World War II Trivia Game

1. In September 1939, Germany declared war and attacked Poland over a border dispute. Modern, mechanized units of the German Army launched a lightning war across the polish plains toward the Polish capitol of Warsaw. The Polish army, despite its brave resistance, could do little to check the advance of the German armored columns. How did the situation end?

2. Although France and England declared war on Germany at the beginning of September 1939 they did little to assist Poland in resisting invasion. The eastern border of France was protected from invasion by a seemingly impregnable line of defense fortifications that was nine miles in depth. What was this line of fortifications called?

3. In April of 1940 the Germans invaded Norway and Denmark, and the British went to the assistance of the two countries. By May 3, however, the Germans forced the British to evacuate and then they completed the conquest of Norway. On May 10, Germany overran Holland and Belgium, easily passing the Maginot Line. The British army had to depart quickly lest they be taken prisoner as they could not out power the Germans. This was done by evacuation by ships and boats, fishing vessels, and tiny boats of all kinds who ferried the men to safety. Where did they escape and embark from?

4. The Fall of France occurred when Paris fell to the Germans. What date ended the fighting against France, when it became a satellite of Germany?

5. The Battle of Britain was a scary time for its citizens, as the Royal Air Force was fighting in the air against planes sent by Germany’s Luftwaffe air force, who tried to bomb the country into submission to Germany. England was not going to give up without a fight. There was no invasion of great Britain due to the phenomenal success of the Royal Air Force. While the nightly air bombings went on over London, what did many of the citizens do to assist?

6. The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini brought his country into war by attacking France from the rear while that nation was fighting Germany in the spring of 1940.The Italian army suffered a series of setbacks and defeats. The British later enteredinto battles with Italian colonial forces in what country?

7. There was a large ship that the Germans were very proud of. It was the mighty ship that bore the name of a past Chancellor. It later destroyed the British ship HOOD. Later fighting a British squadron, it was struck by the British fleet and destroyed to the cheers of the free world. What was this famous German ship’s name?

8. Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, her former ally. (Germany did not remember her manners!) Russian resistance was fierce, but disorganized by the Russian attacks, which enabled German columns to advance through Russia. One very important Russian city was under siege and surrounded. Which Russian city was that?

9. On December 7th, 1941, a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Japanese,was carried out, which virtually disabled or sunk the whole American fleet of warships. Paducah’s own Mr. Allard Vessels was aboard the battleship USS Arizona as a youngnaval enlistee, and he survived! What unbelievable mission had been going on inWashington, DC just prior to the attack?

10. The United States entered WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. What did President Roosevelt call the action of the Japanese when he requested Congress to declarewar on Japan?

11. The Japanese were victorious in unleashing a multi pronged offensive on the Asian mainland, since all of the American battleships were temporarily out of action. In January 1941 the Japanese forces occupied Manila and forced the surrender of surviving US and Filipino forces in which month?

12. Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill were called the “Big Three” when they met to dis-cuss the situations brought up by the war. They each had their own house that was the headquarters for their cabinet, their assistants, and their secretaries that accompanied them to the meeting. Roosevelt took his daughter, Anna with him, but not his wife, Eleanor. It hurt Eleanor’s feelings. What was Roosevelt’s nickname for Stalin?

13. Roosevelt was worn down tremendously from the strain, stress, and worry of leading a country through a Depression, as well as through a World War. He was elected tofour consecutive terms as American president. Friends said his face was ashen gray and he shook with palsy at the beginning of his fourth term. Vice President Trumanmet with him a few times and was very concerned. What happened during the April following his 4th Inauguration, at Warm Springs Georgia?

14. When Roosevelt died, Harry S. Truman became President of the United States. He had to educate himself on all matters of the war in a very short time. Truman was a plain person, but one with strong farm roots and a stronger moral sense, from Missouri. His mother, his wife Bess and daughter Margaret were his whole life. They werea very close family. What did Truman say to reporters when he became President sosuddenly?

15. The war was brought to a close when the surrender of the Japanese was accepted by President Truman aboard the USS Missouri in 1945. (V-E Day was for Victory in Europe, V-J Day was for Victory in Japan. They did not occur on the same day.) Where is the Battleship Missouri located today?