The outbreak of the Second World War
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- In this lesson, we will investigate the events which led up to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. We will explore the Nazi-Soviet Pact, and start to think about the failures of the League of Nations.
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This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.
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5 Questions
Q1.
Which of these options was NOT a term of the Treaty of Versailles?
Germany lost land (e.g. Alsace Lorraine)
Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria.
The German army was reduced.
Q2.
In 1935, when Hitler announced that he was increasing the size of his army how did Britain and France react?
They agreed that the Treaty of Versailles had been unfair and Germany should be allowed to rearm as much as it wanted.
They sent spies to see if Hitler was telling the truth about how much he had increased his army.
Q3.
How did the Austrian's react when Germany united with Austria?
They asked Britain and France for help to get rid of the Germans.
They fought back - many lives were lost.
Q4.
When it was clear that Hitler wanted to invade Czechoslovakia, what did Britain, France and Italy do?
Asked for the support of the League of Nations to stop Hitler taking any more land in Europe.
Tell Hitler that his actions were unacceptable, he was going against the Treaty of Versailles, and that there would be serious punishments if they invaded Czechoslovakia.
Q5.
Select the correct definition for the policy of appeasement, followed by Britain and France in the 1930s.
Being firm in stopping Hitler from taking land in Europe.
Ensuring that long-term peace was secured in Europe by ensuring that all countries in Europe remained free.
6 Questions
Q1.
Of which country was Josef Stalin the leader?
Britain
France
Germany
USA
Q2.
Which country did Germany and the USSR both want to take over in late 1939?
Austria
Czechoslovakia
Romania
Q3.
By what name does the UK refer to the agreement made between the USSR and Germany in August 1939?
The Anti-Comintern Pact
The Communist-Fascist Pact
The Pact of Steel
Q4.
What did Britain do in reaction to the agreement made between the USSR and Germany?
Britain did nothing.
Gave part of Poland to Germany and part of Poland to the USSR and left the poorest land for Poland to keep.
Gave part of Poland to Germany.
Q5.
What did Britain do when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939?
Britain asked the USSR if they could make an alliance against Germany.
Britain did nothing.
Britain met with France and made another pact that if Germany invaded any more countries they would declare war.
Q6.
What happened on 3rd September 1939?
Britain and France agreed to start building up their armies in case they needed to stop Hitler.
Germany listened to Britain's ultimatum, and the final troops left Poland.
The USSR said that she would ally with Britain and France.