Germany 1918–1939

Principal focus: Students investigate the key features and issues of the history of Germany 1918–1939.

Key features and issues:
•    successes and failures of democracy
•    nature and role of nationalism
•    influence of the German army
•    nature and influence of racism
•    changes in society
•    the nature and impact of Nazism
•    aims and impact of Nazi foreign policy

Students learn about:

1    Weimar Republic
–    emergence of the Democratic Republic and the impact of the Treaty of Versailles
–    political, economic and social issues in the Weimar Republic to 1929
–    collapse of the Weimar Republic 1929–1933
–    impact of the Great Depression on Germany

2    The rise of the Nazi Party
–    rise of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) from 1923
–    Hitler’s accession to power
–    initial consolidation of Nazi power 1933–1934

3    Nazism in power
–    Hitler’s role in the Nazi state
–    Nazism as totalitarianism
–    the role of propaganda, terror and repression; SA and SS; opposition to Nazism
–    social and cultural life in the Nazi state: role of Hitler Youth, women, religion
–    Nazi racial policy; anti-Semitism: policy and practice to 1939

4    Nazi foreign policy
–    nature of Nazi foreign policy: aims and strategies to September 1939
–    impact of ideology on Nazi foreign policy to September 1939