Germany Perspectives - Paper 2

Geary on the significance of war for the collapse of Weimar (emergence)

‘No one in their right mind would claim that the terms of the Treaty of Versailles did not play a major role in the collapse of the Weimar Repblic

Thurlow on the significance of war for the rise of the Nazis (emergence)

The First World War created the necessary conditions to enable the rise of Nazism

Lynch on the weakness of the Weimar Republic (emergence)

The Weimar Constitution had ‘serious weaknesses’ which undermined it ‘from its beginning’

Salmon on the significance of politicians in the Nazis rise to power (emergence)

Nazism came to power as a result of a miscalculation by conservative politicians and the military

Kershaw on the significance of politicians in the Nazi’s rise to power (emergence)

The handover of power to Hitler on 30th January 1933 … did not have to happen. It was at no stage a foregone conclusion.

Feuchtwanger on the significance of Hitler’s appeal (emergence)

The personality of the Fuhrer became a significant historical factor

Holborn on the significance of Nazi ideology (emergence)

Nazi ideology was consistent and continuous and this made it central to Hitler’s rise to power

Hite/Hinton on the use of force in the Nazi’s rise to power (emergence)

The use of force (in particular the SA) ‘played a major role in Hitler’s success’

O’Shaugnessy on the significance of propaganda (emergence)

Hitler’s use of Propaganda to shape public opinion was integral to his rise to power

Peterson on the universal appeal of the Nazis (emergence)

The Nazis enjoyed a degree of success in crossing class, regional, confessional, gender and age barriers which was unprecedented in German history

Kolb on the appeal of the Nazis (emergence)

The lack of popular support for democracy was more significant than the constitutional issues

Carr on the significance of economic factors (emergence)

It is inconceivable that Hitler could ever have come to power had not the Weimar Republic been subjected to the unprecedented strain of a world economic crisis

Brunstein on the significance of economic factors (emergence)

Too much stress is placed on emotions / propaganda - Germans voted Nazi for rational economic reasons

thurlow on the significance of legal methods (maintenance)

Hitler’s subversion of “legal processes” was a “textbook demonstration” of solidifying power.

thurlow on the significance of terror/force (maintenance)

the Nazi terror apparatus “monitored and controlled all expressions of dissent/resistance”.

Evans on the significance of terror/force (maintenace)

“violence and intimidation rarely touched the lives of most ordinary Germans” (selective terror).

Kershaw on the significance of charismatic leadership (maintenance)

the charismatic leadership of Hitler was “a crucial integratory force in the Nazi system of rule”.

Pauley on the significance of propaganda (maintenance)

the use of propaganda was the most successful and unique aspect of the Nazi regime.

Housden on the extent of opposition

Kershaw on the significance of foreign policy (maintenance)

“[Hitler’s] bold moves in foreign policy... guaranteed massive popular support.”

Wolfson on the significance of economic policies (maintenance)

“production levels undoubtedly increased and the unemployment problem was solved”.

Thurlow on the significance of economic policies (maintenance)

“there was no coherent economic programme”, only poorly designed “emergency initiatives”.

Bracher on the significance of political policies (maintenance)

 Nazi political policies successfully cemented the power of both the party and Hitler himself.

Lynch on the significance of cultural policies (maintenance)

Nazi cultural policies “stifled creativity” and “force[d] people to think along prescribed lines”.

Wildt on the significance of social policies (maintenance)

Nazi social policies (particularly anti-Semetic policies) successfully created a Volksgemeinschaft.

Koonz on women’s opinions of the Nazi regime

despite its ideology, women willingly supported and actively participated in the Nazi regime.

Koonz on the treatment of women under the Nazis

the Nazis “exploited” women and “denied them access to political status” and employment.

Goldhagen on the treatment of the Jews

discrimination/violence against the Jews became “the defining feature of German society”.