allied with Nazi Germany during WWII.}

Which of the following treaties did NOT have an impact on the map of Europe after World War I.

NOT: Treaty of Paris {Explanation - The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution in 1783, and had nothing to do with post-World War I Europe.}

Who negotiated the Munich Agreement with Hitler, and then proclaimed 'peace for our time'?

Neville Chamberlain {Explanation - British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain played a prominent role in negotiating the deal. After an agreement had been worked out, he famously claimed to have secured 'peace for our time,' as he excitedly waved the paper agreement in the air.}

Five Year Plans

Plans that Joseph Stalin introduced to industrialize the Soviet Union rapidly, beginning in 1928. They set goals for the output of steel, electricity, machinery, and most other products and were enforced by the police powers of the state.

Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (WWI)

Separate treaties with Austria-Hungary dismantled that sprawling eastern European state. The Treaty of Saint-Germain en Laye and Treaty of Trianon recognized the independence of several states who had already declared independence as the war was ending, and further severed the dynastic union between Austria and Hungary.

Benito Mussolini (Il Duce)

The Italian founder of the Fascist party who came to power in Italy in 1922 and allied himself with Adolf Hitler and the Axis powers during the Second World War.

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)

The Nazi leader who came to power legally in Germany in 1933. He set up a totalitarian dictatorship and led Germany into World War II.

The 1936 anti-communist alliance between Germany and Japan was called the _____

The Pact of Steel {Explanation - Toward the end of 1936, Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, which was basically an anti-communist alliance in which the powers would consult with one another 'to safeguard common interests.'}

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939)

The Russians made an agreement with Germany at the beginning of World War II. The Germans promised not to invade Russia. The Russians promised the Germans land to mobilize their armies. Hitler broke the pact and invaded Russia, so Russia joined the American and British alliance.

SA and SS

The SS, initially Hitler's bodyguards, and the SA, the street fighters or Storm Troopers of the Nazi party

Pact of Steel 1939

The pact between Italy and Germany in 1939. It was replaced by the Rome-Berlin Axis, and then the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.

Who did Stalin succeed as leader of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party?

Vladimir Lenin {Explanation - Lenin died in 1924. Stalin won against his rivals in 1928, after 4 years of backroom political maneuvering}

Hitler's hatred of Jews and foreigners arose from Germany's defeat in _____.

World War I {Explanation - Hitler fought for Germany in WWI. Germany was defeated and harsh sanctions were imposed on Germany as a result of the Versailles Treaty. Hitler increasingly blamed foreigners and Jews for Germany's defeat.}

Anschluss (1938)

annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany; broke Treaty of Versailles

Gulag

in the Soviet Union, a system of forced labor camps in which millions of criminals and political prisoners were held under Stalin.

Policy of Appeasement

policy of granting concessions to potential enemies to maintain peace; wanted to avoid war

Sudeten Crisis (1938)

stemmed from Hitler's desire to see the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia annexed to Germany.

Fascist Party of Italy

was an Italian political party, created by Benito Mussolini as the political expression of fascism