This memory aid covers Memory Aid within Steps to War for GCSE History. Revise Steps to War in Conflict and Tension 1918-1939 for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 10 of 13 in this topic. Use it for quick recall, then test yourself straight afterwards so the memory aid becomes usable in an answer.
🧠 Memory Aid
The steps to war — "RASC-IP":
- Rhineland remilitarised — March 1936
- Anschluss with Austria — March 1938
- Sudetenland (Munich Agreement) — September 1938
- Czechoslovakia (rest seized) — March 1939
- Invasion of Poland — September 1939
The key pattern to remember: Each step reduced resistance. Think of it as a "confidence ladder" — each rung Hitler climbed without falling made him more willing to climb the next one. The Rhineland was the first rung; Poland was the one where the ladder finally snapped.
Key dates: Both Rhineland and Anschluss happened in March (1936 and 1938). Sudetenland was September 1938. Prague was March 1939. Poland was September 1939. March and September alternate.
Practice questions for Steps to War
In which year did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?
What was the result of the rigged plebiscite held after the Anschluss in March 1938?