Term 1: Was Hitler voted into power because Germany was 'stabbed in the back'?
In this unit, students will begin by studying the origins of the Weimar Republic. They will then analyse the early challenges to the Weimar Republic from 1919–23, uncovering events such as hyperinflation and the invasion of the Ruhr. They will then learn about the recovery of the Republic in the 'golden years' studying changes in society, including that of Afro-Germans, and the early development of the Nazi Party. Subsequently, they will study the Munich Putsch and the lean years, the growth in support for the Nazis, and finally how Hitler became Chancellor. A book that complements this unit is: Berlin 1936 by Oliver Hilmes, and a film is All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix). Where possible, we also run a GCSE History trip to visit Germany at the end of this term to increase students' enjoyment of and interest in History. In the past we have visited Berlin, and plan to visit Dachau, Nuremburg and Munich in October 2023. The trip is also designed to aid students' understanding of our GCSE topics.
GCSE Questions: source analysis, causation and interpretations.
Article 48
Part of the Weimar Constitution, giving the President special powers to rule in a crisis. Used by Chancellors to rule when they had no majority in the Reichstag – and therefore an undemocratic precedent for Hitler.
Bartering
Buying goods with other goods rather than money. (As happened in the inflation crisis of 1923)
Bavaria
Large state in the South of Germany. Hitler & Nazis’ original base. Capital – Munich
Beerhall Putsch
Failed attempt to seize power by Hitler in November 1923. Hitler jailed for five years – in fact released Dec 1924
Brown Shirts
The name given to the S.A
Centre Party
Party representing Roman Catholics – one of the Weimar coalition parties. Dissolves itself July 1933.
Coalition
A government made up of a number of parties working together, Because of the election system under Weimar, all its governments were coalitions. They are widely seen as weak governments.
Conscription
Compulsory military service – introduced by Hitler April1935 in his drive to build up Germany’s military strength (against the terms of the Versailles Treaty)
DAF
“Deutsche Arbeitsfront’
Dawes Plan
1924. Named after Charles Dawes, an American, who organised loans to help Weimar Germany deal with its reparations crisis.
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
Term 2: How were people controlled, and why didn't more resist, in the totalitarian state of Nazi Germany?
In this unit, students will learn about the creation of a dictatorship, 1933–34. They will then analyse the police state, and how the Nazis controlled and influenced attitudes, such as through the 1946 Berlin Olympics. They will study the opposition, resistance and conformity towards the Nazi party, and Nazi policies towards women and the young. They will learn about German employment and living standards, and the persecution of minorities. Their studies will include German genocidal atrocities pre-the Nazi regime, such as the Herero Genocide of 1904 and genetic experiments in colonial Africa. A book that complements this unit is: Berlin 1936 by Oliver Hilmes. During this unit, they will also have a weekly revision lesson where they cover topics which they have previously studied to embed their knowledge. Where possible, this unit will also include a visit from a second generation holocaust survivor.
November Mocks: Cold War and Germany Papers
Anti-Semitism
Opposition to and attacks on Jews.
Censorship
Where something is controlled or
banned.
Concentration camps
Prison camps for specific
groups of people where inmates are often
treated with great brutality.
Dawes Plan
An agreement between the USA and
European countries in 1924, drawn by for the US by Charles Dawes. The plan organised US loans to revive European economies, especially that of Germany.
Democracy
A system of government where the
whole population has the right to vote for their government in regular elections
Depression
A long period of financial and
industrial decline.
Emergency powers
The right of the German President to act outside the normal rules of the constitution in times of crisis.
Ghetto
An enclosed part of a city or separate area in which people live, sometimes by force, usually grouped based on their race or religion.
Indoctrination
Brainwashing people into
accepting ideas.
League of Nations
Set up in 1919 for the promotion of international peace and security. Germany was a member from 1926-1933.
Develop the individual:
Spiritual education takes place in History as students understand how and why events in the past happened. Their studies help students to understand that events did not have to happen the way that they did, and that they could have taken other directions.
Moral education in History involves students being encouraged to comment on moral questions and dilemmas. History is a story of ethical decisions, and students develop the ability to empathise with the decisions which people made at the time, based on their historical situation.
Social education in History encourages students to think about what past societies have contributed to our culture today. Students own social development develops through working together and problem solving. History also has a role to play in helping people to express themselves clearly and communicate well.
Cultural education involves students developing a better understanding of our multicultural society through studying links between local, British, European and world history.
Create a supportive community:
By incorporating spiritual, moral, social and cultural development into our history classrooms, we create a supportive learning environment. The history classroom operates as a supportive learning environment that allows debate to flourish and encourages diverse views. Students feel that it is safe to discuss and engage with contentious areas of the past as well as to make links with present pressure points.
Term 3: How can we effectively prepare for our GCSE History exams?
During this unit, students will complete the Germany course and then revise the content which they have studied over the GCSE course, embedding their knowledge. They will spend more time practising their exam technique and completing practice questions. They will be encouraged to read widely around their topics and books from the History Library will regularly be used in their lessons.
February Mocks: Crime and Elizabeth Papers
Communism
A theory or system of social organisation in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.
Ideology
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Heresy
Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine
Deterrent
A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something
Corporal Punishment
Physical punishment.
Capital Punishment
Capital punishment is the practice of executing someone as punishment for a specific crime after a proper legal trial
Tithing
A group of ten people. Everyone had to be a member of a tithing and each had to take responsibility for the others. Thus if any one member of the tithing broke the law the others had to take responsibility for getting the accused to court.
The Soviet Union
The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a federal sovereign state in northern Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Superpower
A superpower is a state with a dominant position characterised by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale.
Comecon
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance was an economic organization from 1949 to 1991 under the leadership of the Soviet Union that comprised the countries of the Eastern Bloc
Cominform
Cominform is the common name for what was officially referred to as the Information Bureau of the Communist and Workers' Parties. Created to unite the Communist parties.
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.
Develop the individual:
Spiritual education takes place in History as students understand how and why events in the past happened. Their studies help students to understand that events did not have to happen the way that they did, and that they could have taken other directions.
Moral education in History involves students being encouraged to comment on moral questions and dilemmas. History is a story of ethical decisions, and students develop the ability to empathise with the decisions which people made at the time, based on their historical situation.
Social education in History encourages students to think about what past societies have contributed to our culture today. Students own social development develops through working together and problem solving. History also has a role to play in helping people to express themselves clearly and communicate well.
Cultural education involves students developing a better understanding of our multicultural society through studying links between local, British, European and world history.
Create a supportive community:
By incorporating spiritual, moral, social and cultural development into our history classrooms, we create a supportive learning environment. The history classroom operates as a supportive learning environment that allows debate to flourish and encourages diverse views. Students feel that it is safe to discuss and engage with contentious areas of the past as well as to make links with present pressure points.
Term 4: How can we effectively prepare for our History GCSE exams?
During this unit, students will revise the content which they have studied over the GCSE course, and embed their knowledge. They will spend more time practising their exam technique and completing practice questions. They will be encouraged to read widely around their topics and books from the History Library will regularly be used in their lessons.
February Mocks: Crime and Germany GCSE papers.
Weimar Republic
Germany's government from 1918 to 1933. The name derives from the city of Weimar, where its constitutional assembly first took place
Reichstag
The building where German Parliaments met 1894–1933
Antisemitism
Hostility to, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews.
Nazi Party
National Socialist German Workers' Party, a far-right political party in Germany that was active between 1920 and 1945, that created and supported the ideology of National Socialism.
Lebensraum
the need for 'living space' for the German nation to expand.
The SA
The Nazi Party’s private army
Article 48
The Chancellor could control without the Reichstag at a time of emergency.
Fascist
Someone with extreme right-wing, nationalist views who believes in the idea that there should be a strong, all powerful leader and a one party state.
Munich Putsch
A failed attempt in November 1923 by Hitler to overthrow the government of the Weimar Republic
The Wall Street Crash
The economic downturn on the American stock market in 1929
The Act of Supremacy
The Act which made Elizabeth head of the Church in England
Excommunication
The expulsion from the Roman Catholic Church.
Armada
The Spanish word for a fleet of war ships.
Vagabond
A person who wonders from place to place without a job or a home
Inflation
A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.
Develop the individual:
Spiritual education takes place in History as students understand how and why events in the past happened. Their studies help students to understand that events did not have to happen the way that they did, and that they could have taken other directions.
Moral education in History involves students being encouraged to comment on moral questions and dilemmas. History is a story of ethical decisions, and students develop the ability to empathise with the decisions which people made at the time, based on their historical situation.
Social education in History encourages students to think about what past societies have contributed to our culture today. Students own social development develops through working together and problem solving. History also has a role to play in helping people to express themselves clearly and communicate well.
Cultural education involves students developing a better understanding of our multicultural society through studying links between local, British, European and world history.
Create a supportive community:
By incorporating spiritual, moral, social and cultural development into our history classrooms, we create a supportive learning environment. The history classroom operates as a supportive learning environment that allows debate to flourish and encourages diverse views. Students feel that it is safe to discuss and engage with contentious areas of the past as well as to make links with present pressure points.
Term 5: How can we effectively prepare for our History GCSE exams?
During this unit, students will revise the content which they have studied over the GCSE course, and embed their knowledge. They will spend more time practising their exam technique and completing practice questions. They will be encouraged to read widely around their topics and books from the History Library will regularly be used in their lessons. Where possible, we also run a theatre trip to see Six: The Musical in this term to increase students' enjoyment of and interest in History.
May Mocks: Germany and Cold War Papers. These will be sat in class.
Enabling Law
March 1933. Gives Hitler power to rule without the Reichstag for four years.
German Labour Front
Organisation set up by Nazis in May 1933 to replace Trade Unions – to ensure control of workers. Run by Robert Ley.
Gestapo
‘Geheime Staatspolizei’ = secret police. Came under the control of Himmler. An important part of maintaining absolute obedience to Nazi rule.
Gleichschaltung
‘Coordination’. The process of bringing all aspects of life and organisations in Germany under Nazi control (from 1933).
Hitler Youth
Hitler Jugend (HJ). Organisation under Baldur von Schirach. A very important part of Nazi control: by indoctrinating the country’s youth they could ensure that Nazi ideas would come to be held by all.
Infallibility
Someone or something that cannot fail, always right. In this case Hitler. Also claimed by Popes and History teachers.
Kapp Putsch
March 1920. Failed attempt by Freikorps and other extreme right–wingers to seize power from Weimar government. Led by Dr Kapp. Defeated by a general strike.
Kristallnacht
9–10 November 1933. In revenge for the shooting of a German diplomat in Paris Jewish shops were looted and synagogues burnt. So–called after all the broken glass.
Lebensraum
‘Living Space’. Land to the East which Hitler in Mein Kampf declared the German population needed
Mein Kampf
Part autobiography, part ideas: written by Hitler when in jail following the Munich putsch of 1923. Became the (unread) bible of Nazi Germany
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
Term 6: How can I prepare to study History at A-Level?
Following students' GCSE exams, we run bridging sessions to prepare KS4 students for KS5. These are open to all students, regardless of whether they intend on studying History at A-Level. Students will learn about Chinese and Russian History in particular, to help prepare them for our A-Level History specification. We also invite students back in in this term to volunteer to help out in our KS3 History classes.
None.
Communist Manifesto
A pamphlet (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: first statement of the principles of modern communism.
Mao Zedong
A Chinese revolutionary leader of the twentieth century.
The Long March
The transfer of the main group of the First (or Central) Red Army, which included the leaders of the CCP, from Yudu in the province of Jiangxi to Yan'an in Shaanxi. In this sense, the Long March lasted from October 16, 1934, to October 19, 1935.
Joseph Stalin
A Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953.
Romanov
A member of the imperial dynasty of Russia that ruled from 1613 to 1917
Vladimir Lenin
A Russian revolutionary leader of the early twentieth century, highly honored in the former Soviet Union as the founder of the modern Soviet state.
Soviet Union
A transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991.
China
Country of eastern Asia bordering on the Pacific; the most populous country in the world; a republic whose capital is Beijing area 3,705,407 square miles (9,596,960 square kilometers).
Great Leap Forward
A five-year plan of forced agricultural collectivization and rural industrialization that was instituted by the Chinese Communist Party in 1958, which resulted in a sharp contraction in the Chinese economy and between 30 to 45 million deaths.
Cultural Revolution
A political movement initiated by Mao Zedong that lasted from 1966 to 1976. It was a campaign in China ordered by Mao Zedong to purge the Communist Party of his opponents and instill revolutionary values in the younger generation.
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community: