For Unit 1 students will study the Origins of the Weimar Republic in the aftermath of the First World War. As part of this study students look at the early challneges, the reaction of the Treaty of Versailles along with its Golden Years under Stresemann. As part of these years students study the impact on culture and society. For Unit 2 students will study the early developments of the Nazi Party and their failed attempt at the Munich Putsch which lead to the Lean Years. We end this unit by following the growth of Nazi support after the Wall Street Crash and how this enabled Hitler to climb to power and establish his role as Chancellor.
Students will complete both an end of unit 1 exam and an end of unit 2 exam.
Abdication
A leader, like a king or queen, giving up their throne or position.
Communist
Communism is an extreme form of government, in which representatives of the workers set up a government and take over ownership of all the land, property and resources in the country. It is often associated with Germany's enemy Russia.
Constitution
The rules which set out how a country is run.
Trade Unions
Groups of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of workers in various occupations.
Electorate
People who are allowed to vote in an election.
Left Wing
These groups wanted Germany to be controlled by the people. They opposed capitalism and wanted to abolish private ownership of land and business and put them in the hands of the workers.
Extreme Right Wing
These groups wanted a return to a strong government, with a strong army, headed by powerful leader, like the Kaiser (German king). They supported capitalism - private ownership of land and business.
Treaty of Versailles
The allied leaders decided the peace terms after World war One and with it, Germany's fate. It included items such as the War Guilt Clause and reparations that Germany was to pay.
Kaiser
German word for king. Up until just after the First World War Germany was led by Kaiser Wilhelm I who abdicated at the end of the war due to vast public pressure. He fled to Holland.
Dolchstoss
The German's view of the guilt clause signed as part of the Treaty of Versailles, which many Germans viewed as a 'stab in the back'by the new Weimar government.
Hyperinflation
The extreme inflation (increase) of food prices, goods, loans. This was caused as a result of the German banks printing more money which made it less valuable.
Stresemann
German chancellor and foreign secretary from 1923. He resigned as chancellor that year but remained foreign secretary until 1929.
Rentenmark
Money issued by the newly established Rentenbank under Stresemann. The supply of notes was prohibited in order to deal with the 1923 hyperinflation crisis.
Dawes Plan
Created in 1924, through negotiations between Stresemann and the US banker Charles Dawes. It temporarily reduced reparations to £50 million per year along with ensuring $25 billion worth of loans from the US to German industries between 1924-1930.
The Young Plan
Signed in 1929, it reduced the amount of reparations owed to £2 billion and Germany was given a further 59 years to pay.
Propaganda
A way of controlling public attitudes. Propaganda uses things like newspapers, posters, radio and film to put ideas in to people's minds and therefore shape attitudes.
Nationalism
A political outlook in which all policies are organised to make the nation stronger and more independent.
Socialism
A political outlook which stresses that a country's land, industries and wealth should all belong to the workers of that country.
Paramilitary force
A private group run like a military force. The SA are an example of this.
The SA (Sturmabteilung)
Sturmabteilung, or storm troopers, were another way that Hitler kept control of his party. They were formed in 1921 and were a paramilitary force.
Munich Putsch
Hitler launched a revolt to try and overthrow the Weimar Republic. It is often called the Beer Hall Putsch and took place in 1923.
NSDAP
The Nazi Party. It was originally called the DAP (the German Workers Party).
Putsch
A violent uprising intended to overthrow existing leaders.
SS (Schutzstaffel)
The SS was established in 1925 as a result of Hitler's distrust of the SA. Hitler created the SS as a security group. It was smaller than the SA and made up of carefully selected members whom were trusted by Hitler.
The Wall Street Crash
The Wall Street Crash took place in 1929, which saw the US stock market crash. As a result, the USA fell in to an economic crisis and therefore demanded their loans to be repaid by Germany. This led to an economic depression in Germany as a result.
Real Wages
A measure which reflects not the actual monetary value of wages but the buying power of wages.
Develop the individual:
Students look at how societies voice concern over leadership and also demand change. Students become aware of how leadership is challenged and how a demand for change does not necessarily result in the rise of beneficial parties.
Create a supportive community:
Students look at the need to appropriately raise concerns and question actions.
In Unit 3 students look at the creation of Hitler's Nazi dictatorship and how he was able to consolidate and maintain power through the use of fear, terror and propaganda. Students finish the course with Unit 4 by studying life in Nazi Germany and the changes Hitler made to roles for both genders and its anti-semitic undertone that saw the mass persecution of minority groups such as Jews and gypsies.
End of Unit 3 Exam
End of Unit 4 Exam
Mock exam to cover Units 1-4
Trade Unions
Groups of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of workers in various occupations.
Reichstag
The German houses of parliament
The Enabling Act
In March 1033, Hitler proposed the Enabling Act to the Reichstag. The law changed the constitution, giving Hitler the right to make laws for four years without the consent of the Reichstag.
Night of Long Knives
Hitler arranged to remove the threat of Rohm and the SA. On the 30th June 1934, Hitler arranged to meet Rohm and other senior SA officers. When they arrived, Rohm and other senior officers of the SA were arrested, imprisoned and shot.
Hindenburg
The president of Germany from 1925-1934. He was very popular with the people of Germany, He also despised Hitler and until his death was the only person senior to Hitler who could remove him.
SD (Sicherheitsdienst)
It was originally formed in 1931 by Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, as a security force for the Nazi Party to monitor its opponents. They kept a record of every person suspected of opposing the Nazi Party. They were kept at Nazi Headquarters.
The Gestapo
Hitler's non uniformed secret police force. They were set up in 1933 by Hermann Goering. However, in 1934, it was placed under SS control. Their main aim was to identify anyone who opposed the Nazis using wire taps, phone taps and informants.
Concentration Camps
People were imprisoned for doing things that opposed the Nazis. The camps housed; undesirables (prostitues, homosexuals), minority groups such as Jews, political prisoners (intellectuals, communists or political writers).
The Reich Church
Protestant churches who favoured the Nazis combined to become the Reich Church. They were led by Ludwig Muller. They would preach Nazi ideology, display swastikas in their churches and excluded Jews from being baptised.
Joseph Goebbels
Goebbels was Hitler's propaganda minister and most trusted advisor.
Censorship
Censorship involves banning information or ideas. It sometimes involves banning the vehicles for delivering ideas, such a s newspapers, posters, radio and film, to put ideas in to people's minds and therefore shape attitudes.
Edelweiss Pirates
The pirates consisted of teenagers - both boys and girls, but mainly boys - who resented military discipline of the Nazi youth groups and general lack of freedom in Nazi Germany.
The Swing Youth
Mainly teenagers from the wealthy middle-class families, located in big towns, especially Berlin, Hamburg and Kiel. They admired American culture, such as American clothes, films and especially music.
The Mother's Cross
This encouraged childbirth in Nazi Germany. It was an award given to women for the number of children they had: bronze for four or five children, silver for six or seven and gold for eight. These were given as medals.
Lebensborn
A programme to encourage childbirth. This was started in 1935 by the SS leader, Heinrich Himler. It focused on the breeding of genetically pure aryans.
Aryan
The Nazi views of a true race made up of men and women with blond hair and blue eyes.
Hitler Youth
Members were teenagers and had to swear an oath of loyalty to their Fuhrer. They were trained physically and taught political legislation that was pro Nazi. They were encouraged to report anyone; teachers, parents, friends who opposed the regime.
Fuhrer
German name for leader.
League of German Maidens
Youth group for girls. They carried out political activities and also trained to cook, iron, make beds, sew and generally prepare for house wife duties.
Curriculum
Refers to the educational content taught in schools. The Nazis used the curriculum to promote Nazism and teach anti-semitic beliefs.
Anti-Semitic
Someone who is hostile to, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews
Labour Service (RAD)
RAD is the Nazis national labour service. It provided paid work for the unemployed. They would be employed to repair roads, plant trees, drain marshes. It was originally voluntary and then became compulsory and was not popular.
Rearmament
Hitler's push with building up Germany's armed forces through hiring more soldiers, building more ships and opening more munitions factories.
Autobahn
A dual carriage motorway.
This was the Nazis motorway project. It was a planned 7,000 mile network of dual carriageway roads to improve transport around Germany.
Labour Front (DAF)
Hitler banned trade unions and replaced it with the DAF IN 1933. It protected the rights of workers in the workplace, gave a maximum working week and minimum pay.
Strength through Joy (KdF)
Hitler set this up to avoid the backlash from banning trade unions. It aimed to improve the living conditions of workers. The purpose was to make the benefits of work more enjoyable, so that Germans would see their work as their path to a happy life.
Eugenics
Nazi eugenics was Nazi Germany's racially based social policies that placed the biological improvement of the Aryan race or 'master race'.
Racial Hygiene
Eugenics is about selecting the best parents from any race, the aryan race according to the Nazis. They taught through school and propaganda that aryans should only reproduce with other aryans to make their offspring 'pure'.
Persecution
Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression.
Nuremburg Laws (1935)
These were laws passed by the Nazi Party that dehumanized and removed citizenship from minority groups such as the Jews.
Develop the individual:
Students study the control of society through government policy. They look at how views are shaped by influences such as education, employment and media.
Create a supportive community:
Students look at the need to be free thinkers who are open to honest and frank discussions.
Students will uncover the aftermath of the Second World War and see the wake of a new Cold War. Students will study the key conferences; Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam and how international relations changed over time and with new leadership. Students will uncover the Berlin Blockage, the creation of East and West Germany and the significance of the Arms Race in bringing tension to the forefront of foreign policy. Students will study the key events of the Berlin Crisis. These will include Krushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum and the summit meetings of 1959-61. Students will uncover the summit of meetings of 1959-61 along with the building of the wall and analyse the impacts on relations both domestic and foreign.
End of Unit 1 Exam; one consequence, one narrative account and one importance question - all worth 8 marks each.
Invade
March aggressively into a territory by military force. The United States armed forces were at their highest state of readiness ever and Soviet field commanders in Cuba were prepared to use battlefield nuclear weapons to defend the island if it was invaded
Arms Race
A competition between nations to have the most powerful armaments.
Soviet Union
A former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperate
Ideology
A set of shared beliefs.
Capitalism
Capitalists believe everyone should be free to own property and businesses and make money. The USA's economic ideology was capitalist.
Communism
Communists believe that all property, including homes and businesses, should belong to the state, to ensure that every member of society has a fair share.
Democracy
A political system in which nation's leaders are chosen in free elections.
Satellite State
A nation that was once independent but is now under the control of another. In the Cold War, 'satellite states' usually describes nations under the political, economic military control of the Soviet Union.
Colonialism
Economic, political and cultural control of another country.
Reparations
Payments in money or goods, after a war, from the losing country to the victors. Reparations are compensation for loss of life and damage to the land and the economy.
Veto
Forbid or refuse. Permanent members of the UN Security Council can stop resolutions being passed with a single 'no' vote.
Isolationism
Staying apart, not getting involved in the affairs of others.
Containment
Limiting the spread of something. In the Cold War, The USE did this to try and prevent the spread of communism in Eastern Europe.
Conventional
Ordinary or normal.
Uprising
To rise against the person/people in charge, for example, your government.
Develop the individual:
Students look at differing ideologies of world leaders and how they impact political issues/decisions
Create a supportive community:
Students look at how war can impact on the lives of nations regardless of whether there is physical/military conflict.
Students will go on to uncover the Cuban Revolution, USA’s intervention and the effects of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident on international relations.
A study of the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis will take place along with its consequences.
Czechoslovakia, 1968-69 will be studied in depth as students uncover the ‘Prague Spring’ and the Soviet reaction to this event in the form of invasion.
Students will study ‘Détente’ and the SALT agreement and why these were agreed. An understanding of the NATOP and Warsaw Pact will be gained through the Helsinki Accords of 1975 and its impact on SALT 2. Students will look at the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 1979 and America’s reaction through invasion and how this led to Olympic boycotts.
Ronald Reagan will be studied along with his policies and eventual collapse of Soviet control in Eastern Europe and Gorbachev’s actions.
Students will then revise their key topics in preparation for their mock.
End of Unit Exam. GCSE questions, 8 marker consequence, 8 marker narrative account and 1 importance 8 marker will be used to test understanding of this unit.
Deterrent
A force that prevents something from happening. In the Cold War, many politicians believed in the 'nuclear deterrent'. They thought a country would be 'deterred' from using nuclear weapons if there was a danger that their enemy would reply with an equally
Free City
A city with its own independent government. Khrushchev did not really mean to make Berlin independent - he wanted it to be controlled by the Soviet Union.
Hawks
During the Cold War, those who supported going to war were known as Hawks. Their counterparts who tried to find solutions to problems without going to war were known as Doves.
Non-proliferation
Stopping the spreading of something, usually weapons or armaments.
Socialism
Communist countries sometimes refer to themselves as 'socialist'. For example, the Soviet Union was also know as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Detente
A period of peace between two groups that were previously at war, or hostile towards each other.
Economic Sanctions
Measures taken to damage a country's economy, usually avoiding a trade ban.
Shah
King or Emperor. Iran was ruled by Shahs until the 1979 revolution.
Abdicate
To step down from office or power.
Glasnost
Russian for 'openness' or 'transparency'. In the 1980s and 1990s it was used to describe Gorbachev's new, more open attitude to government and foreign relations.
Perestroika
Russian for reconstruction. It was used in the Gorbachev era to describe his programme for reorganising and reconstructing the soviet state.
Ultimatum
A final demand, often backed up with a threat to take action.
Brinkmanship
Pushing disagreements to the point where there is a risk of war.
Doctrine
A belief or philosophy.
Interim
Temporary, short term. The treaty was called 'Interim' because the restrictions only applied until 1977.
Ratification
Formal approval. If the senate had ratified SALT 2, the terms would have become official US policy.
Develop the individual:
Students look at how conflict can take place between the people and its government. They will also gain an understanding of how influential nations use other territories as their 'fighting ground' as they did with Germany. Students will also understand how communism can be perceived as an evil entity.
Create a supportive community:
Students encourage the development of each other's political, social and economic understanding of events.