Germany: Development of Dictatorship, 1918 - 1945: Edexcel IGCSE History

Explain two effects of the German revolution.

The abdication of the Kaiser, because the mutiny, strikes and protests caused by failure in WWI (which became known as the German Revolution) suggested that Germany was in chaos, and the Kaiser was blamed for this (as well as the failure in the War), so decided to abdicate.

The National Assembly in Weimar, because the revolution forced the Kaiser to abdicate which meant that Germany needed a new system of government, hence the creation of the National Assembly in Weimar.

KO: kaiser abdicated on the 9th Nov 1918 --> in late October, naval soldiers in Kiel led a mutiny, refusing to fight the British naval forces. the NAS was led by Friedrich Ebert, and it was formed in November 1918.

Explain two effects of the Weimar Constitution on Germany/the Weimar Republic.

Democracy, because the Weimar Constitution granted the vote to lots of people.

Lots of coalitions, because the Weimar Constitution used the system of proportional representation for elections which meant even the small parties got seats in the Reichstag and no single party dominated, hence coalitions.

OK: all men and women over the age of 20 were allowed to vote. gave freedom of speech and religion, and equality under the law.

Explain two effects of the Spartacist uprising of 1919 on Germany

It made Weimar look weak because Weimar had to rely on the Freikorps to put the uprising down.

It made Weimar look undemocratic because of the way the uprising's leaders were dealt with.

OK: Freikorps: around 250,000 ex-soldiers who refused to put their weapons down and use violence in the streets t further their political aims.

the communist leaders of the uprising: Rosa Luxembourg and Karl Liebknecht were shot by the Freikorps.

Explain two effects of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany.

Germany was made weaker militarily because the Treaty reduced Germany's military resources.

Germany was made weaker economically because the Treaty reduced Germany's economic resources.

OK: Navy limited to 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats. no tanks, submarines, air force. Army limited to 100,000 men.

had to pay reparations of 136 million marks. lost about 13% of European land; 50% of iron reserves and 15% of coal reserves.

Explain two effects of the Kapp Putsch on Germany.

The Freikorps was successfully eliminated as a threat to the government and Ebert because they were disbanded as a result of the Putsch's failure.

It showed that the Weimar government appeared to have the support of the majority of people in Berlin because the people went on strike when asked to in response to the Putsch

OK: Dr Wolfgang Kapp was an extreme nationalist, who had the support of many army officers.

essential supplies like gas, water and electricity were disrupted by strikes and soon the city was unable to function.

Explain two effects of the Franco-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr

Passive resistance, as a way of protesting against the occupation.

Hyperinflation, as a result of the Germans printing more money to pay the striking workers in the Ruhr who were acting in response to the occupation.

OK: Ruhr = centre of Germany's production of iron, steel and coal. took those products instead of cash payments.

Germany lost income- so they started to print more more to pay the striking workers. this led to hyperinflation.

Explain two effects of hyperinflation on Germany in the early 1920s

People on fixed incomes suffered because hyperinflation meant that fixed incomes could but less and less with what they received.

People with loans or mortgages benefited because hyperinflation meant that loans, which are expressed in terms of a fixed monetary amount, became incredibly easy to pay off.

OK: Eg. pensioners on fixed incomes, soon had nothing as the prices grew.

Explain two effects of the (failure of the) Munich Putsch

Hitler and the Nazis became known nationally because Hitler using the subsequent trial as a 'platform' and his words were reported by journalists.

Hitler took much wider and tighter control of the Nazi Party because the methods of the Putsch, to rely on others outside the party, had failed.

OK: November 1923

arrested on 11th Nov. claimed that the leaders of the Wiemar government were traitors.

divided Germany into 34 districts , and appointed a leading Nazi to increase support there.

Explain two effects of the Dawes Plan on Germany

Germany's financial situation improved because the reparations were temporarily reduced and the USA provided loans, all as part of the Plan.

Germany was vulnerable if problems occurred in the world economy (because so much of the money and investment of the Dawes Plan was coming from abroad, particularly the USA).

OK: reparation payments were lowered to 1,000 million marks for the first 5 years, the to 2,500 million marks.

the USA loaned 800 million marks to Germany--> boosted their economy.

Explain two effects Stresemann's financial actions on Germany

the Young Plan and make it clear that these things stemmed from Stresemann because he was the person negotiating the Dawes and Young Plans.

Hyperinflation was ended because Stresemann created the Rentenmark and Reichsmark.

OK: Dawes Plan- negotiated by Stresemann with Charles Dawes in 1923. Young Plan negotiated by Stresemann and the USA.

in 1924 the Reichsmark was created - new permanent currency. the Rentenmark was temporary currency introduced in 1923

Explain two effects of the Locarno Treaties/Pact (1925) on Germany

Germany was being treated as an equal/had better relations with other countries as shown by the terms of the Pact (the French agreeing not to invade the Ruhr again, all parties agreeing that Germany's Eastern borders would be settled by peaceful means)

Continued peace for Germany was more likely because Germany had agreed to some of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles as part of the Pact (borders, Alsace-Lorraine being French)

OK: happened in London in 1925. collection of 7 countries - France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Explain two effects Stresemann's diplomatic actions on Germany

Germany was welcomed back onto the world community because of the Plans and Pacts that Stresemann agreed with other countries (Dawes Plan and Locarno)

Germany re-established its 'great power' status because of the agreements Stresemann made with other countries (joining the League and Kellogg Briand)

OK: Dawes plan = loans given to Germany to boost their economy - Locarno Pact = better relations with other countries.

League of Nations = only admitted powerful countries. Kellogg-Briand

Explain two effects of the Wall Street Crash and the depression on the people of Germany

Increased unemployment because the Crash led to less investment and spending, reducing the need for workers.

The people of Germany were treated badly by the government when the Crash started to take effect.

OK: In 1933 50% of people aged 16-30 were unemployed. 4 out of 10 factory workers couldn't get a job.

Tax started to increase. Bruning started to make cuts towards the welfare benefits and the unemployment benefits after Muller resigned and he became chancellor.

Explain two political effects of the Wall Street Crash and the depression

Its effects made Weimar look bad because Weimar failed to deal effectively with the impacts of the Crash (talk about Bruning and Weimar's failures)

People began to turn to extremists for solutions because Weimar failed to deal effectively with the impacts of the Crash (the Nazis and the Communists)

OK: Hindenburg used article 48 to effectively control Germany, so from 1930 and onward, Germany was not run as a democracy - Bruning cut down unemployment and welfare benefits.

Nazis promised things like: making Germany strong again and smashing the chains of Versailles.

Explain two effects of the Enabling Act on Germany

It put an end to democracy because the Act gave Hitler the power to make laws without the approval of the Reichstag (give details from para 2, p64 and contrast with Weimar).

Hitler and the Nazis could take action to establish even more control (local government, trade unions and other political parties) because the Act gave Hitler the power to make laws without the approval of the Reichstag.

OK: for the rest of Hitler's time in power, the Reichstag only met 12 times. original act lasted for 4 years, but it was renewed in 1937.

Known as the Nazi revolution: believed that trade unions had communist ideologies and many workers were loyal to their trade unions rather than Nazism, and by getting rid of other political parties, he had no competition.

Explain two effects of the Night of the Long Knives

Hitler now had no competition within the Nazi Party because he removed his rivals as part of the Night of the Long Knives (Rohm and Gregor Strasser)

Hitler improved the reputation of the Nazis by bringing the SA under control by removing the leaders of the SA as part of the Night of the Long Knives

OK: 30th June 1934

In 1934, the SA had 2 million members - Hitler saw this as a possible threat.

Rohm's homosexuality was thought to have a bad influence on the Hitler Youth. Hitler could now focus fully on making Germany great again.

Explain two effects of the Nazi 'police state'

People had no legal system to protect them because the legal system was under Nazi control.

People were easily/heavily controlled because a variety of 'police forces' enforced Nazi ideology (SS and Gestapo)

OK: Germans could be arrested and imprisoned without a trial. under Hitler, the law could become whatever the Nazi party wanted.

every block of flats had a block leader who would report any suspicious behaviour or criticism of the government.

Explain two effects of Nazi censorship on Germany

The media was tightly controlled (radio and newspapers), changing what the people of Germany could see and hear as a result of Nazi censorship.

The arts (books, music, art) were restricted, again changing what the people of Germany could see and hear as a result of Nazi censorship.

OK: Goebbels was the minster of Propaganda and Enlightenment in 1933.

newspapers were strictly controlled and any paper that opposed the Nazis was shut down. in 1934, all radio stations in Germany were bought together under the Reich Radio Company. Radios could not pick up foreign broadcasts.

ministry of Propaganda made a list of unacceptable literature.. millions of books were burned during Nazi-organised rallies. any authors who were anti-Nazi, communist or Jewish were banned.

Explain two effects of Nazi propaganda on Germany (1933-1939)

Germany was constantly 'fed' key Nazi messages as a result of Nazi propaganda.

The people were not permitted to hear any alternative messages as a result of Nazi propaganda dominating all channels of communication and information.

OK: they were fed messages such as: the supremacy of the Aryan race and the inferiority of the Jews and other races. the great work done by the Nazis to deal with the evils of communism. the different roles that men and women had in society and the importance of family.

Goebbels issued plays and light entertainment that subtly included Nazi messages on the radio.

Explain two effects of the Nazi policies towards women (1933-1939).

Women had been given less freedom because Nazi policies encouraged women to appear and behave in certain ways.

More women had big families because Nazi policies encouraged women to have children.

OK: women were encouraged not to use makeup and yo wear home-produced clothes and flat-heels. smoking and drinking was discouraged as it was seen as unladylike.

Contraception and abortion was banned in Nazi Germany. in 1933, the Law for Encouragement of Marriage provided loans for young people to get married.

Explain two effects of the Nazi policies towards young people

They could not avoid Nazi ideology at school because the Nazi policies controlled nearly all aspects of the curriculum.

Their free time was controlled by the Nazis because the Nazi policy was to create youth organisations which young people were strongly encouraged to attend.

OK: 'race studies': a new subject were young people were taught that Aryans were superior and that Jews were the lowest racial type. more time was given to PE, so children will remain fit and healthy - prepared the girls to become mothers and the boys to become soldiers.

in 1926, the Hitler Youth was created, but its membership was quite low - in 1933, Hitler banned all other youth groups. in 1936, the Hitler Youth Law was passed where all eligible young people had to be a part of the Hitler Youth, although there was no penalty for not joining. in 1939, everyone young person had to join the Hitler Youth.

Explain two effects of the Nazi policies towards the Jews (1933-1939)

Jews were increasingly persecuted economically as a result of certain Nazi policies towards them (focus on jobs, shops, businesses and registration of goods).

Jews were increasingly persecuted socially as a result of certain Nazi policies towards them (focus on public places, the marriage restrictions of the Nuremberg Laws identity cards, yellow stars).

OK: in 1933 Nazis organised a nationwide boycott of Jewish shops and businesses. in the same year Jews were banned from teaching, journalism, medicine and government employment.

in 1935 Jews were banned from public places such as parks, cinemas and swimming pools. the Reich law for the protection of German blood and honour stated that Jews could not marry Aryans. Aryans who were already married to Jews were advised to get a divorce. in 1938. Jews had to carry around an identity card.

Explain two effects of Nazi policies towards the Church (1933-1939)

The Catholic Church was challenged and its power reduced by the Nazis as a result of Nazi policies towards it.

The Protestant Church was largely controlled by the Nazis as a result of Nazi policies towards it.

OK: the concordat was broken by Hitler. membership of the Catholic League was made illegal - they had to attend the Hitler Youth instead. state funding to the Church was cut and property of some monasteries was cut. gestapo and SS started to spy of the Church organisations.

in 1934, leaders of the Confessional church: niemoller and hundreds of other Protestants were sent to concentration camps whilst Bonhoeffer was hanged.

Explain two effects of the Nazi economic policies on Germany (1933-1939)

Unemployment was reduced because of Nazi economic policies (the 'New Plan', rearmament and the National Labour Service - RAD).

Germany was made more self-sufficient because of Nazi economic policies (the Four Year Plan)

OK: new plan: reduced imports and reduce unemployment. Dr Schacht created projects such as road building to create jobs reducing unemployment.

Four year Plan: Goering made Germany self-sufficient in terms of: oil, steel, rubber - making sure that Germany had its own supplies. Germans were encouraged to buy German made food.

Explain two effects of the Nazi policies towards the Jews (1939-1945)

Jewish people were forced to live in certain areas through the Nazi policy of creating of ghettos.

Soviet Jews were executed through the Nazi policy of the use of death squads.

OK: All Jews in Germany were forced to move to Poland, were they were forced to live in ghettos - they were walled-off areas where Jews were crammed into poor housing. food was restricted and starvation was common. diseases spread very quickly.

in June 1941, the Nazis invaded the USSR and they used the Einstazgruppen to round up Jews and confiscate every valuable thing that they had, before killing them by gassing them.

Explain two effects of World War II on the German people.

Living and working conditions were increasingly difficult because of the impact of British and American bombing of German cities.

More women were forced back into work because the invasion of the USSR meant greater strain on Germany which forced them into a policy of 'total war'.

OK: in 1942, the British and american troops started to bomb civilian areas in order to reduce German morale. the raids on Hamburg in 194 killed around 42,600 Germans.

in January 1943, all women aged 17-45 had to register as available for work.

Explain two effects of the Nazi invasion of the USSR in June 1942.

Living and working conditions were increasingly difficult because the invasion of the USSR meant greater strain on Germany which forced them into a policy of 'total war' (focus on the aspects impacting on all Germans from, but not women if you're going to choose the following idea).

More women were forced back into work because the invasion of the USSR meant greater strain on Germany which forced them into a policy of 'total war', including women (see pages 102-103).

OK: in January 1943, small businesses which were not essential for the war effort were closed down. in August 1944, there was a ban on holidays for workers and the working week was increased to 60 hours. professional sport teams and entertainment were closed down. postal services were shut down to save fuel.

women had to work in the industry. in mid 1943, around 2 million women were working in the industry. in 1943, all women aged 17-45 had to register for work.