Enquiry 3.
​Why and how might we remember the SWW?

This enquiry aims to stimulate student inquisitiveness and imagination in their growing understanding of why and how we remember the Second World War. During the course of this enquiry students will collaborate and persist to explore and develop their knowledge and understanding of concepts of change and continuity, causes and consequences of significant developments through a series of overview enquiry questions.

Student Feedback Form

1 Chronology. The SWW 1939-1945, a six year war? A chronological overview.

The Second World War in British schools is often considered to be the 1939-45 conflict, starting with the British declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and ending with the German surrender of May 1945. However such a chronology reveals some complexities if one chooses to look at the chronology of war through different lenses, some countries joining later than 1939. Furthermore, European crises, Imperial conflicts and Japanese expansion in the Far East preceded 1939 and the consequences were much more enduring, notably in  Germany, Eastern Europe, the demise of the British Empire and the Middle East including the establishment of the state of Israel. In this enquiry students will be encouraged to consider how far this was a conflict contained to 1939-1945.

Independent Learning

Stretch and challenge
1 BBc iWonder. WW2
2 WW2 History timeline
3 Personal testimonies
​4 Historians views
​5 WW2 Bitesize
6 Key Moments Interactive

2 Causation. What were the causes of WW2 and Why did Walter become a committed Nazi by September 1939?

Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939 after the German invasion of Poland. This understanding of the causes of the FWW however is one amongst other causal explanations. In this enquiry students will be encouraged to consider how far other causes such as German foreign policy 1935-39, Japanese Imperialism and the ongoing Arms Race had responsibility for turning a European crises in August 1939 into a global war by September 1939.

​Independent Learning

Stretch and challenge
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3 Evidence. Where might you find the theatres of conflict?

In British schools there is an overwhelming predominance of focussing on the conflict that emerged on the Western Front in France and in the Blitz on Britain. However this often neglects the consideration that this was in fact a global war, with theatres of war ranging from other areas of Europe (Eastern front and the Italian front), the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. In this enquiry students will be encouraged to consider the global scope of the SWW.

​​Independent Learning

Stretch and challenge 
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4 Evidence. SWW Dominant national narratives. Was it all about Dunkirk, Blitz spirit, the RAF and D Day on the western front? 

In British schools there is a dominant narrative of focussing the conflict that emerged in 1939-45 on the Western Front in France (particularly Dunkirk and D Day) and on the Home Front in Britain during the Blitz and the V1 and V2 rocket attacks 1944-45. This is often portrayed as an heroic war of resilience, persistence and sacrifice. In this enquiry students consider the evidence to support this narrative.

​Independent Learning

Stretch and challenge
1 Dunkirk
2 Blitz
3 Battle of Britain
4 D Day
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5 Evidence. SWW Alternative narratives. Which contributions are often forgotten?

There are alternative narratives of the SWW that are less frequently remembered in Britain. In this enquiry students will consider the evidence to support other narratives, notably the contribution of women on the Home Front and British Empire troops in a variety of theatres of war.

​Independent Learning

Stretch and challenge 
1 Colonies, Colonials and WW2
2 Colonial Film Catalogue
3 Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6.  Consequences. Where can we find the shadows of the SWW in 2019?

The world of 1939 was shattered by 1945. Two emerging Empires (Germany and Japan) were dismantled in the aftermath of 1945, European Empires of Britain and France were in demise and a number of new countries emerged in the vacuums that they left, notably Israel in the Middle East in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Furthermore the shadows of the wars consequences were cast particularly over Germany, Eastern Europe and the Middle East in the post war years resulting in a global Cold War between America and its allies and Russia and there allies. In this enquiry students will consider the nature and significance of these shadows.

​Independent Learning

Stretch and Challenge for Home Learning
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