World War II

Following World War I, who rose to power in Germany's Nazi Party?

• Adolf Hitler

• Benito Mussolini

• Joseph Stalin

• Winston Churchill

Answer explanation

Following WWI, Germany was unstable politically and economically. These factors fueled the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and Germany's Nazi Party.

After Germany invaded Poland in 1939, who were the first two countries to declare war on Germany?

[Select two.]

• Great Britain

• France

• The United States

• The Soviet Union

Answer explanation

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Great Britain and France had promised Poland military support to if it were attacked, so two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany.

When did World War II take place?

• 1914-1918

• 1939-1940

• 1939-1945

• 1960-1964

Answer explanation

World War II began when Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, and ended six years and one day later, when Japan formally surrendered. (Germany surrendered earlier in 1945.)

Which of the following best describes Hitler's "Final Solution"?

• Dropping atomic bombs on the United States

• The extermination of Jews

• A secret plan to invade the Soviet Union

• Air raids over Great Britain

Answer explanation

The "Final Solution" was Hitler’s plan to exterminate Jews throughout Europe. Hitler wrongly blamed Jewish people for Germany's defeat in WWI and considered Jewish people to be inferior than others. (Hitler also thought this of homosexuals, people with disabilities, and more.) Hitler falsely thought Jews belonged to a separate race and had distinct “Jewish blood.” By eliminating them, he thought he could create a superior, German race. Throughout the war, 6 million Jews were murdered in Nazi concentration camps during what is now known as The Holocaust.

Which of these countries formed an alliance with Germany during WWII?

• France

• Spain

• Italy

• Great Britain

Answer explanation

Italy’s dictator Benito Mussolini formed an alliance with Hitler and Italy declared war against France and Britain in 1940. Mussolini was a fascist dictator, meaning his government controlled everything, like in Nazi Germany. People weren't allowed to say or do what they wanted.

Which countries made up World War II's "Axis powers"?

[Select all that apply.]

• The Soviet Union

• Germany

• Italy

• Japan

Answer explanation

The main combatants of WWII were the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allied powers (France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser extent, China, amongst others).

The United States entered World War II as a direct result of which event?

• Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor

• Germany's invasion of France

• Germany's invasion of Poland

• The Battle of Britain

Answer explanation

On December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft attacked the major U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, taking the Americans by surprise and claiming the lives of more than 2,300 troops. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan. Germany and the other Axis Powers promptly declared war on the U.S.

"D-Day" is the common name for an important military operation in 1944. Where did the "D-Day" invasion take place?

• Berlin, Germany

• North Africa

• Tokyo, Japan

• Normandy, France

Answer explanation

On June 6, 1944, the Allies began a massive invasion of Europe, landing soldiers on the beaches of Normandy, France. In response, Hitler poured all the remaining strength of his army into Western Europe, ensuring Germany’s defeat in the east. D-Day was one of the major events that led to Germany's total surrender.