Appeasement and the Road to War, to 1939
Assessment: In the exam you will write ONE ESSAY on Appeasement from a
choice of THREE. Each essay is marked out of 20. You are given marks for
Knowledge (6 marks)
Structure (4 marks)
Argument /evaluation( 10 marks).
Course Content: A study of Fascist foreign policy after 1933 and the reactions of
the democratic powers to it, the development of the policy of appeasement, its failure
and the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, illustrating the themes of ideology, conflict
and diplomacy.
1. An evaluation of the reasons for the aggressive nature of the foreign policies
of Germany and Italy in the 1930s.
The Peace Settlement of 1919; Fascist ideology; economic difficulties after 1929;
weakness of the League of Nations; the British policy of appeasement.
2. An assessment of the methods used by Germany and Italy to pursue their
foreign policies from 1933.
Rearmament by Germany; military agreements, pacts and alliances; Fascist
strategies employed in the crises between 1933 and 1939.
3. An evaluation of the reasons for the British policy of appeasement, 19361938.
Economic difficulties; attitudes to the Paris Peace Settlement; public opinion;
pacifism; concern over the Empire; lack of reliable allies; military weakness; fear of
spread of Communism; beliefs of Chamberlain.
4. An assessment of the success of British foreign policy in containing fascist
aggression, 1935 – March 1938.
Aims; Abyssinia; Rhineland; Naval Agreement; non intervention; the Anschluss of
March 1938.
Pages 20-26 27-32 33-53 54-62
5. An assessment of the Munich agreement.
Arguments for and against the settlement; differing views of the Munich settlement.
Pages 66-77
6. An evaluation of the reasons for the decision to abandon the policy of
appeasement and for the outbreak of war in 1939.
Changing British attitudes towards appeasement; occupation of Bohemia and the
collapse of Czechoslovakia; the developing crisis over Poland: British diplomacy and
relations with the Soviet Union; the position of France; the Nazi-Soviet Pact; the
invasion of Poland.
Pages 78-88
Task one:
Each topic we study will follow a similar pattern
We will read and discuss the section with this your teacher.
Take detailed notes individually on the key points from the chapter.
As a class you will take turns to run a detailed tutorial and then
provide a revision/ recall sheet to the rest of the class at the end of
the tutorial.
Each tutorial should be prepared with discussion points and a
video clip if possible by the two students in charge.
Product Criteria
 At least 4 knowledge points
 Structural tips: introduction, conclusion and overall structure
 Outline the main arguments and how you would put them
together
 A video clip on your topic
Who’s Who?
Do you know anything about the following
people?
 Clement Atlee
 Stanley Baldwin
 Neville Chamberlain
 Winston Churchill
 Anthony Eden
 Francisco Franco
 Adolf Hitler
 David Low
 Benito Mussolini
 Joseph Stalin
Challenge 1
They are some of the key characters to be studied.
Use page 1 of the textbook to make a brief note on
each.
The Peace Settlements of 1919
Germany
 The War Guilt Clausefull responsibility for
starting WW1
 Reparation payments of
£6,600,000
 Disarmament- no tanks,
no military air force, no
conscription, no u-boats,
army of 100,000 men,
Rhineland de-militarised,
no defences on the
French border
 Loss of overseas
colonies
 No Anschluss
 Alsace and Lorraine
returned to France
 Eupen and Malmedy
returned to Belgium
 Posen, West Prussia
and part of Upper Silesia
to go to Poland.
 The Saar coalfield to be
transferred to France for
15 years.





Italy
Italy switched sides in
April 1915 so was not
going to be punished like
Germany and AH.
Signor Orlando the Italian
PM walked out of the
Conference but came
back to ensure Italy was
not left empty handed.
The Treaty of St Germain
gave Italy the South Tyrol,
Trentino, Istria and the
use of the port of Trieste.
However, she did not get
a share of the German
colonies.
No share of reparation
payments.
Section One: The Peace Settlements of 1919 & Fascist
Ideology
Product Criteria
You are going to produce a handout for the class answering the
question
To what extent did the Peace Settlement of 1919 and Fascist
ideology cause Germany OR Italy to peruse an aggressive foreign
policy?
Form Criteria
-You will split into TWO groups
-One will research Italian reaction to the Peace Settlement and
Italian Fascism under Mussolini.
-The other will research German reaction to the Peace Settlement
and Germany fascism.
Resources
Using the information above
Appeasement textbook pages 13 & 14.
Growth of Nationalism textbook pages 46-47 (Italy) 125-127
(Germany).
The Impact of the Great Depression on Italy and Germany
Group challenge
One group will research Italy and the other Germany you must
provide an information sheet for the class. Your teacher will give
you a range of resources to help with your notes.
Section Two:
Weaknesses of the League of Nations
1. Read pages 6 to 10 and think about how it helps you to fill in
the table below question: Use the info from pages 8-11 to
exemplify the reactions.
Germany
Reaction to the League of Nations
France
Britain
Italy
USSR
USA
2. Take notes on what impact the Manchurian crisis had on
The League, Britain, France, Italy, USA and possibly
Germany and Italy.
3. Section Three: German and Italian Foreign Policy 193335
1. Read pages 13-19 and make notes using the following headings
to help you.
 German motives/aims
 The Failure of the Disarmament Conference
 German Rearmament and Arms Appeasement
2. Read pages 20-26 and make notes on the following
 Italy’s immediate motives in Abyssinia
 British and French reaction
 Role of the League/ Hoare Laval Pact
 British public reaction to the Hoare Laval Pact
 Implications of the incident on the future of European
security.
Group Presentation One.
Rule Criteria
 Group of 3 people
 You must meet your deadline: One week,
 Prepare a revision sheet
Form Criteria
 You must evaluate the reasons for the aggressive nature of
the foreign policies of Germany and Italy in the 1930s.
 You must mention the following points and their individual
significance:
o
The Peace Settlement of 1919;
o
Fascist ideology
o
Economic difficulties after 1929
o
Weakness of the League of Nations
o
Abyssinian Crisis
o
The British policy of appeasement.
 You must have a KU section
 You must have an argument and evaluation section.
 You must have a historiography section.
 Video clip.
Section Four : The Rhineland Crisis March 1936
1. Outline Hitler’s motives for re-militarising the Rhineland in 1936.
2. British gvt reaction
3. French gvt Reaction
4. The methods used by Germany to further peruse her foreign
policy objectives
5. Evaluate the reasons why Britain followed a policy of nonIntervention and the success of this policy. (mention public opinion;
pacifism; concern over the Empire; lack of reliable allies; military weakness;
economic problems; fear of spread of Communism)
THE RHINELAND –
POINTS FOR DISCUSSION
“Could Hitler Have been stopped at this stage?”
Split the class into two groups
Prepare at least three detailed ARGUMENTS which support
OR reject this view.
Use detailed KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
evidence to support each of your arguments.
YES
 Britain and France could have resisted the invasion
 French army was bigger and stronger then the
German one
 Sanctions could have been imposed
NO:




France and Britain were not confident enough
Politicians in Britain were pro-German
Public lack of support for war
Fear of communism greater than fascism
Group Presentation Two.
Rule Criteria
 Group of 3 people
 You must meet your deadline: One week,
 Prepare a revision sheet
Form Criteria
 You must evaluate the reasons for the Rhineland Crisis and
the reaction to it.
 You must mention the following points and their individual
significance:
o
Outline Hitler’s motives for re-militarising the Rhineland
in 1936;
o
Italian reaction
o
British reaction- popular opinion and political reaction
o
French reaction
o
The British policy of appeasement.
 You must have a KU section
 You must have an argument and evaluation section.
 You must have a historiography section.
 Video clip.
Section Five:
The Spanish Civil War 1936-39 p33- 53
1. Pages 33-40 it is just background so do not take notes. Your
teacher will discuss it with you.
2. The methods used by Germany and Italy to further peruse their
foreign policy objectives.
3. Evaluate the reasons why Britain followed a policy of nonintervention and the success of this policy. (mention public opinion;
pacifism; concern over the Empire; lack of reliable allies; military weakness;
economic problems; fear of spread of Communism)
Group Presentation Three.
Rule Criteria
 Group of 3 people
 You must meet your deadline: One week,
 Prepare a revision sheet
Form Criteria
 You must evaluate the impact the Spanish Civil War has on
European security
 You must mention the following points and their individual
significance:
o German and Italian intervention
o British reaction- popular opinion and political
reaction
o French reaction
o German and Italian reaction to NYON conference
o The British policy of appeasement.
 You must have a KU section
 You must have an argument and evaluation section.
 You must have a historiography section.
 You must have a clip.
Homework then timed Essay1:
To what extent do economic difficulties explain the
aggressive nature of fascist foreign policies up until 1936?
Section Six:
1.
2.
3.
An assessment of the British reasons for
pursuing a policy of appeasement and the
Anschluss.
Read pages 54-58 and page 63 and review why Britain
pursued a policy of Appeasement from 1930-1936.
Read pages 58-62 and highlight Germany’s motives for the
Anshluss and how it helped her and Italy peruse their fascist
foreign policy
Read pages 58-65 on the Anschluss to help you answer the
question and address the reasons why Britain followed the
policy of appeasement and how successful her policy was.
Group Presentation Four.
Rule Criteria
 Group of 3 people
 You must meet your deadline: One week,
 Prepare a revision sheet
Form Criteria
 You must evaluate the reasons why Britain followed a policy
of Appeasement.
 You must evaluate the success of the policy by using
examples from all the crisis’s you have looked at so far.
 You must have a KU section
 You must have an argument and evaluation section.
 You must have a historiography section
 Video clip.
Timed essay: How successful was Britain’s policy of Appeasement
in containing fascist aggression between 1935-38? 20 marks.
HIGHER HISTORY ESSAY MARKING RUBRIC: EYE OF THE TIGER
CRITERIA
STRUCTURE
ARGUMENT
K.U.
(KNOWLEDGE &
UNDERSTANDING
HISTORIOGRAPHY
D – Novice
Historian
C – Apprentice
Historian
Basic attempt at an
introduction and
conclusion. Possible
lack of focus on
question.
Some organisation of the response.
Minimal establishment of context.
Connection made to question.
Clear attempt at introduction,
conclusion and development.
Line of argument established.
Conclusion linked to issue.
Intro establishes the context and
demonstrates a solid line of
argument. Conclusion based on
evidence presented and relates
directly to issue.
Focus is weak and little/
no argument made.
There is some meaningful comment
on issue but not discussed in depth.
Overall style is narrative and
descriptive in approach.
Some evidence with meaningful
comments that recognise the
issue. There is a clear awareness
of the issue to be addressed.
Evidence is used to lead the
development of the argument. The
evidence is integrated into a developed
and sustained analysis. Awareness of
areas of debate.
Narrative approach lack of specific
detail and evidence.
Knowledge and understanding of
the issue is evident. Points are
explained.
Knowledge and understanding of
the issue is extensive and points
are well explained and developed.
Use of historiography to
support points made.
Extensive historiography
included to enhance debate.
Awareness of differing
interpretations.
Points are narrative and
lack detail.
No attempt made to
include
historiography.
Possible attempt at
historiography but not
developed.
B – Practitioner
Historian
A – Master
Historian
A+
SUPERB!
WOW!
SUPERB!
WOW!
Section Seven: An assessment of the British reasons for
pursuing a policy of appeasement and the Anschluss.
Read pages 66-79
Take notes which assess the Munich agreement.
Give arguments for and against the settlement; differing views of
the Munich settlement.
Czech Crisis Challenge
Rule Criteria
Working in random groups of 5
You must meet your deadline
At least 3 of your group must appear in your trailer.
Form Criteria
 You must pitch must explain your action film/
soap opera/ musical/ bbc period drama in every
detail
 You must include a 2 minute “trailer” for your
action film/ soap opera / musical/ bbc period
drama/ romantic comedy.
 You must have a tagline for your production.
 You must have a poster to advertise your
production
 You must have a name for your project,
relevant soundtrack and a cast
 There must be a clear, relevant plot line
explaining what factors lead up to the Czech
Crisis, the negotiations to stop it, the
consequences of it and what type of
appeasement it was.
Content Criteria
 You must refer to accurate information from the
textbook.
 You must have a plot
 Your pitch must be no longer than 5 minutes
long including your 2 minute trailer.
Deadline week from now…
Essay Topic One: .An evaluation of the reasons for the aggressive nature of
the foreign policies of Germany and Italy in the 1930s.
Relevant Points
 The Peace Settlement of 1919
 Fascist ideology
 Economic difficulties after 1929
 Weakness of the League of Nations
 The British policy of appeasement.
Arguments
Argument One:
Evidence to show that The Peace Settlement of 1919 DID made Fascist
foreign policy more aggressive.
Evidence to show that The Peace Settlement of 1919 DID NOT make
Fascist foreign policy more aggressive.
Argument Two:
Evidence to show that Fascist ideology DID made Fascist foreign policy
more aggressive.
Evidence to show that Fascist ideology DID NOT make Fascist foreign
policy more aggressive
Argument Three:
Evidence to show that Economic difficulties after 1929 DID made Fascist
foreign policy more aggressive.
Evidence to show that Economic difficulties after 1929 DID NOT make
Fascist foreign policy more aggressive.
Argument Four:
Evidence to show that Weakness of the League of Nations
DID made Fascist foreign policy more aggressive.
Evidence to show that Weakness of the League of Nations
DID NOT make Fascist foreign policy more aggressive.
Argument Five:
Evidence to show that The British policy of appeasement
DID made Fascist foreign policy more aggressive.
Evidence to show that The British policy of appeasement
DID NOT make Fascist foreign policy more aggressive.
Essay Topic Two: . An assessment of the methods used by Germany and
Italy to pursue their foreign policies from 1933.
Essay question Two: “Bullying and bluff.” How accurate is this description of
the methods used by the fascist powers to pursue their foreign policy aims in
the years after 1933?
Relevant Points
 Rearmament by Germany
 Military agreements, pacts and alliances
 Fascist strategies employed in the crises between 1933 and 1939.
Arguments
Argument One:
Evidence to show that Rearmament by Germany was a method used by
Germany and Italy to pursue their foreign policies from 1933.
Evidence to show that Rearmament by Germany was not a method
used by Germany and Italy to pursue their foreign policies from 1933.
Argument Two:
Evidence to show that Military agreements, pacts and alliances
was a method used by Germany and Italy to pursue their foreign policies
from 1933.
Evidence to show that Military agreements, pacts and alliances
was not a method used by Germany and Italy to pursue their foreign
policies from 1933.
Argument Three: a. Abyssinia b. Rhineland c. Spain d. Austria e.
Czechoslovakia ( f Poland)
Evidence to show that Fascist strategies employed in the crises between
1933 and 1939 was a method used by Germany and Italy to pursue their
foreign policies from 1933.
Evidence to show that Fascist strategies employed in the crises between
1933 and 1939was not a method used by Germany and Italy to pursue
their foreign policies from 1933.
Mark Scheme
The candidate assesses the extent to which fascist foreign policy in
the 1930s relied on the use of military force by comparison with
political, diplomatic, economic and other methods, using evidence
and arguments such as:
Military force
• The militaristic nature and image of Fascism/Nazism.
Introduced conscription/ Luftwaffe: Airforce/ Navy/Army
• The speed and scale of rearmament, including conscription.
Ger very fast. Italian struggled due to poor economy
• The emphasis on air power and the growing threat from the air.
 Italy’s naval ambitions in the Mediterranean – ‘Mare
Nostrum’.
Fascist strategies employed in the crises between 1933
and 1939
• Italian invasion of Abyssinia – provocation, methods, and
relatively poor performance against very poorly equipped enemy.
• German remilitarisation of Rhineland – Hitler’s gamble and
timing, his generals’ opposition, lack of Allied resistance.
• Spanish Civil War – aid to Nationalists, testing weapons and
tactics, aerial bombing.
• Anschluss – attempted coup 1934; relations with Schuschnigg;
invasion itself relatively botched militarily; popularity of Anschluss
in Austria.
• Czechoslovakia – threats of 1938; invasion of March 1939.
• Italian invasion of Albania – relatively easy annexation of a client
state.
• Poland – escalating demands; provocation, invasion.
• The extent to which it was the threat of military force which was
used rather than military
force itself – e.g. Czechoslovakia in 1938; and the extent to which
military force itself was effective and/or relied on an element of
bluff – e.g. Rhineland.
Military agreements, pacts and alliances
• Diplomacy and the protestation of ‘peaceful’ intentions and
‘reasonable’ demands.
• Appeals to sense of international equality and fairness and the
righting of past wrongs e.g.
Versailles.
• Withdrawal from League and Disarmament Conference.
• Signing of pacts, agreements and alliances:
- German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact
- Stresa Front – Italy, France, Britain
- Anglo-German Naval Agreement
- Austro-German agreement
- Rome-Berlin Axis and Anti-Comintern Pact
- Munich Agreement
- Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
• Clever timing and exploitation of weaknesses/divisions among
potential opponents.
• Use of economic influence and pressure, e.g. on south-eastern
European states.
Any other relevant factors.
[
3. An evaluation of the reasons for the British policy of
appeasement, 1936-1938.
Economic difficulties; attitudes to the Paris Peace Settlement;
public opinion; pacifism; concern over the Empire; lack of reliable
allies; military weakness; fear of spread of Communism; beliefs of
Chamberlain.
Essay Question 3:To what extent was Britain's adoption of a policy
of appeasement between 1936 and 1938 the result of the beliefs
of Chamberlain?
The candidate evaluates the relative importance of the beliefs of Chamberlain
in accounting for Britain's policy of appeasement between 1936 and 1938 by
comparison with other relevant factors, using evidence and arguments such
as:
Beliefs of Chamberlain
 Avoid war at all costs
 Anti-communist stance- suspicion of Soviet Russia; Nazi Germany seen
as a buffer and destabilising the Nazi regime might lead to questions
over communist revolution in Germany.
 Diplomacy was stronger than threat- Outline evidence of diplomacy
 Trusts Hitler (do not mention Muinch)
Military weakness
 • Run-down state of armed forces following WW1.
 • Army: conscription ended post WW1, scaled right down in size.
 • Navy: not so run-down but not fully maintained and many obsolete
ships.
 • Air Force: lack of adequate air defences and fear of aerial bombing.
 • Multiple threats – Japan in the East, Italy in the Mediterranean and
North Africa, Germany in Central Europe.
 • Warnings of Chiefs-of-Staff.
 • Exaggerated assessments of German military strength.
1919 Peace Settlement
 Too harsh on Germany and there was sympathy for what were seen by
many as genuine grievances.
 Reluctance to enforce Treaty provisions and preference for policy of
 making concessions.
Pacifism & Public Opinion
 Fear of another World War – recent memories of losses/horrors of
WW1.
 Public anti-war feeling – Peace Ballot, Oxford 'King and Country'
debate.
•
Economic difficulties
 Impact of 1929–32 economic depression, fear of damaging
international trade.
•
Lack of reliable allies
 Failure of League of Nations, eg reaction to any crisis between 19361938.
 French political divisions, military weakness and Maginot mentality
 US isolationism
 weakness of eastern European successor states
 doubts over commitment of Empire and the Commonwealth in event of
war.
•
•
• Any other relevant factors.