#AP World History: Modern - WWII Study Guide 🚀

Hey! Let's get you prepped for the AP exam with a super-focused review of World War II. We'll break down the key stuff, make connections, and get you feeling confident. Let's do this!

#🌍 WWII: A Truly Global Conflict

• Like WWI, WWII was a total war, but on a much larger scale. 🤯
• Global Reach: Involved countries from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
• Massive Mobilization: Troop numbers were staggering:
  • Allied Powers: Britain, France, US, Soviet Union
  • Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan

#📣 Mobilizing Populations

#Propaganda

Countries used propaganda to rally support. Here are the main principles:

1. National Values: Emphasized the threat to national values and freedoms. 🛡️
2. Personalized Effort: Highlighted individual sacrifices of soldiers. 🪖
3. Demonized Enemy: Portrayed the enemy as ruthless and inhumane. 👿
4. Celebrity Influence: Used celebrities to promote the war effort (mainly Allied powers). 🎬
5. Various Mediums: Used posters, films, newspapers, and radio. 📻
6. Censorship: Controlled the narrative by censoring losses and setbacks. 🤫
7. Colonial Propaganda: Extended propaganda to colonies to secure loyalty and resources. 🤝

#Examples of Propaganda

• Great Britain: Ministry of Information portrayed the British as heroic and Germans as barbaric.

  

  British WWII propaganda post. Courtesy of Hennepin County Library.

• United States: Office of War Information (OWI) used posters like "Uncle Sam Wants You" and "Loose Lips Sink Ships."

  

  Uncle Sam's "I want you". Image courtesy of Wikipedia

• Japan: Commissioned animated films like "Momotaro: Sacred Sailors" to promote heroism and sacrifice. 🎬

#Ideologies

Countries used their political ideologies to mobilize resources:

• Total War: Mobilized the entire nation under state control.
• Forced Labor: Used extensively by totalitarian regimes (Germany, Italy, Japan).
• Command Economy: Government controlled all aspects of the economy.

#Germany

• Nazism: Based on nationalism, anti-Semitism, and the belief in Aryan superiority.
• Adolf Hitler: Centralized power, considered a demigod.
• SS (Schutzstaffel): Responsible for security, intelligence, and implementing Nazi policies, including the Holocaust.
• Command Economy: Government controlled all aspects of the economy.

#Italy

• Benito Mussolini: Charismatic leader who promised a better future.
• Corporate State: Organized society into corporations under state control.
• Public Works Projects: Created jobs and improved living standards.
• Traditional Values: Emphasized family, religion, and rural life.

#Japan

• Emperor Hirohito: Portrayed as a divine figure, demanding absolute loyalty.
• Military Influence: Military played a central role in government and society.
• Cultural and Spiritual Values: Emphasized cultural and spiritual values.

#Soviet Union

• Joseph Stalin: Emphasized a centralized government and state ownership.
• Collectivization: Consolidated small farms into large collective farms.
• Purges: Millions were arrested and executed, including military strategists. 😬
• Miscommunication: Delayed reinforcements on the Eastern Front, causing massive casualties.

#⚔️ Military Technologies and Tactics

• Advanced Weapons: Improved tanks, firearms, and the devastating atomic bomb. 💣
• Targeting Civilians: Cities were deliberately bombed as part of military strategies.
• Increased Casualties: New naval weapons and bombing campaigns led to massive deaths.
• Blitzkrieg: Germany's swift war tactics.
• Winston Churchill: Led Britain, forged alliances with the US.
• Lend-Lease Act: US provided war materials to Britain.
• Franklin Roosevelt: Mobilized US factories, boosted the economy, and led Pacific liberation efforts.
• Island Hopping: US strategy in the Pacific.

Locations where the atomic bombs were dropped. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

#🎯 Final Exam Focus

• High-Value Topics:

  • Propaganda techniques and their impact
  • Ideological mobilization in different countries
  • Technological advancements and their consequences
  • The global nature of the conflict

• Common Question Types:

  • Multiple Choice: Focus on specific events, leaders, and technologies.
  • Short Answer: Analyze the impact of propaganda or compare mobilization strategies.
  • Free Response: Evaluate the causes and consequences of WWII, or compare the effects of the war on different regions.

#📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the role of propaganda during World War II? (A) It was used primarily by the Allied powers to promote democracy. (B) It was a minor factor in mobilizing populations for war. (C) It was used by all participating countries to demonize the enemy and build support. (D) It was only used to promote national unity within the home countries.

2. What was a significant difference between the mobilization efforts of totalitarian regimes and democratic nations during World War II? (A) Totalitarian regimes focused on voluntary participation, while democratic nations relied on conscription. (B) Totalitarian regimes used forced labor and command economies, while democratic nations relied on voluntary participation and market economies. (C) Totalitarian regimes did not use propaganda, while democratic nations relied heavily on it. (D) Totalitarian regimes focused on industrial production, while democratic nations focused on agricultural output.

3. Which of the following best describes the impact of new military technologies on the civilian population during World War II? (A) New technologies primarily protected civilians from the effects of war. (B) New technologies led to a decrease in civilian casualties compared to World War I. (C) New technologies resulted in the deliberate targeting of civilian populations. (D) New technologies had little impact on the civilian population.

Free Response Question

Analyze the ways in which governments mobilized their populations for war during World War II. In your response, be sure to discuss at least two different countries and their specific strategies.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): Presents a historically defensible thesis that addresses the prompt.
• Evidence (2 points): Provides at least two specific examples of how governments mobilized their populations for war, and explains the strategies.
• Analysis (2 points): Analyzes the similarities and differences in the mobilization strategies of at least two countries.
• Contextualization (1 point): Connects the mobilization efforts to broader historical developments or trends.
• Synthesis (1 point): Extends the argument by connecting it to a different time period, geographic region, or historical theme.

You've got this! Remember to stay calm, use your knowledge, and tackle each question strategically. Good luck on the exam! 🍀