Germany: Development Of Dictatorship, 1918-45
Overview
In 1928 the Nazi Party won 2.6 per cent of the vote and twelve seats in the Reichstag. Five years later its leader was Chancellor of Germany and every other party had been banned. Explaining that collapse of a democracy, without either excusing the people who carried it out or pretending it was inevitable, is one of the most demanding tasks in this specification.
This note traces the Weimar Republic from its birth in defeat through hyperinflation, recovery under Stresemann and the shock of the Depression, then examines how the Nazi regime took and held power, how it controlled and persecuted, and how Germans resisted. The material is grim in places; it is set out plainly because precision is the respectful way to handle it.
Objectives
- The establishment of the Weimar Republic and its early problems: the abdication of the Kaiser, the German Revolution of 1918-19, strengths and weaknesses of the new Republic and its Constitution, reactions to the Treaty of Versailles, challenges from Right and Left, hyperinflation
- The recovery of Germany, 1924-29: the work of Stresemann, Rentenmark, Dawes and Young Plans, US loans, successes abroad including League of Nations, Locarno Treaties and Kellogg-Briand Pact
- The rise of Hitler and the Nazis to January 1933: Hitler and the German Workers' Party, changes to the party, Munich Putsch, reorganisation, impact of the Great Depression, Nazi methods, the role of the SA, events of 1932 to January 1933
- Nazi Germany 1933-39: setting up the Nazi dictatorship through the Reichstag Fire, Enabling Act, Night of the Long Knives, methods of control including police state, censorship and propaganda, policies towards education, women, the young, the Churches, racial policies, unemployment policies
- Germany and the occupied territories during the Second World War: Nazi policies towards the Jews including ghettos and the Final Solution, the Home Front, the growth of opposition including the Edelweiss Pirates, the White Rose Group and the July Bomb Plot
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Germany: Development Of Dictatorship, 1918-45. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which article of the Weimar Constitution allowed the President to rule by emergency decree? A) Article 23 B) Article 48 C) Article 231 D) Article 76 Answer: B
- How many seats did the Nazi Party win in the Reichstag election of July 1932? A) 107 B) 196 C) 230 D) 288 Answer: C
- What did the Enabling Act of March 1933 do? A) Suspended civil liberties after the Reichstag Fire B) Gave Hitler's cabinet the power to make laws without the Reichstag C) Merged the offices of President and Chancellor D) Banned trade unions Answer: B
- The Night of the Long Knives in June 1934 was directed mainly against: A) The Communist Party B) The leadership of the SA C) The Catholic Church D) The Reichswehr generals Answer: B
- Which German opposition group was formed by students in Munich and produced leaflets naming the murder of Jews? A) The Edelweiss Pirates B) The White Rose C) The Confessing Church D) The Kreisau Circle Answer: B
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