Download Section 3 Germany in transition, c.1929–1947

 Section 3 Germany in transition, c.1929–1947 Chapter 7 The rise of the Nazi Party and its consolidation of power, c.1929–
1934 7.1 What was the impact of the Weimar period on the rise of the Nazis? Exam practice (page 63) Use the information in Source A and your own knowledge to explain why many German people disliked the Treaty of Versailles. [4 marks] Sample answer: Many Germans disliked the Treaty of Versailles because they felt its terms were far too harsh. They felt humiliated and shamed and referred to it as a disgraceful treaty. They disliked the territorial clauses which caused Germany to lose 13% of its land and 6 million people, and the harsh military terms which drastically cut the size of its armed forces. The source says that it must be the aim of Germany to seek revenge and obtain its rightful place back among the nations of Europe. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It elaborates upon the information in the source, explaining the references to ‘disgraceful treaty’ and ‘revenge’ for the shame of 1919. To provide context additional information has been included through references to territorial and military clauses. 7.2 How and why did Hitler get appointed Chancellor in January 1933? Exam practice (page 66) What does Source A show you about unemployment in Germany between 1928 and 1933? [2 marks] Sample answer: The graph in Source A shows how unemployment in Germany rose sharply from just under 2 million in 1928 to reach a peak of approximately 6.2 million in 1932. It then began to fall in 1933, reducing slightly to 6 million. Comment: This response has made good use of the information in the source itself and from the caption. There are two clear statements made, referring to the sharp rise in unemployment up to 1932, followed by a fall in 1933. Figures are quoted to illustrate the changes. Exam practice (page 69) How important was Hitler in attracting support for the Nazi Party in the elections of 1930 and 1932? [6 marks] Sample answer: Hitler played a very important role in attracting support for the Nazi Party in the elections of 1930 and 1932. As the leader of the NSDAP he was the central figure who directed policy and through his 25 Point Programme and his book ‘Mein Kampf’ he spelled out what the Party believed in and what it promised to do for Germany if it was elected. Hitler’s greatest contribution was as a gifted public speaker who captivated his audiences. The Party’s propaganda machine directed by Josef Goebbels helped to portray Hitler as the messiah, the man who could save Germany by solving the political, economic and social problems caused by the Depression. In his speeches Hitler promised something for everybody such as jobs for the unemployed, protection for © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 1
farmers and protection for the middle and upper classes from the threat of communism. Hitler was seen to be a strong leader who could save Germany. His leadership, his ideas and his personality were therefore very important in attracting support for the Nazi Party. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It is a well‐
supported answer which identifies and explains the different aspects of Hitler’s appeal – his ability as a public speaker, his promises to save Germany and its people and his strong leadership of the NSDAP. There is a clear judgement in the concluding sentence which links back to the question. 7.3 How did the Nazis consolidate their power during 1933–1934? Exam practice (page 72) How far does Source A support the view that Hitler increased his power following the Night of the Long Knives? [5 marks] Sample answer: Source A shows the outcome of the events of the Night of the Long Knives. The leaders of the SA have been shot dead and Hitler is holding a smoking pistol, suggesting that he was involved in the event. The men of the SA are standing with both arms raised, surrendering to Hitler. The caption ‘They salute with both hands now’ suggests that Hitler now had complete control over them. The piece of paper ‘Hitler’s unkept promises’ refers to the fact that he had betrayed Ernst Roehm, the leader of the SA, and instead of giving him more power, as promised, he had killed him. This links to the reference ‘double cross’ on Hitler’s arm. Hitler had now won the support of the German army who are standing on the right of the cartoon. This is a cartoon which appeared in a British newspaper and is a biased interpretation of the events of 30 June 1934. However, it does confirm the view that Hitler did use the event to increase his power over the SA and the German army. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. There has been a good attempt to describe the events taking place in the cartoon, showing how Hitler used the Night of the Long Knives to eliminate the SA leadership and force the remaining SA men to submit to his direct control. In doing so, Hitler double‐crossed Roehm and also won the backing of the German army. The answer ends with a judgement noting that the source is a British cartoon and although it is biased it does help to confirm the view that Hitler did use the Night of the Long Knives to increase his power. Chapter 8 Changing life for the German people, 1933–1939 8.1 How did Nazi economic and social policy affect life in Germany? Exam practice (page 75) Describe how life for women living in Germany changed between 1933 and 1939. [4 marks] Sample answer: During the Weimar period women had made considerable progress in achieving equality with men. They had gained the vote, they had gone to university, obtained degrees and followed careers in the professions. Some had followed fashion, wore make‐up, smoked and drank in public. Many of these gains were reversed after 1933. Nazi attitudes towards women were very © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 2
traditional. Women were expected to give up their jobs, get married and start a family. They were to follow the Three K’s – Children, Kitchen and Church – and their focus was to be the home and family life. They were discouraged from wearing make‐up, trousers or from dyeing their hair. Men occupied all dominant roles in society and women were in the background, confined to the home. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. The answer demonstrates good knowledge and covers a range of key factors. The progress women made during the Weimar period is contrasted with the traditional lifestyle expected of them in Nazi society. Specific examples are given such as reference to the Three K’s. 8.2 How did Nazi political policy affect life in Germany? Exam practice (page 77) Explain why the use of propaganda and censorship was so important to the Nazi regime. [5 marks] Sample answer: After 1933 Germany became a one‐party state and propaganda was used to indoctrinate the German people in Nazi beliefs. Its purpose was to control the thoughts, beliefs and opinions of the German people. Through the use of the radio, newspapers, the cinema, posters and the arts, the Nazi Party could portray the image of the ideal Nazi society. Censorship was equally important as it aimed to control the information fed to the German people, so that only a positive message was delivered. Censorship ensured that there was no opposition and nothing bad was said about the Nazi Party, its leaders or its policies. Through the use of propaganda and censorship the German people were brainwashed into accepting Nazi views. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It is a well‐
informed answer which deals with both parts of the question, devoting equal weight to explaining the importance of propaganda and censorship in controlling the German people and brainwashing them into accepting Nazi views. Good supporting detail. 8.3 How did Nazi racial and religious policy affect life in Germany? Exam practice (page 80) The Nazis introduced changes which affected the lives of ordinary Germans. Did life under Nazi rule benefit all people living in Germany between 1933 and 1939? In your answer you should: ‐ discuss those Germans who did benefit from Nazi rule ‐ discuss those Germans who did not benefit from Nazi rule. [10 marks + 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)] Sample answer: For many people living in Germany between 1933 and 1939 life did improve. Through public works schemes such as the building of autobahn and the introduction of conscription which drafted men into the armed forces, unemployment figures fell sharply. In 1933 there were 6 million Germans without a job and by 1939 this figure had fallen to a few hundred thousand. People now had money in their pockets and were able to enjoy a more active social life. Through organisations like the KdF, loyal workers received benefits such as cheap holidays and were able to attend cultural and sporting events. Couples were encouraged to marry through the granting of a marriage loan which was reduced by a quarter following the birth of each child. Youngsters were © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 3
encouraged to join the Hitler Youth until it was made compulsory in 1939, and could take part in activities such as camping, hiking, shooting and map reading for boys and physical exercise and learning domestic skills for girls. By 1939 the Hitler Youth Organisation had over 7 million members. However, the main people to benefit from such measures were the Aryan Germans. For those who were not classed as being pure Germans such as Jews and gypsies life grew more and more difficult during the 1930s. Jews were publically humiliated, their shops were boycotted and they were banned from working in the civil service and from certain professions such as being teachers, doctors, dentists and judges. They lost their jobs but were not counted in the unemployment figures. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 took away their rights of German citizenship. Gypsies became the target of increasing persecution. For some Aryans life under Nazi rule resulted in changes which were not welcome. Women who had received a university education and had established professional careers during the Weimar period were now increasingly forced out of the workplace. They were expected to get married and start a family, staying at home to bring up the children and look after the home. Some Germans resented the increasing amounts of propaganda and censorship, and they disliked living in a police state under the watchful eye of the SS and Gestapo. While the changes that were introduced by the Nazis between 1933 and 1939 benefitted most Aryan Germans, there were other sectors of society that did not benefit. For non‐Aryans life became more and more difficult as measures were introduced to restrict their lifestyle and control their day‐to‐day activities. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It is a developed and well‐supported two‐sided answer with good balance and factual support. The first part of the essay contains a range of examples to illustrate how Aryan Germans benefitted from the changes introduced by the Nazi regime. This is then contrasted in the second half of the essay with examples of those sections of society who did not benefit and for whom life became more and more difficult. There is an attempt at a judgement in the conclusion, with a link back to the question. There is good spelling, punctuation and grammar throughout the essay. Chapter 9 War and its impact on life in Germany, 1939–1947 9.1 How was life affected during the war years? Exam practice (page 84) Explain why the Nazis introduced the Final Solution programme in 1942. [5 marks] Sample answer: The Nazis introduced the Final Solution because of the rapid expansion of German forces into Eastern Europe. The invasion of Poland in 1939 brought 3 million Jews under Nazi control, and the attack on the USSR in 1941 added another 5 million. The methods used to deal with them soon proved ineffective. The ghettos became overcrowded and the actions of the Einsatzgruppen killing squads could not cope with such large numbers. The Nazis had to come up with a faster system. At the Wannsee Conference in January 1942 the decision was taken to develop gas chambers in camps in Poland. This was to be the Final Solution to the Jewish question. © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 4
Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. The answer identifies several key reasons for the introduction of the Final Solution programme. It refers to the large numbers of Jews in Eastern Europe coming under Nazi control between 1939 and 1941, and the failure of the existing extermination process to deal with them effectively. The development of the gas chamber is identified as the Final Solution. 9.2 How much opposition was there to the Nazis within Germany during the war years? Exam practice (page 85) How useful is Source A to a historian studying opposition to the Nazi regime during the Second World War? [6 marks] Sample answer: The source suggests that there was growing opposition to the Nazi regime during the Second World War. The origin of the source is a pamphlet written in February 1943 by members of the White Rose group who were based in Munich University. They were critical of Nazi policies and were calling for the youth of Germany to take action to demand the return of personal freedom and liberties. They mention the defeat at Stalingrad to help encourage opposition to the Nazis. It is a piece of propaganda which was written to persuade German students to join with members ofthe White Rose in a campaign of opposition. It is a biased source but it is useful to historians because it shows that some Germans were prepared to take part in illegal activities opposing Nazi rule. However, the source does not reveal how much support the White Rose group had or how popular such opposition groups were. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. The answer examines the message of the source (its content) and identifies where it comes from (its origin) and when it was produced. There has been an attempt to place the content in context, showing how there was a rise in opposition groups during the Second World War. The candidate identifies that it was a piece of propaganda designed to encourage opposition (its purpose). It is a rounded evaluation. 9.3 What was the situation in Germany following total defeat in the war? Exam practice (page 90) What does Source A show you about Germany after 1945? [2 marks] Sample answer: Source A is a map which shows how after defeat in 1945 Germany was divided into four zones of occupation, each one controlled by a different Allied power. Berlin was also divided into four zones of occupation. Comment: A concise and specific answer making direct use of information provided in the source. Reference is made to the four zones of occupation shown on the map, and also to the division of Berlin into four zones. © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 5