World War II"NO MAN CAN TAME A TIGER INTO A KITTEN BY STROKING IT. THERE

CAN BE NO APPEASEMENT WITH RUTHLESSNESS. THERE CAN BE NO

REASONING WITH AN INCENDIARY BOMB. WE KNOW NOW THAT A

NATION CAN HAVE PEACE WITH THE NAZIS ONLY AT THE PRICE OF TOTAL SURRENDER.“ – FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

The Alliances

The Axis Powers

Germany

Italy

Japan

The Allied Powers

Great Britain

The United States (1941)

The Soviet Union (1941)

By the end of the war, more than 50 countries

had joined the Allied Powers

“Apart altogether from our own vital interests, we cannot and must not desert those other nations who have

already gone through so much tragedy and suffering to defeat the evil designs of the Axis Powers.”

1933

Hitler became dictator of Germany

“In the course of my life I have very often been a prophet, and have

usually been ridiculed for it. During the time of my struggle for power, it was in the first instance the Jewish race that received my prophecies

with laughter - when I said that I would one day take over the

leadership of the State, and with it that of the whole nation, and that I

would then, among many other things, settle the Jewish problem.”

SA (Sturmabteilung)

SA (Sturmabteilung): Hitler’s original

group of soldiers, often referred to as

“Storm Troopers” or “Brown Shirts” that

helped him gain power in 1933.

SS (Schutzstaffel)

SS (Schutzstaffel): A group of Nazi

soldiers that began as Hitler’s

bodyguards and, under the

leadership of Heinrich Himmler,

transformed into one of the largest

and most powerful organizations in

the Nazi Party.

“The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands

respect. Men may hate us. But we don’t ask for their love; only for their fear.”

“I hope to see the very concept of Jewry completely obliterated.”

Gestapo

Gestapo: The official secret police of

Nazi Germany

The Hitler Youth

The Hitler Youth: The youth

organization in the Nazi Party that

trained the young to become Nazi

supporters and soldiers

"My age group was pressured into joining although it was allegedly

voluntary. But later on it was compulsory. No one could say no. The Hitler Youth was in charge of everything to do with young people."

“The Fuhrer's goal was to train youth as soldiers. Young men the world

would fear. That's what he once said. And the world did fear them.”

"Unconditional faith that the Fuehrer would do things right. He was

represented in those days to us as God, well akin to God. And that's how we saw him.“

1937

Japan invaded China

1938

Hitler conquered Austria and Czechoslovakia

1939

Germany and the Soviet Union

signed a non-aggression pact

September 1, 1939

Germany invaded Poland

1939

Great Britain and France declare

war on Germany

1940

Germany captured France,

Denmark, Norway, Belgium,

Luxemburg, and the Netherlands

Blitzkrieg (“Lightning War”)

Blitzkrieg (“Lightning War”):

Germany’s battle strategy that

involved short, quick, and powerful

attacks using tanks, ground soldiers,

and planes. It emphasized speed and

surprise.

1940

Germany bombed Great Britain

Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe: Germany’s air force

1940

Italy invaded Egypt and Greece

1940

Hungary and Romania joined the

Axis Powers

Activity: Germany’s Successful

years 1939-1941

By 1941, Nazi Germany and its allies had been wildly successful. Hitler had taken control of more than ten different countries, and nothing seemed capable of stopping him.

How did he have so much success?

As leader, he created numerous groups and strategies to help himself stay in power and to lead Germany to greatness. Amongst these groups and strategies were:

- SA (Sturmabteilung)

- SS (Schutzstaffel)

- Gestapo

- The Hitler Youth

- Non-aggression pact with the Soviets

- Blitzkrieg

- Luftwaffe

But which was the most effective

group/strategy?

As a team of four, conduct research on the topic you’re assigned and write a

compelling argument convincing others that your group or strategy was the most effective.

1: SA (Sturmabteilung)

2: SS (Schutzstaffel)

3: Gestapo

4: The Hitler Youth

5: Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviets

6: Blitzkrieg

7: Luftwaffe

Step 1: Pre-write

Write everything you know about your assigned topic.

Step 2: Research and Write

Conduct research with your team and answer the following guiding questions

to help you structure your argument.

1. Define your group/strategy.

2. How did Hitler use your group/strategy?

3. What did the German people think of your group/strategy?

4. In what ways did your group/strategy help Hitler succeed?

5. Explain 3 effects your group/strategy had on Germany, the Allied Powers,

and/or the war.

6. Without this group/strategy, what do you think would have happened?

With your research, write a 1-2 paragraph argument explaining why your

group/strategy was the most effective. *Everyone on your team must write this!

- Two laptops per group

- Anyone not on a laptop writes the

answers to the questions

- Everyone writes the paragraph(s)

Step 3: Share

Join a small group with representatives from the other topics and share

your 1-2 paragraphs. As the others share, fill in your chart for each topic.

Step 4: Debate

As a class, debate the seven groups and strategies the Nazis used,

trying to convince your classmates your group or strategy was the most effective.

Step 5: Vote

Vote for the group or strategy (other than your own!!) you believe was

the most effective. Write 1 paragraph explaining your vote.

Nazi Germany