Materials

• Maps of Germany and the USSR

Instructional Activities

1. Discuss with the class the major causes of World War II. Include the following:
   • Isolationism, pacifism, and appeasement by the democracies (Appeasement is a policy especially associated with Britain and Prime Minister Chamberlain. It technically meant appeasing Hitler when he demanded certain territories and trusting him when he said it would be limited to only German areas.)
   • Aggression by the dictatorships of Italy, Germany, and Japan
   – Italy invaded Ethiopia.
   – Germany invaded Austria and Poland.
   – Japan invaded Manchuria, China, Korea, and attacked Pearl Harbor.
   • Failure of the Treaty of Versailles
   – The treaty failed to include most of Wilson’s Fourteen Points
   – The treaty punished Germany
   – The treaty did not include self-determination
   • Weaknesses of the League of Nations
   – The League could not stop the aggression of dictatorships.
   – The United States was not a member of the League.
   
   
2. Instruct students to make a chart of the above information.
   
   
3. Discuss with the students the major events of World War II. Include the following:
   • Germany invaded Poland, causing Britain and France to declare war.
   • Germany invaded France and France fell.
   • Germany next aimed at Britain, but the air Battle of Britain prevented his planned invasion.
   • Germany violated the non-aggression pact with Russia.
   • Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into the war.
   • D-Day, the Allied invasion of France, began the fall of Germany.
   • The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki precipitated the end of the war with Japan.
   
   
4. Ask the students to suggest reasons Hitler invaded the USSR. Allow them to look at maps and discuss in small groups. Possible responses include:
   • Hitler wanted the oil fields and wheat fields for his army.
   • The countries were basically enemies and represented two totally different forms of government.
   • Hitler wanted to overpower the USSR before America entered the war.
   
   
5. Place the names of the major leaders of World War II on the board. Ask students to write a sentence identifying each leader and his role. Have students enter this information, as well as information from 1-4 above to their notes (or interactive notebooks).
   
   Another strategy is to have students complete a matching activity on this list of names:
   
   

   Roosevelt Eisenhower Stalin Churchill Truman Hirohito Hitler Marshall Tojo MacArthur	A. British prime minister B. American president at outbreak of war C. Japanese emperor D. Soviet dictator E. American general, Philippine campaign and postwar Japan F. Nazi German leader G. American general in charge of D-Day invasion H. American president at end of war I. Japanese general J. American general, top advisor to Roosevelt