World historyLesson 2 of 3 in the course The Causes and Consequences of World War II

World War II: Global Campaigns, Asian Nationalism, and the Holocaust

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson follows the Allied and Axis campaigns in Europe and North Africa, from early strategic choices to the turning point at Stalingrad. These campaigns mattered because they shaped where the Allies fought, how Germany used its resources, and when the initiative shifted away from the Axis.

Before the United States entered the war, military planners considered how to respond if the Axis powers and Japan became enemies. In 1940, Admiral Harold R. Stark advised President Franklin D. Roosevelt to adopt Plan D, a Europe First strategy. Britain and the United States would concentrate on defeating Germany and Italy while taking a defensive posture against Japan.

All flashcards

What was the Europe First strategy?
A strategy to prioritize defeating Germany and Italy while taking a defensive posture against Japan.
What was island-hopping?
A U.S. campaign of attacking selected islands while bypassing some heavily defended positions.
Why was the Battle of Midway a turning point?
Japan’s losses halted its Pacific advance and shifted naval momentum toward the Allies.
What were the Einsatzgruppen?
Mobile German killing units that carried out mass shootings in occupied territories.
What was Auschwitz II-Birkenau primarily built to do?
Murder Jewish people deported there from across Europe.

Quiz questions

  1. What did the Allies plan as Operation Husky at the Casablanca Conference?Answer: An invasion of Sicily.
  2. What major naval losses did Japan suffer at the Battle of Midway?Answer: Four aircraft carriers and a heavy cruiser.
  3. What were Nazi ghettos primarily used for?Answer: Confining Jewish people for segregation and control.
  4. How did Subhas Chandra Bose pursue Indian independence?Answer: He organized the Indian National Army in cooperation with Japan.
  5. What did German forces do after Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1943?Answer: They occupied much of Italy and installed Mussolini as a figurehead.

Based on World History Volume 2, from 1400 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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