Leading to War (Causes)
Which two countries signed a nonaggression pact before the war started?
Germany & Soviet Union
Germany invaded which country, officially starting WWII?
Poland
In which stage of the Holocaust were Ghettos created? (stages = exclusion, concentration, mass extermination)
What is the Treaty of Versailles? How did it lead to WWII?
The treaty that ended WWI; focused too much on punishing Germany (huge war reparations $$$)
Why did the US decide to drop the Atomic Bombs on Japan?
To end the war quickly and not have to launch a full scale invasion of Japan (save the lives of US soldiers and $$)
How did many people first react when they started to hear about the Holocaust?
Shock; disbelief; nothing like this had ever happened before
Define the word "appeasement" and explain how it led to WWII starting.
Appeasement = giving into an aggressors demands in order to keep peace; led to WWII starting because leaders in Europe allowed Hitler to break the terms in the Treaty of Versailles without stopping him
The German military used a military tactic called "Blitzkrieg" at the start of the war; describe this tactic.
Quickly invading a country with an overwhelming attack to take over before the country's military can respond
True or False; the term "Genocide" existed BEFORE the Holocaust happened.
False; it was created after
How did Hitler first come to power in Germany? (legally or illegally)
Legally
Why was the Battle of D-Day important in the war?
Allowed Allies to retake France and start pushing Germany out of conquered land in Europe
Define "anti-semitism" and give an example of an anti-semetic law passed in Germany
Anti-semitism = hatred or prejudice against Jewish people; Jewish people weren't considered citizens in Germany; Jewish people couldn't marry Germans; Jewish people couldn't work in government or attend German schools
Give an example of one specific action Hitler took that led to WWII starting
Took back the Rhineland; took back land in Czechoslovakia; started rebuilding German military; invaded Austria
Define "total war"
Use of all a country's resources and population (even civilians) to prepare for a war
What was the purpose of the Nuremberg Trials?
To hold German military officials accountable for the crimes committed in the Holocaust