Nikolas Billiris

Yr 12 Modern History Germany Theses

 emergence of the Democratic Republic and the impact of the Treaty of

Versailles

 political, economic and social issues in the Weimar Republic to 1929

It can be argued that it was the imposition of the highly democratic Weimar
Republic under the Treaty of Versailles that led to the tainting of the Republic
from the beginning with the shame associated with the Treaty, which in turn
contributed to a climate of political instability.

Paragraph 1: Versailles Treaty

Paragraph 2: Left-wing + Right-wing challenges to the Weimar Republic

Paragraph 3: 1923

 collapse of the Weimar Republic 1929–1933

According to historian A.J.P. Taylor, ‘if there was really a strong democratic
sentiment in Germany, Hitler would never have risen to power. Germans got
what they deserved when they went crying round for a hero.’ This can be
considered true, since it highlights that it was the lack of strong democratic
tradition that existed in Germany that undermined the credibility of the Weimar
Republic, and contributed to its collapse by 1933.

Paragraph 1: Weaknesses in structure of Weimar Republic

Paragraph 2: Rise to power of Hitler

Paragraph 3: Lack of German democratic tradition (Kapp Putsch, use of Article

48, election Hindenburg)

 impact of the Great Depression on Germany

According to Timothy Mason, “the Great Depression, more than any other even,
tipped the scales against the survival of the Weimar Republic and German
democracy...a trigger for the revitalisation of extreme movements.” In essence,
whilst the Weimar Republic was undermined since its inception, the Great
Depression ultimately hastened the demise of the Weimar Republic, as it
stimulated the resentment in society that would contribute to the rise of Nazism
by 1932.

Paragraph 1: Effects of Depression caused by reliance upon foreign aid

Paragraph 2: Rise of political extremism

 rise of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) from 1923

According to Ian Kershaw, ‘Without the changed conditions, the product of a lost
war, a revolution and a pervasive sense of national humiliation, Hitler would
have remained a nobody.’ In essence, it was Hitler’s ability to exploit the
resentment that existed in Germany caused by the Weimar Republic being
imposed under the Treaty of Versailles, a source of national shame.

Paragraph 1: The role of Hitler

Paragraph 2: Nazi Party tactics

 Hitler’s accession to power

 initial consolidation of Nazi power 1933–1934

Paragraph 1: 1933

Paragraph 2: 1934

 Hitler’s role in the Nazi state

It can be argued that Hitler’s role was dictated by what historian Ian Kershaw
refers to as the ‘Hitler Myth’, and this notion in turn is an extension of the
Fuhrerprinzip of which Hitler ruled by in the Nazi state.

Paragraph 1: Fuhrer prinzip

Paragraph 2: Nationalism

Paragraph 3: Restoration of Law and Order

 Nazism as totalitarianism
 the role of propaganda, terror and repression; SA and SS; opposition to
Nazism

According to historian Ian Kershaw, ‘By 1933, Nazi propaganda had been
highly successful in establishing 'charismatic authority' as the
organisational premise of the Nazi Party’. In essence, it was the ability of
Nazi propaganda to establish the notion of charismatic authority that
contributed to the success of the Hitler Myth, in addition to the effective
use of terror and repression that led to the lack of effective opposition to
Nazism. In addition, according to Kershaw, ‘Above all, one could not
ignore his 'achievements': 'order' had been restored’

Paragraph 1: Terror and repression

Paragraph 2: Propaganda

Paragraph 3: Opposition to Nazism

 social and cultural life in the Nazi state: role of Hitler Youth, women,
religion

Although the Nazi state aimed to maintain total control over social and
cultural life during the Third Reich, the reliance upon incentive suggests a
lack of ability to maintain control, and hence the impact of the Nazi state
on social and cultural life is reduced.

Paragraph 1: Women

Paragraph 2: Hitler Youth

Paragraph 3: The role of the Church

 Nazi racial policy; anti-Semitism: policy and practice to 1939

 nature of Nazi foreign policy: aims and strategies to September 1939

 impact of ideology on Nazi foreign policy to September 1939