Topic: The Polish or September campaign

Target group

8th‑grade students of an elementary school

Core curriculum

XXXII. Poland's defensive war in September 1939. Aggression of Germany (September 1) and the Union Soviet (September 17). Pupil:

1) characterizes the international location of Poland on the eve of the outbreak of World War II;

2) describes and discusses the stages of defensive war and indicates on the maps the location of the warring parties;

3) gives examples of Poles' special heroism, for example, defense of the post in Gdańsk, fight for Westerplatte, defense of the parachute tower in Katowice, battle of the Wet and the Wizna River, battle of the Bzura, defense of Warsaw, defense of Grodno, battle of Kock.

General aim of education

The student acquires knowledge and skills about the topics discussed in the classes

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• to characterise the most important events of the September campaign;

• to show on a map the locations of the most important battles;

• to list Poland's enemies and allies in September 1939, as well as their leaders;

• to identify the heroes and commanders of the Polish army during the September campaign;

• to understand and explain some concepts related to the Second World War (campaign, enigma, balance of power);

• to explain what the Ribbentrop‑Molotow Pact was.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

1. The students recall the struggle of Poles to regain independence. The teacher asks them to additionally look for information about the defense war of Poland in 1939.

Introduction

1. The teacher states the subject of the lesson, explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

2. The teacher asks students to recall when and after how many years did Poland regain its independence and what events led to it.

Realization

1. The teacher asks students to list their associations with World War II (brainstorm), and in particular with September 1939, and then carry out a brief introduction about the outbreak of World War II. He points out that the situation in Europe in 1939 was very tense and inevitably led to conflict.

2. One of the events that exacerbated the situation and put Poland in an increasingly difficult position was the Ribbentrop‑Molotov Pact, which was the last stage of the Third Reich's preparations for war – students get acquainted with the interactive map.

3. According to the German plans, the war with Poland was to be brief (Blitzkrieg). The teacher explains the concept of such a war, discussing the progress of German and Soviet troops and the heroic defense of Polish soldiers (Westerplatte, Wizna, Modlin, etc.). Then the students perform ** Task 1 ** and ** Exercise 1 ** and ** 2 **. Students can ask the teacher for help during the exercise. The teacher comments on the students' work, providing correct answers if necessary.

4. The teacher asks students to familiarize themselves with ** Exercises ** ** 3 **, ** 4 **, ** 5 ** and ** 6 **: presentation of balance of forces in the armament and strength of Polish, Third Reich and USSR troops . He asks students – „Had lonely Poland any chance to win with aggressors?”.

Summary

1. The teacher briefly presents the most important issues discussed in class. He answers the additional questions of the proteges and explains all their doubts. Students complete notes.

Homework

1. The teacher asks students to find out if any of their family members participated in the battles of the September campaign or remembers the events of those days. If not, he asks them to look for such perspectives on the internet (or e‑textbook – excerpt from the introduction).

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

The Polish or September campaign

One of Hitler's main catch cries was revenge for the losses of the First World War and gathering all German people within the borders of a single state (Greater Germany). After he came to power, he quickly built up the German army (Wehrmacht) and began acts of aggression, occupying Austria and Czechoslovakia (where the Western powers, Britain and France, remained passive). In 1939, Germany made territorial demands on Poland. The Polish government refused these. At the end of August the Third Reich and the USSR concluded a secret agreement. The result was that on 1st September,1939, Germany invaded Poland without a declaration of war. A defensive war began, in which the Germans used their rapid war tactics (in German Blitzkrieg). Poland's allies, Britain and France, did not provide Poland with armed assistance. They limited themselves to declaring war on Germany. The Polish army fought bravely, but given the numerical and material advantages of the enemy, as well as some errors by commanders, they were quickly forced onto the defensive. The largest battle of the September campaign was the Battle of the Bzura, which ended with the Polish troops being defeated. On the 17th of September, 1939, the Soviet Red Army (acting together with Germany) attacked Poland from the east. The government fled to Romania. Poland was unable to fight on two fronts and capitulated. After three weeks of fighting, the German army captured Warsaw. The final battles took place in early October.