World War 2 Dates and Events
Study the deadliest conflict in human history with this in-depth flashcard deck on World War 2. From the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany to the Allied victory in Europe and the Pacific, this deck covers every major date, event, battle, and turning point you need to know. Topics include the causes of WW2, the Blitzkrieg invasion of Poland, the Battle of Britain, Pearl Harbor, Operation Barbarossa, the Holocaust, D-Day and the Normandy landings, the Battle of Stalingrad, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Nuremberg Trials, and the founding of the United Nations. Perfect for AP World History, GCSE, and university history exams.
All Cards in This Deck
Question
When did World War 2 begin and end?
Answer
It began on September 1, 1939 (Germany invades Poland) and ended on September 2, 1945 (Japan's formal surrender).
Question
What were the main causes of WW2?
Answer
The rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism, the failures of the Treaty of Versailles, global economic depression, appeasement policy, and extreme nationalism.
Question
Who were the Allied Powers in WW2?
Answer
Primarily the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, and China.
Question
Who were the Axis Powers in WW2?
Answer
Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Question
What was Hitler's full title and party?
Answer
Adolf Hitler was Führer (leader) of Germany and head of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).
Question
What was the invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939)?
Answer
Germany's blitzkrieg (lightning war) attack on Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, officially starting WW2.
Question
What was Blitzkrieg?
Answer
German for "lightning war" — a fast, coordinated military tactic using tanks, aircraft, and motorized infantry to overwhelm enemies before they could respond.
Question
What was the Battle of Britain (1940)?
Answer
An air campaign where Germany's Luftwaffe tried to destroy Britain's Royal Air Force. Britain's successful defense prevented a German invasion.
Question
What was Operation Barbarossa (June 1941)?
Answer
Germany's massive invasion of the Soviet Union — the largest military operation in history. It ultimately failed, leading to catastrophic German losses.
Question
What was Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)?
Answer
A surprise Japanese air attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2,403 Americans. It caused the United States to enter WW2.
Question
What was the Holocaust?
Answer
The systematic, state-sponsored genocide by Nazi Germany of six million Jewish people, along with millions of others including Roma, disabled people, and political prisoners.
Question
What were concentration camps?
Answer
Facilities built by Nazi Germany where millions of Jewish people and others were imprisoned, used for forced labor, and murdered — including Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Dachau.
Question
What was the Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943)?
Answer
A turning point on the Eastern Front. Soviet forces surrounded and defeated a German army, ending Germany's advance into the Soviet Union.
Question
What was the Battle of Midway (June 1942)?
Answer
A decisive naval battle in the Pacific where the US destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers, turning the tide against Japan.
Question
What was D-Day (June 6, 1944)?
Answer
The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France at Normandy beaches. The largest seaborne invasion in history, involving 156,000 Allied troops in one day.
Question
What was VE Day?
Answer
Victory in Europe Day — May 8, 1945 — marking Germany's unconditional surrender and the end of WW2 in Europe.
Question
What were the atomic bombings of Japan?
Answer
The USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9), 1945. An estimated 110,000–210,000 people died, leading to Japan's surrender.
Question
What was VJ Day?
Answer
Victory over Japan Day — August 15, 1945 — when Japan announced its surrender, ending WW2. The formal signing was September 2, 1945.
Question
How many people died in World War 2?
Answer
An estimated 70–85 million people died — approximately 3% of the world's 1940 population — making it the deadliest conflict in human history.
Question
What was the Nuremberg Trials?
Answer
Post-war military tribunals (1945–1946) held to prosecute Nazi Germany's leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Question
What was the Manhattan Project?
Answer
The top-secret US research program that developed the first nuclear weapons. Led by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, it produced the atomic bombs dropped on Japan.
Question
What was Operation Overlord?
Answer
The codename for the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Western Europe, beginning with D-Day on June 6, 1944.
Question
What was the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944)?
Answer
Germany's last major offensive on the Western Front. Despite initial success, Germany failed and suffered massive losses, accelerating the end of the war.
Question
What was the Lend-Lease Act (1941)?
Answer
A US policy allowing America to supply Britain, the Soviet Union, and other Allied nations with food, oil, and military equipment before the US officially entered the war.
Question
What international organization was created after WW2?
Answer
The United Nations (UN), established in 1945 to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars — replacing the failed League of Nations.
Question
What was the Pacific Theater in WW2?
Answer
The area of WW2 combat in the Pacific Ocean and Asia, primarily between the United States and Japan, including battles at Midway, Iwo Jima, and the Philippines.
Question
What was the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943)?
Answer
The largest Jewish resistance against the Nazis during the Holocaust. Jewish fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto held off German forces for nearly a month before being overwhelmed.
Question
Who was Winston Churchill?
Answer
Prime Minister of Britain (1940–1945) during most of WW2, known for his powerful speeches and determination that helped Britain survive the German onslaught.
Question
What was the significance of the Battle of El Alamein (1942)?
Answer
Allied victory in North Africa that stopped the German advance toward Egypt and the Suez Canal, marking a major turning point in the North African Campaign.
Question
What agreement was made at the Yalta Conference (1945)?
Answer
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agreed on the post-war reorganization of Europe, including free elections in liberated countries and the division of Germany.