New
New
Year 9

Appeasement and the declaration of war

I can explain why Britain eventually declared war against Germany in 1939.

New
New
Year 9

Appeasement and the declaration of war

I can explain why Britain eventually declared war against Germany in 1939.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hitler believed in perpetual struggle: nations that were hard-working would prosper, those that did not would fade away.
  2. In 1936, Hitler moved troops into the Rhineland, the response emboldened him to acquire more 'living space' for Germany.
  3. Countries like Britain followed a policy of appeasement with Hitler.
  4. Hitler annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia, securing Germany’s eastern border.
  5. 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.

Map activity: provide students with a blank map of Europe. Have them colour the territory of Nazi expansion. Then write a brief description of each annexation.
Teacher tip

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

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword describes the German Empire (1933 to 1945)?
Correct Answer: Third Reich, Third reich, third reich
Q2.
Who did Hitler blame Germany’s problems on?
Christian people
Correct answer: Jewish people
Correct answer: weak politicians
Allied politicians
Q3.
Why did Hitler's speeches become popular during a period of Germany’s national weakness?
He praised the Treaty of Versailles.
He called for peace and reconciliation.
Correct answer: He condemned the Treaty of Versailles.
Correct answer: He called for stronger, one person led government.
Q4.
What event in 1929 sent the American economy into meltdown?
Correct Answer: Wall Street Crash, The Wall Street Crash, the Wall Street Crash, Wall street crash, wall street crash
Q5.
Who was Hitler inspired by?
The American Democrat leader Franklin D. Roosevelt
The British Labour leader James Ramsay MacDonald
Correct answer: The Italian fascist leader Mussolini
Q6.
Which of the following methods did Hitler use to consolidate his power?
He allowed free elections.
Correct answer: He censored the media.
He allowed freedom of speech.
Correct answer: He imprisoned his political opponents.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword describes an area in which military forces have been removed?
Correct Answer: demilitarised, Demilitarised
Q2.
Which of the following did Hitler believe in?
liberialism
Correct answer: perpetual struggle
democracy
appeasement
Q3.
Complete the sentence: In 1936, Hitler moved troops into the , the response emboldened him to acquire more 'living space' for Germany.
Correct Answer: Rhineland, rhineland
Q4.
How did Hitler aim to build a ‘thousand-year Reich’?
His plan was to convince neighbouring countries to convert to fascism.
His plan was to go to war with Britain and take her empire.
Correct answer: His plan was to retake the German lands lost after World War One.
Q5.
Who in Britain was arguing for increased military spending and preparations for war in response to Hitler's actions in 1934?
the Labour Prime Minister James Ramsay MacDonald
the dictator Benito Mussolini
Correct answer: the Conservative MP Winston Churchill
Q6.
What was Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement?
Correct answer: a policy of bending to some of Hitler’s demands in order to avoid a war
a military policy to rapidly expand territory needed for the Reich
an economic policy to improve life in German post-WW1
a policy of not allowing any of Hitler’s demands in order to avoid a war

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