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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Private: GCSE AQA Germany 1890-1945: Democracy and Dictatorship

 

Term

Meaning

Reichstag Fire

Fire in the German parliament (1933) used by Hitler to blame communists and justify emergency powers

Decree

An official order issued by the government without needing parliamentary approval

Enabling Act

Law passed in 1933 that allowed Hitler to make laws without the Reichstag, effectively ending democracy

One-party state

A political system where only one political party is allowed (the Nazi Party)

Opposition

Groups or individuals who disagree with or resist the government

Trade unions

Organisations that represent workers’ interests, including wages and working conditions

German Labour Front (DAF)

Nazi organisation that replaced trade unions and controlled workers

SA (Sturmabteilung)

Nazi paramilitary group known as the Brownshirts, used for intimidation and violence

Night of the Long Knives

1934 purge in which Hitler killed SA leaders and political rivals to secure army support

Purge

The removal or killing of people considered enemies within a group or organisation

Reichswehr

German army (before 1935), which became loyal to Hitler after the purge

Führer

“Leader” in German; title taken by Hitler when he combined the roles of Chancellor and President

Oath of loyalty

Promise made by soldiers to obey Hitler personally rather than the German state

Totalitarian state

A system where the government controls all aspects of life, including politics, media, and society

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