Why did international peace collapse in 1939?
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Part 1
Using whatever resources you can, spend about 10 minutes researching ‘appeasement’ and making
notes on the positive and negative aspects of it. Find out exactly what appeasement was, when and
why it took place and who it was between.
Areas for consideration are the Stresa Front, rearmament, the Maginot Line, the Depression, the
Nazi–Soviet Pact, communism and fascism.
After about 10 minutes, be ready with your own considered opinions as to whether or not appeasement was a wise or foolish move. Consider the situation as it was then without the benefits of hindsight.
Also consider possible consequences if another path had been taken. Spend the rest of the main part
of the lesson writing a passage entitled ‘Was Britain’s policy of appeasement justified?’
Part 2
In the remaining few minutes of the lesson, answer this quiz:
1. Did the Nazi Party agree or disagree with Italy’s Mussolini?
2. In 1938, which prime minister said ‘Peace in our time’?
3. In August 1939, who agreed not to fight each other?
4. What country did Hitler promise not to invade, but did on 1 September 1939?
5. On what day did Britain and France declare war on Germany (which led to World War II)?
6. In April 1940, which country did Hitler invade?
http://education.hodge2.continuumbooks.com © Susie Hodge (2010)
Resources for Teaching History 14–16. London: Continuum.