A* standard notes for Cambridge A-Level History (9389/9489) Paper 4 European option, Depth Study 1: European history in the interwar years, 1919–41 covering Theme 3: Hitler's Germany (1929-41). Includes essay outlines, mind maps, and exam tips.
I achieved an A* for History in the Cambridge A-L...
A-LEVEL HISTORY: P4 (9489)- THEME 3: HITLER’S GERMANY, 1929-41
EUROPEAN OPTION, DEPTH STUDY 1: EUROPEAN HISTORY IN THE INTERWAR YEARS, 1919-41
3.0 Introduction: Issues before 1929
● Political
○ Weimar govt was Germany’s first democracy
■ Weimar Republic born out of military defeat & revolution post WW1
■ Undercurrent of anti-democratic feeling damaged the fabric of the republic
○ Pre-WW1, only men older than 25 could vote & elected representatives had very
little power
■ Weimar constitution: all men & women older than 20 could vote
● Women made up more than 52% of potential electorate
● Chancellor & the Cabinet needed to be approved by the Reichstag
(legislature)
○ Needed Reichstag’s continued support to stay in power
● Gave emergency powers to elected President & made him
Commander in Chief of armed forces
○ Post WW1
■ Shock of military defeat
■ Conviction that the nation was betrayed from within by corrupt & craven
politicians
● Created post war instability
■ Street fights between contending factions became common
○ 1924-29: The “Golden Age”
■ Govt started to become more stable
● Weimar chancellor formed legislative majorities based on coalitions
○ Mainly Social Democrats, Democratic party & the Cathoilic
Centre Party
■ People no longer supporting extreme parties
● Votes for Nazi’s & communists went down
■ 1925: Hidenburg elected President
● Openly anti-democracy & the Republic
■ No party could get a majority
● All govts still coalitions (mostly disagreed)
● Economic
○ WW1: crippling war debts debts + TOV
■ Treasury was empty
■ Currency losing value
○ Undernourished population, impoverished widows, orphan & disabled veterans
○ Hyperinflation
○ 1924-29: The “Golden Age”
■ Economy stabilised by American loans (Dawes Plan, 1924)
● Allowed German industry to recover almost to 1913 levels
● Germany became a leading exporter in the world for manufactured
goods
■ Strong support for moderate pro-Weimar political parties in 1928 elections
■ Economic recovery built on unstable foundations
● Created false idea of prosperity
● Loans could be recalled at any time
● Unemployment always serious issue
● Widening inequality gap
● Farming & agriculture did badly
■ German economy became ties up with powerful external forces which they
had no control over
Sonia A. Sanjay Notes
, ● Eg. disruption to world trade/finance markets
● Social
○ Class & Gender
■ Pre-WW1 society: rigid class separation & friction among the classes
● Aristocratic landowners looked down on middle & working class
Germans
○ Grudgingly associated with wealthy businessmen &
industrialists
● Middle class viewed themselves superior to factory workers
○ Battled to preserve their higher social status & monetary
advantages over the working class
■ Gender issues
● Women’s groups & left wing political parties attempted more gender
equality
● Ruth Fischer struggled to keep her German Communist Party
focused on the issues
○ Other women's groups, conservative & radical right-wing
political parties, & clergy resisted changes Fischer &
supporters advocated
● Constitution mandated considerable gender equality
○ Tradition & civil & criminal codes still strongly patriarchal
○ Contributed to perpetuating inequality
○ Culture
■ Forefront of arts, architecture, music & theatre
■ Unprecedented freedom & widespread latitude for varieties of cultural
expression = explosion of artistic production
○ Religion
■ Weimar Germany: 65% Protestant, 34% Cathoclic, 1% Jewish
■ German 1871 unification govt favoured Lutheran & Reformed (2 major
Protestant Churches)
● Govt harassed & restricted the Catholic Church
■ German Jews achieved legal equality in 1871
● Fought in record numbers during WW1
○ Antisemites refused to believe army’s own figures/records
■ Accused the Jews of undermining war effort
● New legal equality not equivalent to social equality
■ Under Weimar govt:
● Catholics entered the govt in leadership positions
● Portestant clergymen resented loss of their privileged status
● Intense conflicts over religion, education & gender policies
● Jews had unprecedented opportunities
○ Participated actively in Weimar cultural life
○ Accomplishments & increased visibility added resentment
to long-standing prejudices
■ Fueled a growing antisemitism
3.1 Why did Hitler gain power in 1933?
→ Problems facing Weimar politicians from 1929
● Political Issues
○ Weimar Constitution, August 1919
■ Lasted less than 15 years
■ Attempted to replicate a political system similar to US
■ Incorporated elements of democracy, federalism, checks & balances &
protection of individual rights
Sonia A. Sanjay Notes
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller soniaasanjay. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $20.00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
