#AP European History: WWII - The Night Before 🚀

Hey! Let's get you prepped for the exam. This guide is designed to be your last-minute resource, focusing on key concepts, high-impact information, and memory aids to help you ace the test. Let's do this!

#1. Causes of WWII: Seeds of Conflict 🌍

This section is super important! Understanding the causes is crucial for both multiple-choice and essay questions. Focus on the long-term and immediate triggers.

#1.1. Treaty of Versailles (1919): A Flawed Peace 📜

• Economic Hardship: The treaty imposed harsh reparations on Germany, crippling its economy and creating widespread resentment. 📉
• Territorial Losses: Germany lost significant territory, fueling nationalistic anger and a desire for revenge. 😠
• Weak League of Nations: The League lacked real power to enforce its decisions, making it ineffective in preventing aggression. 🏛️

#1.2. The Weimar Republic: Democracy in Crisis 🇩🇪

• Fragile Democracy: The Weimar Republic struggled with political instability and lacked popular support. 🏛️
• Economic Woes: Hyperinflation and the Great Depression further weakened the government and fueled extremism. 💸
• Rise of Extremism: Authoritarian leaders like Hitler promised solutions, capitalizing on public dissatisfaction. 🗣️

#1.3. Violations of the Treaty of Versailles: Aggression Unchecked ⚔️

• Remilitarization: Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936, a clear violation of the treaty. 🛡️
• Anschluss: Annexation of Austria in 1938 further emboldened Hitler. 🇦🇹
• Appeasement: Britain and France's policy of appeasement allowed Hitler to expand without facing serious consequences. 🕊️
• Invasion of Poland: The immediate cause of WWII, triggering declarations of war from Britain and France. 🇵🇱

#1.4. The Role of the Soviet Union 🇷🇺

• Non-Aggression Pact: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 shocked the world and paved the way for the invasion of Poland. 🤝
• Territorial Ambitions: Stalin also had territorial goals, seeking to regain lands lost after WWI.

#2. The European Theatre: War in the West and East 🇪🇺

#2.1. Early German Successes: Blitzkrieg and Expansion ⚡

• Blitzkrieg: The German "lightning war" strategy used rapid, coordinated attacks by tanks, planes, and infantry. 🚀
• Conquests: Germany quickly conquered much of Europe, including France, Norway, and the Low Countries. 🇫🇷🇳🇴
• Control: By 1941, Hitler controlled most of Europe, except for the UK and neutral countries like Sweden and Switzerland.

#2.2. Allied Response: Shifting Tides 🌊

• Battle of Britain: The UK successfully defended against German air attacks, a crucial turning point. 🇬🇧
• Invasion of Italy: Allied forces landed in Sicily in 1943, leading to the downfall of Mussolini and the Italian government. 🇮🇹
• D-Day Invasion: The massive Allied landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe. 🏖️

Map of the European theater. Photo courtesy of Jewish Virtual Library.

#2.3. The Eastern Front: A Brutal Struggle 🇷🇺

• German Invasion of USSR: Germany launched a massive attack on the Soviet Union in 1941, opening the Eastern Front. 🇷🇺
• Battle of Stalingrad: The brutal battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point, where Soviet forces inflicted a devastating defeat on the Germans. ⚔️
• Soviet Resistance: The Soviet Union's resilience and vast resources eventually turned the tide against Germany. 💪

#2.4. End of the War in Europe: Liberation and Defeat 🏁

• Liberation of Concentration Camps: Allied forces discovered the horrors of the Holocaust as they advanced through Europe. 💔
• Hitler's Suicide: Hitler committed suicide in April 1945, signaling the end of the war in Europe. 💀
• German Surrender: Germany officially surrendered on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day). 🎉

#3. Middle Eastern/African Theatre: A Secondary Front 🌍

#3.1. Axis Ambitions: Expansion in North Africa 🗺️

• Italian Ambitions: Mussolini sought to rebuild the Roman Empire, leading to invasions in Greece, Yugoslavia, and North Africa. 🏛️
• German Support: German forces aided the Italians, aiming to control North Africa and the Middle East. 🇩🇪

#3.2. Allied Resistance: Turning the Tide 🛡️

• Multi-Front War: The Germans were forced to fight on multiple fronts, stretching their resources and weakening their forces. ⚔️
• Allied Victory: Allied forces eventually defeated the Axis powers in North Africa by 1943. ✅

#4. Pacific Theatre: The War in the East 🌏

#4.1. Japanese Expansionism: A Quest for Resources 🗾

• Meiji Restoration: Japan's modernization led to a desire for resources and territorial expansion. 🏭
• Conquests: Japan invaded Manchuria, China, and Korea, seeking to establish a dominant presence in the region. 🇨🇳🇰🇷
• Economic Sanctions: The US imposed economic sanctions on Japan due to its aggression, leading to increased tensions. 🇺🇸

#4.2. Pearl Harbor and the US Entry into the War 💥

• Pearl Harbor Attack: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, brought the US into WWII. 🚢
• US Response: The US declared war on Japan and joined the Allied forces. 🇺🇸

#4.3. The Island Hopping Campaign: A Gradual Advance 🏝️

• Island Hopping: The US military strategy of capturing key islands to get closer to Japan. 🚀
• Battle of Midway: A major naval battle that marked a turning point in the Pacific War. ⚔️

#4.4. The Atomic Bomb and Japanese Surrender 💣

• Atomic Bombings: The US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. ☢️
• Japanese Surrender: Japan surrendered shortly after, ending WWII. 🏳️

#Final Exam Focus: High-Priority Topics and Strategies 🎯

• Causes of WWII: Treaty of Versailles, appeasement, rise of fascism and militarism.
• Turning Points: Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, D-Day, Battle of Midway.
• Impact of the War: The Holocaust, the rise of superpowers, the beginning of the Cold War.

#Exam Tips 📝

• Time Management: Allocate time for each section and stick to it. Don't get bogged down on one question.
• Analyze the Questions: Read each question carefully and identify what it's asking. Look for key words.
• Connect the Dots: Think about how different events and topics are related. AP questions often combine multiple units.
• Be Specific: Use specific examples and historical details to support your arguments.
• Practice Questions: Review past AP questions and practice writing FRQs.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which of the following was NOT a cause of World War II? (A) The Treaty of Versailles (B) The rise of fascism (C) The Russian Revolution (D) The policy of appeasement

2. What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad? (A) It was the turning point of the war in the Pacific. (B) It marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Italy. (C) It was the turning point of the war on the Eastern Front. (D) It led to the immediate surrender of Germany.

3. The policy of appeasement, adopted by Britain and France before World War II, is best described as (A) a military alliance designed to contain German expansion. (B) a diplomatic strategy aimed at preventing war by making concessions to Hitler. (C) an economic policy intended to weaken Germany through trade restrictions. (D) a political movement that sought to overthrow the Nazi regime.

#Short Answer Question:

Briefly explain the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the outbreak of World War II.

#Free Response Question:

Analyze the major turning points of World War II in Europe and explain how they contributed to the Allied victory.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear and historically defensible thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
• Turning Points (3 points): Identification and explanation of at least three major turning points (e.g., Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, D-Day).
• Analysis (3 points): Detailed explanation of how each turning point contributed to the Allied victory.
• Evidence (2 points): Use of specific historical details to support the analysis.

Good luck! You've got this! 💪