AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Germany, 1871–1991 – consequence in this period through the following key…
Full specification wording
1L The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991 – consequence in this period through the following key questions:: How and with what results did the economy develop and change?
To understand how the German economy developed, you must analyse the transition from rapid industrialisation under the Kaiserreich to the devastating impacts of two world wars, hyperinflation, and…
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
To understand how the German economy developed, you must analyse the transition from rapid industrialisation under the Kaiserreich to the devastating impacts of two world wars, hyperinflation, and the Great Depression. The methods of development shifted from Bismarckian protectionism and cartelisation to the Nazi command economy, and finally to the post-1945 split between the West German 'economic miracle' (Soziale Marktwirtschaft) and the East German planned socialist economy. The results of these changes were profound, dictating political stability and living standards.
For example: The 1923 hyperinflation destroyed middle-class savings, destabilising Weimar, whereas Erhard’s currency reform in 1948 catalysed unprecedented growth, anchoring the Federal Republic's democratic legitimacy.
What earns the marks
- Identify the mechanisms of economic growth, such as cartelisation in the Second Reich and the Marshall Plan in West Germany.
- Evaluate the economic impact of crises, including the 1923 hyperinflation and the 1929 Wall Street Crash on German society.
- Analyse the methods and results of state intervention, comparing Nazi autarky with the GDR's Five-Year Plans.
- Assess the consequences of the post-WWII economic division, contrasting the FRG's social market economy with the GDR's command economy.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the Weimar economy as a continuous failure.
Put it right: Acknowledge the 'Golden Years' (1924-1928) of recovery fuelled by the Dawes Plan.
Equating the Nazi economic recovery solely with rearmament.
Put it right: Recognise early job creation schemes like the Reinhardt Programme and autobahn construction.
Ignoring the GDR's economic development.
Put it right: Evaluate both the FRG's Wirtschaftswunder and the GDR's initial industrial growth despite Soviet reparations.
Exam tips
- Link economic developments directly to political stability, showing how economic crises often preceded political extremism.
- Use specific statistical evidence, such as unemployment figures or production indices, to substantiate claims about economic success or failure.
- When discussing results, differentiate between the short-term impacts of policies and their long-term structural consequences for the German state.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1L The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991 – consequence in this period through the following key questions:: How and with what results did the economy develop and change? lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following was a primary feature of the West German 'economic miracle' (Wirtschaftswunder) during the 1950s?
Listen
To understand how the German economy developed, you must analyse the transition from rapid industrialisation under the Kaiserreich to the devastating impacts of two world wars, hyperinflation, and the Great Depression. The methods of development shifted from Bismarckian protectionism and cartelisation to the Nazi command economy, and finally to the post-1945 split between the West German 'economic miracle' (Soziale Marktwirtschaft) and the East German planned socialist economy. The results of these changes were profound, dictating political stability and living standards. For example, the 1923 hyperinflation destroyed middle-class savings, destabilising Weimar, whereas Erhard’s currency reform in 1948 catalysed unprecedented growth, anchoring the Federal Republic's democratic legitimacy. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the mechanisms of economic growth, such as cartelisation in the Second Reich and the Marshall Plan in West Germany. Evaluate the economic impact of crises, including the 1923 hyperinflation and the 1929 Wall Street Crash on German society. Analyse the methods and results of state intervention, comparing Nazi autarky with the GDR's Five-Year Plans. Assess the consequences of the post-WWII economic division, contrasting the FRG's social market economy with the GDR's command economy. A common slip: Treating the Weimar economy as a continuous failure. Instead, acknowledge the 'Golden Years' (1924-1928) of recovery fuelled by the Dawes Plan. Exam tip: Link economic developments directly to political stability, showing how economic crises often preceded political extremism.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Hyperinflation destroyed middle-class savings and destabilised Weimar
- 2. Erhard's currency reform catalysed unprecedented growth
- 3. Wall Street Crash impacted German society
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Industrialisation and modernisation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
State intervention and command economies
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Economic crises and political instability
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Post-war reconstruction and division
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Industrialisation and modernisation
- The transition from rapid industrialisation under the Kaiserreich, later shaped by two world wars, hyperinflation and the Great Depression.
- State intervention and command economies
- Methods of development shifting from Bismarckian protectionism and cartelisation to the Nazi command economy and the East German planned socialist economy.
- Economic crises and political instability
- The 1923 hyperinflation destroyed middle-class savings and destabilised Weimar, showing how economic crises dictated political stability.
- Post-war reconstruction and division
- The post-1945 split between the West German 'economic miracle' and the East German planned socialist economy, with Erhard's currency reform catalysing growth.
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