TIME PERIOD: 2 lessons (+ expected home work)

TYPE: Individual work (which later will be part of an essay-in-class)

TOPICS: 3 topics 1919-1933

1. The Early Weimar Republic (1919-1923)

2. The Golden Years of the Weimar Republic (1924-1929)

3. The Late Weimar Republic (1929-1933)

PURPOSE: To understand major events and be familiar with the leading characters in Germany during the whole period. It will mostly serve as a background to later events.

MATERIAL:
Old Morris (HL) = 245-253
Newest Morris (SL) = 285-300
Traynor = 171-185

NOTE

• The new constitution (Note: §48)
• The Versailles Treaty, reparation bill and the German reaction (Note: “Stab in the back” myth…)
• The threat from the left; mutinies at the end of the war, the formation of “Soviets” – workers and soldiers councils, Bavarian problems (Kurt Eisner), Spartacist revolt in Berlin
• The threat from the right; tradition, Frei Corps, Kapp Putsch, assassination of Erzberger and Rathenau, Beer Hall Putsch
• Economic problems; reparation bill, postponed reparations, Ruhr occupation, hyper inflation (NOTE: the governments economic policies)
• Foreign Policy before 1924; “the Obstruction Policy”
• Gustaf Stresemann
• The solution of the hyperinflation (Hans Luther and Hjalmar Schacht), Rentenmark
• Dawes Plan, both advantages and problems
• Economical recovery in the 1920’s – progress
• Political stability; Stresemann, Hindenburg, the appeased industrialists, military acceptance
• Foreign Policy of Gustaf Stresemann; “the Fulfillment Policy”, Dawes plan, Locarno Pact, League of Nations, Kellog-Briand Pact, Young Plan…
• WALL STREET CRASH!!!
• Young Plan, both advantages and problems
• Political problems; Stresemann died, Brüning coalition, §48, von Papen (Cabinet of Barons), von Schliecher…
• Radicalism; KPD, DAP…
  

Paper 2:

• Compare and contrast the rise to power of two rulers of single-party states. (November 2003)
• Analyze the results of two wars, each chosen from a different region. (May 2004)
• Analyze the methods used and the conditions which helped in the rise to power of one ruler of a single-party state. (May 2005)
• Peace settlements create conditions for new conflicts. With reference to at least two settlements explain to what extent you agree with this statement. (November 2005)
• With reference to two examples each chosen from a different region, to what extent do you agree with the claim that ideology was the most important factor in the rise to power of single-party leaders? (November 2005)
• “It was personality and not circumstances that brought rulers of single-party states to power.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (November 2006)
• Analyze the results of either the First World War or the Second World War. (May 2007)
• Analyze the methods used and the conditions which helped in the rise to power of one ruler of a single-party state. (May 2007)
  

Paper 3:

• Analyze the political developments and external relations of either Weimar Germany between 1919 and 1933 or Great Britain between 1918 and 1935. (May 2003)
• Compare and contrast the economic problems faced by two European countries between 1919 and 1939. (May 2004)
• Analyze the social and economic changes caused by the First World War, in one European country, up to 1929. (May 2005)
• Assess the strength and weakness of Weimar Germany between 1919 and 1932. (May 2005)
• Analyze the main factors which contributed to Hitler’s rise to power in January 1933. (November 2005)
• Assess the effects of two of the Paris Peace Settlements. (November 2006)
• Analyze the reasons for the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the establishment of a Nazi dictatorship in the period 1929 to 1934. (November 2006)
• Why was the Weimar Republic so short-lived? (May 2007)