Paper 1 Section A/B: Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship

June 2024

Q1: How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about Nazi youth groups?

Explain your answer based on what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, the interpretations differ about the propaganda and brainwashing young people faced in the Hitler Youth. In Interpretation A it says there was no political indoctrination but in Interpretation B it says she was attracted by the ideas of National Socialism and all the things that Hitler promised. For example, the interpretations differ because it says in Interpretation A that my parents did not mind me joining the Hitler Youth but in Interpretation B it says she joined secretly. Her parents did not allow her to join.

Q2: Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have a different interpretation

about Nazi youth groups? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

For example, the interpretations differ because the authors’ parents have different attitudes to the Nazis. The author of Interpretation A was aware because he worked in it that his father’s business depended on having good relations with the Nazi Party. The author of Interpretation B was the daughter of wealthy and well-educated people who did not approve of the Hitler Youth and Maschmann rejected them because she was brainwashed by the Nazis. For example, Interpretation A was by a boy who enjoyed doing things with his friends. Whereas Interpretation B was written by a German girl who does not seem to enjoy the same thing as her friends.

Q3: Which interpretation gives the more convincing opinion about Nazi youth groups?

Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, Interpretations A and B both have convincing opinions in a way because as the Nazis became more influential it became harder to openly disagree. Interpretation A shows that the activities were attractive to boys at a time when there was little else. But the HJ experience changed and became more military after Hitler came to power and then as war approached. There were similar activities for girls which like the boys were competitive. Both boys and girls shared the Nazi propaganda which became more intense after 1933 when Hitler became dictator. For example, Interpretation B is a more convincing opinion about the Hitler Youth which won young people to support the Nazis. In the 1930s Germany suffered from the Depression and Hitler offered simple solutions to the problems of unemployment and poverty. Hitler criticised the Treaty of Versailles for being unfair and did not want Germany to become Communist. All these ideas were impressed on young people in regular HJ meetings and in For example, Interpretation B is convincing because the Nazis tried to indoctrinate young people at school and in the Hitler Youth. Young people were attracted by the uniform, and being part of something dynamic, with athletic activities and competitions. For example, Interpretation A is more convincing because it was hard during the Depression when so many people were out of work. The activities of the Hitler Youth were exciting.

Q4: Describe two problems faced by the German people during the Great Depression of

the early 1930s.

Answer:

For example, one problem the Depression caused was widespread unemployment and hunger for the German people. About six million people became unemployed as German businesses went bankrupt. German politicians could not agree on how to deal with it and argued about what to do, and so Bruning had to pass emergency laws. Another problem faced by the German people was desperation about when it would end. It affected all classes and so businessman and middle-class people became disillusioned with the government and began to show support for the For example, during the Depression lots of Germans lost their jobs and became unemployed, there was no work for them.

Q5: In what ways were the lives of the German people affected by the culture of

Weimar Germany? Explain your answer.

Answer:

For example, Weimar affected the German people because it released their creative powers and innovation to produce a radical, experimental ‘Golden Age’ which contrasted with pre-war Germany controlled by the Kaiser. Not all Germans welcomed these cultural changes. They wanted art, music, theatre, and film, and literature to celebrate the older traditional values of Germany. They thought the new nightclubs, shows and paintings showed that Germany was in a moral decline. For example, the Weimar period allowed many Germans to go to clubs for entertainment and it was a boost to nightlife as the cities hosted new plays, operas, and theatre such as Kurt Weill’s, ‘The Threepenny Opera.’ This was a vulgar and critical play which would have been banned when the Kaiser ruled Germany. In the Berlin nightclubs live music was played which was American jazz and had exotic dancers. For example, during the Weimar period Germans enjoyed the cinema. There was a new freedom and excitement of seeing films like Metropolis by Fritz Lang or Nosferatu which was the first vampire horror film. Actresses like Marlene Dietrich was a glamorous and powerful role model for women. But many Germans were also disgusted by Weimar culture which they thought was corrupt and sex obsessed. For example, during the Weimar period it was a golden age for the German film industry. Cinema became very popular a famous film called Metropolis directed by Fritz Lang was very modern and advanced and attracted large audiences. Cinema also made actresses like Marlene Dietrich popular. For example, after the First World War it was an exciting time for Germans as they could visit the theatre and the nightclubs started.

Q6: Which of the following had the greater impact on Germany in the years 1919 to 1923:

• political unrest • economic problems? Explain your answer with reference to both bullet points. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

For example, both reasons were important and worked together. Weimar had economic problems which then led to political challenges. The economic problems caused poverty which short-lived Weimar governments could not deal with effectively. Few people had faith in the new Weimar Constitution. Many political parties on the Right and Left saw the situation as an opportunity and tried to seize control. They wanted different things, for example, the Kapp Putsch in 1920 wanted to restore the Kaiser. The Spartacists who wanted to copy the Bolshevik regime in Russia, tried to take over Germany in January 1919. Hitler also tried a takeover in Munich in 1923. No political group was strong enough to win through but it had an impact on Germany making it difficult to govern and keep the peace. For example, economic problems had the greater impact because they affected everyone in Germany and the revolts and putsches were only in certain places. After the war the country still had enormous debts from paying for weapons, and the Reparations bill of £6.6 billion. When the government failed to pay in January 1923, the French and Belgians invaded the Ruhr. This led to hyperinflation and people’s savings became worthless. The government printed money which made things worse. Businesses went bankrupt. This led For example, Germany had economic problems. They had failed to pay Reparations and as a result the French invaded the Ruhr and this led to hyperinflation. The money was worth nothing. For example, the political challenges were when the Spartacists threatened to overturn the government of Berlin in 1919.