Name:_________________________

Period:_________________________

Introduction: World War II Unit “The Road to War” – Guided Notes

Lesson Opening – 1.
Quick Write Response

1. What is the policy of appeasement?

And which leader is often associated
with this political strategy?
2. Is appeasement ever an appropriate 2.
political strategy in order to avoid
armed conflict? Does your opinion
change if a totalitarian regime is
involved?
3. In what circumstances is war
justified?
3.

● _____________ is the section of the Treaty of

Versailles where Germany accepted war guilt,
and were forced to pay major reparations.
● _____________ was a WWI vet, born in Austria
(1889), and leader of Nazi Germany from 1033-
1945.
● _____________ was a symptom of major
economic depression/unemployment during the
Weimar Republic – (1929-1933), a major cause in
the Republic’s downfall.
● A key Nazi ideology was that the Jews were a
threat to the German pure ‘Aryan’ race. Nazis
used the term ________________, referring to
Slavs and Jews as being sub-human.
● In Munich (1923), Adolf Hitler is arrested and
thrown in jail for his role in _________________.
● While in prison, Hitler writes a propaganda piece
that he titles ___________________.
 Name:_________________________
Period:_________________________

 What is the Reichstag?

 During the multiple Reichstag elections from

1928-1933: How did the Nazi Party take over
power in Germany?

 How did the Reichstag fire play a role in the

Nazi Party ascension to power? What is, and
the significance of the Enabling Act?

● ______________ was a key figure in the rise of

totalitarianism in Europe. He took power of the
Soviet Union in the early 1920’s.
● _______________ takes over Italy in 1922. He
favors a system of government that he
appropriately labels ______________.
● Note the characteristics of Fascism below:

- How did Mussolini take advantage of Italian

citizens? What is the "Mutilated Victory” and why
were Italians so angry over it?
 Name:_________________________
Period:_________________________

A Series of Steps: Road to War!

1. Describe the steps sequentially in detail: The key

events of Nazi aggression from 1936-1939 that
ultimately led to war?

 Why does Neville Chamberlain favor

appeasement?

 Did future PM Winston Churchill believe this

policy of appeasement would lead to a “peace
in our time” as Chamberlain was quoted
following negotiations with Hitler? Also what is
the Munich Agreement?
 Name:_________________________
Period:_________________________

Political Cartoon Analysis Exercise:

What does this political cartoon infer

concerning Hitler’s point-of-view on Neville
Chamberlain’s policy of Appeasement? Do
you agree or disagree?

EXIT SLIPS =

DAY 1: Why did the German people feel so betrayed by the Treaty of Versailles?
DAY 2: By 1933, why were the majority of German citizens willing to support the Nazi
Party? At this point in time was German nationalism viewed as being dangerous?
DAY 3: In your opinion, what were the 3 biggest factors/events which led to the
outbreak of World War II in 1939? How much blame should be placed on Neville
Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement?