Germany Revision GCSE

Question 1

What triggered the German Revolution in Oct–Nov 1918?

Answer 1

Naval mutiny at Kiel, Oct 1918.

Question 2

What happened to the Kaiser in Nov 1918?

Answer 2

Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated on 9 Nov 1918 and fled to the Netherlands.

Question 3

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

Answer 3

28 June 1919.

Question 4

What were Germany’s military restrictions under the treaty?

Answer 4

Army limited to 100,000 men, no air force, navy limited.

Question 5

What was Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 5

War Guilt Clause – Germany accepted blame for the war.

Question 6

What was signed in August 1919?

Answer 6

The Weimar Constitution.

Question 7

What type of democracy was introduced?

Answer 7

Proportional representation, President elected every 7 years.

Question 8

What was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 8

Right-wing uprising led by Wolfgang Kapp in March 1920.

Question 9

Why did the Kapp Putsch fail?

Answer 9

Workers went on strike, shutting down Berlin.

Question 10

Why did French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr in 1923?

Answer 10

Germany failed to pay reparations.

Question 11

What was Germany’s response?

Answer 11

Passive resistance and strikes.

Question 12

What was Stresemann’s key economic reform?

Answer 12

Introduced the Rentenmark in 1923.

Question 13

What was the Dawes Plan (1924)?

Answer 13

US loans to Germany, lower reparation payments.

Question 14

What was the Locarno Pact (1925)?

Answer 14

Germany accepted western borders, improved relations.

Question 15

When did Germany join the League of Nations?

Answer 15

1926 – under Stresemann’s leadership.

Question 16

What was the Young Plan (1929)?

Answer 16

Reduced reparations to £2 billion, more time to pay.

Question 17

When did Stresemann die?

Answer 17

October 1929 – just before the Wall Street Crash.

Question 18

When did Hitler join the DAP?

Answer 18

He joined in September 1919.

Question 19

Who founded the DAP?

Answer 19

Anton Drexler.

Question 20

What changes did Hitler make to the DAP in 1920?

Answer 20

Renamed to NSDAP, introduced the 25-Point Programme.

Question 21

What was the SA and when was it formed?

Answer 21

The Sturmabteilung (SA), formed in 1921, acted as Nazi paramilitary.

Question 22

What was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 22

A failed Nazi coup in Munich on 8–9 Nov 1923.

Question 23

What happened to Hitler after the Putsch?

Answer 23

He was imprisoned and wrote Mein Kampf.

Question 24

How did Hitler reorganise the Nazi Party after 1924?

Answer 24

Created the SS, improved propaganda, set up Hitler Youth.

Question 25

Who led Nazi propaganda?

Answer 25

Joseph Goebbels.

Question 26

What was the SS and who led it?

Answer 26

Schutzstaffel – elite bodyguard unit led by Heinrich Himmler.

Question 27

What caused economic collapse in 1929?

Answer 27

Wall Street Crash in October 1929.

Question 28

How many were unemployed by 1932?

Answer 28

Over 6 million.

Question 29

How did the Nazis gain support?

Answer 29

Promised jobs, strong leadership, and blamed the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 30

When did Hitler run for president and lose?

Answer 30

March 1932 – lost to Hindenburg.

Question 31

When did Hitler become Chancellor?

Answer 31

30 January 1933.

Question 32

What event in Feb 1933 helped Hitler gain power?

Answer 32

Reichstag Fire on 27 February 1933, blamed on Communists.

Question 33

What gave Hitler law-making powers?

Answer 33

Enabling Act – 23 March 1933.

Question 34

When did Hitler become Führer?

Answer 34

2 August 1934 after Hindenburg’s death.

Question 35

What happened during the Night of the Long Knives (June 1934)?

Answer 35

Hitler ordered the SS to kill SA leaders including Ernst Röhm.

Question 36

Why did Hitler target the SA?

Answer 36

To eliminate rivals and gain army support.

Question 37

What were the Gestapo and SS?

Answer 37

Secret police and elite guard enforcing Nazi control.

Question 38

Who was head of the SS?

Answer 38

Heinrich Himmler.

Question 39

What was the role of concentration camps?

Answer 39

Detain political enemies and minorities without trial.

Question 40

How did Nazis control information?

Answer 40

Banned opposition media, used propaganda and radio.

Question 41

What happened to books?

Answer 41

Un-German books were publicly burned.

Question 42

What was the DAF?

Answer 42

German Labour Front – replaced trade unions.

Question 43

What were Strength Through Joy and Beauty of Labour?

Answer 43

Schemes to reward loyal workers with holidays and better conditions.

Question 44

What were Nazi views on women?

Answer 44

Women should be mothers, follow the 3 Ks: Kinder, Küche, Kirche.

Question 45

How were children indoctrinated?

Answer 45

Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens promoted Nazi values.

Question 46

What were the Nuremberg Laws (1935)?

Answer 46

Stripped Jews of citizenship and banned marriage with Germans.

Question 47

What was Kristallnacht?

Answer 47

9–10 Nov 1938 – Jewish businesses and synagogues attacked.

Question 48

What was the Final Solution?

Answer 48

Nazi plan to exterminate all Jews, began in 1941 with death camps.

Question 49

What were ghettos?

Answer 49

Segregated areas where Jews were forced to live in terrible conditions.

Question 50

When did WWII start?

Answer 50

1 September 1939 – Germany invaded Poland.

Question 51

How did war affect life in Germany?

Answer 51

Bombing raids, rationing, conscription, and total war policies.

Question 52

Who opposed the Nazis?

Answer 52

Edelweiss Pirates, White Rose Group, some army officers.

Question 53

What was the July Bomb Plot?

Answer 53

Failed attempt to kill Hitler on 20 July 1944.