0. Getting an overview: What are the key events and issues covered in this case study?
Perhaps you breathed a small sigh of relief (and why not?) when you first looked over these syllabus points as the content should largely be familiar to you from your IGCSE course. In this first lesson, we are going to refresh your memory of the key events of the period through watching the excellent documentary 'The Wrong War' (from the 'Nazis: A Warning from History').
a) Step 1: Check Your Source!
As you know, a key historical skill is reviewing your sources for values and limitations This will not only allow you to confidently deal with Q2 on this paper, but also the whole of Section A in your IA. Click on the image below to start researching the documentary - your teacher will give you a hard copy of the 'OPCVL Thinking Strategy' grid to help you. Alternative task use Source B p.g. 104.
a) Step 1: Check Your Source!
As you know, a key historical skill is reviewing your sources for values and limitations This will not only allow you to confidently deal with Q2 on this paper, but also the whole of Section A in your IA. Click on the image below to start researching the documentary - your teacher will give you a hard copy of the 'OPCVL Thinking Strategy' grid to help you. Alternative task use Source B p.g. 104.
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b) Step 2: Make Notes using this frame from Active History (hard copy required)
Ext: Ian Kershaw is a FUNCTIONALIST historian of Nazi Germany. He famously wrote of the 'HITLER MYTH''
a) Can you remember what the first term means and therefore what do you think the second refers to?
b) What evidence from this documentary is there to support this view of Hitler?
Ext: Ian Kershaw is a FUNCTIONALIST historian of Nazi Germany. He famously wrote of the 'HITLER MYTH''
a) Can you remember what the first term means and therefore what do you think the second refers to?
b) What evidence from this documentary is there to support this view of Hitler?
***Have you sorted out your file for Paper 1?***
1. Getting to know the Examination Paper
Using your (by now possibly vague!) recollections of IGCSE History, we will be using this lesson to get to know the examination paper really well. Complete the paper below (even though it is on Japan!) to give you an insight into the types of questions and structure that you will need to follow to be successful in this paper.
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2. Background to Italian Expansion 1933 - 40: How did Mussolini get into power and what was his foreign policy in the 1920s?
a) Mussolini's Rise to Power
While the background to Italian expansion 1933-40 will not be directly examined, it is important that you understand the key events in Mussolini's rise to power as these provide both proved context and shed light on why he acts in the way that he does after 1933.
Articles:
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b) How secure was Mussolini in the 1920s? Why might this affect his authority?
The nature of Mussolini's foreign policy can in a large part be explained by his domestic standing in Italy. In this lesson we will determine how Mussolini was able to consolidate his power and the extent to which he was vulnerable following this process. As we know, such vulnerability makes the significance of delivering tangible 'achievements' to the people crucial in order to support the maintenance of power. Additionally, it would also determine the methods used to obtain foreign policy success; the weaker a leader at home the less likely they are to elicit meaningful external confrontation.
Lesson Presentation:
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Intro video:
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c) What were Mussolini's foreign policy aims? How did Mussolini's economic policies affect his foreign policy in the 1920s?
There are two key questions to consider when thinking about the direction of Mussolini's foreign policy:
1. What were his aims?
2. What factors would influence his foreign policies beyond this?
3. Specifically, how did Mussolini's Economic policies affect his foreign policy?
In this lesson we will review some analytical skills as well as consider these questions in some depth.
1. What were his aims?
2. What factors would influence his foreign policies beyond this?
3. Specifically, how did Mussolini's Economic policies affect his foreign policy?
In this lesson we will review some analytical skills as well as consider these questions in some depth.
What were Mussolini's economic maeasures:
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How successful was Mussolini's Foreign Policy in the 1920s?
Use Pages 100-103 to get an understanding of Mussolini's foreign policy in the 1920s. Complete all of the activities on page 103 and insert into your folder for checking.
3. What were the causes, course and consequences of Italian expansionism 1933-40?
In this section you will be examining the reasons for Italy pursuing a more expansionist foreign policy in the 1930s, as well as the extent to which there was continuity in Italian foreign policy. You should be able to explain what the consequences of foreign policy are for Italy in the 1930s. Click here for the main PPT.
Other key documents
Other key documents
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What is the message of this cartoon?
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i) What is the key historiography of Mussolini's Foreign Policy?
The article below will give you an excellent analytical overview of Mussolini's foreign policy in the 1930s.
As you are preparing for a large amount of independent research (your IA), this is also an opportunity to explicitly consider note taking. The questions in the 'directed notes' document are aiming to remind you how to select key information and to record it in a subheading/bullet point format. Your teacher will model this for you.
The article below will give you an excellent analytical overview of Mussolini's foreign policy in the 1930s.
As you are preparing for a large amount of independent research (your IA), this is also an opportunity to explicitly consider note taking. The questions in the 'directed notes' document are aiming to remind you how to select key information and to record it in a subheading/bullet point format. Your teacher will model this for you.
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ii) Sequencing Mussolini's Foreign Policy - what are the key events and what can we learn from them?
1. Using a printed copy of this sheet:
a) Identify any of the events that you definitely know the dates of and place them on the date line b) Use logic and deduction to try and sequence the other events off to one side. Think about the likely phases of his policies / kind of events that will occur towards the end / internal logic of the list c) Think about your sequence in relation to the events you already know - try and place them |
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2. Cornell Notes: In this IA skills session, you make notes on a substantial teacher led lecture that will cover all of they key information about Mussolini's foreign policy. A recording of this lecture will be made and posted below too to enable you to 'catch up' should you need to.
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3. Home Learning: Review your notes and Chapter 2.3 Italian Expansion 1933-40 in your textbook
iii) Examination Practice: How do we use our knowledge in the examination?
Class discussion - use the example paper on page 153-154 of your textbook.
Class discussion - use the example paper on page 153-154 of your textbook.
Further Information
- Podcast series by Prof John Gooch
- http://historyib.blogspot.kr/2012/12/mussolini-foreigndomestic-policies_3.html
- https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918-to-1980/italy-1900-to-1939/abyssinia/
- http://foreignpolicynews.org/2014/03/02/italy-albania-political-economic-alliance-italian-invasion-1939/
- http://spartacus-educational.com/SPitaly.htm
4. What were the causes, course and consequences of German expansionism 1933-40?
a) Introductions: An overview of Hitler's actions, an insight into his aims, an introduction to the historiography
eYou will be familiar with much of this material from your previous learning - however, we will be revisiting the main events here.
i) Watch the over clip below and then complete the card sort to sequence the events. What are the main sequence of events?
ii) Discuss the presentation and make any additional notes
iii) Us the directed note taking document to help analyse the 'Hitler FP Interpretation' article
i) Watch the over clip below and then complete the card sort to sequence the events. What are the main sequence of events?
ii) Discuss the presentation and make any additional notes
iii) Us the directed note taking document to help analyse the 'Hitler FP Interpretation' article
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b)Hitler's Foreign policy up to 1933 - Rise of Nazism

Nazism refers to the policies of the Nazi or National Socialist Party that took power, with Adolf Hitler as its leader, in Germany in 1933. Hitler's rise to power and indeed his views on German foreign policy had their roots in the circumstances of Germany's defeat in the First World War. By the end of this lesson you should be able to:
Click here for the main power point. Here is the template for the question assessing OPCVL.
- Examine the reasons for the growth in support for Nazism after the First World War.
- Discuss the extent to which Hitler had a clear foreign policy before he came to power.
Click here for the main power point. Here is the template for the question assessing OPCVL.
c) Hitler's Foreign Policy up the 1938 - 'THE REVISIONIST' / 'THE CAUTIOUS PHASE'
It is essential in this unit that you are aware of the ways in which Hitler challenged the post-war settlement and what the consequences of Hitler's actions were for the International community. Click here for the main power point.
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Make a choice in this lesson. Review the powerpoint below (thanks to Island School History). Make a decision based on how comfortable you are with the events up to 1938 by looking through the powerpoint below.
EITHER: Make notes on the powerpoint and identify any areas that you feel unsure about (e.g. Hossbach Memorandum) and discuss / research them further using your textbook. Read pages 166-167 in particular and make additional notes.
OR
TOK POINT! Read the excellent (but challenging) article that provides a fantastic insight into how the historical interpretations of Nazi foreign policy are based on two extremely problematic pieces of evidence: Mein Kampf and the Hossbach Memorandum (skim read the intro and then focus on either Mein Kampf or Hossbach).
Complete an OPCVL analysis answer for one of the above documents based on what you have learnt.
EITHER: Make notes on the powerpoint and identify any areas that you feel unsure about (e.g. Hossbach Memorandum) and discuss / research them further using your textbook. Read pages 166-167 in particular and make additional notes.
OR
TOK POINT! Read the excellent (but challenging) article that provides a fantastic insight into how the historical interpretations of Nazi foreign policy are based on two extremely problematic pieces of evidence: Mein Kampf and the Hossbach Memorandum (skim read the intro and then focus on either Mein Kampf or Hossbach).
Complete an OPCVL analysis answer for one of the above documents based on what you have learnt.
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d) Hitler's Foreign Policy 1938-40: THE AGGRESSIVE / NAZI PHASE
Take one cartoon each. Using your contextual knowledge date the cartoon and write what event it is about, Now annotate the key features and write an answer to the question "What is the message of this cartoon?" Present to the class.
"One message of the cartoon is... This can be seen...
A second message is... This can be seen..."
"One message of the cartoon is... This can be seen...
A second message is... This can be seen..."
1. As you may well be quite comfortable with the events after 1938, review the power point below and highlight/discuss any areas that you are unfamiliar with for future review
2. Individually / in pairs, you will be allocated one of the tasks to do on the Google Doc below. Once completed, you will share with the class as a round table discussion.
3. Extensions: Watch the videos below, finish the extension reading from last lesson, complete an OPCVL grid on the article from last lesson...
2. Individually / in pairs, you will be allocated one of the tasks to do on the Google Doc below. Once completed, you will share with the class as a round table discussion.
3. Extensions: Watch the videos below, finish the extension reading from last lesson, complete an OPCVL grid on the article from last lesson...
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What was the International Response to Aggression in Europe?
We have already seen that the the international response to expansion by the 1930s was limited. This lesson focuses on the justifiability of the policy of Appeasement. Click here for the main power point. The first part of the PPT focuses on German expansion between 1938 and 1940 and the final part focuses on appeasement.
Further information on Appeasement:
http://www.richardjevans.com/lectures/chamberlain-appeasement-differing-views-historians
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09592290802344962?src=recsys&
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1020&context=grtheses
Further information on Appeasement:
http://www.richardjevans.com/lectures/chamberlain-appeasement-differing-views-historians
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09592290802344962?src=recsys&
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1020&context=grtheses
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Spend the first 40 minutes getting an overview of appeasement and its key elements.
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Going deeper: Was Appeasement Justified?
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Extensions:
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