Appeasement and the declaration of war
I can explain why Britain eventually declared war against Germany in 1939.
Appeasement and the declaration of war
I can explain why Britain eventually declared war against Germany in 1939.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Hitler believed in perpetual struggle: nations that were hard-working would prosper, those that did not would fade away.
- In 1936, Hitler moved troops into the Rhineland, the response emboldened him to acquire more 'living space' for Germany.
- Countries like Britain followed a policy of appeasement with Hitler.
- Hitler annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia, securing Germany’s eastern border.
- War broke out in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland, whom Britain had promised to defend.
Keywords
Colonise - to send people to live in and govern another country
Reich - meaning ‘empire’, there had been two German empires previously, so the Nazis described their empire as the ‘Third Reich’
Demilitarised - an area in which military forces have been removed
Annexation - taking possession of a piece of land or a country, usually by force or without permission
Appeasement - the act of giving the opposing side in a war an advantage that they have demanded, in order to prevent further disagreement
Common misconception
At the time, everyone knew Hitler was a tyrant, so appeasement was clearly wrong.
The international community was divided. Many wanted to avoid a repeat of World War One. Furthermore, many thought that Germany had been treated harshly after WWI, and it seemed fair for Germany to take back some of its territory.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Loading...