The Slide to War, September 1938 - September 1939

http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII7_cloze.htm

The Slide to War, September 1938 - September 1939

Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. When you have finished, PRINT off the exercise and add it to your notes.

Check
On 28 Sept 1938, Chamberlain signed the however, Britain and Germany were at war.

Hint
Agreement. Within a year,

There were many factors which drive Chamberlain to declare war on Germany.

The first was opposition and pressure from within Britain. The Munich agreement caused a lot of anger in Britain. On 3 October, Duff resigned, and on 27 October, Quentin , First Lord of the Admiralty, , a Chamberlain supporter, won a

by-election in Oxford, but his opponent is supported by many Conservatives (including Winston ), who claimed: 'A vote for Hogg is a vote for Hitler'. In ' at Chamberlain in Parliament, suggesting

February 1939, British MPs shouted '

that he was a Nazi-lover. All this pressurised Chamberlain to take a firmer stand against Hitler.

Also, events during the year after September 1938 proved that Nazism was a nasty, dangerous and continuing threat. On 8 November - on attacked the German Jews. On 28 February 1939, the Fascist ruler Spanish Civil War. On 13 April, - the Nazis won the

(the Fascist ruler of Italy) conquered

Albania. And on 22 May, Hitler and Mussolini made an alliance (called the Pact of Steel). Appeasement was being proved to have failed to stop Hitler's aggression. The most important event was on 15 March 1939, when Hitler invaded

. It was the first time Hitler had attacked a people, and it proved to most British people that Hitler would only be stopped by a war. Even Chamberlain said it was a 'shock to , which was clearly next on Hitler's list. Only one thing was stopping Hitler invading Poland, and that was Russia. On 19 May, had suggested an alliance of France, Britain and Russia against Hitler, and on 11 August, British politicians had gone to Moscow for talks with Russia. On 23 August '. He promised to defend

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The Slide to War, September 1938 - September 1939

http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII7_cloze.htm

, however, Russia and Germany had signed a treaty, not to go to war with each other, and to attack and On 26 August Hitler sent demanded Danzig and the Polish the British Poland between them. armed Nazis to Danzig to stir up trouble, then . On 31 August, Hitler offers to defend

if Britain let him have Danzig and all former German colonies - it

was a mocking offer, and when on 1 September Britain refused, Hitler invaded . On 3 Sept 1939, Britain declared war on Germany.

All this time, Britain had been preparing for war, and - in September 1939 - was much more ready for war than in 1938. This was not a pressure on Chamberlain, but it meant he could go to war if he needed: 1 December 'National ' of who would do what if there was a war. (production of planes

3 January 1939 Britain strengthened the navy and increases to 400 a month). 15 February Defence spending increased to were given to Londoners. 29 March 5 April children were evacuated) 25 April Defence spending increased to 1,322 million. 1 May Military Training Act (introduced ). Army doubled.

million. A quarter of a million free

Act passed (to allow evacuation: on 31 August the first

Check

Hint

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