HISTORY GERMANY 1918-39 REVISION TOPICS
Here is a complete list of the topics which you need to have revised.
The difficulties faced by the Weimar Republic 1918-23
• Spartacist Rising Jan 1919 – what happened, and why did it fail?
• Treaty of Versailles 1919 – be able to explain 3 terms (punishments) and how they had an impact
on Germany/why Germans hated the treaty. Understand what ‘November Criminals’ and ‘Stab In
The Back Myth’ were.
• The Weimar Constitution 1919 - its key features such as Article 48, the role of the Reichstag,
President and voters, and (if you can) proportional representation and how it caused problems
• Kapp Putsch 1920 – what happened, and why did it fail?
• Occupation of the Ruhr 1923 – what was it, what caused it and why did it cause problems for the
WR?
• Hyperinflation 1923 – what was it, what caused it, and why did it cause problems?
• Munich Putsch Nov 1923 – what happened, why did it fail, and how did Hitler turn this failure
round to the advantage of the Nazis? (trial speech, ‘soft’ sentencing, ‘luxury’ prison, Mein Kampf,
Nazi change in tactics)
How Stresemann restored stability to Germany 1924-1929
• The Rentenmark – why was a new currency needed? How did it restore stability?
• Dawes Plan 1924 – what was it, how did it help the economy, and how didn’t it help long term?
• Locarno Treaties 1925 – what was agreed? How did this benefit Germany?
• Other pacts and agreements…eg. Kellogg Briand, Germany’s entry into the League of Nations
(both 1926) – what was agreed? How did they benefit Germany?
• Young Plan 1928 – same as above
Hitler’s rise to power
• The early Nazi Party – know 2 ideas from the 25 point programme
• Great Depression 1929-33 – how did Germany suffer? How did the WR’s way of handling it lessen
support for the WR? What promises did Hitler make to voters during the Depression? Why did the
Communist Party get more votes during the Depression, and why did this scare the middle
classes?
• Factors which enabled Hitler to become Chancellor – make sure you can explain (with clear
examples) how the following helped the Nazis get votes…..the Depression, propaganda, the SA,
speeches
• Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany Jan 1933 – know a brief outline of the events leading up to
Hitler getting the job (the role of Von Papen, Von Schleicher & Hindenburg)
Please turn over
How Hitler strengthened his power and removed opposition
• Reichstag Fire Feb 1933 – what happened, what followed (suspension of civil liberties) and how
did Hitler take advantage of the fire to weaken the Communists?
• March 1933 election – how was this a failure for the Nazis?
• Enabling Act March 1933 – what was it, why did Hitler need it, how did he get it passed by the
Reichstag, and what were the consequences/effects?
• Night of the Long Knives 1934 – what happened, why, and how did it help Hitler remove
opposition and strengthen his power?
The Nazi dictatorship 1934-39
• The Police State – what were the roles of the Gestapo, concentration camps and SS?
• Propaganda after 1933 – be able to explain 3 clear examples of propaganda and how they helped
the Nazis keep the support of the German public (eg. cinema, radio, newspapers)
• Berlin Olympics 1936 – know how it was a success and a failure for the Nazis
• Youth Policy – activities of the Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens, and how children
were indoctrinated at school (know 2 examples of how subjects were ‘Nazified’)
• Policy towards women – Nazi ideas about a woman’s role, how this contrasted with life for
women under the Weimar Republic, incentives for women to have children (know 2 examples),
and how and why policy changed after 1937.
• How the Jews were persecuted – make sure you know the Nuremberg Laws 1936 + Kristallnacht
1938
• Why the Jews and other minorities were persecuted – be able to explain ideas eg. financial burden
on the Volk, blamed for WW1 defeat/hyperinflation, creating an Aryan Master Race and (if you
can) Social Darwinism
• How and why did the Nazis control (but not destroy) the Churches? – Concordat, persecution of
Catholic Church, the Reich (Protestant) Church
• How the Nazis reduced unemployment – the Labour Service, public work schemes, rearmament,
treatment of Jews and women (‘invisible unemployment)
• Were people better off under the Nazis? – be able to explain 2 ways in which they were, and 2
ways in which they weren’t. Know what Strength Through Joy and Beauty of Labour were.