In Flanders Fields written by Lieutenant Colonel John Mcrae.

The First World War caused the deaths of approximately 9 million people and cost huge sums of money. Every family had lost a father, a brother, a son… In 1918 the people and their governments were desperate to avoid another war.

Your Task: This is Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister. You will be acting as his Foreign Policy Advisors. Make sure you give him good advice – he is not a dictator and if his policies are unpopular with the British people they will simply vote him out of Office!

Problem 1: France retakes Alsace-Lorraine The Treaty of Versailles at the end of WWI states that Germany has to pay Reparations payments to France. As a result of this clause, France retakes the rich industrial region of Alsace-Lorraine. However, Germany is suffering from “hyper-inflation”: You have to bring your money in a wheelbarrow just to buy groceries. The German people are starving and the country cannot afford the payments. DO YOU: 1.) Ignore it. France suffered terribly during WWI and Germany should be made to pay. 2.) Declare war on France. 3.) Take no action for now but watch the situation carefully.

Problem 2: Hitler starts re-arming Germany Hitler is voted in as Chancellor in Germany. He vehemently believes that the Treaty of Versailles is too harsh and declares that he will ignore it. Hitler starts a naval race by building up Germany’s military so that they are as formidable as Britain’s – even though the Treaty of Versailles expressly forbid Germany to do this. DO YOU: 1.) Ignore it. What happens in other countries is none of your concern and you agree the Treaty is far too harsh. 2.) Declare war on Germany. 3.) Take no action for now but monitor the situation carefully.

Problem 3: “The Night Of The Long Knives” Hitler has a number of senior officers, whom he keeps control of using the tactic of “divide and conquer”. However, Hitler is very afraid of being overthrown. One night, Hitler uses the S.S. to eliminate his opposition in the S.A, including their leader Ernst Rohm. He now has total control over Germany. DO YOU: 1.) Ignore it. What happens in other countries is none of your concern. 2.) Declare war on Germany. 3.) Take no action for now but monitor the situation carefully.

Problem 4: Hitler annexes Austria This is called the “Anschluss”. Much of Austria was German speaking and Hitler wanted to unite all the German peoples. However, the Treaty of Versailles expressly forbids the union of Germany and Austria. The Nazis hold a referendum in Austria in which they received 99.7% of the vote. No fighting has taken place. DO YOU: 1.) Ignore it. The Austrians seem happy enough. 2.) Declare war on Germany. 3.) Take no action for now but monitor the situation carefully.

Problem 5: The Munich Crisis Now in control of Austria, Hitler demands control of Czechoslovakia as well. One fifth of the Czech population is German speaking and Hitler wants those areas to unite with all the other German peoples. It looks very much like Hitler wants an Empire. The Munich Agreement, negotiated by the countries involved, allows Germany to occupy the Sudetenland, so long as Hitler promises there will be no more military action. DO YOU: 1.) Ignore it. What happens to Czechoslovakia is none of your business. 2.) Declare war on Germany. 3.) Agree to give up the Sudetenland, so long as Hitler promises to stop there. Your people want “peace in our time”.

Problem 6: The Non-Aggression Pact with Russia Germany and Russia sign a “Non-Aggression Pact” which means they agree they will not go to war with each other. This is a problem for all the countries on Germany’s west, because if, in the event of war, Russia did not invade Germany from the east, Hitler would no longer have to fight a war on two fronts. DO YOU: 1.) Ignore it. What can you do about it anyway? 2.) Declare war on Germany. 3.) Take no action for now but monitor the situation carefully.

Problem 7: Hitler invades Poland Hitler breaks his promise made in the Munich Agreement and invades Poland. Many people, including Winston Churchill, had already said Hitler could not be trusted. Britain has an agreement with Poland in which she promises to defend her if she were attacked. This leaves you with only one option… DO YOU: 1.) Go back on your promise to Poland. It’s her problem now. 2.) Declare war on Germany. 3.) Take no action for now but monitor the situation carefully.

Speech by Churchill, September 1938 “We have been defeated without a war. And do not suppose that this is the end. This is only the first taste of a bitter drink which will be forced on us year by year. Unless we rise again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden days.”