GCSE Module: Germany 1890-1945

Unit: 1933-45

Year group: 10

When taught: April to June

AQA syllabus link: Click here

What are we learning?

• How did the Nazis try to indoctrinate the young?
• How did people oppose the Nazis?
• How did Hitler deal with the Churches?
• How and why did Hitler promote the ideal Aryan woman? How successful was he?
• What happened to African-Germans under the Nazis?
• Is Lien de Jong’s story typical of European Jews in the 20^th Century?
• What were the different stages of the persecution of the Jews?
• What was the Final Solution?
• How did the Nazi period end?

How will we be assessed on this topic?

• The end of topic assessment will include a knowledge test (including some multiple choice questions, some non multiple-choice questions, a chronology task and a key word task).
• A one hour assessment paper conducted in timed conditions covering all the different question types on the GCSE paper.

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?  

• A sound and good chronological understanding of key events;
• Use of specific factual evidence relevant to the question asked;
• A wide range of appropriate key terms used in written responses;
• Developed explanation: use of the BLT framework;
• ‘Complex thinking’/ evaluation in answers – thinking about short term/ long term/ people/ place/ extent etc.
• The ability to analyse interpretations using your own historical understanding.
• Strong linkages in conclusions and between paragraphs.

What key words are there in this topic?

Quizlet: click here

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

• Learn more about Germany in this period by using the school’s Historical Association account where you will find lots of information/ podcasts about the topic. Ask Mrs Wahlen for the username and password;
• Listen to some podcasts. There are some excellent pods on The Rest is History: click here
• Watch some relevant films and documentaries about Weimar and Nazi Germany:
  • The Book Thief
  • Jo Jo Rabbit
  • Babylon Berlin (boxset)
  • Stalingrad
  • Schindlers List
  • The Pianist
  • Rise and Fall of the Nazis: click here

Read some historical fiction or non-fiction – see the ideas below!

What wider reading can be done on this topic?

There is a whole range of historical fiction on Weimar and Nazi Germany. Below are a few ideas- some are available from the library:

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink: click here

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak: click here

Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada: click here

Recommended non-fiction:

The Third Reich: A new History by Michael Burleigh: click here

Women in Nazi Germany by Jill Stephenson: click here

The Coming of the Third Reich by Richard Evans

A Woman in Berlin by Anonymous

Supporting document/links:

• Students will be given a knowledge organiser at the end of the topic to revise for the end of topic assessment.
• GCSE pod