Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy and dictatorship

    AQA
    GCSE

    This period study requires a critical analysis of the turbulent evolution of the German state from the authoritarian stability of the Kaiserreich, through the democratic experimentation of the Weimar Republic, to the totalitarian collapse under the Third Reich. Candidates must evaluate the interplay between political structures, economic crises, and social change. Success depends on understanding the persistent tension between traditional elites and progressive forces, the impact of the First World War as a catalyst for change, and the specific mechanisms used by the Nazi regime to dismantle democracy and enforce racial ideology.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for precise factual knowledge (AO1) used to validate or challenge interpretations, not just general assertions.
    • Credit responses that explain the relationship between provenance (who/when/why) and the specific view presented in interpretations.
    • Extended writing must demonstrate 'complex thinking'—analyzing the interaction of factors (e.g., how economic depression amplified political extremism).
    • Differentiation relies on the shift from describing 'what happened' to explaining 'how and why' it contributed to a specific outcome.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the difference in content; now explain *why* the authors hold these different views based on their provenance."
    • "Do not just describe the event; explain its consequence for the stability of the government."
    • "Use specific dates and figures (e.g., '6 million unemployed in 1932') to substantiate your argument."
    • "Your judgment is valid, but you must explain why one factor was *more* important than the other, rather than just stating it was."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for precise factual knowledge (AO1) used to validate or challenge interpretations, not just general assertions.
    • Credit responses that explain the relationship between provenance (who/when/why) and the specific view presented in interpretations.
    • Extended writing must demonstrate 'complex thinking'—analyzing the interaction of factors (e.g., how economic depression amplified political extremism).
    • Differentiation relies on the shift from describing 'what happened' to explaining 'how and why' it contributed to a specific outcome.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡For the 'How do they differ' question, identify the main contrast in the overall view, then support with a detail from each text.
    • 💡In the 8-mark 'Convincing' question, do not waste time on provenance (bias/reliability); focus entirely on applying your knowledge to support or challenge the content.
    • 💡Allocate 15 minutes to the final 12-mark question; ensure you conclude with a judgment on relative importance.
    • 💡When explaining 'Why they differ', explicitly link the author's background, time of writing, or purpose to the specific opinion they hold.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing the 'convincing' question (AO4) with a 'utility' question; candidates must check the interpretation against knowledge, not evaluate reliability.
    • Attributing the hyperinflation crisis of 1923 directly to the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
    • Describing the content of interpretations without identifying the overarching argument or 'view' of the historian/author.
    • Failing to link the Enabling Act legally to the end of the Weimar Constitution, treating it merely as a violent takeover.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    How do interpretations differ
    Why do interpretations differ
    Which is more convincing
    Describe
    In what ways
    Which was the more important

    Ready to test yourself?

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