AQA · A-Level · History

    Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017

    Germany, 1918–1945 – The Racial State, 1933–1941 (A-level only): The…

    Full specification wording

    2O Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918–1945 – The Racial State, 1933–1941 (A-level only): The development of anti-Semitic policies and actions; the effect of the Anschluss; Reichkristallnacht; emigration; the impact of the war against Poland

    The development of anti-Semitic policies and actions radicalised sharply from 1938.

    Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 3 of 4
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The development of anti-Semitic policies and actions radicalised sharply from 1938. The effect of the Anschluss with Austria emboldened the regime, prompting violent persecution and establishing a blueprint for forced emigration. This escalation culminated in Reichkristallnacht (November 1938), a state-sponsored pogrom causing mass arrests and the destruction of Jewish property. Concurrently, the regime intensified pressure on Jews to emigrate, stripping their assets via Aryanisation. Finally, the impact of the war against Poland in 1939 brought approximately two million more Jews under Nazi control in the German-occupied zone, forcing a shift from emigration to deportation and ghettoisation.

    What earns the marks

    • Explain the effect of the Anschluss in accelerating anti-Semitic violence and testing forced emigration models.
    • Analyse Reichkristallnacht as a turning point from legislative discrimination to state-directed physical violence and economic expropriation.
    • Evaluate the methods and limitations of Nazi emigration policies, including the financial exploitation of fleeing Jews.
    • Assess how the impact of the war against Poland changed the demographic reality for the Nazis, leading to the abandonment of emigration in favour of deportation.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Claiming Reichkristallnacht was a spontaneous public uprising.

      Put it right: Emphasise that it was orchestrated by the Nazi leadership, specifically Goebbels and the SA, despite being presented as spontaneous.

    • Confusing the timeline of emigration and extermination.

      Put it right: Clarify that until 1941, the primary Nazi goal was forced emigration and territorial resettlement, not systematic extermination.

    • Stating the 1939 invasion of Poland brought three million Jews under Nazi control.

      Put it right: Specify that approximately two million Jews were in the German-occupied zone, while over one million remained in Soviet-occupied eastern Poland until 1941.

    Exam tips

    • Use the effect of the Anschluss as a key turning point to demonstrate how foreign policy successes radicalised domestic anti-Semitic policies and actions.
    • When discussing Reichkristallnacht, explicitly link the violence to the subsequent economic 'Aryanisation' and the fine levied on the Jewish community.
    • Contrast the policy of emigration before September 1939 with the logistical challenges of deportation and resettlement following the impact of the war against Poland.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the 2O Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918–1945 – The Racial State, 1933–1941 (A-level only): The development of anti-Semitic policies and actions; the effect of the Anschluss; Reichkristallnacht; emigration; the impact of the war against Poland lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    What was the immediate catalyst for the events of Reichkristallnacht in November 1938?

    Listen

    The development of anti-Semitic policies and actions radicalised sharply from 1938. The effect of the Anschluss with Austria emboldened the regime, prompting violent persecution and establishing a blueprint for forced emigration. This escalation culminated in Reichkristallnacht (November 1938), a state-sponsored pogrom causing mass arrests and the destruction of Jewish property. Concurrently, the regime intensified pressure on Jews to emigrate, stripping their assets via Aryanisation. Finally, the impact of the war against Poland in 1939 brought approximately two million more Jews under Nazi control in the German-occupied zone, forcing a shift from emigration to deportation and ghettoisation. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the effect of the Anschluss in accelerating anti-Semitic violence and testing forced emigration models. Analyse Reichkristallnacht as a turning point from legislative discrimination to state-directed physical violence and economic expropriation. Evaluate the methods and limitations of Nazi emigration policies, including the financial exploitation of fleeing Jews. Assess how the impact of the war against Poland changed the demographic reality for the Nazis, leading to the abandonment of emigration in favour of deportation. A common slip: Claiming Reichkristallnacht was a spontaneous public uprising. Instead, emphasise that it was orchestrated by the Nazi leadership, specifically Goebbels and the SA, despite being presented as spontaneous. Exam tip: Use the effect of the Anschluss as a key turning point to demonstrate how foreign policy successes radicalised domestic anti-Semitic policies and actions.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The development of anti-Semitic policies and actions leads to the effect of the Anschluss, which branches into violent persecution and a blueprint for forced emigration. Both of these lead to Reichskristallnacht. Reichskristallnacht leads to mass arrests and destruction of Jewish property, to intensified pressure to emigrate, and to the impact of the war against Poland. Intensified pressure to emigrate leads to the stripping of assets via Aryanisation. The impact of the war against Poland leads to approximately two million more Jews under Nazi control, which leads to a shift from emigration to deportation and ghettoisation.
    It shows how the Anschluss and Reichskristallnacht escalated anti-Semitic policy, and how the war against Poland shifted the regime from forced emigration to deportation and ghettoisation.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Radicalisation of anti-Semitic policies

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Emigration vs Deportation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    State-sponsored violence

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Demographic impact of war

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Radicalisation of anti-Semitic policies
    The sharp escalation from 1938 of anti-Semitic policies and actions, culminating in state-sponsored violence and economic expropriation.
    Emigration vs Deportation
    A shift from pressuring Jews to emigrate, with assets stripped via Aryanisation, to deportation and ghettoisation after the war against Poland.
    State-sponsored violence
    Reichkristallnacht, a state-sponsored pogrom in November 1938 causing mass arrests and the destruction of Jewish property.
    Demographic impact of war
    The war against Poland in 1939 brought approximately two million more Jews under Nazi control in the German-occupied zone.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The development of anti-Semitic policies and actions leads to the effect of the Anschluss, which branches into violent persecution and a blueprint for forced emigration. Both of these lead to Reichskristallnacht. Reichskristallnacht leads to mass arrests and destruction of Jewish property, to intensified pressure to emigrate, and to the impact of the war against Poland. Intensified pressure to emigrate leads to the stripping of assets via Aryanisation. The impact of the war against Poland leads to approximately two million more Jews under Nazi control, which leads to a shift from emigration to deportation and ghettoisation.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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