CREATIVE EVENTS

AS 1 – The Nazis and Germany 1919-1945

 

 

Here’s the one you know a lot about already – but you’re going to find out a lot more!  This is your last module to cover at AS, and we aim to finish by the end of March.  This should leave the remaining 5 weeks or so (excluding Easter “holidays”) for skills practice and revision.

 

 

The Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazi Party 1918-1933

 

We start of with a look at the collapse of the Kaiser and the new democratic structures put in place in Germany at the end of World War One, such as the National Constituent Assembly and the 1919 Constitution. 

 

We consider the desperate situation the new republic in Germany faced in its early years.  We investigate the political weaknesses of the new Weimar Republic, the Treaty of Versailles and how it damaged Weimar and the early opposition from groups like the Spartacists and Kapp, as well as the Nazis in the Munich Putsch.  The Hyperinflation marks a turning point in the life of the Weimar Republic.  Soon after this, democracy started to recover, and the Nazis began to realise they needed more than simple brute force to take power.

 

We go on then to the best years of the Weimar Republic, which took place with Stresemann as Germany’s top politician.  We look at how secure Weimar was during this time and what the new tactics the Nazis were using to try to bring it down – as well as how successful these tactics were.  We think carefully about the creation of a national party structure and the contributions of key Nazi individuals like Goebbels and Strasser.

 

Finally, we investigate the Depression and its effects on both the Weimar Republic and the Nazis.  The vital events immediately before Hitler became Chancellor of Germany get a lot of attention too.  We spend some time here looking at the key causes of the Nazis’ rise (political, economic, related to the Treaty of Versailles), who helped the Nazis to power (and how and why), and why didn’t the Nazis get to power before 1933.

 

Part Two – Nazi Germany 1933-45

 

The 1933-34 period is crucial in helping the Nazis get an iron grip on power, and we go in depth into the big events like the Reichstag Fire, the Law for the Protection of People and State, the Enabling Act (these events marking the so-called “Legal Revolution”) and the Night of the Long Knives (which represented the defeat of the so-called “Second Revolution”).  The policy of Coordination is examined – in other words how the Nazis established supreme control after the Enabling Act.  The role of the SS and Gestapo is also examined.

 

We explore support and opposition to the Nazis, thinking about the extent to which the Nazis controlled particular groups in Germany, as well as how opposition was limited and why it wasn’t more effective.  Later on, we look at other aspects of German society, such as the role of women and minorities – Jewish people in particular.

 

There is also a section on the Nazi economy, which – much as the Nazis tried to pretend otherwise – was far from a complete success.  We consider the success of the Nazi economy at particular periods between 1933 and 1945, as well as thinking about what the Nazis were really trying to do in the economy.

 

You’ll also find out all about Nazi culture and propaganda, considering how much of a Nazi culture there really was under Adolf Hitler, as well as how big an impact Nazi propaganda had.   We’ll find some surprising answers too!  The arts and the media are given particular attention.  We consider the importance of propaganda and of terror in helping the Nazis to keep control over Germany.

 

 

The Exam

 

 

• The exam for this module will be taken at the end of Year 13. 

• It will last 1 hour 30 minutes

• It makes up 25% of the total A Level and 50% of the AS

• In the exam, you get the opportunity to display your skills in both shorter questions and in use of sources