IGCSE: Germany, 1918-45

The Weimar Republic

Early Political and Economic Crises of the Weimar Republic

1. The German Revolution of 1918

2. The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

3. The Spartacist Uprising

4. German Reaction to The Treaty Of Versailles

5. The Kapp Putsch

6. The French Invasion of the Ruhr and Hyperinflation

Recovery and Prosperity during the ‘Golden Age’

1. The role of Stresemann in solving hyperinflation

2. The Weimar Republic’s foreign policy successes

3. The cultural achievements of the Weimar period

4. Continuing political and economic problems

5. The extent to which the republic recovered between 1924-1929

Nazi Germany

1. The Nazi Party’s Rise to Power

• The Nazi Party during the 1920s

  • Hitler’s role in the early Nazi Party 

  • The Nazi’s political idea: 25 Point Party programme

  • The Munich Putsch: its failures and successes 

  • The reasons why the Nazis had little success in the 1920s 

• Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor in 1933

  • The Wall Street Crash and the effects of the Great Depression on Germany 

  • Nazi elections promises and campaign methods between 1930-1933 

  • The reasons why Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933 

• Hitler’s consolidation of power 1933-1934

  • The Reichstag Fire and Emergency Powers 

  • The March Elections of 1933 and the Enabling Act 

  • The Gleichschaltung Laws 

  • The Night of the Long Knives and the Oath of Loyalty 

  • The death of Hindenburg 

2. Nazi control over Germany

• Methods of control

  • The use of terror through the SS, Gestapo and law courts 

  • The use of propaganda 

  • Control over the Christian Churches 

• Persecution of minorities and opposition groups

  • Aktion T4 

  • Reasons for the persecution of minorities 

  • Increasing persecution of Jews in the 1930s 

  • Opposition to the Nazis 

  • Why was there not more opposition? 

3. Life in Nazi Germany

• Policies towards women, families and young people

  • Nazi views of women, their aims and their policies towards them 

  • Nazi views of young people, their aims and their policies towards them 

  • Youth opposition groups 

• Nazi economic policy

• The impact of the Second World War on Germany

  • Early Nazi successes through Blitzkrieg 

  • Rationing, allied bombing and the war economy 

  • Increased opposition 

  • The Holocaust and the Final Solution 

4. Was Nazi Germany a totalitarian state?