AQA GCSE HISTORY: Weimar and Nazi Germany Conflict and Tension 1918-1939

10.15 – 10:25am: Welcome and introductions: Key challenges of the course

• What are the key challenges of the course?
• Responding to sources objectively

10.25 – 11.00am: Germany and the growth of democracy: What chance in the 1920s did the Weimar Republic have of success?

• The problems faced by the Weimar Republic (e.g. Democracy new; Treaty of Versailles not ideal; Weimar constitution; revolts; hyperinflation)
• Its successes in the 1920s. e.g. alliances; economic recovery; culture
• Summary of Historiography – what key historians say:
• Exam technique: Advice and examples on Questions 4 and 5. (“Describe two ways….” And “In what ways….”)
• Examples of questions and outline of examiner Mark Schemes – with sample answers of differing levels e.g. Q4 – Describe two ways in which the Weimar Republic faced political unrest in the early 1920s? / Q5 – In what ways did hyperinflation affect the German people?

11.00 – 11.40am: Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor of Germany in January 1933?

• The failures of the Weimar Republic
• The Wall Street Crash and the Depression
• Nazi policies
• German politics 1932-33 (Role of Hindenburg, Bruning, etc)
• Exam technique – Advice and examples for Qu 6 – The Essay. (Which of two was more important?)
• Example of essay title and Mark Schemes and example answers of differing levels with examiner feedback.

 

11.40 – 11.55am: Break – Quiz Box submit your questions to our panel of experts for a prize

 

11.55 – 12:35pm: The experience of Germans under the Nazis – Why was Hitler able to establish a dictatorship so quickly?

• Reichstag Fire and Enabling Act
• Legal changes 1933, Propaganda and censorship, Repression
• Exam technique: Advice and examples for Questions 1, 2 and 3 – Interpretations.
• The exact requirements for each question will be emphasised to assist students with exam technique using Mark Schemes and sample answers of differing levels.

 

12.35 – 13.05pm: Lunch

 

13.05– 13.15pm: Quiz Box with the panel 

 

13:15-13.55pm: Conflict and tension: the inter-war years, 1918–1939

 

 

• Making peace in 1919: Why was it difficult to succeed?
• Aims of the Peacemakers: extent to which they achieved their aims
• The Versailles Settlement: Impact on defeated and victorious countries.
• Exam technique: Question 1 “How do you know….?” – What is required?
• Example of visual source, mark scheme and sample answers.

 

13.55 – 14.30pm: Why did the League of Nations fail?

• Its structure and membership
• Manchuria and Abyssinia
• Rise of dictatorships
• Exam technique: Question 2 – Example of Utility question, with two sources, one visual and one written.
• Examples of sources, mark scheme, sample answers at differing levels.
• Exam technique; Question 3 – Example of “Write an account….” question.

14.30 – 14.40pm: Break

14.40 – 15.15pm: Why were world powers unable to prevent the outbreak of war in 1939?

• A brief summary of the sequence of events to help with chronology
• This is a common failing in answers to the essay question
• The development of tension: Hitler’s aims and Allied reactions, Escalation of tension: the Rhineland, Mussolini, Anschluss, appeasement, The outbreak of war – the occupation of Czechoslovakia; the role of the USSR and the Nazi-Soviet Pact; the invasion of Poland and outbreak of war

 

Exam technique: Question 4: Essay question. (“The main reason why….)

• Using sample question, mark scheme, answers of differing levels, e.g. ‘The signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact was the main reason for the outbreak of the Second World War’, How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

 

15.15 – 15.25pm: Final top tips and reminders

 

• Remembering facts and using them brilliantly
• The key skills required to achieve Grades 7 to 9
• Action Plan – what students should do after today

Student £25+VAT

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Additional teachers £35+VAT
Individual teachers £80+VAT