GCSE History: World War II

This course explores the causes, key events, and consequences of the Second World War, one of the most significant conflicts in modern history. Students will study the long-term tensions created by the Treaty of Versailles, the rise of dictators, and the failures of appeasement before following the road to global war in 1939. Lessons cover major battles, the home fronts, turning points such as Stalingrad and D-Day, and the war’s devastating impact, including the Holocaust and the use of atomic bombs.

The course also examines peace settlements, the creation of the United Nations, and the beginnings of the Cold War, while extension topics tackle debates such as the effectiveness of appeasement, the morality of strategic bombing, and how WWII accelerated independence movements in Asia and Africa.

With exam practice integrated throughout, this course prepares students for GCSE History assessments while encouraging them to think critically about leadership, strategy, and morality in wartime.