Germany 1918-1945 GCSE History Course Outline

Course Overview:

1.Germany after WWI2.The rise and fall of the Weimar Republic3.The Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party4.Nazi consolidation of power5.Life in Nazi Germany6.Impact of WWII on Nazi Germany

Germany 1918-1945 GCSE History Course Outline

Course Outline:

•The origins and early problems of the Weimar Republic 1918-23.•The recovery of the Republic under Stresemann 1924-29.• The impact of the Great Depression 1929-33.•The founding and early growth of the Nazi Party 1919-23.•The Munich Putsch and the lean years 1923-29.•Increased support and political developments 1929-January 1933. •The removal of opposition 1933-34.•The police state.•Censorship and propaganda.•Nazi policies towards women and the young.•Employment and the standard of living.•The persecution of minorities.

How?Why?

What?

When?Who?

Where?

Key Questions:

In what ways had Germany become a powerful country by 1914?

Why did Germany lose the First World War?

The End of the Second Reich

LO: To investigate post World War One conditions in Germany

Key Words - Reich

AbdicateArmisticeHereditary

The Unification of Germany in 1871

Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Explain how Germany had become a powerful country

during WWIInclude:•The concept of a Greater Germany•What sort of ruler Wilhelm II was•The ways in which Germany was industrially powerful•The other ways in which Germany was powerful

Complete these questions:

1. Why did the Kaiser have to abdicate?

2. What does the source written by Adolf Hitler suggest about his attitude towards the First World War?

Should Germany sign the Armistice?

Why did Germany lose the First World war?

British Naval Blockade- The Royal navy had sent ships to stop supplies entering Germany, thus starving the Germans into submission.

Failed Spring Offensive- The Germans made one last attempt to win the war but failed.

Public Opinion-After 4 years of war the people of Germany were tired of war.

Peaceful solution- Some Politicians believed a peaceful solution could be found.

American Entry and the collapse of Germany’s allies-The Americans were slowly sending fresh troops into the conflict and Germany’s allies were unreliable.

Flag of Imperial Germany 1918

In late 1918, the Allies were prepared to discuss an end to hostilities, but only on the understanding that Kaiser Wilhelm made his country more democratic.When the Kaiser refused, his people rose up in revolution. The Kaiser was forced to abdicate and a German republic was established.

In November 1918, the new rulers signed the Armistice which brought hostilities to an end.

The following year, they signed the Treaty of Versailles, which laid out detailed peace terms.

For detailed events in 1918, see the next slide.

Events in 1918

Events in 1918 – timeline

What effect did the First World War have on Germany?Political Effects-

Germany had had political problems before the war. The Reichstag was weak. Working class and even middle class people had little say in the way Germany was run. Germany was effectively a Dictatorship run by the Kaiser and his army leaders Ludendorff and Hindenburg.

Anarchy- Germany was extremely unstable. Armed demobilised soldiers were returning home and joining in violent demonstrations against the war and the Kaiser.Physical Effects- Agriculture had collapsed in Germany as a result of the War. Most of the men used for farm labour had been drafted to fight and the successive poor harvests and a Royal Naval Blockade was starving Germany.

Psychological Effects- Before the war, Germans had huge ambitions for their country and were very proud. The experiences and defeat during the war made many bitter and angry. People looked for somebody to blame.

German Civilians look for meat on a horse carcass, Munich, 1919

Produce a report…

Produce a newscast explaining why Germany lost the First World War and the effects it had on the population.

Make it good as it is highly likely that you will be picked to perform your newscast.