Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The position of ethnic minorities, 1918–89: the status of, and attitudes…
Full specification wording
Aspects of life in Germany and West Germany, 1918–89: The position of ethnic minorities, 1918–89: the status of, and attitudes towards, ethnic minorities, 1918–32; Nazi racial policies, including the Final Solution; the status of, and attitudes towards, ethnic minorities in the FRG.
This theme examines ethnic minorities across three periods.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This theme examines ethnic minorities across three periods. In the Weimar Republic, 1918–32, Jewish Germans were largely integrated, but antisemitism persisted in parties, universities and parts of the civil service, and the new republic never fully secured minority rights. From 1933, Nazi racial policy escalated: the 1935 Nuremberg Laws stripped Jewish citizenship, the November 1938 pogrom marked a turning point, and persecution culminated in the Holocaust, the systematic murder of around six million Jews alongside Roma, Sinti and others. In the FRG, the Basic Law of 1949 guaranteed equality, and reparations and trials addressed the past, yet antisemitism and discrimination against minorities such as Sinti and Roma and guest workers continued, and debate over the Nazi era remained contested.
What earns the marks
- Explains that Jewish Germans were largely integrated in Weimar society, but antisemitism persisted in political parties, universities and parts of the civil service, and minority rights were not fully secured.
- Explains the escalation of Nazi racial policy, including the 1935 Nuremberg Laws, the November 1938 pogrom and the move from exclusion to systematic murder.
- Describes the Holocaust as the culmination of Nazi racial policy, with around six million Jewish victims alongside Roma, Sinti and other targeted groups.
- Explains that the FRG's Basic Law of 1949 guaranteed equality, and assesses how far reparations, trials and education addressed the Nazi past.
- Analyses continuing discrimination in the FRG against minorities such as Sinti and Roma and guest workers, and links this to wider debates about the Nazi era.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating Weimar Germany as free of antisemitism because the constitution guaranteed equality.
Put it right: Note persistent discrimination in parties, universities and parts of the civil service.
Presenting the Nuremberg Laws as the start of Nazi persecution.
Put it right: Place them in a longer escalation from 1933 boycotts and exclusion to the 1938 pogrom and the Holocaust.
Assuming the FRG's Basic Law ended discrimination.
Put it right: Explain that legal equality did not remove continuing prejudice and social exclusion.
Exam tips
- Use precise dates and terms, such as the 1935 Nuremberg Laws and the November 1938 pogrom, to show secure chronological knowledge.
- When discussing the Holocaust, focus on policy and its consequences rather than graphic detail, and keep the analysis historical.
- For the FRG, balance evidence of legal equality and reparations against evidence of continuing discrimination to reach a supported judgement.
Try the lesson
The start of the Aspects of life in Germany and West Germany, 1918–89: The position of ethnic minorities, 1918–89: the status of, and attitudes towards, ethnic minorities, 1918–32; Nazi racial policies, including the Final Solution; the status of, and attitudes towards, ethnic minorities in the FRG. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which persecuted group was the specific target of the Nazi policy known as the 'Final Solution'?
Listen
This theme examines ethnic minorities across three periods. In the Weimar Republic, 1918–32, Jewish Germans were largely integrated, but antisemitism persisted in parties, universities and parts of the civil service, and the new republic never fully secured minority rights. From 1933, Nazi racial policy escalated: the 1935 Nuremberg Laws stripped Jewish citizenship, the November 1938 pogrom marked a turning point, and persecution culminated in the Holocaust, the systematic murder of around six million Jews alongside Roma, Sinti and others. In the FRG, the Basic Law of 1949 guaranteed equality, and reparations and trials addressed the past, yet antisemitism and discrimination against minorities such as Sinti and Roma and guest workers continued, and debate over the Nazi era remained contested. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains that Jewish Germans were largely integrated in Weimar society, but antisemitism persisted in political parties, universities and parts of the civil service, and minority rights were not fully secured. Explains the escalation of Nazi racial policy, including the 1935 Nuremberg Laws, the November 1938 pogrom and the move from exclusion to systematic murder. Describes the Holocaust as the culmination of Nazi racial policy, with around six million Jewish victims alongside Roma, Sinti and other targeted groups. Explains that the FRG's Basic Law of 1949 guaranteed equality, and assesses how far reparations, trials and education addressed the Nazi past. A common slip: Treating Weimar Germany as free of antisemitism because the constitution guaranteed equality. Instead, note persistent discrimination in parties, universities and parts of the civil service. Exam tip: Use precise dates and terms, such as the 1935 Nuremberg Laws and the November 1938 pogrom, to show secure chronological knowledge.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Nuremberg Laws stripped Jewish citizenship
- 2. Basic Law guaranteed equality in the FRG
- 3. November pogrom marked a turning point
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Integration and antisemitism in the Weimar Republic
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Escalation of Nazi racial policy and the Holocaust
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Legal equality and memory in the FRG
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Continuing discrimination and minority experience
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Integration and antisemitism in the Weimar Republic
- Jewish Germans were largely integrated in Weimar society, but antisemitism persisted in political parties, universities and parts of the civil service, and minority rights were never fully secured.
- Escalation of Nazi racial policy and the Holocaust
- Nazi racial policy escalated from exclusion, through the 1935 Nuremberg Laws and the November 1938 pogrom, to the Holocaust, the systematic murder of around six million Jews alongside Roma, Sinti and others.
- Legal equality and memory in the FRG
- The Basic Law of 1949 guaranteed equality, and reparations and trials addressed the past, yet debate over the Nazi era remained contested.
- Continuing discrimination and minority experience
- Antisemitism and discrimination against minorities such as Sinti and Roma and guest workers continued in the FRG despite legal equality.
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