Aerial reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is finding out about an area before a mission takes place - also called ‘recce’. Using aircraft to fly over an area to find out about the enemy is called aerial reconnaissance.
Allies
The countries fighting together against Nazi Germany and Japan in the Second World War.
Amphibious
The DD tanks were designed to be amphibious which meant they could work whilst in the sea and still work when they came out onto dry land.
Bunkers
A bunker is a safe stronghold where troops can hide from enemy fire and defend themselves.
Casualties
Troops killed in action, wounded, captured or missing are usually included in casualty numbers.
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is a ‘family’ of countries that share much in common and aim to work together. Initially the members all had the United Kingdom’s King or Queen at their head but today most are independent. The Queen remains the head of the Commonwealth as an organisation
Conscripts
In 1939 the British government declared that all young men between 18-41 had to enlist for military service unless they were, for instance, in a job essential to the war effort. They were therefore ‘conscripted’ for armed service instead of volunteering. The age limit was later extended to 51. At the end of 1941 conscription for women aged 19-30 (later extended to 50) was introduced for the first time in Britain, for civilian (non-military) war work or military support. Nazi forces also used conscripted men.
Cross-Channel
The English Channel separates England from France; many boats crossed it during D-Day.
D-Day
The first day of Operation Overlord 6/6/1944.
Democracy
A fair system of government that allows all adult citizens to vote for the government that they want. It gives people a say in all matters.
Double-agent
A spy who pretends they are working for one side when in fact they are feeding information about that side back to the enemy.
Encrypted
In a form of coded language.
Enigma
A German machine used to translate messages into complicated code before they were sent.
Evacuated
An evacuee is someone who is removed from an area of danger by others. Allied troops were evacuated from Dunkirk in France in 1940. Many children in British towns were evacuated to the countryside during the Second World War too.
Field hospitals
In wartime temporary field hospitals are set up close to the front line to treat the wounded as quickly as possible. Many medical advances have been made as a result of field hospital medicine.
Hitler
Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazis and all of the German forces in the Second World War.
Horsa Glider
Horsa Gliders were towed across the Channel behind planes and then released to land on enemy territory – gliders have no engine power.
Infantrymen
Foot soldiers (as opposed to air or sea troops).
Intelligence
The military term for important information that can be discovered about enemy actions or hostile territory, to help make informed plans.
Liberate
To liberate means to free – many French towns and cities were liberated by Allied troops in the Battle of Normandy and subsequent advances.
Meteorological
Meteorological’ means to do with the weather.
Mines
Highly explosive devises hidden on land or floating in the sea to stop troops advancing.
Minesweeping
Minesweeping tanks searched for and cleared German mines before infantrymen advanced.
Nazis
Followers of the political party in power in Germany at the time of the Second World War, known for its intolerant and inhumane policies.
Occupied France
For much of the Second World War France was ‘occupied’ by and under the control of the Nazis.
Occupied territory
A country or area ‘occupied’ by a hostile force.
Operation Neptune
The naval element of Operation Overlord.
Operation Overlord
The codename for the Allied invasion of mainland Europe, starting with D-Day’s landings.
Pill boxes
‘Pill boxes’ were small concrete defensive gun emplacements that looked a bit like their name.
Sorties
A sortie is a military term for a mission outing. It comes from French - ‘sortie’ meaning ‘exit’.
Soviet Union
The country known as Russia today used to be the leader of a group of other countries in that part of Europe known as the Soviet Union.
Spigot mortar
A type of weapon that could be used to combat German tanks. It was designed to be cheap and quite easy to produce so lots of them were made.
Strategy
A strategy is a detailed plan of action.
Terrain
The type of land and the natural surroundings.
