Registration and coffee
Professional development course for history teachers
at the Imperial War Museum
Date: Tuesday 16 June 2026
The Foundation for the History of Totalitarianism invites teachers of History and Politics to participate in this special one-day course on the Nazi–Soviet Pact – one of the key events of the twentieth century. Some historians see the pact as “the starting gun” to the Second World War.
The course will take place in the Imperial War Museum in the grand Orpen Boardroom. Participants will have free access to the Imperial War Museum at the conclusion of the course.
We have been able to bring together a remarkable group of historians who bring different perspectives expertise to bear.
In all the sessions, participants will be welcome to ask questions and discuss the issues which arise.
Lunch will be provided with a Polish theme to reflect the fact that Poland was the first country to feel the impact of the secret protocol by which Germany and the Soviet Union divided up large parts of Eastern Europe between them.
The conference is likely to appeal to GCSE and A Level history teachers. It could also be valuable to Politics and PSHE/Citizenship teachers.
The cost of the day will be £195, but to ensure that cost is not a barrier we have obtained funding for some complimentary places on request.
The full details of the sessions are below. Please feel free to ask any questions about the course by emailing contact@historyoftotalitarianism.com.
Speaker: Roger Moorhouse, the historian who wrote the definitive book on the pact, The Devils' Alliance.
Speaker: Prof. Frank McDonough, author of the best-selling The Hitler Years and Hitler, Chamberlain and Appeasement.
Followed by a Q&A
Speaker: Prof. Robert Service, former Professor of Russian History at Oxford and author of The Penguin History of Modern Russia.
Followed by a Q&A
Speaker: Dr Ela Kaczmarska, who will present the Polish viewpoint on the pact.
Followed by a Q&A
Speaker: Roger Moorhouse, the historian who wrote the definitive book on the pact, The Devils' Alliance.
Followed by a Q&A
Participants: All speakers
Suggested areas of discussion:
Moderator summary:
Speaker: Roger Moorhouse, the historian who wrote the definitive book on the pact, The Devils' Alliance.
Speaker: Prof. Frank McDonough, author of the best-selling The Hitler Years and Hitler, Chamberlain and Appeasement.
Followed by a Q&A
Speaker: Prof. Robert Service, former Professor of Russian History at Oxford and author of The Penguin History of Modern Russia. He will provide insights into Stalin’s viewpoint.
Followed by a Q&A
A Polish-themed lunch will be served.
Speaker: Dr Ela Kaczmarska, who will present the Polish viewpoint on the pact.
Followed by a Q&A
Speaker: Roger Moorhouse, the historian who wrote the definitive book on the pact, The Devils' Alliance.
Followed by a Q&A
Participants: All speakers
Suggested areas of discussion:
Contemporary cartoon in the Evening Standard by David Low when Hitler and Stalin both invaded Poland.