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