About this Flash Card Set
18 Cards
by elena_vasquez
The essential dates, people, and turning points of World War II, explained clearly for students. Use these to build a solid timeline of the war and its major players.
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When did World War II begin in Europe?
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On September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, on September 3, 1939.
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When did World War II end?
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In 1945. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day), and Japan surrendered in August, with the formal signing on September 2, 1945 (following V-J Day).
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Who were the main Axis powers?
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Germany, Italy, and Japan, along with their allies. They opposed the Allied nations during the war.
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Who were the main Allied powers?
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The United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and China, along with France and many other nations that fought against the Axis.
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What happened at Pearl Harbor?
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On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day the United States declared war, entering World War II.
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What was D-Day?
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The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, when troops landed on the beaches of Normandy. It opened a major front in Western Europe and began the liberation of the continent.
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What was the Holocaust?
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The systematic, state-sponsored genocide by Nazi Germany and its collaborators of about six million Jewish people, along with millions of others including Roma, disabled people, and political prisoners.
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Who was Franklin D. Roosevelt?
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The President of the United States for most of the war (1933-1945). He led the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II and died in April 1945, shortly before Germany's surrender.
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Who was Winston Churchill?
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The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for most of the war (1940-1945). His speeches and leadership helped rally Britain against Nazi Germany.
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Who was Adolf Hitler?
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The dictator of Nazi Germany and leader of the Nazi Party. His aggressive expansion started the war in Europe, and his regime carried out the Holocaust. He died by suicide in April 1945.
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Who was Joseph Stalin?
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The leader of the Soviet Union during the war. After Germany invaded the USSR in 1941, the Soviets fought on the Allied side and endured enormous losses on the Eastern Front.
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Who was Emperor Hirohito?
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The Emperor of Japan during World War II. Japan surrendered under his reign in 1945, and he announced the surrender to the Japanese people by radio.
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What was Blitzkrieg?
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German for 'lightning war,' a fast, coordinated attack using tanks, aircraft, and infantry to overwhelm an enemy quickly. Germany used it early in the war to conquer territory rapidly.
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What was the difference between the European and Pacific theaters?
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The European Theater was the fighting in Europe and North Africa mainly against Germany and Italy, while the Pacific Theater was the fighting across the Pacific Ocean and Asia against Japan.
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What happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
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The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The devastating attacks led to Japan's surrender days later.
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What was V-E Day?
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Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945, marking Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender and the end of the war in Europe.
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What was V-J Day?
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Victory over Japan Day, marking Japan's surrender in August 1945. The formal surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, ending World War II.
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When was the United Nations founded?
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On October 24, 1945, after its charter was drafted earlier that year. It was created to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars.
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