IB DP History: The Second World War in Europe – A Complete Course Outline for the New Curriculum (First Assessment 2028)

Revolutionize your IB History planning with this comprehensive course outline for the new “Conflict” thematic study, specifically focused on WWII in Europe and fully aligned with the 2026 Guide (First Assessment 2028).

Are you an IB History teacher preparing for the new syllabus? This resource provides a ready-to-use, structured framework for teaching the Second World War in Europe, directly mapped to the four mandatory inquiry questions of the “Conflict” thematic study. Move beyond vague objectives and start your unit with a clear, curriculum-aligned roadmap that ensures you cover every required line of inquiry.

What’s Inside?

This detailed course outline breaks down the complex history of WWII in Europe into four logical units, each corresponding to a core inquiry question from the official guide:

Unit 1: Why did conflict emerge? (Political, Economic, Social, and Environmental Factors)

Unit 2: What determined the outcome of the conflict? (Leadership, Strategies, Resources, Technology)

Unit 3: How did the conflict affect people’s lives? (Economic Impact, Social Impact, Experiences of Women, Experiences of Marginalized Groups)

Unit 4: How was peace established? (Military Outcome, Political Decision-Making, Social Factors, Post-Conflict Peace-building)

Why This Resource is Essential for the 2026 Guide:

100% Curriculum Aligned: Explicitly structured around the four prescribed inquiry questions and their specific lines of inquiry for the “Conflict” thematic study. You can teach with confidence, knowing you are meeting the new syllabus requirements.

Develops Core Skills: Integrates the three key skills mandated by the new guide:

Analysing Concepts: Identifies key concepts (Causation, Ideology, Strategy, Identity, etc.) for each unit.

Explaining Relevant Examples: Connects historical events directly to the lines of inquiry.

Connecting Diverse Global Examples: Framework designed to prepare students for Paper 2 essay questions by encouraging comparative thinking.

Ready-to-Use Framework: Perfect for unit planning, creating student handouts, or guiding your Scheme of Work. It provides the skeleton for your entire unit on WWII in Europe.

Assessment-Focused: Includes a dedicated section on how to prepare students for Paper 2, linking the content directly to both Section A (concepts) and Section B (essay writing).