New
New
Year 9

The rise of fascism in Europe

I can explain Hitler’s rise to power.

New
New
Year 9

The rise of fascism in Europe

I can explain Hitler’s rise to power.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Many Germans felt betrayed by the Treaty of Versailles which had placed limits upon Germany and their military.
  2. Hitler’s speeches became popular in a weakened Germany.
  3. The 1929 Wall Street Crash caused a global economic depression.
  4. Fascists throughout Europe, including Hitler and Mussolini, believed a dictatorship would resolve economic issues.
  5. Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933 and established the Third Reich.

Keywords

  • Great Depression - the period after the 1929 Wall Street Crash which impacted trade, finance, production and employment

  • Fascist - supports a system based on a very powerful leader, state control and being extremely proud of country and race, and, in which, political opposition is not allowed

  • Third Reich - the German Empire (1933 to 1945); there had been two empires previously: in the Middle Ages and just before the First World War

Common misconception

Hitler was always an unpopular dictator.

Hitler often attracted enthusiastic crowds to his speeches. By January 1933, the popularity of Hitler and the Nazi Party had turned into an electoral success.

Speech analysis: have students analyse one of Hitler’s speeches. Focus on his rhetoric and how he appealed to the emotions of a weakened and unstable Germany.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • 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.
What century did the Second World War take place in?
Correct Answer: 20th century, 20th, twentieth, Twentieth, Twentieth century
Q2.
Who were the Allies in World War Two?
Germany, Italy and Japan
Correct answer: France, Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union
Germany, France, Italy and the Soviet Union
Q3.
Who was victorious in World War Two?
the Ace powers
Correct answer: the Allied powers
the Axis powers
Q4.
Put the following events in chronological order.
1 - The Romans ruled in Britain
2 - Norman conquest of England
3 - The Tudors ruled in England
4 - Industrial Revolution
5 - First World War
6 - Second World War
Q5.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:total war,countries in war who are willing to make any sacrifices to win

countries in war who are willing to make any sacrifices to win

Correct Answer:empire,group of countries ruled by one person or a group of people

group of countries ruled by one person or a group of people

Correct Answer:colony,country under the control of another country and occupied by settlers

country under the control of another country and occupied by settlers

Q6.
Which peace treaty was passed at the end of World War One?
Treaty of Tordesillas
Treaty of Amsterdam
Correct answer: Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Paris

6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword describes the period after the 1929 Wall Street Crash which impacted trade, finance, production and employment?
Correct Answer: Great Depression, The Great Depression, The great depression, great depression
Q2.
What did the terms of the Treaty of Versailles include?
Germany to accept joint blame for the war
Correct answer: Germany to accept blame for the war
Germany to pay some reparations
Correct answer: Germany to limit its military
Correct answer: Germany to pay vast reparations
Q3.
What small far-right group did Hitler become the leader of in 1921?
National Fascist German Workers’ Party
National Socialist German Writers’ Party
National Socialist German Workers’ Party
Q4.
Complete the sentence: throughout Europe, including Hitler and Mussolini, believed a dictatorship would resolve economic issues.
Correct Answer: Fascists, fascists
Q5.
Which of the following statements explain why fascism became popular during the Great Depression?
Fascists claimed they had a solution to the problems of World War Two.
Correct answer: Fascists claimed they had a solution to the problems of the Great Depression.
Fascists claimed that a weak military was to blame for the current problems.
Correct answer: Fascists claimed that weak democracies were to blame for the current problems.
Q6.
What was the name of Hitler's dictatorship in Germany?
First Reich
Second Reich
Correct answer: Third Reich

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