1) What was the second Country to fall to the German blitzkreig?
Denmark, without a shot (which coincidentally gave the US a key base in Iceland and Greenland).
2) What was the largest Empire out of the three Axis nations (Germany, Italy, and Japan)?
Japan, with much of China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Northern New Guinea, and pacific Islands. Germany could neatly fit into corner of Japan's empire at its height.
3) Which US bomber was known as the "Flying Fortress"?
B-17.
4) What was Turkey's stance in WW2?
Neutral, then declared war on the Axis in the last few weeks, like most of the world.
5) What was the sister ship to the Bismarck?
Prinz Eugen, though I'm starting to doubt myself here. It might be the Tirpitz... Didn't affect the high scores, though.
6) What was the second country to fall to Italy in WW2?
Albania. Ethiopia was the first. Albania was the last to fall soley to Italian troops.
7) What was the main Russian Tank of WW2?
T-34. I also accepted T-35, because they are so close in numbering.
8) Which government was supported by Germany and Italy in its early years but did not join WW2?
Franco's Facist Spain.
9) What were the three main government types in WW2?
Communism, Facism, and Democracy. Also accepted National Socialism in the place of Facism, Capitalism in the place of Democracy.
10) What battle was fought in the middle of New Guinea and stopped the Japanese military from taking a crucial base to invade Australia (Hint: its date is a national holiday in Australia, named after the battle).
Kokoda Trail. This is the oddball question in the group.
The Japanese had captured Northern New Guinea. With the defeat of their fleet in the Coral Sea, a naval option to take Australia was out. So they needed to take a base on the south coast of New Guinea, namely, Port Moresby.
New Guinea is divided into Northern and Southern Parts by the Owen Stanley mountain ranges. The only way to get6 through was a few passes. The Japanese took the Kokoda Trail route.
The US commanders of the Australians decided that they needed to investigate the rumors of a Japanese march on Port Moresby, and sent a few Australian irregulars to probe forward. They were told to proceed to the "Gap", supposedly a narrow mountain pass. They were told "A platoon could hold off an entire army at the Gap."
They arrived and found this "Gap" to be seven miles wide.
Sending the troops onto the Kokoda Trail was like sending them into a different enviornment, one utterly alien and hostile to humans. The rain fell constantly, making the term "rainforest" come to life. The mud, an ugly grey slush, was ankle deep, hiding tree roots that twisted ankles with ease.
The Owen Stanleys were steep. Going up was exausting. Going dow was even more so, because you had to go down gradually from side to side of the Trail. The men fell in the mud at least three times a day.
The Australians held off the Japanese superior numbers for much longer than they "should" have. They conducted a masterful defensive withdrawl through the rainforest against the superior numbers, equipment, and training of the Japanese. They held off long enough for their long awaited reinforcements to come, and relieve them, and the best that Japan had thrown against them was stopped.
Through sheer heroism and bravery, they essentially saved Australia, and were criticized heavily by the media and American commander MacArthur for their retreat, even if stubborn.
And that is your day's history lesson. Memorize it.
As usual, Temanin high score, which was I think 7.5.
BTW,
after Temanin goes, I am adding a new thing to the rules. So this does not turn into a two person game, with two people asking the same questions over and over, a person cannot win, pass it on, and then win again. In other words, if I win when Temanin asks the questions, I can't go again, because I already asked that which caused him to go. If I did win, then the next highest score would get to ask. Get it?
