World War II SGQ

Section One: Germany Sparks a New War in Europe pp. 491-492

  1. What did Hitler demand from Poland?
  2. How did Hitler justify his demands?
  3. Why did Hitler offer the USSR a nonaggression agreement?
  4. How did the USSR benefit from the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact?
  5. Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany (Deutschland)?
  6. What did the military strategy of “blitzkrieg” entail?
  7. After the declaration of war against Germany why was the Western front referred to as the “phony war” or “sitzkrieg” or “bore war?”
  8. What was France’s main line of defense against the Germans? How did it impact the German army?
  9. Why was the rescue at Dunkirk considered one of the most heroic acts of the war?
  10. Why is Marshal Philippe Petain considered a traitor to the French people?
  11. What role did Charles de Gaulle play during the war?

The Battle of Britain (Operation Sea Lion) pp. 493-494

  1. “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets…..we shall never surrender.” Which leader proclaimed this as British policy?
  2. What two technological devices allowed the Royal Air Force (RAF) to defeat Germany’s invasion of Britain?
  3. How did the Germans try to destroy British morale? Did they succeed?

The Mediterranean, Africa and Operation Barbarossa he Eastern Front pp. 494-496

  1. What were Italy’s military objectives in North Africa?
  2. What led to German involvement in the African campaign?
  3. Why was Erwin Rommel, commander of the Afrika Corps, known as the Desert Fox?
  4. What were Hitler’s military objectives in the Balkans?
  5. What did Germany do to get Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary to join the Axis Powers?
  6. Why were Greece and Yugoslavia invaded by Germany?
  7. How long after the Nonaggression Pact was signed did Germany invade the USSR?
  8. What strategy did the Soviets use as they retreated?
  9. How did the Cash and Carry and Lend Lease Actsreverse the Neutrality Acts?
  10. Explain how the US was involved in an “undeclared naval war” with Deutschland?

Section Two: Japan’s Pacific Campaign pp. 497-500

  1. What did the US learn about Japan’s objectives after breaking one of its codes?
  2. How did the US retaliate against Japanese aggression in Indochina?
  3. Why did Yamamoto consider it important to attack Pearl Harbor?
  4. How did Japan propagandize that it was a “liberator?”
  5. According to the textbook the Japanese reserved their most brutal treatment for Allied prisoner s of war. Give an example of inhumane treatment?

The Allies Strike Back pp. 500-501 and 507-513

  1. What was the psychological impact of Doolittle’s bombing raids on Tokyo?
  2. Who developed the military strategy of island-hopping and what did it entail?
  3. What was the significance of each of the following battles: Midway, Coral Sea and Guadalcanal.

Section Four: Allied Home Fronts pp. 507-509

  1. How is total war different from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars today?
  2. Why was rationing essential during the war?
  3. What types of propaganda would you suggest if you were in charge today?
  4. What groups’ civil rights were violated during the war?
  5. How did FDR justify Executive Order 9066?
  6. What is the contradiction between the terms “enemy alien” and “Nisei?”
  7. What evidence exists that Japanese-Americans were loyal citizens?

Victory in Europe pp. 509-511

  1. Where did the Allies plan to launch the long-awaited second-front?
  2. What leader had been urging that the Allies do this for the past two years?
  3. Who was the American commander in charge of the D-Day operation?
  4. The Germans knew an attack was coming. What did the Allies do confuse or “keep Hitler guessing?”
  5. What was the code name for D-Day?
  6. Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword and Utah were all part of what?
  7. After this last German offensive the Germans were in steady retreat. What battle was it?
  8. April 12 was cause for great sorrow in the US. Why?
  9. What did General Dwight D. Eisenhower accept on May 7, 1945?

Victory in the Pacific pp. 511-513

  1. After what battle were the Japanese in steady retreat? (The Pacific version of the Battle of the Bulge)
  2. Why did the Japanese eventually begin using the kamikazes?
  3. What were the lessons learned from the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
  4. How did Truman justify using the atomic bomb?
  5. Why do you think that Truman wasn’t informed earlier of the Manhattan Project?

Section Five: Europe and Japan in Ruins pp. 514-517

  1. Why were there so manydisplaced people after the war?
  2. See chart on page 515: Answer questions
  3. Why did people in Europe continue to starve or die even after the war was over
  4. The Nuremberg Trials charged the defendants with what crimes?
  5. Who was in charge of US occupation of Japan? What were his three goals in Japan?
  6. How did poor tenant farmers benefit from land reform?
  7. Who composed the Japanese constitution? On what was it modeled?
  8. How did the outcome of the war affect Emperor Hirohito’s status?
  9. Who led the new Japanese government and how did he gain power?
  10. What does Article 9 of the constitution forbid?
  11. Who protects Japan today?