Course Content
2.1.1 — Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Difficulties of Ruling Germany
Kaiser Wilhelm and the difficulties of ruling Germany: the growth of parliamentary government; the influence of Prussian militarism; industrialisation; social reform and the growth of socialism; the domestic importance of the Navy Laws.
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Overview
Key Terms
What Was Germany Like in 1890?
Who Was Kaiser Wilhelm II?
The Kaiser’s Aims
Germany’s Political System
How Democratic Was Germany?
The Influence of Prussian Militarism
Why Was the Military So Powerful?
The Junkers
Growing Support for Democracy
Tensions in German Society
Quick Summary
Historical Debate: Who Really Held Power?
Summary Quiz
2.1.2 — The Impact of the First World War on Germany
Impact of the First World War: war weariness, economic problems; defeat; the end of the monarchy; post-war problems including reparations, the occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation.
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Lesson Overview
Key Terms
Germany at the Start of the War
The Effects of Total War
War Weariness
Food Shortages and Starvation
Economic Problems During the War
Germany’s Defeat in 1918
The Abdication of the Kaiser
The Armistice
The “Stab-in-the-Back” Myth
The Treaty of Versailles
Reparations
The Occupation of the Ruhr
Passive Resistance
Hyperinflation, 1923
Who Suffered During Hyperinflation?
Political Consequences
Quick Summary
2.1.3 — Weimar Democracy (1919–1929)
Weimar democracy: political change and unrest, 1919–1923, including Spartacists, Kapp Putsch and the Munich Putsch; the extent of recovery during the Stresemann era (1924–1929): economic developments including the new currency, Dawes Plan and the Young Plan; the impact of international agreements on recovery; Weimar culture
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Overview
Key Terms
The German Revolution
The Weimar Constitution
Problems with the New Republic
The Spartacist Uprising, 1919
The Kapp Putsch, 1920
The Ruhr Crisis and Hyperinflation 1923
The Munich Putsch, 1923
Stresemann and Recovery, 1924–1929
The Dawes Plan, 1924
The Young Plan, 1929
International Agreements
Weimar Culture
Women in Weimar Germany
How Successful Was Recovery?
Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic
Quick Summary
2.2.1 — The Impact of the Great Depression (1928–1932)
The impact of the Depression: growth in support for the Nazis and other extremist parties (1928–1932), including the role of the SA; Hitler’s appeal.
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Overview
Key Terms
What changed after 1929?
How did the Depression weaken support for democracy?
Growth of extremist parties (1928–1932)
Why did people support the Nazis?
The role of the SA (Sturmabteilung)
Hitler’s appeal
Why did support for extremists grow so quickly?
2.2.2 — The Failure of Weimar Democracy (1930–1933)
The failure of Weimar democracy: election results; the role of Papen and Hindenburg and Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor.
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Overview
Key Terms
The weakening of Weimar democracy
Election results and political instability
The role of Hindenburg
The role of Papen and Schleicher
Why was Hitler appointed Chancellor?
Quick Summary
2.2.3 — The Establishment of Hitler’s Dictatorship (1933–1934)
The establishment of Hitler’s dictatorship: the Reichstag Fire; the Enabling Act; elimination of political opposition; trade unions; Rohm and the Night of the Long Knives; Hitler becomes Führer.
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Overview
Key Terms
The Reichstag Fire (February 1933)
The Enabling Act (March 1933)
Elimination of political opposition
Control of trade unions
The Night of the Long Knives (June 1934)
Hitler becomes Führer (August 1934)
Quick Summary
2.3.1 — The experiences of Germans under the Nazis: Economy
Economic changes: benefits and drawbacks; employment; public works programmes; rearmament; self-sufficiency; the impact of war on the economy and the German people, including bombing, rationing, labour shortages, refugees.
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Overview
Key Terms
Employment and Public Works Programmes
Rearmament
Self-sufficiency (Autarky)
Impact of War on the German Economy and People (1939–1945)
Quick Summary
2.3.2 — The experiences of Germans under the Nazis: Social
Social policy and practice: reasons for policies, practices and their impact on women, young people and youth groups; education; control of churches and religion; Aryan ideas, racial policy and persecution; the Final Solution.
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Overview
Key Terms
Women and Family Policy
Young People and Youth Groups
Education
Control of Churches and Religion
Aryan Ideas, Racial Policy and Persecution
The Final Solution
Quick Summary
2.3.3 — The experiences of Germans under the Nazis: Control
Control: Goebbels, the use of propaganda and censorship; Nazi culture; repression and the police state and the roles of Himmler, the SS and Gestapo; opposition and resistance, including White Rose group, Swing Youth, Edelweiss Pirates and July 1944 bomb plot.
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Overview
Key Terms
Propaganda and Censorship (Goebbels)
Nazi Culture
The Police State: SS and Gestapo
Opposition and Resistance
Overall Effectiveness of Control
Quick Summary
Private: GCSE AQA Germany 1890-1945: Democracy and Dictatorship

Historians disagree about how much power the Kaiser truly had.

Some historians argue:

  • Wilhelm controlled government and foreign policy
  • the Kaiser dominated decision-making

Others argue:

  • military leaders, advisers and elites influenced decisions heavily
  • Germany’s government was chaotic and divided
  • the Kaiser was less powerful than he appeared

This debate is important because it helps explain Germany’s actions before the First World War.

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