Topic: Hitler and Stalin’s Conquest of Europe

Target group

8th‑grade students of an elementary school

Core curriculum

XXXIII. World War II and its stages. Pupil:

1. presents and situates in time and space groundbreaking events of World War II (political and military);

2. explains the causes of the defeat of the Axis countries.

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:

• what were the most important events of World War II in Europe;

• which states fought against the Third Reich;

• what policy the Soviet Union pursued during World War II;

• what was the significance of the Battle of Britain;

• where the puppet governments were created by the Third Reich;

• what was the significance of the opening of the Western Front in Europe;

• about the most important war operations of World War II;

• when and where Germany’s surrender took place.

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

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 plays the recording of the abstract. Every now and then he stops it, asking the students to tell in their own words what they have just heard. This way, students practice listening comprehension.

Realization

1. Reading the content of the abstract. The teacher uses the text for individual work or in pairs, according to the following steps: 1) a sketchy review of the text, 2) asking questions, 3) accurate reading, 4) a summary of individual parts of the text, 5) repeating the content or reading the entire text.

2. On the basis of the timeline and information from available sources, the students indicate the event that they think is the most important from the period of German and Soviet conquest of Europe. Then they argue their choice on the class forum. Colleagues assess their work, taking into account the manner in which applications are presented and the clarity of justification.

3. The teacher together with the students sums up the current course of classes.

4. Students in pairs solve the Exercise 1. The teacher checks if the task has been correctly completed and gives feedback to students.

5. Students in pairs solve the Exercise 2.

6. Students in pairs solve the Exercise 3.

7. Students analyze the illustration and execute Exercise 4. To answer the question, they can use Internet sources or other publications. The teacher checks the correctness of the answer and provides feedback to the students.

8. Students analyze the illustrations and execute Exercise 5 and Exercise 6. To answer the questions, they can use Internet sources or other publications. The teacher checks the correctness of the answer and provides feedback to the students.

9. Students perform Task 2. They prepare their answer in writing. The teacher controls the correctness of their statements, supplementing it with additional information if necessary.

10. Students perform exercises and commands. The teacher complements them with a historical context, providing students with the necessary information. Checks if the tasks have been correctly completed and gives feedback to students.

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.

2. The teacher asks the students questions prompting them to summarize.

Homework

1. Listen to the abstract recording at home. Pay attention to pronunciation, accent and intonation. Learn to pronounce the words learned during the lesson.

2. Students solve exercises that were not completed during the lesson.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Hitler and Stalin’s Conquest of Europe

The war that erupted on 1 September 1939 turned into a worldwide conflict very quickly. Despite having declared war on Germany, France and Great Britain initially did not conduct military operations against Hitler’s armed forces. On the Western Front, the so‑called “Phoney War” began; notwithstanding the state of war, no battles took place there.

Poland’s surrender under the German and Soviet pressure in October 1939 was the beginning of the two states’ aggression in Europe. After having conquered Poland’s Eastern territories, Stalin started making moves against the Baltic states. Their takeover and subsequent annexation into the Soviet Union, legitimized by rigged elections, took place in 1940. Having achieved this success, Stalin decided to make Finland dependent on the Soviet Union as well. The rejection of the Soviet ultimatum led to the beginning of a war; the Finns, notwithstanding their numerous victories, had to acknowledge Russia’s superiority.

The situation in the West changed dramatically in April 1940. The Third Reich occupied Denmark within one day, then, after tough fighting, the collaborationist government of Vidkun Quisling was created in Norway. During the Norwegian Campaign, Hitler’s army attacked the Benelux states and France as well. Passing through the Ardennes and circumventing the main fortification lines, the Germans quickly defeated the French and British forces, pushing them back to the beaches of Normandy. Only thanks to the swift action of the civilian units and Hitler’s passivity the evacuation of over 300 thousand soldiers to Britain was possible. After one month of fighting and the surrender of Paris, the surrender of France was signed; as a result, the French territory was divided, and the puppet state of Vichy was created with Marshal Petain at the head of its government. Part of the French society and the soldiers of the French army were against this; the soldiers, under gen. De Gaulle, emigrated to Great Britain.

After the defeat of France, the only remaining independent power to fight against Hitler was Great Britain. In July 1940, the Germans started preparations for the air invasion and sea landing operation against Britain. The defense of the country against the Luftwaffe raids, known as the Battle of Britain, resulted in the Nazis’ first defeat. This led to the Germans intesifying their operations on the Atlantic, aiming to cut Britain off the supplies coming from the United States.

The war in the Balkans began in 1940 as well. After Italy’s failed attack in October 1940, Greece, much like Yugoslavia, was defeated with German assistance in April 1941. After the occupation forces took over, the resistance movement began its partisan activities.

The German aggression against its ally, the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), turned out to be a turning point in the war. This caused a shift in the alliances – Stalin joined the anti‑Hitler coalition, changing the progress and the outcome of the war.

The Western Allies’ success in Africa, then in Italy (1943‑1944), as well as the Soviet victories in the East starting in 1943, pushed the German army into defense. The creation of the Western Front and the Allied forces’ landing on the beaches of Normandy (Operation Overlord) on 6 June 1944 paved the way to Germany’s final defeat. Entering the areas occupied by Germany in the East and in the West, the Allied forces kept liberating further countries and nations. In March 1945, the American and British forces forced their way through the Rhine and entered Germany. Hitler’s defeat was inevitable. On 7 May 1945 Germany was forced to sign its surrender (which was repeated on 8 May). After nearly six years, the war in Europe ended.