Chapter 36

Dresden

A British firebombing raid in February 1945 on the German town of Dresden. Killed 135,000 people in the firestorm, proving just how devastating this British tactic was.

Berlin Wall Significance

A Soviet-built wall between East Germany and West Germany so that East Germans would stop fleeing and seek refuge in West Germany.

Battle of Stalingrad Significance

A bloody defense in which Russia defended against the invading German troops. Refused to stop until able to regroup for a counterattack. A pyrrhic victory for Russia.

Cold War Significance

A contest where neither side gives way yet never has a direct clash of arms.

Cold War

A contest where neither side gives way yet never has a direct clash of arms. In this specific context, it was one between the west (United States and Great Britain) and the Soviet Union: of liberal democracy and capitalism vs. international communism and one-party rule. Divided Europe into one side dependent on the United States and one subservient to the Soviet Union - divided by an "iron curtain".

Dresden Significance

A devastating british firebombing raid on Germany, killing 135,000.

Bay of Pigs Significance

A failed CIA-supported invasion of Cuba so as to end Castro's regime.

Women in the United States and Britain performed all the following wartime activities EXCEPT A) direct combat. B) industrial work. C) frontline support. D) training and transport piloting. E) ambulance and hospital work.

A) direct combat.

At the Bay of Pigs in 1961, A) invading anti-Castro Cuban forces were overwhelmed by Cuban troops. B) American special forces were defeated by Cuban troops. C) anti-Castro Cuban forces defeated Cuban forces on the beach but failed to spark an uprising against Castro. D) an American naval blockade turned back Soviet supply ships. E) the Soviet Union set up nuclear missiles aimed at the United States.

A) invading anti-Castro Cuban forces were overwhelmed by Cuban troops.

What mistake did the U.S. forces make in Korea, and where did this leave things for the peninsula?

After North Korea pushed into South Korea, the US entered the scene, believing the Soviet Union was behind the invasion. With help from the UN and 20 other countries, the US pushed North Korea back, pushing inward for reunification, and occupying Pyongyang. Along with that, the US pushed over the Chinese border, bringing China into the war. China and North Korea pushed the United States back, ending up in a stalemate. At the 38th parallel, a cease-fire was declared with no peace treaty. This engulfed the peninsula with strife and hostility. The war had encouraged the US strategy of globalized containment, extending aid to noncommunist Asian governments. Security agreements such as the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) were formed, and Eisenhower's "domino theory" became popular, making the ideal of containment spread around the world.

Battle of Stalingrad

After a disastrous 'invasion' of Russia, Germany regrouped for an invasion of Stalingrad, where Russian organization was at an all time low. It was a bloody defense of Stalingrad where Russia refused to stop, determined for the sake of "patriotic war", until it was able to regroup for counterattack. Despite the bloody battle, Russia was at an advantage on their own land. Incredibly high stakes - fighting until the last man. A long, drawn out originally considered 'axis victory' but with Russian interference. A pyrrhic victory for Russia.

Describe the Allied strategy in the Pacific.

After capturing many islands near Japan, the Allies began to take the offensive. Rather than taking defensive battles to protect areas and themselves. The Allies adopted a new strategy - island-capturing and island-hopping. By gaining new territories, the Allies had a closer proximity to Japan, allowing easier air assaults over the nation.

Final Solution

After the occupation of Poland, Einsatzgruppen ("action squads") killed entire populations of Jews, Roma, and Slavs - began in the Soviet Union. By the end of 1941, German Special Killing Units had killed 1.4 million Jews. The "Final Solution" was the attempted murder of every European Jew. People were put in camps (often in east Poland) to be exterminated or worked to death in. The allies were apathetic as "undesirables" were gassed, electrocuted, injected, burnt, shot, and bombed. Auschwitz had the largest and worst gas chambers, killing the most. Crematories were present to burn bodies and evidence. In Auschwitz alone, at least one million Jews perished.

Marshall Plan

Also known as the European Recovery Program, the Marshall Plan was an economic plan to help destroyed European infrastructures. Rebuilt economies through cooperation and capitalism to forestall Soviet impact and strengthen capitalism. U.S. aid for recovery of Europe. The plan for the United Nations - USSR refused and retaliated with the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) - offering increased trade within Soviet Union (for satellite nations).

Marshall Plan Significance

An economic recovery plan for the U.S. to help destroyed European infrastructures, rebuild economies, and strengthen capitalism.

United Nations Significance

An organization of various countries dedicated to keeping world peace.

What strained Soviet-Chinese relations?

At first, the USSR helped China industrialize. They were each other's main trading powers, but eventually, the USSR gave more economic support to noncommunist countries. China found the Soviet Union to be modest with strings attached. Both sides partook in name-calling and competition over African and Asian territory. The People's Republic had successful nuclear tests, and countries played capitalists vs. communists as well as soviet communists vs. chinese communists. The rift between the two nations was public by the end in 1964.

At the Munich Conference, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain A) took a hard line with Hitler, threatening military retaliation for any further aggression. B) agreed that Hitler could keep lands already taken in exchange for a pledge to end German expansion. C) agreed that the Treaty of Versailles had been unfair to the Germans and that their former empire should be restored. D) created the regional Allied defense against Hitler's aggression. E) made a secret alliance with the Axis powers.

B) agreed that Hitler could keep lands already taken in exchange for a pledge to end German expansion.

Immediate provocation for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was A) the internment of Japanese citizens living in the United States. B) an American-led oil embargo against Japan. C) resentment over the unequal treaties imposed on Japan in the nineteenth century. D) resentment that Japan has not gotten more of the territorial "spoils" at the Paris peace settlements after World War I. E) fears of an American attack on the Japanese homeland.

B) an American-led oil embargo against Japan.

The United States tentatively supported a failed invasion of Cuba at A) Havana. B) the Bay of Pigs. C) Hukbalahap. D) Sukarno. E) Guantánamo.

B) the Bay of Pigs.

The Cuban missile crisis ended when A) the United States invaded Cuba and overthrew Batista. B) the Soviets agreed to withdraw their missiles in exchange for Kennedy's pledge not to invade Cuba and his agreement to withdraw U.S. missiles from Turkey. C) Khrushchev agreed to end the blockade of Berlin. D) the United States threatened to impose a strict embargo on all Cuban exports. E) None of these answers is correct.

B) the Soviets agreed to withdraw their missiles in exchange for Kennedy's pledge not to invade Cuba and his agreement to withdraw U.S. missiles from Turkey.

The key to Allied victory in Europe was the A) success of resistance movements at undermining German authority. B) vast personnel and industrial capacity of the United States and Soviet Union. C) lack of commitment of Italian forces to the Axis cause. D) development of the atomic bomb. E) leadership of Harry Truman after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

B) vast personnel and industrial capacity of the United States and Soviet Union.

Chinese resistance to the Japanese was A) a well-coordinated guerilla movement. B) weakened by rivalry between Chinese nationalists and communists. C) effectively crushed by the brutality of Japanese occupation. D) armed by the Soviet Union. E) powerful, overwhelming, and extraordinarily effective.

B) weakened by rivalry between Chinese nationalists and communists.

What was the status of the war in Europe in that first year? Who was winning early on and why?

By 1941, Hitler had controlled the Balkans and North Africa. British fought Italy and Germany, and the battlefront extended to North Africa. Hitler succeeded at reversing the outcome of WWI. Confrontations of German U-Boats and British convoys cut off vital imports. Britain tried to defend the boats but never knew where German ships were (Battle of the Atlantic). Germany had occupied Denmark and Norway, launching a full attack on Western Europe. Toppled Belgium and the Netherlands, signed an armistice with France in 1940. Shocked the allies with Blitzkrieg tactics, and Italy then decided it was time to enter the war. France was forced to sign the armistice in the exact railroad car Germany had to sign 1918 armistice, and later Germany attacked Britain solely through air attacks. Britain Royal Air Force staved off defeat, forcing Hitler to abandon the plan to invade, but nonetheless, Hitler had experienced successful conquest.

Mutually Assured Destruction

By 1970, both superpowers acquired MAD, "mutually assured destruction," a balance of terror due to US and USSR having so many nuclear weapons that nuclear war would be an incredibly damaging concept. Led to restraint and stabilization of relationship - did not want to face destruction.

The Berlin blockade clearly demonstrated that A) the western allies were afraid of a nuclear war. B) the Soviet Union lacked the will to confront the west. C) Britain and the United States would not be intimidated into abandoning Berlin. D) Berlin could survive without outside support. E) All these answers are correct.

C) Britain and the United States would not be intimidated into abandoning Berlin.

Operation Barbarossa in 1941 was code for the A) German invasion of France. B) German invasion of north Africa. C) German invasion of the Soviet Union. D) Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. E) Allied invasion of Normandy.

C) German invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Tripartite Pact brought together A) England, France, and the Soviet Union. B) China, England, and the United States. C) Germany, Italy, and Japan. D) England, the Soviet Union, and the United States. E) Germany, Italy, and Austria.

C) Germany, Italy, and Japan.

The Japanese finally surrendered in 1945 A) in response to the surrender of Germany. B) after the emperor resigned and a republic was established. C) after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. D) after the American landing at Kyushu. E) after the Soviet landing at Okinawa.

C) after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The Russian-German Treaty of Nonaggression of 1939 A) conceded German control over eastern Europe. B) conceded Soviet control over eastern Europe. C) freed Hitler to pursue a more aggressive policy in western Europe. D) pledged Soviet support to Germany in case of war. E) brokered critical trade agreements between the two countries.

C) freed Hitler to pursue a more aggressive policy in western Europe

The Truman Doctrine pledged that A) Soviet aggression would be met with American force. B) the United States would help rebuild Europe and Japan. C) the United States would support free people resisting subjugation by insurrection or outside interference. D) the United States would never again resort to atomic weapons. E) the United States would participate in the United Nations.

C) the United States would support free people resisting subjugation by insurrection or outside interference.

What factors brought the Soviet Union and China closer together?

Communists had won the Chinese civil war, with nationalists seeking refuge in Taiwan. The People's Republic of China was founded on October 1st, 1949, finding an alliance with the Soviet Union. Found companionship out of mutual enemy - the United States. Feared implications of U.S. rehabilitation of Japan and its client states in South Korea and Taiwan. Beijing eventually accepted direction from Moscow in the early 19502, recognizing Moscow's authority in world communism in exchange for Russian military equipment and aid.

Truman Doctrine Significance

Crystallized US perception of the "free" democratic world vs. the "enslaved" communist world. The US was dedicated to "containing" communism and ending Soviet impact.

In 1938, Germany sent troops into what country and forced its leaders to accept the Anschluss? A) the Rhineland B) Poland C) France D) Austria E) Czechoslovakia

D) Austria

The height of Japanese atrocity in China was reached at the Rape of A) Beijing. B) Shanghai. C) Hong Kong. D) Nanjing. E) Manchukuo.

D) Nanjing.

The Marshall Plan was A) the U.S. plan for the final defeat of Germany through an invasion at Normandy. B) the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. C) the secret United States code during World War II. D) a U.S. financial plan to rebuild Europe and stop Soviet expansion. E) the official name for the "final solution."

D) a U.S. financial plan to rebuild Europe and stop Soviet expansion.

The German Blitzkrieg referred to A) an elaborate series of concrete bunkers built on the experiences of World War I. B) the Nazi plan for a "final solution" to the "Jewish question." C) the living space in the east that was necessary for an expanding Germany. D) a lightning war. E) the German representative assembly that voted Hitler into power.

D) a lightning war.

At the Wannsee Conference in 1942, Nazi leaders decided to A) invade Poland. B) invade the Soviet Union. C) eliminate undesirable minorities in conquered territories in the Soviet Union. D) deport all European Jews to concentration camps in Poland for extermination. E) create the SS Einsatzgruppen.

D) deport all European Jews to concentration camps in Poland for extermination.

All of the following were essential to the Soviet defense against the Nazis EXCEPT A) Allied support through the lend-lease program. B) German overconfidence of a swift victory, which left them trapped far inside Russia when winter came. C) the rapid relocation of Soviet industry to the east. D) outrage at the German treatment of Jewish minorities in eastern Europe. E) the willingness of the Russian people to fight the "great patriotic war."

D) outrage at the German treatment of Jewish minorities in eastern Europe.

A key factor in the Allied victory in the Pacific was the A) island-hopping strategy that positioned U.S. troops within striking range of Japan. B) massive aerial bombing of key Japanese cities. C) development of the atomic bomb. D) declaration of war by the Soviet government against Japan. E) All these answers are correct.

E) All these answers are correct.

As evidence of the renewed power and glory of Italy, Mussolini A) annexed Albania. B) annexed Libya. C) invaded Ethiopia. D) supported militarists in the Spanish civil war. E) All these answers are correct.

E) All these answers are correct.

At the height of their expansion, the Japanese had established either direct or indirect control over all of the following EXCEPT A) the Dutch East Indies. B) Indochina. C) the Philippines. D) Singapore. E) Thailand.

E) Thailand.

Domino theory

Eisenhower's theory rationalizing US intervention of international communism. Believed that if one country became communist, the surrounding areas would also topple into communism, eventually engulfing the entire world if nothing is done to stop it. Spread beliefs of containment to areas all over the world.

What were a few turning points that led to Germany's eventual surrender?

Germany faced bleak prospects as the Soviets took their territory back. The Russian win at Stalingrad, for example, pushed Germany far back, and after that loss, Germany continued to lose battles. The Red Army broke the German war machine. Russia, Britain, and the United States attacked from North Africa through Italy, and eventually forced Italy to join the Allied powers.

Blitzkrieg

Germany preferred stealthy conquests over formal declaration of war. Blitzkrieg, literally meaning "lightning war", was Germany's strategy, leading to many sudden victories. Always in the form of unannounced, surprised attacks. Brought many victories, but failed Germany in Russia.

Lebensraum

Germany wanted to expel Jews, Slavs, and Bolsheviks from the Soviet Union to make more Lebensraum, or living space, for resettled Germans.

Battle of Britain Significance

Germany's attack on Britain, predominantly through air attacks. The British Royal Air Force staved off defeat, forcing Hitler to abandon his plan to invade.

Battle of Britain

Germany's attack on Britain, who was alone after the Fall of France. Germany's main strategy was to defeat Britain solely through air attacks. Led by the Luftwaffe, "The Blitz" rained bombs on cities, killing over 40,000 British citizens. The British Royal Air Force staved off defeat, forcing Hitler to abandon his plan to invade.

Blitzkrieg Significance

Germany's war strategy - unannounced surprise attacks.

After nearly staving off a quick and disastrous defeat, how were the Soviets able to turn the tide against the Axis powers?

Hitler ordered Germany to invade the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. It was the most powerful invasion force in history - 3.6 million soldiers attacked, and Hungary, Finland, and Romania also declared war against the soviet union, augmenting the German invasion. Germany had shocked Stalin, captured Russian heartland, sieged Leningrad, and reached Moscow. However, German Blitzkrieg tactics failed, all Russian industry was away from the entrance, and allies (United States) supported them, giving more power. Soviets were on tremendous reserves: 360 Soviet divisions against 150 German. Hitler greatly underestimated the Soviet industrial capacity, and Stalin quickly moved Soviet industry east to Ural Mountains. Germany regrouped for an invasion of Stalingrad, where Russian organization was at an all time low. Despite this, Russia was determined, bloodily defending its land until able to regroup for a counterattack.

Domino theory Significance

If one nation becomes communist, the surrounding nations will become communist. Due to this, the US and capitalism must intervene.

What led to the Berlin Blockade, and what was the result?

In Germany, there was an international crisis: the division of the capital of Berlin by the US, USSR, Britain, and France into four zones. This division seemed permanent by 1950, but eventually the western powers merged zones. The Soviets had East Germany, and the US, Britain, and France had West Germany. The USSR retaliated to the merge by blockading every link and path between Berlin and West Germany. However, they had closed roads, trains, and tried to strangle West Berlin into submission as well. Britain and the US kept West Berlin supplied with round-the-clock airlifts of necessities for life and survival. Eventually, the USSR called off the blockade in 1949 due to embargos against Soviet satellites. This divided Germany into the West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany - US, Britain, and France) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany - Soviet Union). The Soviet German capital was East Berlin, and the West German capital was moved to Bonn, but they still held West Berlin.

How did the Yalta Conference portend what was to come for Eastern Europe?

In the United Nations, unanimous vote was required for a policy to pass, and decisions of the Security Council were binding on all members. With that in mind, the events of the Yalta Conference made it clear that there were going to be very few unanimous decisions. They had many differing ideas on the future of Poland and east European nations freed and occupied by the Red Army, wishing to meet to determine "the earliest possible establishment through free elections of governments responsive to the will of the people." However, Stalin insisted on "friendly" governments controlled by the USSR. The rest weren't fans of these plans of domination. Communists came to power in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland (1946-1947) and had already overtaken Albania and Yugoslavia, and the rest is history.

Pearl Harbor Significance

Japan attacked the U.S. naval base so as to destroy the U.S.'s naval power, prompting America to declare war against Japan, which in turn caused Germany and Italy to declare war against the U.S.

How did the Japanese and Germans treat their conquered territories in two distinctive ways?

Japan occupied the areas it bombed with various types of administration. Puppet governments granted independence while aligning self with Japan, allies were kept independent, and areas that were too "weak" or important for self-rule were put under direct military rule. In Germany, racially "superior" people were given greater autonomy. In northern Europe, civilian governments were put under German supervision. In Eastern Europe, conquered territories were taken over by the military.

What led to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor?

Japan projected its influence into southeast Asia, emphasizing the Dutch East Indies + British controlled Malaya. Occupied French Indochina, causing the U.S. to freeze Japanese assets by placing an oil embargo. Japan refused to end the Tripartite Pact and withdraw its forces, which is what the United States wanted. Continuing this refusal, prime minister Hideki Tojo set plans for war against Britain and the United States.

How did the Japanese war effort fare at first, and what was the larger interpretation of this?

Japan won many victories post-Pearl Harbor. Japan advanced swiftly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, conquering the Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Indochina, Burma, and Singapore. Losing Singapore was a huge blow to Britain - it had served as a symbol of European power in Asia. Because of this conquest, it became clear that Japan was a major force to be reckoned with.

Kamikaze Significance

Japanese suicide bombers who brought severe damage through devastating tactics. Representative of the extents that the Japanese military would go.

Kamikaze

Japanese suicide bombing pilots who "volunteered" to dive bomb into allied ships with minimal fuel. There were 1900 kamikaze missions at the battle of Okinawa, killing over 5,000 U.S. Soldiers.

Bay of Pigs

John F. Kennedy launched an invasion to overthrow Castro's regime. 1500 CIA-supported anti-Castro Cubans landed at the Bay of Pigs, only for their uprising to fail. There was no Cuban. support, the invasion fizzled, and Castro killed and captured the entire force. It greatly diminished U.S. prestige in Latin America. Ended up strengthening support of Castro, encouraging deployment of Soviet missiles to defend against invasion.

D-Day

June 6th, 1944. British-U.S. Forces invaded Normandy - northern France at Germany.This devastated Germany. U.S. did round-the-clock strategic bombings, and Britain leveled German cities such as Dresden. Eventually, German resistance faded. Hitler committed suicide on April 30th, and Germany surrendered on May 9th, 1945.

38th Parallel

Korea was divided at the 38th parallel in 1948 at the end of WWII. The United States and USSR partitioned Korea (USSR to the north, US to the south). They were unable to determine framework, so Korea was divided into separate states at the 38th parallel: the southern Republic of Korea and the Northern People's Democratic Republic of Korea. Was also the place at which the cease-fire was declared in July 1953.

How was the situation in the Korean peninsula so volatile?

Korean tensions shifted the cold war's focus from Europe to East Asia. At the end of WWII, the US and USSR partitioned Korea along the 38th parallel, with USSR to the north and US to the south. Unable to determine a framework, they divided Korea into two separate states: the southern Republic of Korea and northern People's Democratic Republic of Korea. Tensions were high after this, and in an attempt to reunify the two, North Korea attacked on June 25th, 1950, capturing Seoul. Believing that the USSR was behind the evasion, the US was determined to repel the aggressor. The United States pushed North Korea back, pushing inward for its own attempt at reunification, eventually occupying Pyongyang. Pushes over the Chinese border brought China into the war, and China and North Korea pushed the US back, ending up in a stalemate.

Who collaborated with the occupiers and why?

Life continued to go on under occupied rule. Police and other institutions collaborated so that enforcement was not entirely foreign, and economies often thrived with collaboration. Some joined ruler's army to gain power, and rulers gained support of those sharing similar ideals. In Asia, domination was not much different from European domination. Others aided conquerors to gain power. Anti Communism led some people in western Europe to join Nazi SS groups.

Lebensraum Significance

Living space - Germany wanted to expel Jews, Slavs, and Bolsheviks to establish more room for resettled Germans.

Berlin Wall

Many East Germans left for West Germany, to Soviet embarrassment (1949-1961). The Soviet solution was to build a wall of barbed wire through the city, fortifying the border. The wall was built between East and West Germany to stem the flow of refugees, and although former Allied nations objected, they did not want to risk a full conflict over the wall.

Describe the range of resistance actions.

Most dramatic resistance campaigns were those of sabotage, armed assaults, and assassinations. Destroyed resources and means of communication. Of course, there was also passive resistance: intelligence gathering and refusing to submit. There were high stakes against resistance in Germany and Japan, as there was black-and-white mentality of agreeing or committing treason. Therefore, resistance in Japan and Germany were dangerous and rare. The greatest form of resistance was a time in which officers and civilians attempted to assassinate Hitler, albeit failing. Resisting was hard, but it kept hope allied.

What was the main goal of Japanese foreign occupation, and what were the means for attaining this goal?

Most often, foreign occupation was done for the sake of exploiting the land. There was plenty of slave labor - conscripted from conquered population to work in factories. Japan and Germany exploited conquered land for economic gain. Prisoners of war (POW) and local populations were put through slave labor in labor shortages. Labor constricted of poles, soviets, balkans, also chinese and koreans. They were worked through horrific conditions with little sustenance.

Pearl Harbor

On December 1941, the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese pilots, as dictated by Prime Minister Tojo Hideki. Pearl Harbor was attacked for the sake of destroying American naval capacity and clearing the way for clear Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia. This completely devastated U.S. naval power in the Pacific. Because of this, the United States declared war on Japan, and Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. The coalition between USA, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union was soon created, ensuring defeat against Germany and Japan.

D-Day Significance

On June 6th, 1944, Britain and the United States attacked Germany at northern France, eventually devastating German resistance. Hitler committed suicide on April 30th, and Germany surrendered on May 9th, 1945.

POWs Significance

Prisoners of war - often faced hardship and horrific conditions.

POWs

Prisoners of war, often facing hardship and being put through harsh labor during times of labor shortages. Worked horrific conditions with little sustenance, and were especially harshly treated by Japan due to contrasting codes of honor. The death rate of captive soldiers in Japan was 30%. 2 million of 3.3 million Soviet soldiers in German custody died. Cruel medical experiments were done on prisoners, including vivisection and anesthetic-less amputations.

De-Stalinization

Pushed by Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, people began to question Stalin's methods. De-stalinization was an attempt at an end to terror and liberalization of Soviet society. Deflated Stalin's reputation, "thawed" government control, and released political prisoners.

What constituted and motivated the treatment of POWs by the Japanese and Germans?

Racial ideologies within Germany were reflected in treatment of Soviet prisoners - 2 million of 3.3. million captive soldiers died. In Japan, the death rate of captive soldiers was at 30%. German and Japanese authorities also subjected POWS through horrific medical experiments such as vivisection and anesthetic-less amputations so as to determine what pain they could put their enemies through and how they could potentially cure their own men.

SS Einsatzgruppen Significance

Squadrons sent out to exterminate "undesirables" in conquered territories.

Vichy Significance

The "free zone" of France during a German military rule - collaborated with Germany to avoid harm.

What is the role of the U.N. Security Council, who sits on it, and why?

The Allies were among the nations forming the United Nations - an organization dedicated to keeping World Peace. Created a powerful Security Council for peace, unlike the League of Nations. The five permanent powers were the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, and China (the Allies). There were also 6 rotating elected members. Unanimous vote was required for a policy to be passed, and decisions of the Security council were binding on all members.

United Nations

The Allies were among the nations forming the United Nations - an organization dedicated to keeping world peace. Created a powerful Security Council for peace, unlike the League of Nations. The five permanent powers were the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, and China (the Allies), and there were 6 more rotating elected members. Unanimous vote was required in order for something to pass, and the decisions of the security council were binding on all members, eventually leading to disintegrating relations with the Soviet Union.

Mutually Assured Destruction Significance

The US and USSR had so many nuclear weapons that nuclear war would be incredibly harmful. Led to restraint and stabilization.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Significance

The United States unleashed atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing around 200,000.

Just how "neutral" was the United States in the first two years of the war?

The United States was not exactly neutral - we supported the allies long before Pearl Harbor. Through the cash-and-carry policy, Roosevelt sold and then "loaned" arms and war material to the British, and through the lend-lease program, lended war goods to Britain for the lease of naval bases. We later extended our aid to Soviets, Chinese, and more.

Warsaw ghetto Significance

The best known Jewish rebellion - 60,000 Jews rose up against Germans.

Warsaw ghetto

The best known Jewish rebellion to nazis in 1943. Had no weapons, but 60,000 Jews rose against their tormentors - took tanks, flamethrowers, and three weeks to crush the uprising.

Describe the "iron curtain" of separation during the Cold War.

The cold war was a battle of western (British and American) liberal democracy and capitalism vs. the Soviet Union's international communism and one-party rule. Divided Europe into one side dependent on the United States and one subservient to the Soviet Union - divided by the "iron curtain".

38th Parallel Significance

The dividing line between North Korea and South Korea. Was also where the cease-fire was declared in July 1953.

What was the key factor tilting the odds in the favor of the Allies after 1941?

The entry of the United States and Soviet Union in 1941 was decisive, as personnel reserves and industrial capacity were key to the Allied victory. The Allies completely overproduced what the Axis powers produced, and the tide completely turned at the U.S. entry. German ships may have sunken 2,453 merchant ships, but the U.S. ended up producing more "liberty ships," and sonar aircrafts ended the U-boat threat.

What led to the final surrender of the Japanese?

The fall of saipan and the conquest of surrounding islands brought the United States too close to Japan for comfort, especially as it unleashed devastating new tactics such as low-altitude napalm firebombs. U.S. firebombing raids devastated Japan - 100,000 dead in Tokyo. However, the most devastating blows were on August 6th and 9th, 1945, when the United States unleashed atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, instantly vaporizing or slowly killing 200,000 through radiation poisoning. The Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 8th, and thanks to this new threat and the atomic bombings, Emperor Hirohito completely surrendered on August 15th, 1945. The war ended on September 2nd, 1945.

Auschwitz

The largest concentration camp with the deadliest gas chambers. Runners of the camp were proud of their efficient extermination of Jews by tricking them into thinking they were getting bathed instead of gassed. In Auschwitz alone, one million Jews perished.

Auschwitz Significance

The largest concentration camp with the highest death toll - at least one million Jews were killed there.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki

The most devastating blow to Japan on August 6th and 9th, 1945. The United States unleashed atomic bombs on the Japanese cities, killing 200,000 by instantly vaporizing people or slowly killing them through radiation poisoning. Eventually led to Japanese surrender.

How and why did the Nazi approach toward the Jewish problem change?

The nazis had wished to eradicate Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, communists, and others considered undesirable during World War II. Anti-semitism already ran rampant beforehand, and nobody had defended the Jews. The original code was emigration or else (although many countries did not accept the immigrants), but after realizing that having a high concentration of Jews elsewhere could cause the creation of Jewish states, there would be a higher possibility of the creation of a Jewish state. Many Jews were left unable to leave after nazis took their wealth, and the Nazi conquest of Europe brought more Jews under their control, so there was great plausibility for them to take care of their "final solution".

Asia for Asians Significance

The slogan through which Japan expanded throughout Asia, attempting to masquerade Japan's territorial and economic designs with the ideal of Asian nationalism.

Asia for Asians

The slogan through which Japan expanded throughout Asia. Implied Japan would free Asia from European imperialism, and came up with the concept of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere", which was an appeal for an independent Asia. This concept garnered some response, but Japan made it brutally clear that it was actually "Asia for the Japanese". It cloaked Japanese territorial and economic designs with the ideal of Asian nationalism.

Final Solution Significance

The solution to exterminate "undesirables" - exterminating them or working them to death in camps.

Vichy

The southeastern government in France serving as the civilian authority while the rest of the country came under military rule. Provided a place for French people willing to collaborate with German rule. The town serving as the de facto capital and de facto client of German rule so as to not be harmed.

Battle of Midway Significance

The turning point of the war in the Pacific. At this point, the war against Japan began to turn in favor of the allies.

What was the purpose of NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

There once was an alliance between the US, Britain, and USSR during WWII, but it was not without tensions - Soviets resented U.S.=British delays in European invasion. After tensions thawed, there was the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Soviet-dominated Warsaw pact. (NATO members: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, US). The purpose of NATO was to maintain peace through collective defense. The Warsaw pact was a countermeasure alliance of 7 communist nations, making use of defensive policies as well.

SS Einsatzgruppen

Three thousand troops - meaning "action squads", the SS Einsatzgruppen were dispatched to kill entire populations of Jews, Roma, and many non-Jewish Slavs in conquered areas. Extermination methods included mass shootings in ditches and ravines, killing over a million Jews and tens of thousands Slavs and Roma in two years.

Battle of Midway

he turning point of the war in the Pacific - began on June 4th, 1942. U.S. prevailed with aircrafts and used their secret weapon: breaking Japanese codes. 36 allied dive-bombers sunk 3 Japanese liners, literally turning the tide of the war. At this point, the war against Japan began to turn in favor of the allies.

Truman Doctrine

1947. Crystallized US perception of "free" world (democracy) and "enslaved" (communism). Response to communist movements in Greece and Turkey, drawing lines of cold war. U.S. interventionist foreign policy - dedication to "containing" communism and ending Soviet impact. The United States would support "free peoples resisting subjugation".