World History MCQs
World History Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient World History, Medieval World History and Modern World History for various UPSC, PCS and other Competitive Examinations.
21. The “War of the First Coalition” was fought by a group of European powers against which country?
[A] Russia
[B] Turkey
[C] France
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [France]
Notes:
The War of the First Coalition is the traditional name of wars that several European powers fought between 1792 and 1797 against initially the Kingdom of France and then the French Republic that succeeded it. They were only loosely allied and fought without much apparent coordination or agreement, each power had its eye on a deficient part of France it wanted to appropriate after a French defeat, which never occurred.
22. The “Algerian War (1954 to 1962)” was fought to gain the independence of Algeria from which country?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] Portugal
[C] France
[D] Spain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [France ]
Notes:
The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian War of Independence or the Algerian Revolution or the War of 1 November, was fought between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria winning its independence from France. It was an important decolonization war, it was a complex conflict characterized by guerrilla warfare, maquis fighting, and the use of torture. The conflict also became a civil war between the different communities and within the communities. The war took place mainly on the territory of Algeria, with repercussions in metropolitan France.
23. Which leader’s failed coup attempt was “Beer Hall Putsch”?
[A] Joseph Stalin
[B] Adolf Hitler
[C] Benito Mussolini
[D] Ernesto”Che”Guevara
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Adolf Hitler ]
Notes:
The Beer Hall Putsch, also known as the Munich Putsch or the Hitlerputsch or the Hitler–Ludendorff-Putsch, was a failed coup d’etat by the Nazi Party (NSDAP) leader Adolf Hitler to seize power in Munich, Bavaria, which took place on 8–9 November 1923. Approximately two thousand Nazis were marching to the Feldherrnhalle, in the city centre, when they were confronted by a police cordon, which resulted in the deaths of 16 Nazi party members and four police officers. Hitler, who was wounded during the clash, escaped immediate arrest. After two days, he was arrested and charged with treason. The putsch brought Hitler to the attention of the German nation and generated front-page headlines in newspapers around the world. His arrest was followed by a 24-day trial, which was widely publicised and gave him a platform to express his nationalist sentiments to the nation. Hitler was found guilty of treason and sentenced to five years in Landsberg Prison, where he dictated Mein Kampf to his fellow prisoners Emil Maurice and Rudolf Hess. On 20 December 1924, having served only nine months, Hitler was released. Once released, Hitler redirected his focus towards obtaining power through legal means rather than revolution or force, and accordingly changed his tactics, further developing Nazi propaganda.
24. Which of the following is correct regarding the “Kingdom of Prussia”?
[A] It was a German kingdom
[B] It was an Italian kingdom
[C] It was a French kingdom
[D] It was a Russian kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [It was a German kingdom]
Notes:
The “Kingdom of Prussia” was a German kingdom. The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom that constituted the state of Prussia between 1701 and 1918. It was the driving force behind the unification of Germany in 1871 and was the leading state of the German Empire until its dissolution in 1918. Although it took its name from the region called Prussia, it was based in the Margraviate of Brandenburg, where its capital was Berlin. Prussia is considered the legal predecessor of the unified German Reich (1871–1945) and as such a direct ancestor of today’s Federal Republic of Germany. The Kingdom left a significant cultural legacy, today notably promoted by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which has become one of the largest cultural organisations in the world.
25. Which country’s unconditional surrender in World War II leads to the celebration of “Victory in Europe Day”?
[A] Italy
[B] Japan
[C] Germany
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II leads to the celebration of “Victory in Europe Day”. Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe. Several countries observe public holidays on the day each year, also called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day or Victory Day. In the UK it is often abbreviated to VE Day, or V-E Day in the US, a term which existed as early as September 1944, in anticipation of victory.
26. The “Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, 1943” was a joint effort of Hungary and Italy, as part of World War II, against which country?
[A] Germany
[B] Soviet Union
[C] France
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Soviet Union]
Notes:
The “Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, 1943” was a joint effort of Hungary and Italy, as part of World War II, against the Soviet Union. The Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive was an offensive of the Voronezh Front on the Eastern Front of World War II against the Hungarian 2nd Army and partially Italian 8th Army as part of the Voronezh–Kharkov Offensive. The offensive is better known as part of Operation Little Saturn.
27. Which of the following was the period of the “Indonesian mass killings/ Indonesian Communist Purge”?
[A] 1955–1956
[B] 1965–1966
[C] 1975–1976
[D] 1985–1986
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1965–1966]
Notes:
1965–1966 was the period of the “Indonesian mass killings/ Indonesian Communist Purge”. The Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66, also known as the Indonesian genocide, Indonesian Communist Purge, Indonesian politicide, were large-scale killings and civil unrest that occurred in Indonesia over several months, targeting Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) party members, Communist sympathisers, often at the instigation of the armed forces and government, which were supported by the United States and other Western countries. It began as an anti-communist purge following a controversial attempted coup d’etat by the 30 September Movement.
28. Which country’s ruling regime collapse was the “Fall of Suharto”?
[A] Vietnam
[B] Indonesia
[C] Philippines
[D] Cambodia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indonesia]
Notes:
Indonesia’s ruling regime collapse was the “Fall of Suharto”. Suharto resigned as president of Indonesia on 21 May 1998 following the collapse of support for his three-decade-long presidency. The resignation followed severe economic and political crises over the previous six to twelve months.
29. Which of the following countries occupied parts of Kiribati during 2nd World War?
[A] United States
[B] UK
[C] Japan
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Japan]
Notes:
Some parts of Kiribati were occupied by Japan during the period of Second World War. These parts were liberated during the Battle of Tarawa.
30. Consider the following statements:
- Bolshevik Russia signed the treaty of Brest Litovsk with Germany in order to pull out of the WWI.
- ‘Cheka’ was the secret police that punished the critics of Bolshevik party.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:
In March 1918, despite opposition by their political allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany at Brest Litovsk. However, this peace treaty was very humiliating as Germany annexed almost one third of the total European territories of Soviet Russia in this treaty. Lenin agreed to this treaty so that the Bolshevik party could focus on internal consolidation and winning the civil war. So, statement 1 is correct. Soviet Russia soon became a one-party state as all the parties, other than the Bolshevik Party, were banned. Trade unions were kept under strict party control. The secret police (called the Cheka first, and later OGPU and NKVD) punished those who criticised the Bolsheviks. So, the statement 2 is correct.