Links
 Describe
the steps after the Munich conference of September 1938 that led to the
outbreak of war in September 1939.
In
March 1939,
Britain changed its policy towards Germany. Why?
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Britain Goes To War
–
The End of Appeasement
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28 Sept 1938
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Chamberlain
signs the Munich Agreement.
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3
October
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Duff Cooper, First Lord of the Admiralty, resigns over
Munich.
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27
October
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Quentin
Hogg, a Chamberlain supporter, wins a
by-election in Oxford, but his opponent is supported by many Conservatives
(including Winston Churchill), who claim: ‘A vote for Hogg is a vote for
Hitler’.
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8
November
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Kristallnacht – Nazis attack the German
Jews. Hitler begins to persecute the Jews in Germany.
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1
December
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Britain sets up a ‘National Register’ of who would
do what if there was a war.
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3
January 1939
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The British navy is made stronger.
The RAF increases production of planes to 400 a month.
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15
February
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Parliament increases defence spending to £580 million
a year. A quarter of a million free air raid shelters are given
to Londoners.
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28
February
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The Fascist ruler Franco wins the Spanish Civil War.
British MPs shout ‘Heil Chamberlain’ in Parliament.
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15
March 1939
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Hitler invades Czechoslovakia;
Chamberlain says it is a ‘shock to confidence’. This is the first time Hitler has attacked a
non-German people. He promises to defend Poland.
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29
March
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The Territorial Army is doubled in numbers.
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5
April
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A Civil Defence Act is passed; it plans to evacuate
women and children from London to the countryside.
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13
April
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Mussolini (the Fascist ruler of Italy) conquers
Albania.
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25
April
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Parliament votes to spend £1,322 million on
defence.
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1
May
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The Military Training Act introduces conscription in
Britain.
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19
May
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Stalin suggests an alliance of France, Britain and
Russia against Hitler.
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22
May
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Pact of Steel: Hitler and Mussolini make an alliance of support in the event of a
war.
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11
August
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British politicians go to Moscow to make the alliance
with Russia.
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23
August
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Russia and Germany sign a treaty, not to go to war with
each other, and to attack and divide Poland between them.
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26
August
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Hitler sends 2000 armed Nazis to Danzig to stir up
trouble, then demands Danzig and the Polish corridor.
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31
August
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Hitler offers to defend the British Empire if Britain
lets him have Danzig and all former German colonies. Britain refuses.
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31
August
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The first children are evacuated from London.
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1
September
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Hitler invades Poland.
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3
Sept 1939 |
Britain declares war on Germany.
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Extra:
In the list above identify:
-
Events
in Europe which pressurised Chamberlain to change his policy of
appeasement.
-
Events
in England which pressurised Chamberlain to change his policy of
appeasement.
-
Events
which showed that Britain was preparing for war all the time
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