GCSE History - Weimar and Nazi Germany

An Overview

Weimar and Nazi Germany is one of the Modern Depth Studies that can be chosen as part of the Edexcel GCSE History course.

This option will be examined as part of Paper 3. 

On this page we will provide a brief overview of the main areas you’ll need to know. 

The topics

The topics you’ll need to know and understand a part of the option block for Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1929) are shown below.  These can be broken down into two distinct blocks:

The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

  1. The origins of the republic (1918-1919). The legacy of WW1 on Germany. The abdication of the Kaiser, the armistice and revolution.  Setting up the Weimar Republic including its strengths and weaknesses.
  2. The early challenges to the Weimar Republic (1919-1923).  The reasons for the early unpopularity of the Republic, including the ‘stab in the back’ theory and the key terms of the Treaty of Versailles.  The challenges to the Republic from the left and right including from:  the Spartacists, Freikorps and the Kapp Putsch.  Also, the challenges of hyper inflation and the reasons and effect of the French occupation of the Ruhr.
  3. The recovery of the Republic (1924-1929).  The reasons for economic recovery including the work of Stresemann, the introduction of the Rentenmark, the Dawes and Young Plans and the loans and investment from America. To include the Locarno Pact, Germany joining the League of Nations and the Kellog-Briand Pact.
  4. Changes in society (1924-1929).  Changes in the standard of living (including wages, housing, unemployment).  Changes in the position of women in work, politics and leisure.  Cultural changes in architecture, art and cinema.

Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

  1. Early development of the Nazi party (1920-1922).  Hitler’s early career; joining the German Workers Party and setting up the Nazi Party.  The early growth of the Nazi party and the key features of the party.  The twenty-five point programme and the role of the SA.
  2. The Munich Putsch and the lean years (1923-1929).  The reasons for, events and consequences of the Munich Putsch. The reasons for the limited support for the Nazi party between 1924-1928. The reorganisation of the part. Mein Kampf. The Bamberg Conference in 1926.
  3. The growth in support for the Nazi’s 1929-1932.  The growth of unemployment including causes and impacts.  The failure of the Weimar governments to deal with it and the growth in support for the Communist party.  The reasons for the growth in support for the Nazi party; the appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s and the effects of propaganda and the work of the SA.
  4. How Hitler became Chancellor (1932-1933).  The political developments in 1932.  The roles of Hindenburr, Bruning, von Papen and von Schleicher.  The roles of Hindenburg an von Papen in Hitler becoming Chancellor.

What you need to know about the exam

The topic of Weimar and Nazi Germany is examined on Paper 3, specifically in option block 31. 

Paper 3 is worth 30% of the overall GCSE with a maximum total marks of 52.  

The paper will break down into three main blocks as follows:

Section A - Question 1, the Inference Question

The first part of Section A of the paper will present you with an historical source of some sort.  This could be a photograph, a newspaper extract, a journal entry etc.  Question 1 will then ask you to infer two things from the source.  For example:

“Give two things you can infer from Source A about……”

The exam paper will be set out to help you structure your answer, asking for an inference followed by an explanation of you inference.

Question 1 is worth a total of 4 marks, which should take around 6 minutes to answer. 

It’s important when answering this question that your answer is based solely on what the source shows and not use your wider knowledge of the subject to make broader inferences which the source may not support.

 

Section A - Question 2, the Explain Question

Question 2 from Section A will be an ‘Explain’ question, which will require a much more descriptive answer than the previous question.

This question is worth 12 marks, and so should take around 18 minutes to answer.  It will ask you to explain the cause or consequence of a specific event from the period.  You will be provided with two bullet points to help you structure your answer.

As part of your answer the examiner will be looking at two key things:  (1) your understanding of the topic, and  (2) your analysis of the cause/consequence.  The answers that obtain higher marks will include a minimum of three points of discussion, which are each analysed/explained using examples before being linked back to the question.

It’s important to note that you do not need to use the two bullet points given by the question in your answer; these are there are as guide.  If you have enough points to use from your own knowledge outside of these then you will not be marked down for this.  Your answer can be based on any relevant information from the period.

Section B - Question 3, the Interpretation Question

This question is broken down into four separate parts. Each of the questions will focus on two separate sources that you will be provided with.

Part 3(a) - Usefulness

The first question will ask you to analyse how useful each of the sources is when considering a specific topic.  The question is worth 8 marks and should take around 12 minutes to answer.

As part of your answer you will need to discuss the content of each source, focussing on why the source is useful.  You will then need to factor in the provenance of the source and what this indicates about the reliability/viewpoint based on your knowledge of the topic.  You should then include one point on regarding the limitations of the source. Always refer your points back to the main issue raised in the question.

You will need to do this for each source.

Part 3(b) - Differences

Part b of the question will ask you to what the main difference is between the two views given in the sources. This part of the question is worth 4 marks and so should take around 6 minutes.

For this part you need to look at the sources only, rather than bring in your own knowledge.   Make sure you read each source carefully so that you can identify the different views they give.

As part of your answer simply explain the difference and then expand this out by explaining how they are different, using examples and quotes from each source. To reach full marks you will need to cover both interpretations.

Part 3(c) - Reasons

This question is a natural progression from part (b) in that it asks you to explain why there is a difference in the viewpoint of the sources.  This is again worth 4 marks and should take around 6 minutes. You only need to provide one reason for the difference.

The best starting place for this question is the caption; this will tell you the provenance of the source, so who wrote it, why and when.  You must then use your knowledge of the period to explain why the interpretations are different, focussing on the reasons why each interpretation may have been written.  

Part 3(d) - Judgement

The final question is the biggest question, being worth16 marks, so this is where you will spend most of your time.  The question should take around 24 minutes to answer.

Here you’ll be asked to focus on Interpretation 2 so read this again, carefully so that you understand what it is saying.  The question will ask you how far you agree with the interpretation.  

Write a brief introductory sentence explaining what interpretation 2 is saying, using quotes where possible.  Then write a paragraph about why you agree with the interpretation, using your knowledge of the period (bringing in examples where you can).  Next, write a paragraph about why you might disagree with the interpretation, again using your knowledge of the period.  Make sure you also include a conclusion about how far you agree with the interpretation, showing how you have reached your judgement based on your knowledge of the period and the content from the interpretation.

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