A-level History₇₀₄₂

This option allows students to study in breadth issues of change, continuity, cause and consequence in this period through the following key questions:

• How was Germany governed and how did political authority change and develop?
• How effective was opposition?
• How and with what results did the economy develop and change?
• What was the extent of social and cultural change?
• How important were ideas and ideology?
• How important was the role of key individuals and groups and how were they affected by developments?

Part one: Empire to democracy, 1871–1929

The Kaiserreich, 1871–1914

• Political authority: the extent and make-up of the German Empire in 1871; the 1871 constitution; the role of Emperor and Chancellor; political groupings and parties and their ideologies
• Government and opposition: Kaiser Wilhelm I and government under Bismarck; their personalities and policies; the role of the Reichstag; the struggle between autocracy and democracy; the development of parties and political opposition
• Government and opposition: Kaiser Wilhelm II and his chancellors; personalities and policies; the place of the Reichstag; the struggle between autocracy and democracy; the development of parties and political opposition
• Economic developments: industrial expansion; old and new industries; trade and wealth
• Social developments: the class hierarchy; elitism and the culture of militarism; the condition of the working people
• The political, economic and social condition of Germany by 1914

Empire to democracy, 1914–1929

• Political authority: the political impact of the First World War on Germany; political change and breakdown by 1918; the 1918 revolution; the establishment of democratic government in the Weimar constitution
• Government and opposition to 1924: post-war political problems; attempted coups and the opposition of left and right; the occupation of the Ruhr; the working of Weimar government; its strengths and weaknesses
• Government and opposition 1924–1929: the impact of the Ruhr invasion and the leadership of Stresemann; degree of governmental change; degree of opposition
• Economic developments: the impact of war; post-war economic problems and policies; reparations; hyperinflation; Dawes and Young Plans and foreign loans; industrial growth; agriculture
• Social developments: the effect of war on German society; social and cultural changes in Weimar Germany
• The political, economic and social condition of Germany by 1929

Part two: the impact of Nazism, war and division, 1929–1991 (A-level only)

The Nazi experiment, 1929–1949 (A-level only)

• Political authority 1929–1945: the collapse of Weimar democracy and the establishment of the one-party authoritarian Nazi State; the roles of Hindenburg and Hitler
• Government and opposition to 1945: Nazism as an ideology and in practice; Hitler's style of government; the Terror State; opposition and resistance; key Nazi leaders; the effect of war
• Political authority and government 1945–1949: post-war occupation and division; the issue of Berlin and the blockade; the division of Germany
• Economic developments: the impact of the Depression; recovery and development under Nazis in peace and war; the post-war economy
• Social developments and tensions; Nazi social policies including volksgemeinschaft and the racial state; Nazi culture; postwar German society and the legacy of Nazism
• The political, economic and social condition of Germany by 1949

Division to unity: the Federal Republic of Germany, 1949–1991 (A-level only)

• Political authority: Adenauer as Chancellor and establishment of democracy in Western Germany; the constitution, checks and balances; the state of German democracy
• Government and opposition: governments; parties and policies; chancellors after Adenauer and coalition governments under the three party system; the search for consensus
• Extra-parliamentary opposition and pressure: student protest; urban terrorism and the Baader-Meinhof gang; environmentalism
• Economic developments: the growth of the West German economy; the economic miracle and its aftermath; participation in the EEC/EU; impact of the oil crisis
• Social developments: the effect of the Nazi legacy; standards of living; changes to the position of women, youth, unemployment; social tensions; modern culture
• The political, economic and social condition of reunified Germany by 1991: Kohl and the drive to reunification; strengths and problems of reunification