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AQA GCSE History

AQA option: Germany 1890-1945 — Democracy and Dictatorship — AQA GCSE History revision

Free revision notes, key terms, common exam traps and 5 practice questions with answers. About 8 minutes to read.

Kaiser to republic, 1890-1919

  • Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled an industrialising, militarised Germany where the Reichstag had limited power; rapid growth created a large working class and support for the SPD.
  • Defeat in the First World War brought naval mutiny, revolution and the Kaiser's abdication in November 1918; a republic was declared and an armistice signed.
  • The Treaty of Versailles (1919) imposed territorial losses, army limits, reparations and Article 231 war guilt. Many Germans called it a diktat and blamed the 'November Criminals'.

Weimar: crisis, recovery, collapse

  • The Weimar Constitution combined proportional representation, an elected president and Article 48 emergency powers — democratic, but prone to unstable coalitions.
  • 1919-23 crises: Spartacist rising, Kapp Putsch, French occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation, ended by Stresemann's Rentenmark, Dawes Plan and Locarno diplomacy.
  • The Wall Street Crash of 1929 destroyed the recovery. Mass unemployment, fear of communism, weak coalitions and Nazi propaganda allowed Hitler to be appointed Chancellor in January 1933.

Key terms

Diktat
A dictated peace, the German term for the Treaty of Versailles.
Article 48
Weimar clause allowing the president to rule by emergency decree.
Proportional representation
Seats allocated in proportion to votes, producing coalition governments.
Hyperinflation
Extremely rapid rise in prices, as in Germany in 1923.
Enabling Act
1933 law letting Hitler make laws without the Reichstag.
Gleichschaltung
Coordination — bringing all institutions under Nazi control.

Common exam traps

  • Saying Hitler seized power in 1933 — he was legally appointed Chancellor, then consolidated power.
  • Confusing the Reichstag Fire Decree (emergency powers) with the Enabling Act (law-making power).
  • Treating Weimar as doomed from the start; 1924-29 was a period of real recovery.

Practice questions with answers

  1. 1. In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

    • • 1918
    • • 1919
    • • 1923
    • • 1933

    Answer: 1919

    The treaty followed the 1918 armistice.

  2. 2. Article 231 of the treaty forced Germany to accept:

    • • Loss of the Rhineland forever
    • • War guilt
    • • Union with Austria
    • • A communist government

    Answer: War guilt

    Accepting blame justified reparations and caused deep resentment.

  3. 3. Explain one weakness of the Weimar Constitution.

    Answer: Proportional representation produced unstable coalitions, and Article 48 allowed rule by decree

    Either weakness is creditable if explained.

  4. 4. Hyperinflation in 1923 was triggered mainly by:

    • • The Dawes Plan
    • • Printing money during the Ruhr occupation
    • • The Enabling Act
    • • The Munich Putsch

    Answer: Printing money during the Ruhr occupation

    Passive resistance was funded by printing currency.

  5. 5. Give one way Stresemann improved Germany's position.

    Answer: Introduced the Rentenmark, negotiated the Dawes Plan or joined the League via Locarno

    Economic and diplomatic recovery both count.

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