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All questions of The Second World War, 1939-45 for UPSC CSE Exam

What was the purpose of the Bretton Woods Conference held during World War II?
  • a)
    To establish the United Nations
  • b)
    To plan the division of Germany
  • c)
    To create the European Union
  • d)
    To make financial arrangements for the postwar world
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

The Bretton Woods Conference, held during World War II, aimed to make financial arrangements for the postwar world after the expected defeat of Germany and Japan. It led to the establishment of financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, now known as the World Bank), which played crucial roles in post-war economic stability and development.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II?
  • a)
    Germany surrendered to the Soviet Union
  • b)
    The Allies captured Berlin
  • c)
    The first major defeat of Hitler's armies
  • d)
    Japan surrendered unconditionally
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

T.S Academy answered
The Battle of Stalingrad, which took place from August 1942 to February 1943, resulted in the first major defeat of Hitler's armies during World War II. German forces surrendered to the Soviet Union in Stalingrad, marking a turning point in the Eastern Front of the war.

What event prompted the United States to enter World War II?
  • a)
    The attack on Pearl Harbor
  • b)
    The bombing of Hiroshima
  • c)
    The Battle of Midway
  • d)
    The surrender of Germany
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Lakshya Ias answered
The United States entered World War II following the surprise attack on its naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. This attack led to the United States declaring war on Japan and, subsequently, Germany declaring war on the United States.

What major crisis in Berlin led to the introduction of the Berlin blockade and airlift, as discussed in the text?
  • a)
    The Korean War
  • b)
    The establishment of NATO
  • c)
    The division of Germany into zones
  • d)
    The introduction of the Marshall Plan
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option C: The division of Germany into zones. The text explains that the Berlin blockade and airlift were a response to the division of Germany into zones and the introduction of a new currency in West Berlin, which escalated tensions between the Western powers and the Soviet Union.

What event led to the introduction of the Truman Doctrine, as described in the text?
  • a)
    The Berlin Blockade
  • b)
    The Marshall Plan
  • c)
    The Korean War
  • d)
    The Cominform establishment
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option A: The Berlin Blockade. The text explains that the introduction of the Truman Doctrine was prompted by events in Greece and the attempt by communists to overthrow the monarchy. This crisis in Greece led to the announcement of the Truman Doctrine.

What significant result of World War II led to the birth of the United Nations?
  • a)
    The end of colonialism in Africa and Asia
  • b)
    The rise of the United States as a superpower
  • c)
    The division of Germany into East and West
  • d)
    The establishment of the European Union
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Upsc Toppers answered
World War II contributed to the end of colonialism in Africa and Asia. The war weakened European colonial powers, such as Britain and France, and their ability to maintain control over their colonies. This, in turn, paved the way for decolonization in the post-war world.

What event marked the beginning of the Cold War after World War II?
  • a)
    The signing of the Bretton Woods Agreement
  • b)
    The establishment of the United Nations
  • c)
    The division of Germany into East and West
  • d)
    The Korean War
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

BT Educators answered
The division of Germany into East Germany (under Soviet influence) and West Germany (a democratic state) marked the beginning of the Cold War after World War II. This division reflected the growing tensions between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, setting the stage for the Cold War conflict.

What was the primary purpose of the Cominform, as mentioned in the text?
  • a)
    To promote economic cooperation among Western European nations
  • b)
    To coordinate military efforts against the Soviet Union
  • c)
    To establish a new international organization
  • d)
    To draw together various European communist parties and enforce Soviet-style communism
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option D: To draw together various European communist parties and enforce Soviet-style communism. The text states that the primary purpose of the Cominform was to draw together various European communist parties and promote Soviet-style communism in Eastern Europe.

Which of the following countries was NOT part of the Communist bloc in Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1948, as mentioned in the text?
  • a)
    Poland
  • b)
    Hungary
  • c)
    West Germany
  • d)
    Bulgaria
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option C: West Germany. The text states that between 1945 and 1948, the USSR drew most of the states of Eastern Europe into its orbit, including Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and others. However, West Germany was not part of the Communist bloc during this period.

What term did Winston Churchill use in his speech in Fulton, Missouri, in March 1946, as mentioned in the text?
  • a)
    The Iron Curtain
  • b)
    The Cold War
  • c)
    The Marshall Plan
  • d)
    The Truman Doctrine
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option A: The Iron Curtain. In his speech in Fulton, Missouri, in March 1946, Winston Churchill used the term "The Iron Curtain" to describe the division and political tension between Eastern and Western Europe.

What term is used to describe the period of political tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II, as mentioned in the text?
  • a)
    The Peaceful Era
  • b)
    The Great Alliance
  • c)
    The Cold War
  • d)
    The Post-War Decade
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option C: The Cold War. The text mentions that the period of political tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II is known as the Cold War. This period was characterized by ideological differences and non-military conflict.

What was the primary reason behind the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
  • a)
    To force Japan's surrender
  • b)
    To retaliate against Germany
  • c)
    To test the effectiveness of the bombs
  • d)
    To destroy Japanese military bases
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Lakshya Ias answered
The primary reason for using atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was to force Japan's surrender. The bombings, which occurred in August 1945, resulted in significant destruction and loss of life, leading Japan to surrender and effectively ending World War II.

What significant event marked the end of World War II in Europe?
  • a)
    The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
  • b)
    The fall of Berlin to the Soviet Union
  • c)
    The Battle of Midway in the Pacific
  • d)
    The dropping of atomic bombs on Japan
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Upsc Toppers answered
The end of World War II in Europe was marked by the fall of Berlin to the Soviet Union. Soviet forces captured Berlin on April 21, 1945, and Adolf Hitler's suicide followed shortly thereafter, leading to Germany's unconditional surrender.

Which country, the last democratic state in Eastern Europe, experienced a communist takeover in February 1948, as mentioned in the text?
  • a)
    Hungary
  • b)
    Romania
  • c)
    Czechoslovakia
  • d)
    Yugoslavia
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option C: Czechoslovakia. The text mentions that Czechoslovakia, the last democratic state in Eastern Europe, experienced a communist takeover in February 1948. This event marked a significant development during the early years of the Cold War.

Which organization did the Soviet Union establish in response to the Marshall Plan and to draw together various European communist parties, as mentioned in the text?
  • a)
    United Nations (UN)
  • b)
    Cominform (Communist Information Bureau)
  • c)
    NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
  • d)
    Comecon (Council of Mutual Economic Assistance)
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Valor Academy answered
The correct answer is Option B: Cominform (Communist Information Bureau). The text states that the Soviet Union established the Cominform in response to the Marshall Plan. It was created to draw together various European communist parties and promote Soviet-style communism in Eastern Europe.

What was the significance of the Battle of Britain during World War II?
  • a)
    It was the first battle fought exclusively in the air.
  • b)
    It resulted in the surrender of France to Germany.
  • c)
    It marked the entry of the United States into the war.
  • d)
    It led to the defeat of German forces at Stalingrad.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev UPSC answered
The Battle of Britain, lasting from July to September 1940, was a significant air battle during World War II. It was the first major battle in history that was fought solely in the air, as German and British air forces clashed over the skies of Britain. The British Royal Air Force managed to repel the German attacks, preventing a German invasion of Britain.

Which country was expelled from the Cominform in 1948 after defying Stalin's attempts to interfere in its internal affairs, as discussed in the text?
  • a)
    Poland
  • b)
    Bulgaria
  • c)
    Albania
  • d)
    Yugoslavia
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is Option D: Yugoslavia. The text mentions that Yugoslavia, under the leadership of Marshal Tito, was expelled from the Cominform in 1948 after defying Stalin's attempts to interfere in its internal affairs.

What was the main economic aid program introduced by the United States to support the recovery of Western Europe after World War II, as discussed in the text?
  • a)
    The Truman Doctrine
  • b)
    The Cominform
  • c)
    The Yalta Plan
  • d)
    The Marshall Plan
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Valor Academy answered
The correct answer is Option D: The Marshall Plan. The text mentions that the Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Programme (ERP), was an economic aid program introduced by the United States to support the recovery of Western Europe after World War II. It provided significant financial assistance to European countries.

What was the primary reason for the failure of the League of Nations?
  • a)
    Lack of international support
  • b)
    Inadequate military enforcement
  • c)
    Economic instability
  • d)
    Absence of diplomatic efforts
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev UPSC answered
The League of Nations, established after World War I, aimed to maintain world peace through diplomacy and collective security. However, one of the primary reasons for its failure was the inadequate military enforcement of its decisions. While the League had the intention to prevent military aggression, it lacked a standing military force of its own to effectively deter or respond to aggressors. This limitation undermined its ability to enforce its decisions and contributed to its ultimate failure.

What was the key event that marked the beginning of World War II?
  • a)
    The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
  • b)
    The invasion of Czechoslovakia by Germany
  • c)
    The German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
  • d)
    The German invasion of Poland
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev UPSC answered
World War II officially began with the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. This invasion prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the start of the global conflict. The invasion of Poland is considered a key turning point that led to the broader involvement of nations in the war.

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