The Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany: 1918-1945

Depth Study: The Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany (1918-1945)

Syllabus Outline

  • Depth Study A: Germany, 1918-45

    • 1. Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?

      • How did Germany emerge from defeat at the end of the First World War?

        • a) The Revolution of 1918 and the establishment of the Republic.

        • b) The Weimar constitution, main political divisions, the role of the army.

      • What was the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the Republic?

        • c) Political disorder, 1919-23

        • d) The Ruhr Crisis and hyperinflation

      • To what extent did the Republic recover after 1923?

      • What were the achievements of the Weimar period?

        • e) Financial

        • f) Political

        • g) Foreign Policy

        • h) Cultural

      • Conclusion: Why did the Weimar Republic fail?

    • 2. Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?

      • What did the Nazi Party stand for in the 1920s?

        • i) The early years of the Nazi Party

        • j) Nazi ideas

        • k) The Munich/Beer Hall Putsch

        • l) Methods

        • m) The roles of Hitler and other Nazi leaders.

      • Why did the Nazis have little success before 1930?

      • Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor by 1933?

        • n) The impact of the Depression on Germany: political, economic and social crisis of 1930-3

        • o) Reasons for the Nazis' rise to power

        • p) Political developments 1930 to January 1933

      • How did Hitler consolidate his power in 1933-4?

        • The Reichstag Fire and the election of 1933.

        • q) Nazi rule in Germany: the Enabling Act, removal of opposition, methods of control and repression

        • r) The Night of the Long Knives, the death of Hindenburg

    • 3. The Nazi regime: what was it like to live in Nazi Germany?

      • Economic policy including rearmament

      • How did young people react to the Nazi regime?

        • s) Youth groups

        • t) Education

      • How successful were Nazi policies: Women and the family

      • How successful were Nazi policies: Religion

      • Did most people in Germany benefit from Nazi rule?

    • 4. The Nazi regime: how effectively did the Nazis control Germany, 1933-45?

      • How did the Nazis use culture and the mass media to control the people?

      • How effectively did the Nazis deal with their opponents?

        • u) The Terror State

        • v) Opposition

      • Why did the Nazis persecute many groups in German society?

      • Was Nazi Germany a totalitarian state?

      • How did the coming of war change life in Nazi Germany

Timeline: The Weimar Republic (1918-1933)

  • 1918

    • November: End of World War I.

    • November: The Weimar Republic is established.

  • 1919

    • January: Spartacist Revolt.

    • June: Treaty of Versailles.

  • 1920

    • March: Kapp Putsch.

  • 1922

    • June: Walter Rathenau, Jewish Minister of Foreign Affairs, is murdered.

  • 1923

    • January: Ruhr Crisis begins.

    • Hyperinflation occurs.

    • August: Gustav Stresemann becomes Chancellor, introduces Rentenmark.

    • November: Munich Putsch.

  • 1924

    • Dawes Plan implemented.

  • 1925

    • Locarno Treaty signed; Germany joins the League of Nations.

  • 1929

    • Young Plan adopted.

    • October: Wall Street Crash initiates economic crisis.

  • 1933

    • January: Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor, marking the end of the Weimar Republic.

The Weimar Republic (1919-1933) Explained

  • Term used to describe the German republic from 1919 until 1933.

  • Established after revolts by workers and troops against the government's refusal to end World War I.

  • Emperor William II fled on November 9th, 1918.

  • A provisional coalition government was formed by moderate Social Democrats (led by Ebert) and radical Independent Social Democrats.

  • This coalition was a