Sept 29 WH WWII

​World History 9/29/25

By Teresa Hutchison

Imagine you are the leader of the USSR during the 1930's.

​This information is in your mind

You despise capitalism & naturally dislike capitalist countries Britain, France & USA.

At the Treaty of Versailles, the Allied Nations took part of your land to create Poland, without consulting you.   You have never forgotten this.

Your ‘Plans’ are slowly making Russia stronger, but it is a slow process, and Russia is still weak..

Your two BASIC foreign policies are, therefore:

a.  PEACE - so Russia can continue to grow strong

b.  A BUFFER ZONE of countries in between you and your enemies

You consider your main enemies to be:

•  Germany (who may attack by land) and Britain (who may attack by sea).

Multiple Choice

Hitler has started to re-arm Germany, against the Treaty of Versailles, although his army is still very small and weak.

Russia is still VERY weak.

What will you do?

• Make an alliance with Germany

• Make an alliance with France

• Do nothing

• Join the League of Nations

Hitler has come to power in Germany, and you are afraid of his intentions.

In his book, Mein Kampf, Hitler has openly said that you are the Dungervolk (dung people) and that he wants to conquer you, take your land and give it to the German people, who you will serve as slaves.

Nazism is the exact opposite of Communism, and you hate the Nazis. On coming to power, Hitler arrested many German Communists, and either shot them or put them in concentration camps.

​

Decision One. It is 1933

Decision Two

 

 

It is 1938.

 

Hitler’s power has grown.

 

Hitler has re-occupied the Rhineland and taken over Austria. Now he has taken over the Sudetenland  region in Czechoslovakia. You are convinced that these are merely the first steps in his policy of lebensraum - taking ‘living space’ for Germans in eastern Europe and Russia. You are VERY frightened of his intentions.

 

In Germany his propaganda minister, Goebbels, blames you and the Jews for all the troubles of the world.   

 

Multiple Choice

Meanwhile, Britain and France are simply appeasing Hitler - giving him what he wants. They gave him the Sudetenland. You are disgusted by their weakness. With them in control, the League of Nations is useless - it has failed in Asia, & Africa and now in Sudetenland. What do you do?

• Leave the League of Nations

• Go to war against Germany

• Go to war against Britain & France

• Offer Germany an Alliance

​Decision 3
March 1939

Hitler breaks promise he made with Britain in 1938 to make no more territorial expansions after receiving the Sudentenland. Hitler now demands a region in Northern Poland to be given to Germany.
Poland is the safe border protecting you from a German invasion. If Poland is annexed by Hitler, you lose that protection..

Multiple Choice

Britain stated it would declare war on Germany, if Germany invaded Poland, but you think its a bluff. Your nation is stronger than it was 10 years ago. Hitler has not stated he would invade your nation (yet).

• Ask Britain to make an alliance against Germany

• Do Nothing

• Rejoin the League of Nations

• Go to war against Germany

​Decision 4 August 1939

You ask to meet with the British Prime Minister, but you are rebuked because you are a communist. Although insulted, you ask Britain to talk about what you both will do, if Germany invades Poland. Britain sends a diplomat who tells you he doesn't have the authority to make an agreement with you. You are convinced Britain will give in to Hitler and do nothing when he invades Poland.

Multiple Choice

You get a surprise visit from Ger diplomat. He offers a secret pact. Germany promises to never attack or be aggressive to the USSR, if they will look the other way, if Germany invades Poland. And Germany offers to give you half of Poland. What do you do?

• Do Nothing

• Ask the League of Nations to deal with Germany

• Send a warning to Britain of Germany's plans

• go ahead and make the deal with Germany

​Causes of WWII	​Explanation	​Evidence
​Treaty of Versailles	​	​
Economic Depression​	​	​
Rise of Fascism​	​	​
Policy of Appeasement​	​	​
​Military Expansion	​	​

There was a strict list of things Germany was not allowed to do.
HItler, slowly began violating the treaty for 2 years - with no consequence

​

​After WWI, Germany was under the thumb/mercy of the Allied Powers

​1. united Austria & Germany to form empire b/c they shared a bloodline
2. more land was necessary for life & prosperity

Hitler 2 motives for violating treaty by rearming army & territory expansion
1. Anschluss (fusion) and 2. Lebensraum

Each time Hitler broke the treaty, Brit, & France looked other way--> b/c they did not want to risk another war

​

Do Nothing!

He went too far! Brit, Prime Minister, requested a meeting ASAP. Hitler agreed but it was to be held at his home, in Munich.

​Britain discovered Hitler planned on invading Czech.

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​Each time he got away with something, his next move was even BOLDER

Fueled Hitler's Confidence

Prime. Min. Chamberlain, flew to Munich w/ goal to talk some sense into Hitler, and come home with Peace treaty

Hitler agrees to peace & Promises to not take any more territory under one condition

Allow Germany to HAVE the western region of Czech. then Hitler will be satisfied. Chamberlain is happy to think he avoided war and agrees to Hitler's request.
Chamberlain goes home to show Britain, the pact Hitler signed, promising Peace.

In less than 1 year, Hitler breaks his promise

​1938- takes the western region- as agreed

1939- army marches into the rest of Czech and takes control.

Non-Aggression Pact aka Nazi Soviet Pact

​Background info

After WWI, Poland is formed from land from Germany and Russia.
Hitler has been aggressively taking lands and bringing Europe to the brink of war.
USSR, is still trying to recoup from WWI and figure out its new communist gov't. It is too weak to fight a war.

What is Hitler thinking?

​Although Germany is getting stronger & bolder, Hitler does NOT want to go to war against the USSR

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Happy teaching!

Hitler secretly plans to attack Poland in Sept. 1939

​But before he can, he needs Stalin to make a secret deal.

1 week before his invasion- makes a secret deal w/ USSR. Germany asks USSR to Do Nothing, when Germany invades Poland. afterwards, Germany will split Poland with the USSR. & rest of war they promise to not be aggressive to each other. Stalin agrees.

Open Ended

Why is Prime Minister Chamberlain being depicted as an Angel? Why is he carrying an Olive Branch?

Open Ended

Explain each symbol & words you see as it relates to the Munich Conference. Then explain its message about the agreement.

Open Ended

This cartoon was published after the conference. The artist has a message about the kind of affect the conference had on Hitler's attitude. What is the message?

Open Ended

Analyze the drawing. Explain all the symbolism plus the meaning behind the caption.

Open Ended

Explain all the symbolism and elements in the drawing. What Pact is the drawing referring to, and how can you tell?

Open Ended

Why are the wolf and bear in bed together? Why is Little Red Riding Hood shocked? (make sure to explain the 3 nations in the drawing)

Open Ended

Who are the 2 men? Why are the 2 men appearing to like each other, but secretly holding a gun behind their backs? (not literal, the historical reference)