1900-2000 (GCSE History), GCSE / IGCSE History

Cold War – Historical Context, 1917-39

Posted by Russel Tarr on

Historical Context, 1917-39Cold_War_TV_Series_CNN
Students are presented with a detailed, interactive timeline of events and two key questions for consideration:
1: Was the Nazi-Soviet Pact proof that the West were right to distrust Stalin all along, or was it the direct and unfortunate result of that distrust?
2: Based on Question 1, who was therefore more to blame for the failure to contain Hitler in the 1930s?
The class is then divided into two groups. Group 1 (USSR) should produce a press statement entitled “Why the USSR has been forced to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact”. This should consist of two paragraphs: Paragraph [1] should begin “The USSR has made many attempts to extend the hand of friendship to the West…” and Paragraph [2] should begin “Unfortunately the West has not acted with the same degree of honour…”. Group 2 (Britain) should produce a press statement entitled “Why the USSR treacherously chose to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact”. This should consist of two paragraphs: Paragraph [1] should begin “The West has made many attempts to extend the hand of friendship to the USSR…” and Paragraph [2] should begin “Unfortunately the USSR has not acted with the same degree of honour…”.

Part of the new ActiveHistory scheme of work on The Roots of the Cold War to 1949