Activity World War 2

1. What is a dictatorship and Who were the Main leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Usa,
United Kingdom and The Soviet Union during the WW2?

What is a dictatorship?

A dictatorship is a system of government in which political power is concentrated in the hands of

a single person or a small group of individuals, generally without free elections or significant
participation of the population. Decisions and policies are imposed in an authoritarian manner
and political opposition is often not allowed.

Major leaders during World War II

France: Philippe Pétain (collaborator) and Charles de Gaulle (Free French).

Italy: Benito Mussolini.

Germany: Adolf Hitler.

Japan: Emperor Hirohito and Hideki Tojo.

United States: Franklin D. Roosevelt and then Harry S. Truman.

United Kingdom: Winston Churchill.

Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin.

These were the main leaders of these countries during World War II.

¿Que es una dictadura?

Una dictadura es un sistema de gobierno en el cual el poder político se concentra en manos de una
sola persona o un grupo reducido de individuos, generalmente sin elecciones libres ni
participación significativa de la población. Las decisiones y políticas son impuestas de manera
autoritaria y a menudo no se permite la oposición política.

Principales líderes durante la segunda guerra mundial

Francia: Philippe Pétain (colaboracionista) y Charles de Gaulle (franceses libres).

Italia: Benito Mussolini.

Alemania: Adolf Hitler.

Japón: Emperador Hirohito y Hideki Tojo.

Estados Unidos: Franklin D. Roosevelt y luego Harry S. Truman.

Reino Unido: Winston Churchill.

Unión Soviética: Joseph Stalin.

Estos fueron los principales líderes de estos países durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

2.Which countries were allied by the axis power and the allied power?

During World War II, the two main alliances were:

Axis Powers:

The main Axis powers were led by:

1. Germany (Nazi)

2. Italy (Fascist)

3. Japan (Imperial)

Other countries joined or collaborated with the Axis Powers at different times, such as Hungary,
Romania, Bulgaria, and Finland.

Allied Powers:

The main Allied Powers were led by:

1. United States

2. United Kingdom

3. Soviet Union (Russia)

Other important allied countries included France (after its liberation in 1944), China, Canada,
Australia, and many others who joined throughout the conflict.

3. Develop a conceptual map with the causes and consequences of the WW2.

Causes of World War II:

 Treaty of Versailles (1919):* The treaty that ended World War I brought strong and
territorial sanctions to Germany, which generated resentment and nationalist feelings.
 Expansionism and Ambitions of the Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan all had
expansionist leaders, such as Hitler and Mussolini, who sought territorial expansion and
dominance.
 Appeasement Policy: Some Western nations attempted to appease the Axis Powers rather
than confront their early aggression, allowing these powers to expand.
 Invasion of Poland (1939): The German invasion of Poland in September 1939 marked the
start of the war and led to France and the United Kingdom declaring war on Germany
Consequences of World War II:

 Devastation and Loss of Lives: World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, with
millions of deaths and great destruction of countries.
 Division of Germany: Germany was divided into two zones: one controlled by the Western
Allies and the other by the Soviet Union, eventually leading to the Cold War.
 Creation of the United Nations: To prevent future global conflicts, the UN was established
in 1945 as an international organization for cooperation and peace.
 Start of the Cold War: Tensions between the emerging superpowers, the United States
and the Soviet Union, led to the start of the Cold War, an ideological and political
confrontation that lasted for decades.

4. Develop a timeline with the most important events.

World War II was a global conflict that spanned from 1939 to 1945 and was marked by a series of
significant events.

1. Invasion of Poland (1939)

2. Battle of Dunkirk (1940)

3. Battle of Britain (1940-1941)

4. Operation Barbarossa (1941)

5. Attack on Pearl Harbor (1941)

6. Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)

7. Normandy landings (D-Day, 1944)

8. Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945)

9. Signing of the Surrender of Germany (1945)

5. Describe the attack on Pearl Harbor.

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii,
destroying American ships and aircraft. This led to the United States' entry into World War II the
next day, uniting the nation in the fight against Japan and the Axis Powers. It was a crucial event in
the history of the war.

6. Explain the Battle of Dunkirk, The Battle of Britain and The Battle of Stalingrad.

Tha Battle Of Dunkirk

The Battle of Dunkirk was an episode in World War II in 1940, where the Allied forces were
trapped near Dunkirk, France, by the German advance. An evacuation operation called Dinamo
managed to rescue hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk beach. Although the
Allies lost equipment and territory, the evacuation saved lives and allowed Britain to continue
fighting the war.

The Battle Of Britain

The Battle of Britain was an aerial conflict between the British Royal Air Force and the German
Luftwaffe in 1940. It was an attempt by Germany to gain air superiority over Britain as a prelude to
an invasion. The British RAF successfully resisted German air attacks, leading to the withdrawal of
the invasion threat and marking a turning point in World War II.

The Battle Of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad was a key confrontation between German and Soviet forces in World War
II, which took place in the city of Stalingrad, Soviet Union, between 1942 and 1943. It was a brutal,
large-scale battle that resulted in the decisive defeat of Germany, marking a turning point in the
war on the Eastern Front.

7. Explain the NAZI, Fascism and Communism ideologies.

Nazi ideology

Based on extreme nationalism and racism, was promoted by the Nazi Party in Adolf Hitler's
Germany. Its main characteristics included Aryan supremacy, anti-Semitism, totalitarianism, belief
in German living space (Lebensraum) and the pursuit of territorial expansion. The Nazis promoted
authoritarianism, the persecution of minority groups, and the creation of a one-party state under
the absolute leadership of Hitler. These ideas led to discrimination, persecution, and the
Holocaust, where millions of people, especially Jews, were murdered in Nazi concentration camps.

Fascism

Is a political and social ideology characterized by strong authoritarianism, extreme nationalism and
a belief in the supremacy of the State over individual rights. Fascist regimes, such as that led by
Benito Mussolini in Italy, promoted loyalty to the leader, militarization, ethnic nationalism, and
often the suppression of political opposition. Although characteristics vary, fascism tends to focus
on national unity, state control, and the elimination of perceived threats to the nation

Communism

Is a political and economic ideology that seeks economic equality and the elimination of private
property. It is based on the collective ownership of the means of production and the equitable
distribution of wealth. Communists believe in the abolition of social classes and the dictatorship
of the proletariat, where workers have political and economic control. However, in practice,
communist regimes have tended to be authoritarian and have had centralized state control over
the economy and society.
8. What is Genocide and was the Holocaust?

Genocide is a term used to describe a systematic and deliberate act of extermination or

elimination of a specific ethnic, religious, racial or national group. Implies the intention to destroy,
in whole or in part, that group, whether through mass murder, forced displacement, systematic
persecution, or other forms of violence.

The Holocaust was the most well-known and most atrocious genocide in history. It occurred
during World War II, mainly in Nazi Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler. During the
Holocaust, the Nazis carried out a systematic plan to exterminate approximately six million Jews,
as well as other persecuted groups, such as gypsies, the disabled, communists, and homosexuals.
This was carried out through concentration and extermination camps, mass executions and other
forms of violence and oppression.

9. How American Foreign Policy changed from Neutral to Involment?

The foreign policy of the United States shifted from neutral to involvement in World War II
primarily due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This surprise attack led
the United States to declare war on Japan the next day. As a result, the United States joined the
Allied Powers in the fight against the Axis Powers and became an active party in the conflict. The
attack on Pearl Harbor unified the American nation and marked a turning point in the United
States' policy of neutrality.

10. What effects did the Atom bomb have on people’s lives?

The atomic bomb had devastating effects on people's lives; It caused the immediate deaths of
tens of thousands of people and left many more with serious injuries and radiation-related
illnesses. Additionally, long-term sequelae included diseases such as cancer and genetic disorders.
The atomic bomb also had a lasting impact on global awareness of the dangers of
nuclear weapons.

11. More people were killed in air raids than by the two atomic bombs but it was the Atomic
bomb that was condemned. Why do you think this is?

Atomic bombs, due to their devastating power and radiation effects, generated more intense
global aversion compared to conventional air raids during World War II. Its use at the end of the
war, the psychological impact and the perception of a new era of nuclear destruction contributed
to its condemnation and the quest to limit its use.

12. Explain the Geneva Convention.

The Geneva Convention is a set of international agreements that establish humanitarian standards
to protect people affected by armed conflict. These standards include the protection of the
wounded, sick, shipwrecked and prisoners of war, as well as the guarantee of humanitarian
treatment of civilians in times of war. The Geneva Conventions aim to reduce human suffering in
conflict and are widely respected in international humanitarian law.
13. How did the WW2 end?

World War II ended in 1945 with the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan:

In Europe, Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, marking the end of the war on the European
front. This day is known as Victory in Europe Day (VE Day).

In the Pacific, Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, after the United States dropped atomic
bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria.

These surrenders led to the end of World War II in Europe and Asia, ending the conflict worldwide.

14. Under what circumstances is a war justified?

The justification of a war is a debated and controversial topic, and many times it is sought to
resolve disputes and conflicts through peaceful and diplomatic means instead of resorting to war.
Furthermore, the use of force must comply with the principles of proportionality and
discrimination, meaning that it must be proportionate to the legitimate objective and everything
possible must be done to minimize the suffering of civilians and non-combatants.

15. What circumstances would lead you to support or oppose your country’s participation in a
war?

The decision to support or oppose the country's participation in a war depends on a number of
complex and variable factors, and varies depending on the individual perspective and values of
people and the policies of governments; as legitimate defense, threat to peace, national interest
or some of the common circumstances that can influence public opinion and
government decision-making

16. Why the results of the war still affect the politics and economics of today’s world?

The results of the war have a lasting impact on current politics and economics due to the political,
economic and social consequences that endure over time, as well as global dynamics that continue
to be shaped by past conflicts.