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Timeline activity – The Road to War
The Treaty of
Versailles
June, 1919. This event led to many
German people resenting the Western
Powers.
Wall Street Crash
October, 1929. Economic turmoil
followed this event, leading to a rise of
extremist groups in Europe.
Japanese invasion of
Manchuria
Hitler becomes
Chancellor of Germany
Germany leaves the
League of Nations
Reoccupation of the
Rhineland
September, 1931. Following this event
US – Japanese relations deteriorated.
January, 1933. Once this had happened
it was only a matter of time before the
Treaty of Versailles was challenged.
October, 1933. Disarmament stopped in
Europe as a result of this action.
March, 1936. There was little objection to
this movement of troops.
Anti – Comintern pact
November, 1936. The Germans and
Japanese agree to protect each other
from the “reds”.
Hitler renounces the
Treaty of Versailles
January, 1937. No longer would the
German people suffer as a result of the
imposed peace of 1919.
Anschluss
March, 1938. A union of Germanic
peoples.
September, 1938. There would be “peace
in our time”, and the Germans could
have the Sudetenland.
Munich Agreement
The US withdraw from
trade agreements with
Japan.
Molotov – Ribbentrop
Pact
German invasion of
Poland
Britain and France
declare war on
Germany
Pearl Harbor
July, 1939. The US grows increasingly
angry at Japanese actions in the pacific
and cuts man economic links.
August, 1939. In the event of a war, this
agreement would split Poland in half.
September, 1939. German troops act
aggressively in the east. Diplomacy has
failed.
September, 1939. Following the German
attack, the Allies honour there treaties
with the Poles.
December, 1941. A surprise attack brings
the US into the war.
Teachers notes:
Cut out the different events and descriptions. Mix up the cards so that they are no
longer in the correct chronological sequence. Each student should receive one of
these cards.
As a class the students should:


Place the events into chronological order.
Match the event cards with the date and description.
Ideally students will be able to move freely around the room in this exercise. This
type of task has been quite successful when students have been asked to physically
create the timeline, by moving themselves into chronological order and leaving gaps
to denote longer and shorter periods of time between events.
15 events and descriptions have been included in this exercise to cater for a group of
30 students. For classes of different sizes simply add or remove dates and events as
appropriate. For larger groups this could include events such as the Italian invasion
of Abyssinia, the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini coming to power and further events in
the Pacific theatre.
This activity is a starter task. Ideally it should be completed within 10-15 minutes,
including instructions and a short debrief: Groups who are not familiar with this type
of task may take a longer than expected period of time to complete it. Having
reference material available for students to use is sometimes necessary with this
form of activity.