1. Britain and the Versailles Peace Settlement

In this section you will study the aims of the British government at the Paris Peace Conference, and the terms of the treaties that formed the Versailles Peace Settlement. This will include an analysis of the extent that the British government achieved its foreign policy objectives, and how and why the Versailles settlement caused controversy. You will also study the role played by Britain in the actions of the League of Nations and the way in which they supported this organisation to keep world peace. You will also look at Britain's role in the international treaties of the late 1920's that signalled an era of greater co-operation between nations in the post-war world.

Three of the four bullet points relate to the 1930s and the last two to the years 1938–39. The phrase ‘Britain’s policy objectives’ in the specification relates to the objectives of the Coalition government in terms of reducing the power of Germany and of securing a lasting peace.

Key Knowledge needed for success in this section

• key terms of the peace settlement and of Britain’s support for the League of Nations in the inter-war years.

• an understanding of how, and why, the Versailles Settlement was controversial.

• an understanding of the development of international relations in the 1920s arising from the post-World War I peace treaties and from the issues of reparations and the search for disarmament.

• knowledge and understanding of Britain’s participation in the Locarno Treaties and the Kellogg- Briand Pact.

2. Reasons for, and operation of appeasement; support for and opposition to appeasement among different social and political groups.

In this section you will consider why the policy of appeasement developed. You will also study British reactions to the challenges to the Versailles Settlement in the early 1930's, particularly from Germany and Italy, and the practical operation of appeasement in the 1930's up to 1938. You will also consider the range of different attitudes to appeasement that existed within British politics and society, and will analyse why people supported or opposed appeasement. The phrase ‘reasons for, and operation of, appeasement’ relates to reactions to challenges to the Versailles Settlement from the early 1930s and to the aggressive policies of Italy and Germany.

Key Knowledge needed for success in this section

• knowledge and understanding of the Stresa Front,

• the Hoare-Laval Pact (1935), the Anglo-German naval agreement (1935),

• the Non-Intervention Treaty in respect of the Spanish Civil War and the pace and progress of rearmament.

• You should have knowledge and understanding of the range of views concerning appeasement within Britain both within the political classes and more widely.

3. Chamberlain and the Munich Crisis

In this section you will study the events leading up to, and reasons for, the most famous example of appeasement in practice, the Munich Agreement of September 1938

Key Knowledge needed for success in this section

• a detailed knowledge of the key events leading up to the Munich Agreement

4. From Munich to the outbreak of war

In this section you will look at Britain's changing policies towards Germany from Munich until September 1939, and will analyse why Britain went to war.

Key Knowledge needed for success in this section

• a detailed knowledge and understanding of Britain’s changing policies towards Germany from September 1938 to September 1939 

• why Britain went to war in September 1939 and not earlier.

Questions will not be set which focus specifically and directly on the British Empire or on relations between colonies, dominions and Britain although candidates should have general understanding of the importance of Britain’s imperial status within the wider context of its inter-war policy objectives.