THE WORLD AT WAR 1939 -45

Q What is meant by ‘ Nazism’ ?

The word Nazi is short for Nationalsozialist (supporter of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche
Arbeiterparty) in the German language. This means "National Socialist German Workers' Party".
Hitler was the leader of the Nazi party , him and the Nazis believed that the German race was the most
purest among the Aryans hence the ‘ master race ‘ ; all others ,especially Jews ,Slavs and gypsies were
considered inferior .

Q What were Hitler’s views about the German race ?

Hitler believed the German race the ‘ Master race ‘ and the superior to all other Aryan races ; e.g. Jews
Slavs and the Gypsies . The Slavs (along with Gypsies and Jews) were defined as being racially inferior
and non-Aryan Untermenschen, and were thus considered to be a danger to the "Aryan" or Germanic
Übermenschen master race . They were to be removed from Central Europe through expulsion,
enslavement, starvation, and extermination.

Q Why did the Nazi party gain popularity in Germany after World War 1?

The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles left Germany weak as a nation, politically and economically .
The situation was made worse by the economic crisis that followed worldwide after the US stock market
crash in 1929 .The Nazis , a nationalist movement led by Adolf Hitler gained popularity , as they came to
power ,he promised to ignore the Treaty of Versailles and take revenge for Germanys defeat in WW1 .
He also re armed Germany and increased the number of the forces.
Q Explain why World War 2 took place ?

Meanwhile Dictators in Europe were actively asserting their powers ;Mussolini and his fascist party in
Italy ,Stalin and communism in Russia and Franco in Spain become powerful and acquired territory for
themselves .First ,Germany took over Austria and then acquired a part of Czechoslovakia where
German’s were in majority .Italy took over Ethiopia and then Albania .In the east ,Japan invaded China
killing thousands and then Mongolia but were met by tough resistance by the Chinese and soviet troops
.The league of nations was unable to stop this forcible occupation of other lands but Britain and France
threatened to declare war on Germany if they invaded Poland .On 1 September 1939 ,Germany invaded
Poland , on 3 September Britain and France declared war on Germany

Q Explain Germany role in World War 2.

Germany was one of the main player of WW2, along with Japan and Italy they formed an alliance called
Axis.it was led by Adolf Hitler and the war was declared because it invaded Poland even though Britain
and France threatened them not to.

Q How was Japan brought to surrender in World War 2?

The surprise attack by the Japanese on the US naval base, pearl Harbour in Hawaii on 7 December 1941
drew the USA into the war. USA then used the newly invented atomic bomb to wipe out the Japanese
cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 which led to Japan surrender. This was the first and only
use of atomic weapon in WW2.

Q What made USA enter the war in 1941?

The attack by Japan on the pearl Harbour in Hawaii on 7 December 1941 made USA enter the war. The
USA then bombed the japan cities called Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which made Japan surrender.
Q Explain how the balance of power changed after WW2.