History Test: Start of the War (World War II)

1. Appeasement vs. Conflict: (What is appeasement?)

What is appeasement?

Appeasement is the policy of giving in to someone’s demands to avoid conflict.

After World War I:

• Britain and France were exhausted

• Millions were dead

• They were terrified of another war

1. Appeasement vs. Conflict: Why Britain and France used appeasement

Why Britain and France used appeasement

• They felt the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh

• They thought Hitler’s demands were reasonable

• They believed Hitler would stop once satisfied

• They needed time to rebuild their militaries

1. Appeasement vs. Conflict: Why appeasement failed (SUPER IMPORTANT)

Why appeasement failed (SUPER IMPORTANT)

Hitler did not want limited changes.
He wanted power, land, and dominance.

Each time countries gave in:

• Hitler gained confidence

• Germany grew stronger

• Resistance became harder

➡ Appeasement encouraged aggression.

⭐ TEST PHRASE:
Appeasement delayed war but made it more dangerous when it finally came.

2. Treaty of Versailles (connection to the war): Why this treaty matters to the start of WWII

⭐ SUPER IMPORTANT:
The Treaty of Versailles created the motivation for expansion and revenge.

3. Hitler’s Expansion in Europe: Part 1

Hitler believed Germany needed Lebensraum (living space).

Step-by-step expansion (THIS IS HUGE FOR TESTS)a) Remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936)

• Hitler sent troops into a demilitarized zone

• Britain and France did nothing

➡ Hitler learned they would not stop him.

3. Hitler’s Expansion in Europe: Part 2

b) Anschluss – Union with Austria (1938)

• Germany took over Austria

• This was illegal under Versailles

• Again, no military response

➡ Germany grew stronger without fighting.

3. Hitler’s Expansion in Europe: Part 3

c) Munich Pact (1938)

• Hitler demanded the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia

• Britain and France agreed at Munich

• They believed this would bring “peace for our time”

➡ Hitler broke the promise and took all of Czechoslovakia.

⭐ SUPER IMPORTANT:
The Munich Pact is the clearest example of appeasement failing.

3. Hitler’s Expansion in Europe: Part 4

4. Soviet–Nazi Pact (1939)What was it?

A non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union.

Why it shocked the world

• Nazis hated communists

• Communists hated Nazis

But both wanted time and advantage.

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The secret part (VERY IMPORTANT)

• Germany and the USSR secretly agreed to divide Poland

• Hitler could invade without fighting on two fronts

➡ This removed Hitler’s last fear.

3. Hitler’s Expansion in Europe: Part 5

5. The actual start of World War IIWhat happened?

• Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939

• Britain and France finally realized appeasement had failed

• They declared war on Germany

➡ World War II officially began