The Road to World War II

In this module you will learn:

1. FIVE new words

2. Hitler’s THREE aims in his Foreign Policy.
3. SIX steps to war.
4. SEVEN key dates in the Sudetenland crisis.
5. EIGHT views of appeasement.
6. NINETEEN reasons Chamberlain appeased Hitler [A–S].
7. THREE reasons British policy towards Hitler changed, 1938–1939.
8. FOUR reasons Anglo-Soviet talks failed [SCAB].
9. FOUR reasons Russia allied itself to Germany in 1939 [THUG]

You should do the following work:

r A list of exam questions on the Causes of WWII.
r A Causes of WWII reading list.
r A video worksheet: ‘Hitler goes to war’.
r Written notes on ‘Hitler’s Steps to War’.
r A video worksheet: ‘Why Appeasement?’.
r An exam answer: ‘Why did Britain & France appease Germany?’
r An exam answer: ‘Why did British foreign policy change towards
Germany in the year after Munich?’
r A notes sheet: ‘Why did Anglo-Soviet talks fail? [SCAB] and ‘Why
did the Nazi-Soviet Pact happen? [THUG].
r A revision sheet: The Causes of WWII.

Have you read:

 N deMarco and R Radway, The Twentieth Century.
 T Rea and J Wright, International Relations.
 Christopher Culpin, Making History..
New Words The League of Nations’ Failures
Anschluss: a German When you studied the League of Nations, you learned
word meaning ‘link’. that it had two great failures in the 1930s:
1. Manchuria (1931)
Lebensraum: A German 2. Abyssinia (1935)
word meaning ‘living
space’.
A much greatest disaster for the League, however
(although pupils usually forget to mention it in their
essays!), was:
3. The failure to stop Hitler in Europe (1933–39)
Source A
The Versailles Treaty is This booklet studies this, the League’s greatest failure.
worthless. 60 million
German hearts and
minds are on fire with Hitler’s Aims
anger and shame. They In 1935, the historian HAL Fisher wrote that ‘a country
will cry out ‘We want which is determined to have a war can always have it.’
Hitler was determined to destroy the League, and it is
war!’
doubtful if anything could have saved it.
Mein Kampf (a book written by
Hitler in 1924).
Hitler had three aims:

1. To abolish the Treaty of Versailles

Source B The Germans hated it, especially:
It will be the duty of  Tiny armed forces,
German foreign policy to  Rhineland demilitarised,
get large spaces to feed
 Anschluss with Austria forbidden,
 Germans forced to live in Czechoslovakia (the
and house the growing
Sudetenland) and Poland (including Danzig).
population of Germany.
The Treaty was a constant reminder to the
Destiny points us Germans of their humiliation in World War I.
towards Russia. Hitler did not believe that the German army had
Hitler, Mein Kampf (1924). lost the war, and he was determined to make
Germany great again.

Source C 2. To expand German territory

The menace of Russia The German population was growing. Hitler said
hangs over Germany. that the German nation needed more Lebensraum
All our strength is (‘living space’). He was determined to get
needed to rescue our Lebensraum by conquering land in eastern Europe.
nation from this
3. To defeat Communism
international snake.
The Nazis were Fascists: the exact opposite of the
Hitler, Mein Kampf (1924) Communists who ruled Russia. Hitler was
determined to destroy Communism, and this meant
a war with Russia

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Six Steps to War
1 CONSCRIPTION & RE-ARMAMENT
Hitler began to build up his armed forces. In 1935 he
introduced conscription (calling up men to the army).
This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France
let him get away with it.
 Source D
This cartoon from 1938 shows
2 RHINELAND Hitler as Santa, popping into
Hitler invaded the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. This his sack, one-by-one, little
broke the Treaty of Versailles. It was a bluff – the countries – who had got into
German army had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to bed with the ‘French-British
retreat if they met any resistance. But once again, Britain family’. His sack says:
Deutschland Uber Alles
and France did nothing. (‘Germany over all’).

3 AUSTRIA
In 1938, Hitler took over Austria. First, Hitler
encouraged the Austrian Nazis to demand union with
Germany. Then Hitler invaded Austria. This broke the
Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France did nothing.

4 MUNICH
In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the Sudetenland. First,
Hitler encouraged the Sudeten Nazis to demand union
with Germany. Then, Hitler made plans to invade
Czechoslovakia.
Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler. At Munich,
on 29 September 1938, Britain and France gave Hitler the  Source E
Sudetenland. This cartoon from 1938 shows
Hitler as a poacher, stealing
Austria. Mussolini is shown
5 CZECHOSLOVAKIA as a game-keeper. ‘I never
In March 1939, Hitler’s troops marched into the rest of heard a shot, Adolf’’, he is
Czechoslovakia. This, for most British people, was the saying.
time when they realised that the only thing that would
stop Hitler was a war.

6 USSR/NAZI PACT & POLAND

Tasks
1. Match Hitler’s Aims
In 1939, Hitler tried to take over Poland. First, the 1–3 with Sources A–C
Germans in Danzig demanded union with Germany. from Mein Kampf.
Then, Hitler threatened war. 2. What is the cartoonist
Chamberlain promised the Poles that Britain would of Source D saying
about Hitler?
support them if Germany attacked Poland. 3. What is the cartoonist
In August 1939, Hitler made a secret treaty with of Source E saying
Russia. He thought this would stop Britain & France about Britain?
helping Poland. 4. Discuss in a group:
On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. How much was Hitler
to blame for World
On 3 September 1939, Chamberlain declared war on War II?
Germany.

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New Words Appeasement
Appeasement: giving Nowadays, many people criticise Chamberlain for
way to a bully. appeasing Hitler.
Reich: a German word In the 1930s, there were some people – most notably
meaning ‘empire’.
Winston Churchill – who opposed his policy.

Source A But at the time, most people thoroughly agreed with

Give thanks to your Chamberlain, and praised him.
God. Your children
are safe. Peace is a
victory for all
mankind. If we must
have a victor, let us
choose Mr
Chamberlain.
The Daily Express, 1938.

Source B
It is a total defeat.
Czechoslovakia will be
swallowed up by the
Nazis. And do not
suppose that this is  Source C
A British cartoon of 1936. Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless leaders of
the end. This is only
democracy’. The first three steps are labelled ‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and
the beginning. ‘Danzig’.
Churchill, speaking about the
Munich Agreement in 1938.

Tasks
1. Divide Sources A–D
into those which
supported the policy of
appeasement, and
those which criticised it
2. Which of Sources A–D
suggest Hitler would
carry on as long as
people kept appeasing
him.
3. Write a paragraph  Source D
about each of Sources A British cartoon of 1938 shows Germany crushing Austria. Next in line is
C and D, explaining the Czechoslovakia. At the back, Britain says to France: ‘Why should we take a
cartoon’s meaning. stand about someone pushing someone else when it’s all so far away’.

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Appeasement in Action Source E
Historians have said that
appeasement:
Before 1938, Britain had already given way to Hitler on 1. let Hitler grow stronger.
a number of occasions, but it was the events of the 2. gave Britain time to re-arm.
Sudeten crisis which showed appeasement in action – 3. humiliated Britain – no country
trying to buy off Hitler by giving way to his demands. in central Europe ever trusted
Britain again.
4. abandoned millions of people
On 11 March 1938, Hitler invaded Austria. It was clear to the Nazis.
he wanted to do the same in the Sudetenland. 5. caused the war, by
encouraging Hitler to think he
On 7 September 1938, the German Sudeten Party could do anything.
demanded union with Germany. 6. gave Britain the morale high
ground – when war came,
 There were riots. Britons knew they had done
 German newsreels showed ‘evidence’ of Czech everything possible to keep the
‘atrocities’ against the Sudeten Germans. peace.
 Hitler threatened to support the Sudeten Germans 7. would never have stopped
Hitler, who was determined to
with military force. go to war.
8. was a fine attempt to prevent
Then Chamberlain intervened. the deaths of millions of people
1. Chamberlain met Hitler at Berchtesgaden (15 Sept.). in a war.
 Hitler promised him that this was the ‘last problem
to be solved’.
 Chamberlain decided Hitler was ‘a man who can be Source F
relied upon’. Thus we begin our
 He persuaded the Czechs to hand over the march into the great
Sudetenland. German future.
2. Chamberlain met Hitler at Bad Godesberg (22 Sept.) Hitler, speaking after the Munich
 Hitler made more demands. Agreement in 1938.
 At first Chamberlain refused, but then he decided
that Czechoslovakia was not one of the ‘great issues’
which justified war, but just ‘a quarrel in a far-away Tasks
country between people of whom we know nothing’. 1. You are a journalist who
does not agree with
3. Britain and France met Hitler again at Munich appeasement. For the 7
(29 September). key dates, write an
 They gave the Sudetenland to Germany. imaginary diary,
emphasising how
Chamberlain appeased
On 30 September, Chamberlain returned to England Hitler throughout.
with his famous piece of paper. ‘I believe it is peace for 2. Study Source E. Divide
our time’, he told the cheering crowd. the statements into those
which justify
Czechoslovakia was not even invited to the talks. The appeasement, and those
Czechs were free to fight if they wished, but they had no which criticise it.
support. They chose not to fight. 3. Discuss in a group which
opinion you find most
convincing – was
On 1 October 1938, Hitler marched unopposed into the appeasement a disaster,
Sudetenland. He said that it was the start of a 1000-year or a godsend?
German Reich (empire).

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Why Chamberlain Appeased Hitler – 19 Essay Ideas
1. Approval
Many Conservatives liked and supported Hitler’s strong, right-wing government.
2. Britain was weak
Britain’s small army was too weak to go to war in 1938; needed time to re-arm.
3. Communism
Many Britons saw Hitler as a defence against Russian Communism.
4. Democracy
The critical factor. Chamberlain was not a dictator with the right to start a war if he pleased. He
could not go to war without the support of the people – and until 1939 most people wanted peace,
almost at any price.
5. Empire
Britain could not defend her empire AND fight a war in Euorpe.
6. France
Did not want war; and Britain could not fight Germany alone.
7. German propaganda
claimed that Germans in the Sudetenland and Poland were being mistreated.
8. Home
The Labour Party wanted to spend on housing and social care, not re-armament.
9. Ist World War
Chamberlain & many others remembered the slaughter of the First World War.
10. Justice
The Treaty of Versailles was unfair and Hitler’s Six Steps all seemed reasonable. Other countries
were conscripting to reduce unemployment.
11. Kost
Rearmament meant high taxes, which made democratic leaders unpopular.
12. League of Nations
Many people believed in the League, and that quarrels could be ended by negotiation.
13. Morality
It was RIGHT to try everything possible to keep peace: ‘War is a terrible thing, and we must make
sure that it is the great issues that are involved’.
14. Neville Chamberlain
misjudged Hitler - he believed that Hitler ‘was a man who could be relied on’.
15. Out of sight, out of mind
Hitler rearmed/ persecuted the Jews etc, in secret. Western countries didn’t know.
16. Peace Movement
Many people, especially young people, wanted peace.
17. Quit
Hitler promised in 1938 that Sudetenland was the ‘last claim I have to make’.
18. Remote
Czechoslovakia was far away (none of our business?)/ Britain could not help.
19. Spanish Civil War
Guernica showed what German bombers could do to Britain if there was a war.

Task
Write an essay, ‘Why did Chamberlain appease Hitler’.
 Chose the TEN most powerful reasons from the list above – each idea will take a
paragraph. In each paragraph, put the Point you are making, find some Evidence to
support it, then Explain how this persuaded Chamberlain he had to appease Hitler.
 Your first paragraph may start:
‘The first reason why Chamberlain followed a policy of appeasement was…’.

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Britain Goes To War – The End of Appeasement
28 Sept 1938 Chamberlain signs the Munich Agreement.
3 October Duff Cooper, First Lord of the Admiralty, resigns over Munich.
27 October Quentin Hogg, a Chamberlain supporter, wins a by-election in Oxford, but his
opponent is supported by many Conservatives (including Winston Churchill),
who claim: ‘A vote for Hogg is a vote for Hitler’.
8 November Kristallnacht – Nazis attack the German Jews. Hitler begins to persecute the
Jews in Germany.
1 December Britain sets up a ‘National Register’ of who would do what if there was a war.
3 January 1939 The British navy is made stronger.
The RAF increases production of planes to 400 a month.
15 February Parliament increases defence spending to £580 million a year.
A quarter of a million free air raid shelters are given to Londoners.
28 February The Fascist ruler Franco wins the Spanish Civil War.
British MPs shout ‘Heil Chamberlain’ in Parliament.
15 March 1939 Hitler invades Czechoslovakia; Chamberlain says it is a ‘shock to
confidence’. This is the first time Hitler has attacked a non-German people.
He promises to defend Poland.
29 March The Territorial Army is doubled in numbers.
5 April A Civil Defence Act is passed; it plans to evacuate women and children from
London to the countryside.
13 April Mussolini (the Fascist ruler of Italy) conquers Albania.
25 April Parliament votes to spend £1,322 million on defence.
1 May The Military Training Act introduces conscription in Britain.
19 May Stalin suggests an alliance of France, Britain and Russia against Hitler.
22 May Pact of Steel: Hitler and Mussolini make an alliance of support in the event of
a war.
11 August British politicians go to Moscow to make the alliance with Russia.
23 August Russia and Germany sign a treaty, not to go to war with each other, and to
attack and divide Poland between them.
26 August Hitler sends 2000 armed Nazis to Danzig to stir up trouble, then demands
Danzig and the Polish corridor.
31 August Hitler offers to defend the British Empire if Britain lets him have Danzig and
all former German colonies. Britain refuses.
31 August The first children are evacuated from London.
1 September Hitler invades Poland.
3 Sept 1939 Britain declares war on Germany.

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Tasks
1. In the list above identify:
 Events in Europe which pressurised Chamberlain to change his policy of appeasement.
 Events in England which pressurised Chamberlain to change his policy of appeasement.
 Events which showed that Britain was preparing for war all the time

2. Write an essay, ‘Why did Chamberlain’s policy towards Hitler change, 1938–1939?’
Your essay will have THREE paragraphs, each with a Point, some Evidence to support it,
then an Explanation of how this pressurised Chamberlain to change his policy
 The FIRST paragraph will start: ‘Events in Europe put pressure on Chamberlain to
abandon appeasement…’.
 The SECOND paragraph will start: ‘Events in Britain put pressure on Chamberlain to
abandon appeasement…’.
 The THIRD paragraph will start: ‘In fact, however, there is evidence that throughout
1938 and 1939, Chamberlain was preparing for war…’.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939

On 23 August, 1939, the world was shocked when,
suddenly, Russia and Germany signed a Non-aggression
Pact. People would have been even more shocked if they
had known at the time that, in addition, the two countries
had a secret agreement to invade and divide Poland
Eastern Europe in 1939. between them.

Source A 
This British cartoon of
1939 shows Hitler and
Stalin. What elements
indicate that they are
allied? What indicates
that the alliance is not
likely to last?

Source B 
This British cartoon of
1939 shows Hitler and
Stalin. What elements
indicate that they are
allied? What indicates
that the alliance is not
likely to last? What do
the storm clouds in the
background symbolise?
What does the dead figure
between them represent?

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Tasks
Make notes which will help you to answer the following questions:
 Why was the world so surprised by the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
 Why did the Soviet Union sign an agreement with Germany rather than with Britain?

Britain and Russia Source C

Why did Anglo-Soviet Talks Fail? [SCAB]
Stalin knew that Hitler’s ultimate aim 1. Suspicion
 Chamberlain did not trust Stalin, who
was to attack Russia. In 1939, he
was a Communist and a dictator.
invited Lord Halifax, the British  The Russians thought Britain wanted to
Foreign Secretary to go to Russia to trick them into war against Germany.
discuss an alliance against Germany.  Poland did not trust that the Russians
Britain refused. The British feared (who wanted to send troops into
Russian Communism, and they Poland), once in, would ever leave.
believed that the Russian army was too 2. Choice
weak to be of any use against Hitler.  Britain could not send troops to fight in
In August 1939, with war in Poland Poland, so if Stalin supported Britain, he
looming, the British eventually sent a would end up fighting a war in Poland
on Britain’s behalf.
minor official called Reginald Ranfurly
 On the other hand, Hitler was promising
Plunckett-Ernle-Erle-Drax. He him peace, and half of Poland.
travelled by slow boat, not by plane.
He did not have authority to make any 3. Appeasement
decisions, and had to refer every  After Munich, Stalin was convinced that
Britain would break its promise to
question back to London. The talks Poland. He was convinced that Britain
dragged on. would leave Russia fighting Hitler alone.
The Russians asked if they could
send troops into Poland if Hitler 4. Britain delayed
invaded. The British refused. The  At first, Lord Halifax refused Stalin’s
talks broke down. offer of a meeting.
 When the British sent an official, he
could not make any decisions. Stalin
got fed up with British delays.

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Germany and Russia Source D
Why did the Nazi-Soviet Pact Happen?
[THUG]
In August 1939, Hitler sent Ribbentrop, 1. Time to prepare for war
a senior Nazi, to Russia. He offered a  Stalin said: ‘We got peace for our
Nazi-Soviet alliance – Russia and country for 18 months, which let us
Germany would not go to war, but make military preparations’.
would divide Poland between them.
2. Hope to gain
 ‘Stalin was sure that Russia could only
Stalin knew Hitler was lying, but he did gain from a long war in which Britain,
not trust the British either – the Munich France and Germany exhausted
Agreement had convinced him that themselves.’
Britain and France would never dare to 3. Unhappy with Britain
go to war with Hitler.  Stalin was insulted by Britain’s slowness
Stalin had two choices: to negotiate, and did not trust Britain.
 if he made an alliance with Britain, When the Anglo-Soviet alliance failed,
he would end up fighting a war with he turned to Germany [SCAB].
Hitler over Poland. 4. Germany
 if he made an alliance with  Hitler wanted the alliance because only
Germany, he would get half of Russia could keep Britain’s promise to
Poland, and time to prepare for the defend Poland. He believed that, if he
got a promise of peace with Russia,
coming war with Germany.
Britain would be forced to back down
over Poland and Danzig.
He chose the latter. On 23 August
1939, he signed the Pact with Hitler.

Revision Questions
1. What were the 3 aims of Hitler’s Foreign Policy?
2. What was Lebensraum?
3. What was Anschluss?
4. What were the six main steps to war, 1935–1939?
5. What is conscription?
6. What date did Hitler introduce conscription in Germany?
7. When did Hitler reoccupy the Rhineland?
8. How many soldiers did Hitler’s army have when he reoccupied the Rhineland,
and what were their orders?
9. What did Chamberlain give Hitler at Munich?
10. What was the date of the Munich agreement?
11. When did Hitler invade Poland?
12. When did Britain declare war on Germany?
13. What was ‘appeasement’?
14. Give an example of someone who agreed with Chamberlain’s policy.
15. Give an example of someone who disagreed with Chamberlain’s policy.
16. What date did Hitler invade Austria?
17. During the Sudeten crisis, Chamberlain met Hitler on three occasions – where,
and when?
18. Why did Chamberlain decide not to help Czecholsovakia?
19. There are 19 reasons why Chamberlain appeased Hitler; can you remember 10
of them?
20. What did Chamberlain call the Munich agreement?
21. What did Churchill call it?

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22. When did Hitler march into the Sudetenland?
23. When did Hitler invade the rest of Czechoslovakia?
24. What was Kristallnacht, and why did it turn British people away from
appeasement?
25. What was the ‘National register’, which was set up in December 1938?
26. What were Londoners given in January to prepare them for war?
27. What did the Civil Defence Act of April 1939 say?
28. What was the act which introduced conscription in England, and what date was
it passed?
29. What was the name of the alliance between Mussolini and Hitler?
30. What was the date of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
31. Give four reasons why Britain did not manage to make an alliance with Russia?
32. Give four reasons why Germany did manage to make an alliance with Russia?

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