World War II, The Cold War, and Southern European Geography

1. World War II: Main Ideas and Big Idea

Main Ideas:

• Economic and political problems troubled Europe in the years after World War I.
• World War II broke out when Germany invaded Poland.
• Nazi Germany targeted Jews during the Holocaust.
• Allied victories in Europe and Japan brought the end of World War II.

Big Idea:

Problems in Europe led to World War II, the deadliest war in history.

2. Great Depression: Definition

A global economic crisis in the 1930s.

3. Alliances of World War II

Allies: United States, France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.

Axis: Germany, Italy, and Japan.

4. Dictators: Meaning and Famous Figures

A dictator is a ruler who has total control.

• Russia: Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin
• Italy: Benito Mussolini
• Germany: Adolf Hitler

5. The Holocaust: Meaning

It was the attempt by the Nazi government during World War II to eliminate Europe’s Jews.

6. Cold War: Definition

A period of tense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.

7. Cold War: Causes and Effects

• Cause 1: Rivalry develops between democratic and communist governments.
• Effect 1: Alliances divided Europe between communist and non-communist countries.
• Cause 2: Hostilities between democratic and communist governments increase.
• Effect 2: Germany is divided into two separate countries.
• Cause 3: The superpowers dispute the division of Germany after World War II.
• Effect 3: The United States and the Soviet Union engage in a nuclear arms race.

8. Southern Europe: Physical Geography

Main Ideas:

• Southern Europe’s physical features include rugged mountains and narrow coastal plains.
• The region’s climate and resources support such industries as agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

Big Idea:

The peninsulas of Southern Europe have rocky terrains and sunny, mild climates.

9. Countries of Southern Europe

• Portugal and Spain
• Italy
• Greece

10. Peninsulas of Southern Europe

The mountains of Southern Europe form several large rivers. On the Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenees form a boundary between Spain and France. The Apennines run along the whole peninsula, and the Alps are in the north.