QC101: An Introductory Course to Quizzing, was held from 22nd March 2021 to 26th March 2021. Blitzkrieg: A Quiz on WWII & Cold War was set by Rishabh. It was hosted on D2C on 25th March.

2. Q1 This is an image of the city square of a major Soviet city
after one of the most crucial battles of the Second World
War took place there, which arguably was a turning point
in the war. The battle had taken place from August 1942
to February 1943 and resulted in nearly a million
casualties on both sides. The name of the city also carried
a lot of significance as it was named after an eminent
Soviet personality, due to which capturing it would also
have been a great propaganda victory for the Germans.
Name the battle being referred to.

3. A1
Stalingrad or Battle of Stalingrad

4. Q2 “Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to
put a ____ up to keep our people in, to prevent them from leaving us.”
This famous quote by an American president referred to a certain thing that the
government of East Germany built, which painfully reflected the dissatisfaction of its
people with the government and their eagerness to leave in large numbers, which made
the government take such a step to reduce the brain drain.
The quote refers to the construction of what?

5. A2
The Berlin Wall

6. Q3 This image may remind you of a certain
event during the Cold War. The Soviets had
blocked road, train and canal access to this
city which fell under Soviet territory. The
Western Bloc, which controlled the Western
half of this city, responded by delivering
necessary supplies by air for over an year.
Name the Event (2 word answer expected one
of which is the name of the city being
referred to).

7. A3
Berlin Blockade or Berlin Airlift

8. Q4 The American foreign policy to contain the expansion of USSR’s
geopolitical influence (and the spread of communism in general) is
given a specific term named after the president who announced it
in Congress. That specific speech is also widely considered by
historians to be the start of the Cold War.
By what term is the stated American policy during the Cold War
referred to?

9. A4
Truman Doctrine

10. Q5 During the Battle of France in 1940, a large number of Allied soldiers were trapped in
an area along the Northern coast of France and were surrounded by German forces.
It seemed likely that they were about to be easily killed or captured by the German
army. However, the Germans decided to halt their advance for a few days. This
provided a window to the Allies to plan an evacuation of the troops. They ended up
evacuating a majority of the troops through the sea in an operation whose success is
often considered a miracle.
What is this evacuation operation known as, which might remind you of a Hollywood
movie which was released a few years ago?

11. A5
Dunkirk Evacuation

12. Q6 Towards the end of the Second World War, the Japanese adopted an
extreme military strategy where their pilots would perform suicide attacks
against Allied naval vessels. They would intentionally crash their planes,
loaded with explosives, into Allied ships. If successful these attacks were
capable of sinking smaller ships and heavily damaging or temporarily
disabling larger warships.
What were these tactics as well as the units carrying out these tactics
known as? (the same term)

13. A6
Kamikaze

14. Q7 This famous politician, who was his nation’s head
of state during the majority of the Second World
War, has the unique distinction of being the only
person to have served more than two terms as
that nation’s leader.
The image shown alongside is a statue erected in
his honour in Grosvenor Square, London
Name the person.

15. A7
Franklin D. Roosevelt

16. Q8 The region of Normandy in Northern France is very well known in the context of
World War 2 because of a certain event that occured on a summer night in 1944.
It was the largest invasion through the sea that has ever occurred in the history
of warfare and laid the foundation for France to be freed from Nazi rule and the
eventual Allied victory on the Western Front of the War.
Which event is being referred to here, which in military terms is appropriately
named referencing when the operation started?

17. A8
Normandy Landings or D-Day Landings

18. Q9 Erwin Rommel, a prominent German general was given the nickname “The
Desert Fox”. He was famous for his military genius and his abilities as a
commander and was a national hero in wartime Germany. He was also possibly
a co-conspirator in the 20 July plot to kill Hitler.
He is primarily known for his battles in which region/front during the Second
World War, which was also the reason behind his nickname?

19. A9
North Africa or Sahara Desert

20. Q10 X was the Prime Minister of his nation for 21 years. He was responsible for
making fascism a major political force in his country. During the course of the
Second World War, he gradually lost public support and several of his close
associates too revolted against him. In 1943, he was overthrown from power by
his Grand Council. He was murdered two days before Hitler committed suicide in
his Berlin bunker.
Identify X

21. A10
Benito Mussolini

22. Q 11 This legendary military aircraft which operated during the Cold War is known for
many of its astonishing characteristics and capabilities. Its main role was
reconnaissance and accordingly its performance parameters were such that
intercepting it was almost impossible for the enemy. It could sustain speeds of
above Mach-3 for hours at a stretch, and the altitudes it operated at were so
high that ground-to-air missiles and enemy fighter planes of that era struggled to
get anywhere near it. In its several years of service, not a single one was shot
down in action.
Name this aircraft.

23. A11
SR-71 Blackbird

24. Q12 This region was, very similar to Germany and Vietnam, divided into two halves, one
having a Communist regime supported by the Soviets and the other being
supported by the USA and its allies. However, unlike Germany and Vietnam, they
never achieved unification and still exist as two different countries to this day.
The standard of living for their citizens vastly differs in the two countries today.
One of these countries possibly owns nuclear weapons, which is a matter of great
concern for the Western powers.
Name the countries.

25. A12
North Korea and South Korea

26. Q13 The present-day country of Vietnam was divided into two parts during the initial
years of the Cold War. One of the parts was Communist, led by a person X, while
the other part was anti-Communist in ideology. X was one of the most influential
communist leaders of all time. Interestingly, even a major road in Kolkata is named
after him. Time magazine listed him in the list of ‘100 most important people of the
20th century’.
One of the major cities of Vietnam today carries his name.
Identify X.

27. A13
Ho Chi Minh

28. Q14 This island nation in the Caribbean was one of the major flashpoints during the
Cold War. After a Communist regime was set up there, the USA tried in vain to
overthrow the government. USSR maintained close ties with that nation, and even
set up a lot of their military assets, including nuclear missiles, there. This resulted
in a full blown crisis which almost resulted in a direct war between the two
superpowers.
Name the island nation.

29. A14
Cuba

30. Q15 Y is a term in military strategy and foreign policy which refers to what the
outcome of a large scale nuclear war between two or more nuclear powers would be.
Consequently, it also refers to how this would act as a deterrent and prevent
either side from initiating a nuclear war or using a nuclear weapon for any
purpose. The term Y consists of three words and its short form is a very common
English word, one of its meanings being ‘insane’.
Give the term Y. (Full form required)

31. A15
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)