GCSE/IB History: International Relations, 1929-39

Sourcework Assignment Pack

A comprehensive pack of sources and questions in the style of GCSE/IGCSE examinations, designed to be printed off at the beginning of the unit and used as homework exercises over the course of several weeks.

Japan and Italy: The Manchurian and Abyssinian Crises

1.	Cover Sheet The other worksheets in this short unit can be collated together as a printable pack if desired. This cover sheet establishes the relevance of the topic.
2.	PowerPoint Starter The horrifying human impact of the League's failure in Manchuria in particular is highlighted in this disturbing slideshow. I only use this at IB level. Please reach your own judgement as to whether it is appropriate for your own students.
3.	Roleplay: The Manchurian and Abyssinian Crises This roleplay exercise is a good way of getting students thinking about the possible courses of action open to the League. The teacher should be prepared to explain to the students what was actually decided in terms of the Lytton Report (re. Manchuria) and the Hoare-Laval Pact (re. Abyssinia).
4.	Cartoon Analysis: Manchuria and Abyssinia [interactive] Students consolidate their knowledge by analysing a series of political cartoons relating to the Manchurian and Abyssinian Crises.
5.	Communism and Fascism This worksheet can be completed at any point during this unit. It provides students with a useful understanding of the differences between communism and fascism at just the point that these two ideologies start to get mentioned frequently.

Germany, Britain and France: Appeasement

1.	Cover Sheet The other worksheets in this short unit can be collated together as a printable pack if desired. This cover sheet establishes the relevance of the topic.
2.	The Historiography of World War Two: Was Hitler a Gambler, or a Planner, in Foreign Affairs? The AJP Taylor debate is explained here clearly, with discussion points attached and reference made to other historians who have contributed to the debate. I use this at IB level rather than IGCSE, although it could be a good extension activity for more able IGCSE students.
3.	Overview of Hitler's Foreign Policy A topological map and a note-taking framework that should be used in conjunction with textbooks and / or videos.
4.	Decision-Making Simulation: Hitler's Foreign Policy [interactive] A major decision making game with three associated worksheets designed to get students thinking about Hitler's main policies and actions 1933-39.
5.	Detailed Analysis of Hitler's Foreign Policy` A thorough breakdown of Hitler's policies between 1933-39, broken up with discussion points and questions. I produced this after I felt that the textbooks did not cover the subject sufficiently clearly. This worksheet can be used to accompany the pack.
6.	The Nazi-Soviet Pact Why did the communists and the Nazis become allies?
7.	Cartoon Analysis: Hitler's Foreign Policy [interactive] Students consolidate their knowledge by analysing a series of political cartoons relating to the Manchurian and Abyssinian Crises.
8.	Diagram Task: Events in the 1930s This task can be attempted at any point during this part of the unit, and would be an ideal homework activity. Students produce a series of diagrams illustrating the changing shape of international relations during the 1930s through the assistance of a detailed timeline.
9.	Causes of World War Two, 1919-39: An Google Earth flyover [interactive] Designed as an alternative to the above worksheet. A Google Earth tour, complete with a worksheet, designed to teach students about the main events, but also to encourage them to reflect on the shifting pattern of international alliances. [note: needs Google Earth to be installed!]

Conclusion: What Caused World War Two?

1.	WHAT Caused World War Two? - Flowchart Task Students are presented with a skeleton flowchart outlining 6 main causes of World War Two. Their job is to connect the factors together meaningfully and then translate this into a written piece.
2.	WHO Caused World War Two? - Debate Task The class is divided into various groups, each of which has the task of producing prosecution questions against one country, and defence replies for another. A thorough way of rounding off the unit and looking at the evidence from a fresh perspective.
2.	Structured Questions for IGCSE Provide students with this detailed list of possible questions to revise from as a homework, then set one of them as a practice question in timed conditions.
2.	Essay Task on the Origins of World War Two - IB / A-Level A more advanced question for students beyond GCSE.

Revision

1.	What Caused World War Two? [interactive] An interactive guide which will also develop essay writing skills

Interactive quizzes: The League in the 1930s [tips]

Manic Miner: The League in the 1930s	Wordshoot: The League in the 1930s	CannonBall Fun: The League in the 1930s	Matching Pairs: The League in the 1930s

1.	"Splat!" Games The Interwar Years
2.	Play Your Dates Right Quizzes Modern World History, c.1919-1979
3.	"Fling the Teacher" Quizzes a. International Relations in the 1930's b. International Relations 1919-39
4.	"Hot Potatoes" Self-Marking Quizzes a. Causes of WW2

History in the News for GCSE/IB History: International Relations, 1929-39

1. Why has Germany taken so long to pay off its WWI debt? Germany is finally paying off World War I reparations, with the last 70 million euro (£60m) payment drawing the debt to a close.
2. Briefing: Computer traders blamed for Wall Street crash
3. Germany still owes £50m in reparations for the First World War
4. Glorious 39's scorn for appeasement is unjustified #historyteacher (via activehistory.co.uk / classtools.net)
5. World War 2: Poland was conspiring with Nazis to destroy Soviet Union, Russia claims
6. Vladimir Putin condemns appeasement of Hitler on 70th anniversary of WW2 outbreak
7. EyeWitness Reports: Watching the start of World War II
8. Stalin's bid for a new world order
9. BBC Viewpoint: The Nazi-Soviet Pact
10. Treaty of Versailles: 90 years old this weekend
11. Stock market optimists need to read a history of the Great Depression
12. 103 Year Old reflects on 1929 > 2008
13. Wall Street's Final '08 Toll: $6.9 Trillion Wiped Out
14. Depression offers lessons for financial crisis
15. Hitler's desk set on which Munich pact was signed in 1938 put up for sale in online auction
16. Ideas and Trends - Appeasement’s Taint Is All in Hindsight - NYTimes.com
17. Germany end World War One reparations after 92 years with £59m final payment Germany will finally clear its First World War debt by repaying nearly £60million this weekend.The £22billion reparations were set by the Allied victors – mostly Britain, France and America – as compensation and punishment for the 1914-18 war.
18. FTSE falls for 4th day on Greek contagion fears | Reuters FTSE falls for 4th day on Greek contagion fears
19. 'Great depression' gaffe lifted from Prime Minister's website
20. History judges Neville Chamberlain unfairly, says his granddaughter
21. Poland angry at Soviet war role
22. Putin blames Britain for Russia's invasion of Poland on the 70th anniversary of WWII
23. Modern views on the Nazi-Soviet pact
24. Neville Chamberlain should be praised, not buried
25. Russia declassifies secret documents on Nazi-Soviet pact
26. Amid Russian push to recast history, Russian historian blames Poland for starting WWII
27. CNN Online Video - Great Depression vs. Now - Which was Worse?
28. Britain on the brink of an economic depression, say experts - Telegraph
29. Girl from iconic Great Depression photo: 'We were ashamed'
30. 70th Anniversary of the Munich Agreement
31. The Parallel with 1929 We Ignore at Our Peril
32. Terror on Wall Street, 1920
33. Rethinking Churchill and the Allied warmongers World War II, we know on good authority, was unnecessary, the authority being none other than Winston Churchill. By unnecessary Churchill meant that if the Allies' appeasement of Hitler hadn't taken place earlier, the war wouldn't have to have been to fou

History weblinks for GCSE/IB History: International Relations, 1929-39

1. Wallwisher in the History Classroom Get students to answer a key question using Wallwisher, and respond to points made by others. The class could then drag these post-it notes into categories to help construct an essay.
2. GCSE History: International Relations, 1929-39
3. Interview with Dr. Schacht 5/5/37
4. Interview with Gen. Goering 5/4/37
5. Interview with Hitler 5/4/37 on his foreign policy - great source!
6.