World War II Review

World War II is generally considered to have begun when Great Britain and France declared war on Germany because of what action?

• Germany's invasion of Poland

• Germany's annexation of Austria

• Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union

• Germany's occupation of the Rhineland

What combatant nation in World War II lost the most total number of soldiers and civilians?

• Soviet Union

• Germany

• Poland

• Japan

Which of the following is the best description of the Nuremberg Trials?

• A series of trials for war crimes committed by the Allied Powers during World War II.

• A series of trials for war crimes committed by German military and civilian leaders during World War II.

• A series of trials for war crimes committed by Japanese military and civilian leaders during World War II

• A series of trials for war crimes committed by French military and civilian leaders during World War II

What is the reason most commonly given for why President Harry S. Truman decided to use the newly developed atomic bombs against Japan?

• To avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor

• To force Japan to surrender quickly and avoid a costly invasion of the Japanese home islands

• To test the destructive power of the new weapon

• To demonstrate America's military might to the Soviet Union

Which of the following is the best explanation for why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941?

• Japan wanted to expand its empire and saw the United States as a potential obstacle.

• Japan was seeking revenge for the United States support of China.

• Japan wanted to destroy the United States naval capabilities in the Pacific.

• Japan needed access to natural resources such as oil and rubber, which the United States had placed an embargo on.

Which of the following best describes why Great Britain and France pursued the policy of appeasement towards Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany?

• Great Britain and France believed that appeasement would prevent another devastating war.

• Great Britain and France were sympathetic to Nazi Germany's goals and wanted to avoid conflict.

• Great Britain and France were unprepared for war and hoped to gain time to re-arm and prepare.

• Great Britain and France believed that a stronger Nazi Germany would serve as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union.

Why is it important to study the Holocaust?

YOU MUST SELECT TWO

• To remember and honor the victims

• To understand the dangers of hatred and intolerance

• To promote antisemitism and discrimination towards minority groups

• To forget the past and move on from historical events

The horrifically ironic sign Arbeit Macht Frei (freedom through work) hung above the entrance to _________________, the largest Nazi death camp.

• Auschwitz

• Buchenwald

• Chelmno

• Dachau

What action broke the non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union?

• The German invasion of Poland

• The Soviet Union's occupation of Eastern Europe

• The German attack on the USSR

• The Allied invasion of Normandy

In reference to the Holocaust, what does the term liberation mean?

• The period during which the Nazi regime came to power in Germany

• The act of imprisoning Jewish people in concentration camps

• The systematic extermination of Jewish people and other minorities by the Nazis

• The act of Allied forces freeing prisoners from concentration camps at the end of World War II