Topic 20: The World Wars in Europe
Objectives
Knowledge
1. To know Germany’s responsibility for causing the world wars.
2. To understand the meaning of “Total war” and reasons for the long
period of fighting.
3. To know the aim of the international organizations set up after the
world wars.
Skills
1. To analyze different viewpoints.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of an organization.
Attitude
1.To have anti-war feelings
2.To collaborate for peace
3. To have empathy.
Teaching Flow
Items
Format
Teaching Objectives
Content
1.
Question to
ponder
A question &
brief
introduction
2.
Task 1
To know
more (1) and
(2)
Data based
question and
role play
3.
Task 2
Date based
question
To let students have a clear How did the “three main
learning focus
issues” of the world wars
(German problem, “total
war” and international
cooperation) change Europe
and the world in the 20th
century?
To let students analyze the Germany’s responsibility for
German problem
causing the world wars and
how nationalism led to the
outbreak of the two world
wars.
Analyze the concept of
“Total war” and long period
“total war”.
of fighting
4.
Task 3
Data based
question
5.
Conclusion
6.
Extended
activity
To let students understand International effort to keep
the concept of
peace
“international cooperation”
Summary chart Revision
Summary of the issues
discussed in this topic
Write a
memoir or
draw a picture
Revision
Most memorable experience
of the world wars
1
Question to ponder
How did the “three main issues” of the world war (German
problem, “total war” and international cooperation) change
Europe and the world in the 20th century?
To Know More (1)
Background of the two world wars
2

Europe experienced the First World War (1914-18) and the Second World
War (1939-45). The three main issues about the two world wars are:
German problem, “total war” and international efforts for keeping peace.

In the First World War (1914-1918) Britain, France, Russia (known as the
Triple Entente) and the USA fought Germany, Austria (known as the
Triple Alliance, together with Italy), Bulgaria and Turkey. What happened
to Italy? Although it was part of the Triple Alliance, by a secret alliance
with France, it stayed out of the war until 1915, when it joined on the side
of the Triple Entente.

In the Second World War (1939-1945) Britain, France, USSR and the
USA (the Allies) fought Germany and Italy (the Axis). In Asia, Japan
joined in the war on the side of the Axis powers. War on China by Japan
began in 1937, that will be the subject of the next topic.
Task 1: In what ways was Germany responsible for the outbreak of
the world wars in Europe?
Different countries joined the world wars but Germany was regarded as mainly
responsible for the outbreak of the wars. Study Source A and find out information
which showed how Germany led to the outbreak of the world wars.
Source A
The following summarizes the immediate causes of the two world wars.
In 1914, the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Serb during his
visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. With unlimited support of Germany, Austria
declared war on Serbia. When Russia mobilized its army to support Serbia and
France mobilized to support Russia, Germany declared war on them and attacked
France through Belgium. Britain then joined the war to help Belgium and its allies.
The First World War broke out.
Twenty years after the First World War, Germany annexed Austria and invaded
Czechoslovakia in 1938. Britain and France adopted the appeasement policy and
tried to satisfy Germany’s ambition by recognizing Germany’s territorial gains. Yet
Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and, together with Russia, attacked Poland the
next year. Failing to stop Germany’s expansion by negotiation, Britain and France
declared war on Germany and the Second World War broke out.
Topic 20: The World Wars in Europe
Answer the following questions with reference to Source A.
1. What did the following countries do on the eve of the two world wars?
Suggested answer:
Countries
The First World War
The Second World War
Germany
Unlimited support to Austria;
declared war on Russia; attacked
France through Belgium
Continuous expansion into Austria,
Czechoslovakia, and Poland
Austria
Declared war on Serbia
Failed to protect itself from German
annexation
Russia
Mobilized army to help Serbia
Attacked Poland with Germany
France
Mobilized army to support Russia
Appeasement policy resulted in further
expansion
Britain
Joined the war to support its allies
Appeasement policy resulted in further
expansion
2. Imagine you and your group members are the representatives of one of the five
countries in question 1. Discuss which country should be mainly responsible for the
outbreak of the First World War. Explain your view.
Suggested answer:
Free answer, e.g. To France, Germany should be mainly responsible for the wars.
-
WWI: giving unlimited support to Austria, so Austria declared war on Serbia and
this forced Russia to mobilize to help Serbia
- WWII: continuous expansion and not satisfied even with territorial gain recognized
by Britain and France
3. How did nationalism make the country you identified in question 2 join the world
wars? Explain your answer.
(Challenging question. Hint: you may refer to Topic 19 and “To know more (2)”. )
Suggested answer:
Free answer, e.g. France joined the wars in order to
a. Both wars: to strengthen the country and to get glory
b. WWI: to take revenge on Germany for humiliation and regain the land ceded to
Germany after the Franco-Prussian War.
c. WWII: to safeguard the interests of France against the ambitious Nazi Germany
(Other reasonable answers are acceptable.)
3
To Know More (2)
Nationalism and the outbreak of the two world wars
 The spot which led directly to war was Bosnia and Serbia, as indicated in
the map on the right. Bosnia came within Austria, but its population was
Slav, and therefore the people were linguistically close to Serbia. Serbia
was backed by Russia, which also had a large Slav population, and was
also interested in this area as an expansion into the Mediterranean.
2
1
4
The Austrian Empire
Europe today
Notes:
1. The Austrian Empire
2. The German confederation controlled by Austria in 1815-1866

Austria was backed by Germany. Germany was as yet a newly unified country in
1914. After war with Austria in 1866, Prussia occupied half of Germany. After war
with France in 1870, Prussia united the German states and set up the new state of
Germany. Germany was one of the major European powers from 1870 to 1914. It built
an army, expanded overseas, and defended the German interest in Europe, even when
such interests did not fall with Germany. It was closely allied to Austria.

In 1914, the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne, was assassinated
by a Serbian while on a visit to Bosnia. Austria declared war on Serbia. Russia came
to the support of Serbia. France and England came to the support of Russia. Germany
supported Austria. The United States joined in on the side of the Allies in 1917.

The Second World War began because Germany, defeated in the First World War,
was made to be pay a heavy indemnity and lost territory. Payment of indemnity could
only be supported by loans from the US and by devaluing the German currency. The
result was hyper-inflation in the 1920s. The government set up after the First World
War collapsed, and an ultra nationalist party, the National Socialist Party (Nazi) came
to power under Adolf Hitler. The Nazi government rebuilt the economy and the army
very quickly, and expanded. Once again, expansion was justified on the grounds that
the German nation had the responsibility to defend German interests even when they
fell outside Germany. It annexed Austria and invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938. It
invaded Poland in 1939. On that point, Britain and France declared war.
Topic 20: The World Wars in Europe
Task 2: “Total War” and Long Period of Fighting
The two world wars lasted for four years and six years respectively. Due to the use of
advanced weapons, the whole country was involved to provide adequate human and material
resources for fighting, making weapons and producing military supplies. This is known as
‘total war’. The effective mobilization of resources, in turn, made the war last for so long.
Study Sources B-E to find out how Britain coped with the two world wars.
Source B The following poster was
published in 1914.
Source C
The following British song
below was recorded in 1914.
It’s a Long Way to Tipperary
It’s a long way to Tipperary,
It’s a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell Leicester Square!
It’s a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
Source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Kitche
ner-leete.jpg
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It’s_a_Long_Way_to_
Tipperary
5
Source D
The following is extracted from the speech “The Few” given by Winston Churchill to House
of Commons on 20 August 1940.
There is another more obvious difference from 1914. The whole of the warring
nations are engaged, not only soldiers, but the entire population, men, women,
and children. The fronts are everywhere. The trenches are dug in the towns and
streets. Every village is fortified. Every road is barred. The front line runs
through the factories. The workmen are soldiers with different weapons but the
same courage.
Source:
The Churchill Centre (online), Speeches & Quotes, ‘The Few’,
http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=420
Source E
The following shows the bombing of London from the air during the Second World War.
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Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:LondonBombedWWII.png
Answer the following questions with reference to Sources B-E.
1. Which wars are Sources B and C related to? What are the key messages of the sources?
Suggested answer:
Both: related to the First World War
Message: B - To ask people to join the army (Source B)
C - Soldiers were happy about joining the war (Source C)
Topic 20: The World Wars in Europe
2. Identify from Sources D and E two ways that the civilians were affected in the
Second World War.
Suggested answer:
They could be attacked and their life affected. (Sources D and E)
They had to work in factories for the war. (Source E)
3. How did the British government keep the country fighting for so many years during
the two world wars? Explain your answer.
(Challenging question. Hint: Refer to Sources B-E and the Summary Chart.)
Suggested answer:
Free answer, e.g.
-
Sources B to E: poster to recruit enough soldiers, songs to boost the morale,
speeches and pictures to show the danger of the country and enlist people’s
support
-
Own knowledge: food rationing and price control to get enough war supplies,
convoying system to get supplies abroad, poster to show the cruelty of their
enemies and encourage the people to fight
Task 3: International Effort for Keeping Peace
The world wars caused great loss to both victorious and defeated countries and therefore
attempts were made to prevent war. Study Source F to find out the international effort
for keeping peace.
Source F
The following shows the two international organizations set up after the two world
wars.
After the First World War, the League of Nations was set up in 1919 to promote
international cooperation for keeping peace. Yet, without support from powerful
countries, it could not prevent the outbreak of the Second World War.
After the Second World War, the United Nations was set up in 1945 to replace
the League. With military power and the support from almost every country in
the world, including the powerful countries, the United Nations was more
effective than the League in keeping peace.
Answer the following questions with reference to Source F.
1. Identify from Source F the names and the aim of the two international organizations set up
after the world wars.
Suggested answer:
Organizations: League of Nations after WWI; United Nations after WWII
Aim: to keep peace
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2. Which international organization was more successful in achieving the aim? Explain your
answer.
Suggested answer:
United Nations: The League could not prevent the outbreak of World War II and was
replaced by the United Nations.
3. Give reasons to explain why the international organization you identified in question (2)
was more successful.
(Challenging question. Hint: Go to library or internet and search for relevant books or
information about the reasons for the outbreak of the Second World War, and the
strengths and limitations of the two organizations)
Suggested answer:
UN had military power and support from powerful countries, but the League did not.
(Source F)
All countries had learnt that wars were disastrous after the Second World War and
determined to keep peace, but Germany and some other countries were still aggressive
after the First World War (Own knowledge)
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Conclusion
Germany was regarded as mainly responsible for causing the two world wars. During
the wars, the use of advanced weapons and the improvement of technology made it
necessary and possible for the government to mobilize the whole country to fight for a
long period of time. Since the world wars were disastrous, international organizations
were set up to keep peace after the wars.
Extended activity
Imagine you were a European who survived the world wars in Europe. Write in
no more than 500 words OR draw a picture to describe your most memorable
experience during the wars.
課題 19: 歐洲的民族主義
Topic 20: The World Wars in Europe
Summary Chart
Two World Wars
Causes:
Course: “total war” and
Consequence: international
German problem
long period of fighting
efforts to keep peace
The First World War:
-
-
equal strength
Nationalism; arms race;
-
national conscription
colonial rivalry, alliance
-
economic front e.g.
The First World War：
-
Formation of the League
of Nations
-
Sarajevo Assassination
food rationing, price
-
Declaration of the war
control
The Second World War：
propaganda and
-
The Second World War：
-
censorship
Formation of the United
Nations
Annexed Austria and
Czechoslovakia
-
Alliance with Italy and
Japan
-
Nazi-Soviet
-Non-aggression Pact
and invasion of Poland
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