Question 1: We celebrate the 81st anniversary of D-Day today. What was its significance?
- Allied invasion of Normandy
- Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
- Start of the Battle of the Bulge
Answer: Allied invasion of Normandy
Fact: On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces carried out the Normandy landings. American, British, and Canadian troops landed on five beaches in Normandy, France: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. This marked the beginning of the liberation of northern France, which set the stage for the Allied advance into Germany and the eventual defeat of the Nazis.
Question 2: Which countries were considered the principal members of the Allied forces?
- Germany, Italy, and Japan
- United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union, and China
- Canada, Hungary, and Thailand
Answer: United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union, and China
Fact: The Allies, officially called the United Nations from 1942, were an international coalition created during World War II to counter the Axis powers. By 1941, the core members—known as the ‘Big Four’—consisted of the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and the Republic of China, with membership expanding as the war progressed.
Question 3: What was the German defensive structure along the coast of Western Europe during World War II?
- Maginot Line
- Berlin Wall
- Atlantic Wall
Answer: Atlantic Wall
Fact: In 1942, Hitler ordered the construction of the Atlantic Wall—a network of fortifications consisting of bunkers, mines, and obstacles intended to prevent Allied invasions. To build it, over half a million French workers were conscripted. Nazi propaganda often inflated its size and strength to bolster morale.