DTW GED PREP

World War II was fundamentally a war of German aggression, with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime seeking to reverse the defeat of World War I and expand Germany’s territorial control across Europe. The conflict was rooted in Germany’s desire to avenge its perceived humiliation from the Treaty of Versailles, which had imposed harsh penalties and territorial losses after World War I. Hitler’s ambition to establish a dominant German empire, similar to Napoleon’s earlier conquests, led to a series of aggressive military actions that would plunge Europe—and eventually the world—into another devastating conflict.

The war officially began in 1939 when Germany, having already annexed Austria and taken control of Czechoslovakia, invaded Poland. This prompted France and Great Britain to declare war on Germany. However, Germany’s military strategy was swift and effective. The German army, employing blitzkrieg tactics, rapidly conquered Poland, followed by the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. In a matter of weeks, France fell to German occupation. Despite their success on the European continent, Germany’s attempt to invade Britain was thwarted by the British Royal Air Force, marking a crucial turning point in the war. However, Hitler did not relent; instead, he turned his attention eastward and began planning the invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Axis powers, led by Germany and Italy, were in control of much of Europe and North Africa by the end of 1942. Their well-coordinated invasions, often launched by surprise, were initially successful, and they swiftly occupied vast territories. Meanwhile, Japan, which had already invaded China and was looking to expand further, aligned itself with Germany and Italy in the Axis alliance. In 1941, Japan’s attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii drew the United States into the conflict, with Germany declaring war on the U.S. soon after. This expansion of the war into the Pacific theater transformed the conflict into a truly global war.

As the war continued, the tide began to turn against the Axis powers. The combined industrial and military might of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union proved decisive. The United States, with its factories far from the frontlines, was able to supply the Allies with crucial war materials, including tanks, munitions, and aircraft, which kept their forces well-equipped despite the Axis powers’ initial successes. The Allied powers also had the advantage of greater manpower, and their combined strength began to push back the Axis forces on both the European and Pacific fronts.

The war also witnessed horrific human rights atrocities, particularly at the hands of the Nazis. During the occupation of Europe, the Nazi regime implemented brutal racial persecution, most notably against Jews. Approximately six million Jews were systematically murdered in concentration camps, a genocide now known as the Holocaust. Other minority groups, including Romani people, disabled individuals, political dissidents, and others, were also targeted by the Nazis. The sheer scale of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, along with the suffering inflicted on civilians across Europe, makes World War II one of the darkest periods in human history.

The Pacific theater of the war was marked by intense fighting between Japan and the Allies. After several years of fierce battles, Japan’s resistance was finally broken in 1945. The United States, after capturing several key islands in the Pacific, used atomic bombs to destroy the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender. The war in Europe had already ended earlier in 1945 when Germany, facing multiple defeats on the Eastern and Western fronts, surrendered unconditionally. Hitler had committed suicide in April 1945 as Soviet forces closed in on Berlin.

World War II ended with the complete defeat of the Axis powers, but it left a profound impact on the world. The war reshaped global politics, led to the creation of the United Nations, and initiated the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The war’s legacy is also marked by the profound human cost, including the deaths of tens of millions of people, both military and civilian. The Holocaust and the destruction wrought by the war left lasting scars on humanity, underscoring the need for international cooperation to prevent such atrocities in the future.

WORLD WAR II

Here is the rephrased version of the questions:

Directions: Select the most appropriate answer for each question.

1. In 1939, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany after it invaded which country?
   A. Poland
   B. Austria
   C. France
   D. The Netherlands

Question 2 is based on the following passage:
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at Japan’s request, was still engaged in talks with its government and emperor, seeking to maintain peace in the Pacific.”
—Excerpt from President Franklin Roosevelt’s speech to Congress, requesting a declaration of war, December 8, 1941

2. According to President Roosevelt’s speech, why will December 7, 1941, be remembered as “a date which will live in infamy”?
   A. The attack on Pearl Harbor had no effect on the United States.
   B. The United States was already at war with Germany in Europe.
   C. Japan had never attacked another country before.
   D. The United States was attacked without any prior declaration of war.

1. In 1939, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany after it invaded which country?
✅ A. Poland
Explanation: Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, prompting Britain and France to declare war, marking the official beginning of World War II in Europe.

2. According to President Roosevelt’s speech, why will December 7, 1941, be remembered as “a date which will live in infamy”?
✅ D. The United States was attacked without any prior declaration of war.
Explanation: Roosevelt emphasized that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise assault during a time of ongoing peace negotiations, which made it particularly shocking and infamous.