Week 1 - Hitler Expands - Content & Information
This post contains the information we will study for the week of April 6-10th. This post contains:
You will need:
It is expected that you are taking notes, recording information, and giving the new information presented to you some thought and reflection. Consider using a journal, or a notebook as we move through the SS10 course online. These questions are personal, and designed to help you know what to 'pay attention to'. They do not need to be handed in. This is a way of supporting you in your independent study.
Ok - let's get started!
Background -
To understand the events of WWII, it's important to think of it as a story with many different layers. There is a flow to the events - a sequence or chain of events that demonstrate cause and consequence. We won't be able to uncover all of the details, but will do an overview. You will many opportunities to explore certain aspects in more detail.
As mentioned in the previous post, World War II didn't happen spontaneously, and many would argue that it could have been avoided. Had world leaders like Neville Chamberlain and the League of Nations not followed the policy of appeasement, and instead taken a stronger stance, who knows how things might have unfolded.
REVIEW TASK - What do you remember?
TASK: To begin, it's helpful to have an overview of the entirety of WWII. Watch this video by Crash Course History to help give you the key details of WWII, and refresh your memory about some of the key events that you may have examined in your research projects.
Crash Course European History: Episode #38 - World War II
PART A: THE EARLY WAR ~ 1939-1940 - RAPID EXPANSION
World War II officially began with Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939. Canada waited a week to declare war, until an official vote in the House of Commons approved our involvement. However, Hitler expansion was fast and furious.
TASK: Review this handout on the Blitzkrieg strategy to understand how the nature of fighting in World War II differed so greatly from WWI, and also to see understand how Hitler was able to defeat so many nations so quickly.
TASK: Watch this video by Simple History: Invasion of Poland, to understand what those first weeks of WWII were like. From there Hitler headed north, and the Winter War took place in northern Europe, as Hitler tried to ensure that he had shipping routes for supplies and passage for his U-boat Wolfpacks.
PART B: THE FALL OF FRANCE & INVASION OF BRITAIN
Hitler then turned his attention to defeating France and Britain. France would fall quickly - despite their superpower status - they were completely overpowered by the Nazi forces. At that point in 1940-1941, it was only Great Britain left to defend Europe from Nazi Germany. Key battles would include the rescue mission of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, which included over 40 consecutive nights of bombing of over London. Citizens would hide in the subways at night, hoping that their house would still be standing in the morning.
TASK: Skim this website on the Battle of Britain to get an overview of the conflict. You can also read through Counterpoints - pages 128-132.
TASK: Read through this powerpoint created for you called WWII - Hitler Expands. It focuses on this early stage of the war. It's mainly images.
Conclusion:
The Battle of Britain wasn't a turning point in WWII, but it was a significant battle because Britain was able to prevent Germany from starting their land invasion, and stopped Germany from being able to fight Russia on one single front. Similar to WWI, Germany would attack the USSR while still fighting on two fronts, and this would be part of their eventual collapse.
Get prepared for next week by watching the Battle of Stalingrad film clip - this would be the turning point of WWII in Europe, and would mark the demise of Hitler's forces.
LEARNING ACTIVITY: TO BE POSTED ON TEAMS
Significance - European Theatre Conflicts
Ok - take a glance at some of the notes that you have written, think back to the video clips and images. What aspect of the European theatre is interesting to you? What do you want to know more about?
TASK:
Step 1. Choose ANY battle or conflict or mission that was part of the European theatre from 1939-1945 (its fine to choose a battle we haven't studied specifically). It can be on land, or part of the Battle of the Skies (ex. the Blitz), or the Battle of the Atlantic (ex. Capture of U-571 U-boat).
Here are some websites with key battles that you might choose - focus on European theatre
European Theatre
World War II list of battles
Step 2. Research the basic details (Who, What, Where, When) and the purpose for the battle - what was each side trying to achieve? Describe the outcome - who won, who lost, casualties, etc. Then, explain its significance. Why is this battle important? What can we learn from this event?
Step 3. Edit your work, do a spell-check and grammar check, and then post AN IMAGE + YOUR DESCRIPTION to Microsoft Teams. Go to B. WWII Battles Channel and post your assignment below Ms. Sawatsky's example. Note - to go down a line when you post - type "shift+enter" to format your post and not have it post immediately.
List of potential choices/battles that you could write about is to come.
Once you have posted - you are done this week's work. Congrats!
WEEK 2 EXTENSION MATERIAL
Still interested? Want to know more?
With a topic as broad as WWII, we will never be able to study it all. Here are some handouts, links and videos that you might find interesting. Watch one, watch them all... you are in charge of your own learning.
Causes, Significance and the Human Side of WWII:
Crash Course History - WWII: A War for Resources
The Akune Brothers - Brothers On Opposite Sides of the War
From Pacifist to Spy - Noor Inayah Khan- French Spy
Time Lapse Film - WWII Day by Day
Battle of the Atlantic:
Video clip - Battle of the Atlantic
Article: Churchill argues the Battle of the Atlantic was the most important battle of WWII
Read 138-141 in your textbook
Full Length Movies to Watch With Your Family
Dunkirk - Full Length movie - available on Netflix or online
A Bag of Marbles - French movie with English subtitles - about two Jewish boys escaping France
Assassination - A Korean WWII movie for all of you Korean Drama fans!
Novels -
All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr - Incredible novel about a young girl and boy on opposite sides of the war. One of my fiction favourites.
- Review Task (pre-Spring Break)
- New Material & Info
- An Activity (to be completed on Teams)
- Extension work - this is extra, for those that are interested.
You will need:
- Digital or Actual copy of Counterpoints
- Access to internet
- A notebook or paper for notes - you will be asked to "take notes", record key ideas, ask questions, etc. as you move through the content.
It is expected that you are taking notes, recording information, and giving the new information presented to you some thought and reflection. Consider using a journal, or a notebook as we move through the SS10 course online. These questions are personal, and designed to help you know what to 'pay attention to'. They do not need to be handed in. This is a way of supporting you in your independent study.
Ok - let's get started!
Background -
To understand the events of WWII, it's important to think of it as a story with many different layers. There is a flow to the events - a sequence or chain of events that demonstrate cause and consequence. We won't be able to uncover all of the details, but will do an overview. You will many opportunities to explore certain aspects in more detail.
As mentioned in the previous post, World War II didn't happen spontaneously, and many would argue that it could have been avoided. Had world leaders like Neville Chamberlain and the League of Nations not followed the policy of appeasement, and instead taken a stronger stance, who knows how things might have unfolded.
REVIEW TASK - What do you remember?
- Review the notes that you have on the Causes of WWII, the maps of the different theatres of war, and pages 124-128 in your text.
- Take a look at this powerpoint - "Causes of WWII" to help refresh your memory
- Still a bit unclear? Watch this video on Nazi Aggression & Appeasement by Khan Academy
WEEK 1 LEARNING: Hitler Expands: Blitzkrieg to the Blitz
Crash Course European History: Episode #38 - World War II
- Key Question to think about while watching: which aspects of World War II are most interesting to you? Ex. the technology? The military strategy? the human elements of the home front?
- See if you can recognize the different "waves" of the war - ex. Hitler's early expansion, the war spreading, then the tide turning in Europe. Same thing in the Pacific.
PART A: THE EARLY WAR ~ 1939-1940 - RAPID EXPANSION
World War II officially began with Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939. Canada waited a week to declare war, until an official vote in the House of Commons approved our involvement. However, Hitler expansion was fast and furious.
TASK: Review this handout on the Blitzkrieg strategy to understand how the nature of fighting in World War II differed so greatly from WWI, and also to see understand how Hitler was able to defeat so many nations so quickly.
- Question - can you draw or describe the three different stages of Blitzkrieg?
- Question - how did this type of fighting differ from the nature of WWI?
TASK: Watch this video by Simple History: Invasion of Poland, to understand what those first weeks of WWII were like. From there Hitler headed north, and the Winter War took place in northern Europe, as Hitler tried to ensure that he had shipping routes for supplies and passage for his U-boat Wolfpacks.
- Question - Why was it important that Hitler defeat these early opponents quickly?
- Question - Why did he go "west" first, rather than immediately invade the USSR (hint: 2 front war)
PART B: THE FALL OF FRANCE & INVASION OF BRITAIN
Hitler then turned his attention to defeating France and Britain. France would fall quickly - despite their superpower status - they were completely overpowered by the Nazi forces. At that point in 1940-1941, it was only Great Britain left to defend Europe from Nazi Germany. Key battles would include the rescue mission of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, which included over 40 consecutive nights of bombing of over London. Citizens would hide in the subways at night, hoping that their house would still be standing in the morning.
TASK: Skim this website on the Battle of Britain to get an overview of the conflict. You can also read through Counterpoints - pages 128-132.
- Think about - what would it have been like to be a civilian living in London, England during the Battle of Britain?
TASK: Read through this powerpoint created for you called WWII - Hitler Expands. It focuses on this early stage of the war. It's mainly images.
Conclusion:
The Battle of Britain wasn't a turning point in WWII, but it was a significant battle because Britain was able to prevent Germany from starting their land invasion, and stopped Germany from being able to fight Russia on one single front. Similar to WWI, Germany would attack the USSR while still fighting on two fronts, and this would be part of their eventual collapse.
Get prepared for next week by watching the Battle of Stalingrad film clip - this would be the turning point of WWII in Europe, and would mark the demise of Hitler's forces.
LEARNING ACTIVITY: TO BE POSTED ON TEAMS
Significance - European Theatre Conflicts
Ok - take a glance at some of the notes that you have written, think back to the video clips and images. What aspect of the European theatre is interesting to you? What do you want to know more about?
TASK:
Step 1. Choose ANY battle or conflict or mission that was part of the European theatre from 1939-1945 (its fine to choose a battle we haven't studied specifically). It can be on land, or part of the Battle of the Skies (ex. the Blitz), or the Battle of the Atlantic (ex. Capture of U-571 U-boat).
Here are some websites with key battles that you might choose - focus on European theatre
European Theatre
World War II list of battles
Step 2. Research the basic details (Who, What, Where, When) and the purpose for the battle - what was each side trying to achieve? Describe the outcome - who won, who lost, casualties, etc. Then, explain its significance. Why is this battle important? What can we learn from this event?
Step 3. Edit your work, do a spell-check and grammar check, and then post AN IMAGE + YOUR DESCRIPTION to Microsoft Teams. Go to B. WWII Battles Channel and post your assignment below Ms. Sawatsky's example. Note - to go down a line when you post - type "shift+enter" to format your post and not have it post immediately.
List of potential choices/battles that you could write about is to come.
Once you have posted - you are done this week's work. Congrats!
WEEK 2 EXTENSION MATERIAL
Still interested? Want to know more?
With a topic as broad as WWII, we will never be able to study it all. Here are some handouts, links and videos that you might find interesting. Watch one, watch them all... you are in charge of your own learning.
Causes, Significance and the Human Side of WWII:
Crash Course History - WWII: A War for Resources
The Akune Brothers - Brothers On Opposite Sides of the War
From Pacifist to Spy - Noor Inayah Khan- French Spy
Time Lapse Film - WWII Day by Day
Battle of the Atlantic:
Video clip - Battle of the Atlantic
Article: Churchill argues the Battle of the Atlantic was the most important battle of WWII
Read 138-141 in your textbook
Full Length Movies to Watch With Your Family
Dunkirk - Full Length movie - available on Netflix or online
A Bag of Marbles - French movie with English subtitles - about two Jewish boys escaping France
Assassination - A Korean WWII movie for all of you Korean Drama fans!
Novels -
All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr - Incredible novel about a young girl and boy on opposite sides of the war. One of my fiction favourites.
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