wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

WW2 & Between the Wars

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The leader of the Soviet Union (Russia) starting in 1924?

a)

Marx

b)

Lenin

c)

Trotsky

d)

Stalin

2.

What were the "Purges" in Soviet Russia under Stalin?

a)

An elimination of potential political rivals through staged trials and executions

b)

A medical system for eliminating disease

c)

The process by which agriculture was modernized

d)

A well known jazz group

3.

What were TWO successes that Stalin could claim by 1939?

a)

He had successfully modernized Russian society and industry

b)

He had made Russia a nuclear power

c)

He had successfully expanded the borders of Russia

d)

He had protected Russia from the effects of the Great Depression

4.

Which of these was NOT a result of Stalin's rule?

a)

Changing agriculture into a system of collective farms

b)

Forcing people to pay money to Stalin

c)

The deaths of millions of people from famine

d)

The creation of the "Gulags" (prison labor camps)

5.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of totalitarianism?

a)

government control of the economy

b)

free and open discussion of ideas

c)

rule by a dictator

d)

government control of communications and media

6.

Which event caused the US to enter the WW2?

a)

sinking of Lusitania

b)

explosion of USS Maine

c)

attack on Pearl Harbor

d)

dropping the atomic bomb

7.

Which of the following was NOT an Allied power in WW2?

a)

Japan

b)

Soviet Union

c)

France

d)

Great Britian

8.

A new military technology during WW2 was?

a)

atomic bomb

b)

tanks

c)

submarines

d)

trench warfare

9.

Which parts of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor were failures? Check the two answers that apply?

a)

They only destroyed a tiny portion of the US fleet

b)

They united the US people into support for WW2

c)

They failed to destroy US aircraft carriers

d)

They sustained heavy losses during the attack

10.

According to the documentary "WW2 from Space", which two factors were vital for success during WW2? Select the two correct answers.

a)

Having a large army

b)

Air superiority

c)

Naval power

d)

Oil (Fuel) supplies

11.

Why was Hitler (Germany) motivated to attack Russia? Select the 2 correct answers

a)

To avenge Russian victory in WW1

b)

His hatred of Jewish people & of communism

c)

To create a path into Asia

d)

He sought raw materials and living space (lebensraum)

12.

Why is Pearl Harbor considered a turning point in WW2?

a)

It brought the USA with her vast industrial and economic resources into the Allied side.

b)

It increased the chances of Japanese victory

c)

It increased the amount fuel available to the Axis Powers

d)

It brought the USA with her vast industrial and economic resources in the Axis side

13.

Which of these is NOT a reason that the US dropped the Atomic Bombs on Japan in 1945?

a)

To bring the war to a swift conclusion

b)

As part of a long campaign of strategic bombing of Japanese cities

c)

To allow the US to make peace with Japan (as opposed to the Soviet Union)

d)

In attempt to kill the Emperor of Japan

14.

What is one reason that WW2 was different from WW1?

a)

The use of tanks

b)

The high number of civilians killed

c)

The use of submarines

d)

The high number of soldiers killed

15.

Which battle front experienced the highest number of casualties during WW2?

a)

Eastern Front (Germany and Russia)

b)

Pacific Theater (the USA and Japan)

c)

Asia (Japan vs China & her allies)

d)

Western Front (Germany vs allied powers)

16.

What % of the US population wanted to stay out of WW2 before December, 1941?

a)

10

b)

25

c)

50

d)

75

17.

Which group of people were targeted for extermination by Hitler and the Nazi's in the Holocaust?

a)

The Slavs

b)

Jewish people

c)

Chinese people

d)

French people

18.

Which is these is NOT a reason for the high number of deaths in WW2?

a)

Strategic bombing

b)

Civilian deaths

c)

Famine (Starvation)

d)

Disease

19.

The Axis Powers were which three countries?

a)

Germany, Soviet Union (Russia) and Japan

b)

Germany, Italy and Japan

c)

The USA, Britain, France and Soviet Union

d)

Germany, Japan and the USA

20.

Which of these was NOT a decisive battle in turning the war in the favor of the Allies in 1942/43?

a)

Stalingrad (Russia beats Germany)

b)

Battle of the Atlantic (Germany's submarine fleet defeated by Allies)

c)

Dropping the Atomic Bomb on Japan

d)

Battle of Midway (US naval fleet inflicts heavy losses on Japan)

21.

What is the significance of D-Day?

a)

The Allies open a Eastern front in Asia

b)

The Allies open a Western Front in Europe

c)

The Axis opened a Southern front in Africa

d)

The Allies invaded Japan

22.

Fascism started in which country?

a)

Germany

b)

Italy

c)

Russia

d)

France

23.

Did Fascism reject ideas like equality, individual rights and democracy

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

24.

In what ways is Fascism different to communism? Select the two correct answers.

a)

Fascism is nationalistic whereas communism has international goals

b)

Fascism is international in nature while communism is nationalistic.

c)

Fascism denies the equality of individuals whereas communism stresses equality

d)

Fascism stresses equality whereas communism denies equality

25.

Why did wealthy business owners in Italy & Germany support Fascism? Choose two answers

a)

It appealed to their sense of fairness

b)

Fascism was supportive of private property (like the businesses they owned)

c)

It appealed to their desire to increase business overseas

d)

Fascism offered an alternative to socialism/communism

26.

TRUE / FALSE : Stalin's Russia, Mussolini's Italy & Hitler's Germany were all Totalitarian regimes?

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

27.

How can The League of Nation's response to Italy's invasion of Ethiopia and their response to Japan's invasion of Manchuria be considered similar?

a)

STRONG: They imposed penalties (sanctions) on both countries that were enforced

b)

STRONG: Their military forces were able to stop both Italy and Japan

c)

WEAK: The League of Nations had no tools (like a military force or a method to impose penalties) to check aggressive countries. Italy and Japan could do what they wanted.

28.

A system of government that exerts complete control over its citizens; individuals have no rights and all opposition to the government is suppressed (forcibly stopped/prevented)

a)

Monarchy

b)

Totalitarianism

c)

Democracy

d)

Communism

29.
Why did the League of Nations actually help the rise of dictators between the World Wars?
a)
They supplied them with equipment and money
b)
False, the League of Nations was a successful organization
c)
They had no real power/authority to stop them
d)
They were lazy and didn't care
30.
Appealed to Italy's wounded pride and fear of communism, established the first Fascist Party, took over the Italian government after the march on Rome
a)
Adolf Hitler
b)
Benito Mussolini
c)
Francisco Franco
d)
Joseph Stalin
31.
Joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party and made it popular, would eventually become German Chancellor and overthrow the Weimar Republic, established the Third Reich
a)
Adolf Hitler
b)
Benito Mussolini
c)
Francisco Franco
d)
Joseph Stalin
32.
 Which one of the following below is not a characteristic of Fascism?
a)
Violence
b)
Individual rights
c)
Absolute power
d)
Loyalty to the State
33.
What time period of history was this picture taken?
a)
World War One
b)
World War Two
c)
Great Depression
d)
American Civil War
34.

Which organization was created to prevent future wars?

a)

League of Nations

b)

Axis Alliance

c)

Triple Alliance

d)

Mandate system

35.

Which event is most closely associated with the beginning of World War II in Europe?

a)

Signing of the Munich Agreement

b)

Building the Berlin Wall

c)

Invasion of Poland by Nazi forces

d)

Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand

36.

Which sequence shows the correct chronological order of these World War II events, from earliest to latest?

a)

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

b)

3 - 4 - 1 - 2

c)

3 - 4 - 2 - 1

d)

4 - 3 - 1 - 2

37.

How did totalitarian countries control their populations?

a)

Through use of terror (murder, imprisonment)

b)

Through surveillance (spying)

c)

Through control of the media (newspapers & radio)

d)

All of the above

38.

Why did the Great Depression have such a major impact on the World?

a)

It forced people to emigrate for work

b)

It forced countries to work together

c)

It was global in nature and lasted a long time

d)

It redistributed wealth to different parts of the world

39.

What made the Great Depression different from previous downturns in the economy? Choose 2 answers

a)

It only affected the United States

b)

It affected multiple countries

c)

Its duration (how long it lasted) was short

d)

Its duration (how long it lasted) was long

40.

Which is of these is NOT a reason Japan pursued a policy of expansion in the 1930's?

a)

Its increased population meant it needed room for its people

b)

It needed natural resources like coal, oil and iron ore

c)

It wanted to export Buddhism to other parts of Asia

d)

It wanted new sources of food

41.

What of these were NOT a reason Japan was frustrated / angry at the Western Powers after the Great Depression?

a)

Countries like Australia & the USA had closed immigration for Japanese people

b)

Western countries had reduced trade opportunities for Japan

c)

Western countries refused to accept Japanese religious beliefs

d)

Western countries wanted to limit the size of Japan's empire

42.

Japan went to war with the USA in 1941 because the US had cut off their supply of oil and other natural resources. TRUE/FALSE

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

43.

What were things that Hitler proposed in his book "Mein Kampf" ("My Struggle")? Check all that apply.

a)

The superiority of the Aryan Race

b)

The inferiority of Jews, Slavs and other people

c)

That Germany should defy (challenge) the obligations of the Treaty of Versailles

d)

That German people needed "lebensraum" (living space "blood and soil") in Eastern Europe.

e)

That history was defined as a struggle between different races of people.

44.

Which of these was NOT important in the rise of the Nazi's after 1928?

a)

The financial support the Nazi's got from wealthy industrialists (business owners)

b)

The Great Depression and its negative impacts on the German people like unemployment, poverty and hunger

c)

The ability of Hitler to draw support from a wide section of German people?

d)

The unified opposition of the Social Democrats & Communist party?

45.

How did Hitler and the Nazi's finally get power in Germany?

a)

They staged a successful overthrow of the Government

b)

Hitler was elected as President of Germany

c)

Hitler was invited to be Chancellor of Germany

d)

They won a majority of seats in the German Parliament

46.

Why were most Germans happy with Nazi rule? Check all answers that apply.

a)

They provided jobs

b)

They made extensive use of propaganda and youth groups

c)

They completed a program of building national projects like new roads and hospitals

d)

They restored (renewed) national pride through building up the army

47.

Nazi Germany was unable to gain self-sufficiency in terms of natural resources and food production. Why was this important?

a)

It demonstrated that they were unable to achieve most of their goals

b)

It gave them an added incentive to go to war and invade other countries

c)

It motivated them to "collectivize" their farms like the Soviet Union

48.

Which of these were NOT results of the rule of Stalin?

a)

An increase in literacy (reading and writing)

b)

An increase in luxury goods

c)

An improvement in the living standards of the average person

d)

Increased opportunities for females in the workplace

49.

Following Japan's takeover of Manchuria, which Asian country did it invade next (in 1937)?

a)

French Indo-China (Vietnam)

b)

Indonesia

c)

Korea

d)

China

50.

Why were most Germans happy with Nazi rule? Check all answers that apply.

a)

They provided jobs

b)

The Nazi made extensive use of propaganda and youth groups

c)

They completed a program of building national projects like new roads and hospitals

d)

They restored (renewed) national pride through building up the army

51.

Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by doing all of the following except?

a)

tripled size of miltiary

b)

continued paying reparations

c)

occupied the Rhineland

d)

took over Austria

52.

What was the name of the land in Czechoslovakia that contained a majority of German-speaking people?

a)

Rhineland

b)

Sudetenland

c)

Austria

53.

What was the importance of the Nazi-Germany non-aggression pact (deal) in 1939 (between Germany & the Soviet Union)?

a)

It meant that Germany could invade Poland without fear of opposition from Russia (the Soviet Union)

b)

It meant that the Soviet Union could invade Poland without fear of opposition from Germany.

54.

How did the Treaty of Versailles encourage the start of WWII in relation to Germany? Select the two correct answers

a)

The payment of reparations made the impact of the Great Depression worse in Germany

b)

It rearranged the map of Europe to benefit Germany, enraging the rest of the world

c)

It gave Germany an incentive to think kindly of other countries

d)

Its harsh terms, created an environment which spawned extreme parties like the Nazi's.

55.

Who met with Hitler and arranged the Munich Agreement in 1938?

a)

Winston Churchill

b)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

c)

Woodrow WIlson

d)

Neville Chamberlain

56.

In order to keep the peace and avoid war, Britain (and other European countries) pursued this policy with Hitler? (It didn't work)

a)

atonement

b)

mediation

c)

appeasement

d)

nationalism

57.

On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded this country and started WWII in Europe?

a)

France

b)

Poland

c)

Austria

d)

Britain

58.

Click on all the examples of how Hitler was able to successfully appeal to different groups of people?

a)

His defiance (challenge) of the Treaty of Versailles appealed to all Germans

b)

His promise of jobs & economic security appealed to the working class

c)

His promise to protect them from economic ruin & communism appealed to the middle class

d)

His promise to protect them from Communism & to provide a disciplined workforce appealed to wealthy industrialists (large biz owners)

59.

How did WW1 influence the birth and growth of Fascism in Italy? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY

a)

Many Italians thought that the Treaty of Versailles was harsh on Italy

b)

Italy was in chaos after WW1 as many workers refused to work and peasants seized land.

c)

Many Italians came back from the war with strong nationalist feelings

d)

Many Italians were concerned by the new popularity of Communism

60.

Which country is home to the bagpipes? A musical instrument, whose sound is considered as heavenly by some, and by others, like the sound of a cat being strangled?

a)

Wales

b)

England

c)

Scotland

d)

Ireland