Syllabus

= Germany 1918–1939 =

Principal focus: Students investigate the key features and issues of the history of Germany 1918–1939.

Key features and issues:
• successes and failures of democracy • nature and role of nationalism • influence of the German army • nature and influence of racism • changes in society • the nature and impact of Nazism • aims and impact of Nazi foreign policy

Students learn about:
1 Weimar Republic – emergence of the Democratic Republic and the impact of the Treaty of Versailles – political, economic and social issues in the Weimar Republic to 1929 – collapse of the Weimar Republic 1929–1933 – impact of the Great Depression on Germany 2 The rise of the Nazi Party – rise of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) from 1923 – Hitler’s accession to power – initial consolidation of Nazi power 1933–1934 3 Nazism in power – Hitler’s role in the Nazi state – Nazism as totalitarianism – the role of propaganda, terror and repression; SA and SS; opposition to Nazism – social and cultural life in the Nazi state: role of Hitler Youth, women, religion – Nazi racial policy; anti-Semitism: policy and practice to 1939 4 Nazi foreign policy – nature of Nazi foreign policy: aims and strategies to September 1939 – impact of ideology on Nazi foreign policy to September 1939