Key People
Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970)- French General and Statesman who, during World War II, was the leader of the Free French and architect of the Fifth Republic. Also president of the provisional government, de Gaulle eventually resigned when his desire for a strong presidency was denied.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)- Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945. Close to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, wanted to join Americans in creating a postwar order that limited Josef Stalin’s ability to control Europe.
Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964)- An American General who, during WWII commanded the Southwest Pacific. MacArthur supervised the Allied occupation of postwar Japan. During WWII, he returned to the Philippines and liberated them after it fell to the Japanese. He also led UN forces at the beginning of the Korean War, although because of problems with President Truman, MacArthur was removed from command.
Hirohito (1901-1989)- Emperor of Japan from 1929 until his death. During WWII, Japan attacked almost all of their neighboring Asian countries, then Allied itself with Nazi Germany and followed through with an attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. When Japan surrendered in 1945, Hirohito lost all political power, though became a powerhead.
Erwin Rommel (1891-1944)- A German WWII Field Marshall, successfully attacking Western Europe in 1940. Eventually Hitler named him commander of the Afrika Corps in 1941, where he found plenty success fighting against the British.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)- After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Eisenhower was called to Washington, D.C. to work as a planning officer. In 1942, Eisenhower was the head of an Allied invasion of North Africa. He also led the invasion of Sicily and the Italian mainland, which led to the fall of Rome. Also made the supreme commander of the Allied invasion of Europe, occupied by the Nazi’s.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945)- Being President during the war, FDR wanted to U.S. to align itself in the war. He gave financial support to China and Britain in order to go against Japan and Nazi Germany. The US remained neutral in the war. FDR also launch counter attacks on Japan and Germany during the Pearl Harbor bombings.
Josef Stalin (1878-1953)- During the 20’s Stalin created his five-year-plan to take the Soviet Union from a peasant society to an industrial power. Signing a non aggression pact with Hitler, Stalin annexed parts of Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. He also participated in the major Allied conferences.
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)- Allied with Hitler, Mussolini relied on Hitler to advance his leadership during WWII. Being Allied with Germany, Mussolini also became enemies with France and Great Britain.
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)- Starting World War II with the attack on Poland, Hitler took over the German Army. With increasing success in dicating Europe, his Nazi Party carried out genocide, known as the Final Solution, which killed nearly 6 million Jews in Europe, as well as those who did not abide with his rule.
Chiang Kai Shek (1887-1975)- As part of the Chinese Nationalist Party, Shek got rid of communists in the party. When the allies declared war on Japan, China took it’s place in the Big Four.
Harry Truman (1884-1972)- Becoming President at World War 2’s end, the U.S. dropped to atomic bombs (the only 2 ever to be used) in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, which ended the war.
Key Terms
Anschluss- A political union, specifically the unification of Austria-Hungary and Nazi Germany after Austria-Hungary was occupied and annexed.
Axis Powers- Led by Nazi Germany. Italy, Japan, and Germany were allied before World War 2.
Battle of Britain- During World War 2, multiple aerial combats took place between the British and German aircraft in 1940.
Battle of Iwo Jima- Also known as operation attachment, was a major battle between the United States Armed Forces and Japan. The US captured Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire.
Battle of Midway- United States Navy defeats an attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy at Midway Island. This is a big turn around for the US and is seen as their comeback and revenge after the ghastly Pearl Harbor incident.
Battle of Stalingrad- A battle between Soviet and German Troops during World War 2. Fought during the winter of 1942-1943, the allies won and the German army surrendered.
D-Day- June 6th, 1944, Allied forces invades northern France.
Gestapo- Official secret police of Nazi Germany.
Lebensraum- Appended land which a nation considers for use, specifically with Nazi Germany, who wanted to conquer Europe in order to give Germany more living space.
Manhattan Project- In 1942, the U.S. War Department had a secret program used for exploration of the isolation of radioactive isotopes and atomic bomb production.
S.S.- Elite Combat Troops originally created in the Nazi German Party for Hitler’s protection.
V-E Day- May 8th,1945, Allied Force have victory in Europe.
V-J- August 15, 1945, Japan ceases fighting in World War 2, or September 2nd, when Japan formally surrenders.
Wannsee Conference- A meeting between senior Nazi Germany officials meet in order to discuss details of the Final Solution.
Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970)- French General and Statesman who, during World War II, was the leader of the Free French and architect of the Fifth Republic. Also president of the provisional government, de Gaulle eventually resigned when his desire for a strong presidency was denied.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)- Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945. Close to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, wanted to join Americans in creating a postwar order that limited Josef Stalin’s ability to control Europe.
Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964)- An American General who, during WWII commanded the Southwest Pacific. MacArthur supervised the Allied occupation of postwar Japan. During WWII, he returned to the Philippines and liberated them after it fell to the Japanese. He also led UN forces at the beginning of the Korean War, although because of problems with President Truman, MacArthur was removed from command.
Hirohito (1901-1989)- Emperor of Japan from 1929 until his death. During WWII, Japan attacked almost all of their neighboring Asian countries, then Allied itself with Nazi Germany and followed through with an attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. When Japan surrendered in 1945, Hirohito lost all political power, though became a powerhead.
Erwin Rommel (1891-1944)- A German WWII Field Marshall, successfully attacking Western Europe in 1940. Eventually Hitler named him commander of the Afrika Corps in 1941, where he found plenty success fighting against the British.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)- After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Eisenhower was called to Washington, D.C. to work as a planning officer. In 1942, Eisenhower was the head of an Allied invasion of North Africa. He also led the invasion of Sicily and the Italian mainland, which led to the fall of Rome. Also made the supreme commander of the Allied invasion of Europe, occupied by the Nazi’s.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945)- Being President during the war, FDR wanted to U.S. to align itself in the war. He gave financial support to China and Britain in order to go against Japan and Nazi Germany. The US remained neutral in the war. FDR also launch counter attacks on Japan and Germany during the Pearl Harbor bombings.
Josef Stalin (1878-1953)- During the 20’s Stalin created his five-year-plan to take the Soviet Union from a peasant society to an industrial power. Signing a non aggression pact with Hitler, Stalin annexed parts of Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. He also participated in the major Allied conferences.
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)- Allied with Hitler, Mussolini relied on Hitler to advance his leadership during WWII. Being Allied with Germany, Mussolini also became enemies with France and Great Britain.
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)- Starting World War II with the attack on Poland, Hitler took over the German Army. With increasing success in dicating Europe, his Nazi Party carried out genocide, known as the Final Solution, which killed nearly 6 million Jews in Europe, as well as those who did not abide with his rule.
Chiang Kai Shek (1887-1975)- As part of the Chinese Nationalist Party, Shek got rid of communists in the party. When the allies declared war on Japan, China took it’s place in the Big Four.
Harry Truman (1884-1972)- Becoming President at World War 2’s end, the U.S. dropped to atomic bombs (the only 2 ever to be used) in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, which ended the war.
Key Terms
Anschluss- A political union, specifically the unification of Austria-Hungary and Nazi Germany after Austria-Hungary was occupied and annexed.
Axis Powers- Led by Nazi Germany. Italy, Japan, and Germany were allied before World War 2.
Battle of Britain- During World War 2, multiple aerial combats took place between the British and German aircraft in 1940.
Battle of Iwo Jima- Also known as operation attachment, was a major battle between the United States Armed Forces and Japan. The US captured Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire.
Battle of Midway- United States Navy defeats an attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy at Midway Island. This is a big turn around for the US and is seen as their comeback and revenge after the ghastly Pearl Harbor incident.
Battle of Stalingrad- A battle between Soviet and German Troops during World War 2. Fought during the winter of 1942-1943, the allies won and the German army surrendered.
D-Day- June 6th, 1944, Allied forces invades northern France.
Gestapo- Official secret police of Nazi Germany.
Lebensraum- Appended land which a nation considers for use, specifically with Nazi Germany, who wanted to conquer Europe in order to give Germany more living space.
Manhattan Project- In 1942, the U.S. War Department had a secret program used for exploration of the isolation of radioactive isotopes and atomic bomb production.
S.S.- Elite Combat Troops originally created in the Nazi German Party for Hitler’s protection.
V-E Day- May 8th,1945, Allied Force have victory in Europe.
V-J- August 15, 1945, Japan ceases fighting in World War 2, or September 2nd, when Japan formally surrenders.
Wannsee Conference- A meeting between senior Nazi Germany officials meet in order to discuss details of the Final Solution.