All Flashcards
Who was Adolf Hitler?
The leader of Nazi Germany, who capitalized on post-WWI resentment and economic hardship to rise to power and pursue aggressive expansionist policies.
Who was Benito Mussolini?
The leader of Fascist Italy, who promised order and national pride, and pursued expansionist policies.
What was the role of Neville Chamberlain?
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom known for his policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany.
Who was Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Archduke of Austria whose assassination triggered World War I.
What is the War Guilt Clause?
A clause in the Treaty of Versailles that placed sole blame for WWI on Germany.
What is appeasement?
A policy of giving concessions to an aggressor to avoid war, as practiced by Britain and France towards Hitler.
What is Fascism?
A political ideology that emphasizes a strong, centralized government, national pride, and often militarism.
What is meant by 'Anschluss'?
The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938.
What were mandates?
Territories formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire and Germany that were administered by Allied powers after WWI.
Define Totalitarianism.
A political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.
What were reparations?
Payments made by a defeated country to compensate for damages caused during a war; Germany had to pay heavy reparations after WWI.
What is propaganda?
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
What is meant by disarmament?
The reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons.
What was the Enabling Act?
A law passed in Nazi Germany that gave Hitler dictatorial powers.
What was the Paris Peace Conference?
A meeting in 1919 of Allied victors to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers after WWI. It failed to address underlying tensions.
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
The peace treaty that ended WWI, imposing harsh terms on Germany and contributing to resentment and instability.
What was the Great Depression?
A severe worldwide economic depression that began in 1929 and had a devastating impact on economies globally.
What was the March on Rome (1922)?
A demonstration by Italian fascists that resulted in Mussolini being appointed Prime Minister.
What was the Reichstag Fire?
An arson attack on the German parliament building in 1933, used by the Nazis as a pretext to seize power.
What was the Munich Agreement (1938)?
An agreement in which Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex parts of Czechoslovakia in exchange for a promise of no further aggression.
What was the invasion of Poland (1939)?
The invasion of Poland by Germany, which triggered the start of World War II.
What was the reoccupation of the Rhineland (1936)?
Germany's reoccupation of the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles and signaling Hitler's aggressive intentions.
What was Italy's invasion of Ethiopia (1935)?
Italy's invasion of Ethiopia, demonstrating Mussolini's expansionist ambitions.
What was the US Stock Market Crash?
The US Stock Market Crash in 1929 that triggered the Great Depression.