Understand the Second World War

01 Introduction The main causes of World War 11 Who was most to blame for the War? 02 The European War: 1939-40 Why did Germany triumph? Why did France collapse so quickly? 03 Britain Alone: 1940-1 Why did Britain survive? The strength of Britain's position in 1941? 04 Operation Barbarossa Why did Hitler launch his attack on the USSR in 1941? Why did Barbarossa not succeed? 05 Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan Why did Hitler declare war on the USA? 06 The Turning of the Tide: 1942-3 How close to success were the Axis powers in the summer of 1942? Turning the tide 07 The Home Fronts The impact of the war on Axis and Allied societies Why did the Allied powers out-produce the Axis powers? 08 Resistance and Collaboration To what extent did occupied countries collaborate with the conquerors? The strength of the resistance 09 The Holocaust Why did it happen? Who was most to blame? 10 War at Sea and in the Air The Allies victory in the Battle of the Atlantic How effective was Allied bombing? 11 Allied Advance: 1943-4 The Russians' success in the east How successful were the Allies in the west? 12 Leadership The effectiveness of the main leaders Who was the most effective leader? 13 The Defeat of Germany The success of the Allies in 1944-5 Should American and British strategy have been different? 14 The Defeat of Japan Why was the USA successful in the Pacific War? Should the USA have dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? 15 Conclusion Did the Allies win or the Axis lose? The main consequences of the War