Nazi-Soviet Pact

Overview

This 55-minute lesson explores the Nazi-Soviet Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) and its critical influence on the outbreak of World War II. Students will analyse the motivations behind the Pact, its secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe, and its broader geopolitical consequences.

This lesson aligns with The national curriculum for England, specifically History programmes of study for Key Stage 3, focusing on:

• Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
• Changes in Britain from the 1930s to 1950s, including the impact of the Second World War (Programme of Study: History KS3).
• Developing pupils’ ability to make connections, draw contrasts, and analyse trends within the historical periods studied.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Explain the key terms, countries, and leaders involved in the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
2. Analyse the strategic reasons why Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union entered into the Pact despite ideological differences.
3. Describe the secret protocol and explain how the Pact divided Eastern Europe between the two powers.
4. Evaluate the significance of the pact in the lead-up to World War II.
5. Use historical sources to support conclusions about the Pact's impact.

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Curriculum Links

History KS3 – National Curriculum (England):

• Develop chronologically secure knowledge of British, local and world history, focusing here on global events in the interwar period and outbreak of WWII.
• Use sources critically to ask questions and understand cause and consequence.
• Understand political, social and economic context shaping events and decisions.

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Resources Needed

• Copies of a simplified excerpt from the Nazi-Soviet Pact text (including secret protocol summary)
• Annotated map of Eastern Europe c. 1939 showing territorial changes
• Primary source excerpts (quotes from Churchill, Stalin, Hitler)
• Projector and whiteboard
• Student notebooks and pens
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity: Mapping Tensions (8 minutes)

• Display a blank map of Europe c. 1938 on the board.
• Ask students to mark the countries involved (Germany and the Soviet Union) and their political systems.
• Brief discussion: “What do you think would happen if these two very different regimes made an agreement?”
• This activates prior knowledge from previous lessons and engages interest.

2. Introduction & Context (10 minutes)

• Teacher-led presentation (5 min): Outline the background of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, emphasising their ideological opposition.
• Introduce the Pact’s date (23 August 1939), key players (Hitler, Stalin), and basic terms.
• Show an image of the actual Pact document and the secret protocol map.
• Quick Q&A to clarify key facts.

3. Group Source Analysis and Discussion (15 minutes)

• Divide class of 7 into 2 small groups (3 and 4 students).
• Each group receives excerpts: one the Pact’s terms, one covering the secret protocol’s impact and division of Poland and Eastern Europe.
• Tasks:
  • Identify motivations for each side entering the Pact.
  • List key consequences on Eastern Europe’s map.
  • Discuss: Why was this Pact a surprise internationally?
• Teacher circulates, scaffolding arguments and probing understanding.

4. Whole Class Synthesis (10 minutes)

• Each group shares key findings aloud.
• Teacher highlights:
  • The fragile strategic nature of the Pact despite ideological differences.
  • How the secret protocol allowed invasion and occupation of Poland and Baltic states.
  • The Pact’s shock effect on Britain and France’s war preparations.

5. Critical Thinking and Evaluation (8 minutes)

• Pose the question on the board:
  “How did the Nazi-Soviet Pact change the course of European history? Was it a clever tactic or a dangerous gamble?”
• Students individually write a short evaluative paragraph in their books, citing evidence from sources.
• Useful sentence starters on board:
  • “One reason the Pact was significant is...”
  • “This was important because...”
  • “However, some argue that...”

6. Plenary and Assessment (4 minutes)

• Quick round robin: each student shares one sentence summarising the Pact’s impact.
• Teacher gives feedback and sets a mini-homework: prepare 3 questions about the Pact for next lesson’s debate on the causes of WWII.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide sentence starters and glossary of key vocabulary for learners needing support.
• Challenge higher-attaining pupils by asking them to consider the longer-term impacts beyond 1939.
• Use visual materials and group work to engage different learning styles.

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Assessment for Learning

• Informal assessment through group discussions and Q&A.
• Written evaluation paragraph to gauge ability to analyse and evaluate using sources.
• Plenary summary statements demonstrate understanding and ability to synthesise content.

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Extension Ideas (Optional/Homework)

• Research how the Nazi-Soviet Pact influenced the responses of Britain and France.
• Create a timeline showing events from the Pact’s signing to the outbreak of WWII.
• Compare the Nazi-Soviet Pact with other WWII alliances (e.g. Axis Pact).

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This lesson plan is designed to actively engage Year 9 students with a pivotal moment in 20th-century history, building both historical knowledge and key analytical skills in alignment with the national curriculum.