Understand the European policy of appeasement prior to WWII; analyze the rise of totalitarian regimes after WWI; identify causes of WWII.

By 1934, Adolph Hitler had become the absolute ruler of Germany. Over the next several years, Hitler used his power to create a vast empire. In March 1938, Germany annexed Austria. Hitler then argued publicly for German control of the Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia with a large German population. In September 1938, Neville Chamberlain (England), Edouard Deladier (France), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and Hitler met in Munich to discuss the status of the Sudetenland. The European powers decided on a policy of appeasement, agreeing to let Hitler have the Sudetenland in exchange for his assurance that he would go no further.

• CA  10.7: 3; 10.8: 1,2
• TX  133.33(9): a, b
• FL  SS.A.3.4: 9
• NCSS  II(HS): a-f; VI(HS): d,f

2 class periods

• Activity Sheet, Hitler’s Rise and the Policy of Appeasement
• Timeline, Life During the Holocaust 
• Graphic Organizer, Flow Chart
• Writing Rubric

Students have the opportunity to write a Persuasive Essay (See the Extension below).

Should the European powers choose the policy of appeasement in response to Hitler’s aggression?

Point of View Students will write the script of an interview with a European leader of a country that chose appeasement in response to Hitler’s military aggression throughout the late 1930’s. Students will examine the reasons why European countries chose to appease Hitler rather than challenge him.

Have each student research the topic using the provided links. Encourage students to use the suggested graphic organizer as they read the articles.

Adolph Hitler and Heinrich Himmler survey SS troops in Nuremberg, September 1938.

To start students thinking about European policies regarding Hitler prior to WWII, have them examine the photograph.

Key questions students should answer are:

• What does the photograph tell you about Hitler’s leadership style?
• What does the photograph imply about Hitler’s relationship with the military?

Distribute the Student Activity Sheet. Divide your class into pairs of students. Assign one of the following leaders to each pair: Neville Chamberlain (England), Edouard Deladier (France), or Benito Mussolini (Italy). Students should research the following topics to prepare for writing an interview with their assigned leader.

• Hitler’s Rise in WWI and after
• Weimar Republic and Inflation
• Fire at the Reichstag
• The Enabling Act
• Dachau Concentration Camp
• Book Burning
• Hitler Becomes Fuhrer
• Prologue to WWII: Hitler Violates the Locarno Treaty

Remind students that their interview should address Hitler’s actions in the late 1930’s and the response by European countries of a policy of appeasement.

Use the Writing Rubric to assess students’ performance.

Have students reflect on their performance and use the list of expectations to judge how well they met the criteria.

Ask students: Why did many European leaders support a policy of appeasement in the face of Hitler’s aggression?

Persuasive Essay Have students use Daily Life through History to conduct research and write an essay opposing the policy of appeasement in 1938.

Critical Thinking: APPLY