Events leading up to World War II
The war to end all wars….
What’s what and where is it?
Using your phones as a reference, correctly
label the countries of 1939 Europe
You will have
10 minutes
Now add the following:
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Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Atlantic Ocean
North Sea
English Channel
Arctic Sea
You have 5 minutes
Arctic
Atlantic
North
Sea
Eng. Chnl
Black Sea
Mediterranean
Mediterranean
Now add ^^^and labels for the following
mountain ranges
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Alps
Apennines
Caucasus
Carpathian
You have 5 minutes
Arctic
Atlantic
North
Sea
Eng. Chnl
Black Sea
Mediterranean
Mediterranean
Now add the following capitals and a
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Paris
Berlin
London
Rome
Moscow
Brussels
Warsaw
You have 5 minutes
Arctic
Atlantic
North
Sea
Eng. Chnl
Black Sea
Mediterranean
Mediterranean
Now add the following locations and
mark them with an X
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Beaches of Normandy
Vichy
Auschwitz
Ardennes Forrest
Arctic
Atlantic
North
Sea
Eng. Chnl
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X
X
X
Black Sea
Mediterranean
Mediterranean
Who’s Who??
You’ve been given 2 items:
A Chart
A photo page
Adolf
Hitler
Germany
Der
Fuhrer
Maniacal
dictator
responsible for
the Holocaust
Winston Churchill
• UK, Great Britain
• Prime Minister (Bull Dog)
• “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost
may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we
shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall
fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall
fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
FDR
• US
• President
• Saw country though Great Depression, Pres
during most of WW2
Charles DeGaulle
• Free France
• General, Resistant, writer, statesman
• Leader of Free France during the war
Hermann Göring
• Germany
• WW1 Veteran, high ranking Nazi leader
• Convicted at Nuremburg, sentenced to death
for war crimes
Neville Chamberlin
• UK (Great Britain)
• Prime Minister 1937-1940
• Appeased Hitler, entered WW2
Benito Mussolini
• Italy
• Leader Fascist Party, Prime Minister from
1922-1943
• Il Duce, sided with hitler in WW2
Josef Stalin
• USSR
• Leader of USSR from 1924-1953
• Originally sided w/Hitler, the the US in WW2
General Dwight D Eisenhower
• US
• Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces
• Led Allies to victory, became 34th president of
the US in 1952
Rudolf Hess
• Germany
• Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler
• Hitler dictated “Mein Kampf” to him while in
prison; Hess was later captured in Scotland
during WW2 and died in prison
Heinrich Himmler
• Germany
• Leader and high ranking official in Nazi Party
• Came up with the idea for the “Final Solution”
one of the people most directly responsible
for the Holocaust
Hideki Tojo
• Japan
• General of the Imperial Japanese Army
• 40th Prime Minister of Japan during much of
World War II from October 17, 1941 to July 22,
1944
Harry S Truman
• US
• Vice President during FDR’s 4th term, became
President when FDR died in April 1945
• Made decision to drop atomic bombs on
Japan in 1945 to end WW2
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
• US
• General during WW2, key figure in war in the
Pacific
• “I shall return”
Hirohito
• Japan
• Emperor from 1926-1989
• Emperor during WW2 and beyond
2nd period groups
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Morgan, Emma, Lauren
Faye, Travis, Emily
Ellie, Cassandra, Jack
Taylor, Melissa, Jared
Haley, Kazlie, Zach
Braden, Caitlyn, Kaitlyn
Sarah, Quinn, Grace
Olivia, Kaylee, Crystal
3rd period groups
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Austin A, Crystal, Micah
Mekayla, Sara, Seth
Shae, Austin C, Jessica
Kirstin, Maggie, Billy
Cam, Harlee, Marcus
Destiny, Noah, Tiffany
Haley, Stubbs, Brooke
Logan, Nick, Whitney
Alexis, Brad, Marissa
5th period groups
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Cam, Jasmine, Justin,
Christian, Rebekah, Haley
Connor, Brady, Brittany,
Ryan D, Greg, Alexis
Breanna,Terry, Chris P
Houston, Logan, Shiv
Alyssa, Austin, Jacob
Chris A, Matt D, Willie
Ryan H, JD, Shawn
7th period groups
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Coty,Alex, Jonathon
Brayden, Ray, Danielle
Mark, Victoria, Brandon
Tiffany, Elanah, Dustin, Tristen
Matt, Casey, Austin, Abby
Megan, Chloe, Trey
Turn to page 83 in your ISN and write
your response to the following:
• A mother took her 5 year old son into a crowded
grocery store. As they approached the check out,
the boy asked his mother if he could have some
candy, and she said he couldn’t. So the boy cried
and threw a tantrum, and demanded that he get
some candy. Wanting to avoid a public scene, his
mother bought him some candy. He ate the candy,
and asked his mother for more. His mother said no,
and he again started crying and throwing another
tantrum.
• What should his mother do? Why?
• We are going to be learning about 6 key
events leading up to and during World War II
and predict how European countries
responded to each event.
• You have been given one of 6 countries.
Check your materials
• Make sure you have Student Handout 4.2A
(background information on your country)
• Sheet of blank paper
• Your team is assuming the role of a country
• To encourage a sense of national identity,
create and color your flag and create a label
for your desks to show the country you
represent
• The person with the shortest hair at the table
will be the first presenter (the role of
presenter will rotate each round)
• You will have 10 minutes to complete this and
prepare your presenter to share/show your
work
Procedures
• You are going to see images related to seven events
• You will also be given informational readings about
each event with 4 possible responses to the crisis or
situation
• You and your team will discuss which option is best
for you, BASED ON YOUR COUNTRY’S POLITICAL,
MILITARY AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS AT THE TIME
• You will be given approximately 3-5 minutes to
read, discuss and arrive at your team’s (country’s)
response
• We will then have a class discussion, following the
rules for Civil Discussion
Event 1: Czechoslovakia Crisis
1. Read the Handout “Event 1”
2. How do you think your country responded
to the Czechoslovakia Crisis?
A. Unconditionally supported Germany’s
demands
B. Proclaimed neutrality
C. Negotiated an agreement with Hitler
that allowed Germany to take the
Sudetenland if he promised to make
no more demands on Czechoslovakia
D. Opposed Germany’s demands but did
not threaten to declare war on
Germany if it tried to take the
Sudetenland
E. Threatened to declare war on
Germany if it tried to take the
Sudetenland
Why would Germany want Sudetenland?
Will he stop there? Why or why not?
Complete your matrix for each
country’s response
GB initiated talks with Germany which culminated
with the Munich Conference on Sept 28, 1938
Sought to ‘appease’ Germany by allowing it to
occupy Sudetenland in exchange for a promise
that it would be Germany’s last territorial demand
Agreement is called the Munich Pact
France
• 9/25/1938 France claimed it would defend
Czechoslovakia if it was attacked by Germany
• French president (Daladier) did not want war,
so France also attended the Munich
Conference and signed the Munich Pact on
Sept 29, 1938
Soviet Union
• Soviet union strictly opposed German
expansion
• They were NOT invited to the Munich Conf
• Diplomatically supported Czechoslovakia
against Germany but Stalin did not believe his
army was ready to fight Germany in 1938
• He chose to not become involved
USA
• The US adopted an isolationist foreign policy
after WW1;
• It did not want to fight in another European
war
• US did NOT become involved in the
Czechoslovakia crisis, maintaining neutrality
Poland
• Poland supported Germany in the Czech crisis
because it wanted the rich coal producing
region in northern Czechoslovakia.
• Poland believed it should have been theirs
after WW1
• For their support, Germany gave Poland the
region in Sept 1938
Switzerland
• Switzerland remained neutral
• Because of it’s location relative to Germany
and Czechoslovakia, it ramped up its prep for
war
Event 2: Violation of the Munich Pact
• Read Handout “Event 2”
• How do you think your country
responded to the violation of the
Munich Pact?
• A. Supported Germany’s
annexation of Czechoslovakia
• B. Declared war on Germany for
breaking the Munich Pact
• C. Continued to rely on
appeasement, hoping that
Germany had finished its
territorial aggression
• D. Attempted to negotiate with
Germany to pull out of
Czechoslovakia
• E. Proclaimed neutrality
• F. Proclaimed neutrality, but
prepared for a defensive war in
case of invasion
Great Britain
• Did not respond to the annexation of
Czechoslovakia, standing impotently while
Hitler carved up Central Europe
France
• Followed Britain’s lead, choosing to appease
Hitler in hopes that the Czech Crisis would not
become an international war
USSR
• Changed its foreign policy because of the
failure of the Munich Pact
• Stalin adopted a friendly stance toward
Germany hoping that good relations would
keep the USSR out of a European war
• Stalin felt a war in Europe was inevitable
because Hitler was so aggressive and the West
so timid
US
• Maintained neutrality, choosing to stay out of
conflicts in Europe
Poland
• Watched in horror as Germany was allowed to
occupy Czechoslovakia without any opposition
• It was too small to stand up to Germany
• was forced to accept the appeasement policy
adopted by its main allies, France and GB
Event 3: Invasion of Poland
• How do you think your country
responded to the invasion of
Poland
• A. Proclaimed Neutrality
• B. Proclaimed neutrality, but
prepared for a defensive war in
case of invasion
• C. Provided financial aid to the
Allies (all countries fighting against
Germany and its allies, called the
Axis powers)
• D. Joined Germany in its invasion
of Poland
• E. Declared war on Germany, and
hoped Germany would retreat
from Poland, but did not actually
fight
• Declared war on Germany and
sent troops to fight the Germans
Great Britain
• Could not help defend Poland militarily.
Britain declared war on 9/3/1939
• Did not instigate any fighting with the
Germans
France
• Declared war on Germany on 9/3/1939
• Aside from some minor artillery attacks along
the Franco-German border, it did not aid the
Poles despite its defense pact
• Instead, France began the long process of
mobilizing its army to defend the border
USSR
• Supported Germany’s invasion of Poland
• Stalin wanted to stall Soviet entry into war by
signing non-aggression pact with Germany
• Treat contained secret agreements about
division of eastern Europe between G and
USSR
• Sept 17, they invaded Poland with Germany
US
• FDR announced neutrality but proclaimed he
would take “all measures short of war” to
insure the survival of the allies
Poland
• Fought for over 3 weeks before surrendering
to Germany and the USSR on 9/27/39
• Polish gov’t in exile was established in London
• Polish troops who escaped fought in North
Africa, the Middle East, Italy and Britain
against the Germans later in the war
Event 4: Invasion of France
• Read Handout “Event 4”
• How do you think your country
responded to the invasion of
France?
• A. Surrender unconditionally to
Germany
• B. Surrender on the condition
that your government retained
limited independence and
control of some of your territory
• C. Proclaimed neutrality
• D. Proclaimed neutrality, but
prepared defenses in case the
war spread to your country
• E. Fought Germany wherever
possible
• F. Supported Germany’s invasion
of France
GB
• GB had previously evacuated its troops from
France under German pressure, they could
not help defend Paris
• After Paris fell on 6/14/1940, Britain was left
alone , the last allied country not occupied or
annexed by Germany
France
• Paris was captured by Germans, France surrendered
and signed an armistice with Germany on 6/22/1940
• It gave G direct control over northern and western 60%
of France
• F gov’t was to retain control over rest of France, though
it was set up as a puppet gov’t that would do as the G’s
said
• This was called the Vichy gov’t because it was in Vichy
• Charles de Gaulle refused to accept the Vichy gov’t and
created the Free French gov’t which called for all
French citizens to continue to fight G
USSR
• Supporting the invasion but did not
participate
US
• Maintained neutrality
• Alarmed by both G’s successes and the fact
that on June 10, Italy declared war on GB and
Fr
• FDR announced that the US would extend to
the opponents of force (the Allies) the
material resources of this nation
Poland
• Had been portioned by Germany and the
Soviet Union in Sept 1939
• But the troops that had been able to escape,
continued to fight the Germans elsewhere
Switzerland
• Maintained its neutrality
• With the fall of France, Switzerland was
completely surrounded by Axis countries or
Axis-occupied lands
• Swiss planned to defend only the heartland of
their country
Event 5: The Battle of Britain
• How do you think your
country responded to the
Battle of Britain?
• A. Surrendered to Germany
• B. Fought against Germany’s
attack on Britain
• Supported Germany’s attack
on Britain
• Proclaimed neutrality
• Proclaimed neutrality, but
supported Britain with
military supplies and money
• Proclaimed neutrality, but
prepared defenses in case
the war spread to your
country
GB
• RAF fought brilliantly, never allowing the Germans
to weaken Britain to the point where Hitler felt he
could invade
• 3 month long battle, Brits suffered 40K causalities,
including 16K civilian dead
• By Oct 31, Germans had lost 1733 planes
• By winning the Battle of Britain, the Brits received a
huge boost to their morale
• Churchill called this Britain’s finest hour
• “Never in the field of human conflict has so much
been owed by so many to so few
France
• Vichy France: supported the Nazis in the
Battle of Britain
• Free France: their forces in Britain contributed
to the defense of the country
Soviet Union
• Supported the German bombardment of
Britain, but played no part in the Battle of
Britain
US
• Maintained its neutrality from the fighting but
transferred 50 American destroyers to the
British navy
• Most importantly, US loaned Britain money to
pay for the defense of the country
Poland
• Partitioned by the Nazis and the Soviets in
Sept 1939
• Four squadrons of Polish pilots fought bravely
and successfully in the B of B
Switzerland
• Maintained its neutrality
• Continued its plans for defense against a
potential German invasion
Event 6: Invasion of the Soviet Union
• Read Handout “Event 6”
• How do you think your
country responded to the
invasion of the Soviet Union?
• A. Supported Germany’s
invasion of the Soviet Union
• B. Fought against the German
invasion of the Soviet Union
• C. Proclaimed neutrality
• D. Supported the Soviets by
sending military supplies and
materials but not troops
• E. Surrendered to Germany
• F. Opposed Germany’s
invasion by fighting Germans
elsewhere
Great Britain
• GB and the SU captured Iran in August 1941,
which allowed the Brits to send arms and
materials through India to the USSR
throughout the war
France
• Vichy France: remained allied to Germany and
sent some troops to aid in Operation
Barbarossa
• Free France: fought in the war against
Germany in North Africa and continued to
participate in the defense of Britain, but
unable to aid in the defense of USSR
USSR
• Superior numbers of troops and the severity of winter
combined to save the Soviet Union again the Germans
• By the fall of 1941, Nazis would have to wait out the
harsh Russian winter
• Soviets used the time to reorganize their defenses and
stockpile supplies coming from the Allies
• Nazis resumed attacks in the spring of 1942, but
Russians defended their land
• February 1943, German army at Stalingrad was forced
to surrender and the tide had turned
• Germans advanced no further and by fall they were
forced to retreat
US
• Agreed on 8/25/1941 to extend its support of
the Allies to the Soviet Union by sending
aircraft, tanks, and raw materials through Iran
• In Dec 1941, US joined the Allies in fighting
the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan
Poland
• Remained under German control during
Barbarossa,
• Polish prisoners captured during the Soviet
invasion of 1939 were formed into an army to
fight the Germans
Switzerland
• Maintained its neutrality
• Continued its plans for defense against a
potential German invasion
Event 7: Operation Overlord
• Read event 7
• How do you think your country
responded to the plan to
launch operation overlord?
• A. Participated fully in an
invasion of Normandy coast
• B. Supported the Allies by
sending some troops and
supplies to Operation Overlord
• C. Did not participate in
Operation Overlord but fought
the Germans elsewhere
• D. Provided financial support
only to the Allies
• E. Proclaimed neutrality
• F. Proclaimed neutrality, but
secretly assisted the Allies
GB
• Organized and housed the Allied army while it
prepared for the invasion of France.
• 83K British and Canadian soldiers made up
more than half of the initial landing forces
that participated in Operation Overlord.
France
• Vichy: had been overrun by the Nazis on 11/11/1942,
because Vichy generals in North Africa were conspiring
with the Allied commanders
• After this, all French forces came under the control of
the Free French gov’t
• French soldiers took part in the second wave of troops
to land in Normandy, and French forces made up part
of the invasion of Southern France (Operation
Dragoon, 8/15/1944)
• August 24, 1944, Paris was liberated by Allied force
headed by Free France general Leclerc
USSR
• Continued the war against Germany in the
East but did not participate in Operation
Overlord
• By June 1944, the Red Army had driven the
Germans off nearly all Soviet territory
US
• Contributed 73K soldiers to the invasion
• A large number of the 1200 ships and
hundreds of planes that carried out Operation
Overlord came from America
• Gen. Dwight D Eisenhower assumed
command of the Allied armies in Europe in
Sept 1944, accepting Germany’s surrender on
May 8, 1945
Poland
• Poland’s gov’t in exile prepared for the
liberation of Poland by the Soviet’s Red Army.
• Its forces were active in the invasion of Italy,
but not in Operation Overlord
Switzerland
• Remained neutral, though its Air Force
secretly aided the Allies in their bombing runs
over Germany
• Switzerland supplied the Allies with precision
instruments used in the production of planes,
tanks, bombs and other tools of war