Question 1: When did Germany remilitarize the Rhineland?

Answer: 1936

Question 2: Who was the British Prime Minister at the start of WWII?

Answer: Neville Chamberlain

Question 3: Which event is considered the immediate cause of WWII?

Answer: Invasion of Poland

Question 4: What was the policy of appeasement?

Answer: A policy of making concessions to aggressive powers to avoid war, used by Britain and France in the 1930s.

Question 5: Name one major conference held to discuss European security in the 1930s.

Answer: The Munich Conference

Question 1: Source: 'Hitler’s speech in 1939: “We demand the Sudetenland as our own.”' What was Hitler's purpose in making this speech?

Answer: To justify Germany’s territorial claims over the Sudetenland and rally support for annexation.

Question 2: Evaluate the reliability of this source. What biases might it contain?

Answer: As a speech by Hitler, it likely presents a biased, nationalistic perspective aimed at justifying aggressive expansion.

Question 3: Who was the intended audience for this speech?

Answer: The German public and supporters, to foster nationalism and support for expansionist policies.

Question 1: Explain why the policy of appeasement failed to prevent war.

Answer: Appeasement failed because it encouraged Hitler’s aggression, emboldened Nazi expansion, and did not address the true threat posed by Germany, leading to the outbreak of WWII.

Question 2: Describe how the Anschluss contributed to tensions in Europe.

Answer: The Anschluss annexed Austria into Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles, increasing German power, and undermining European stability, which heightened tensions among Britain, France, and other nations.

Question 3: Explain the significance of the Munich Agreement in the lead-up to WWII.

Answer: The Munich Agreement was a failed attempt at appeasement that allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland, encouraging further German expansion and signaling the breakdown of diplomacy, leading directly to war.

Question 1: To what extent was the policy of appeasement responsible for the outbreak of WWII?

Answer: The policy of appeasement was a major factor in the outbreak of WWII because it allowed Hitler to expand German territory without opposition, undermined deterrence, and failed to address the aggressive nature of Nazi Germany. However, other factors such as economic instability, the Treaty of Versailles, and the failure of collective security also contributed. A balanced analysis considers both the intentions behind appeasement and its consequences, ultimately demonstrating that while it was significant, it was part of a complex web of causes leading to war.