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Year 11 - History

The early development of the NSDAP

Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils study a modern society and the issues that affected it in great depth over a shorter period. They learn about the key events, developments, people and stories that shaped this modern society over a period of around twenty to thirty years.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the early development of the NSDAP.

Key Notes

  • Hitler's belief in Pan-Germanism and antisemitism grew in Vienna; it was later shaped by post-war Germany's instability.
  • In 1919, Hitler joined the DAP, which later became the NSDAP promoting nationalism, Volkism and opposition to communism.
  • The 25 Point Programme outlined Nazi core beliefs of reversing Versailles, uniting ethnic Germans and antisemitism.
  • Hitler used his talent for public speaking and propaganda to attract supporters and spread his extremist ideology.
  • The SA was a Nazi paramilitary force that protected meetings, attacked opponents and spread Nazi influence.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Pan-Germanism: a nationalist idea in which all ethnic Germans or German-speaking people should unite under one German nation
  • socialist: a supporter of left-wing beliefs that state that all people are equal and should share equally in a country's money
  • Völkisch: meaning 'of the people', it came to be linked to extreme German nationalism and Germanic racial awareness
  • anti-semitic: hate or strong dislike of Jews, or actions that express hate or dislike of Jews
  • propaganda: information or ideas that are spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions; media that is designed to promote a particular political agenda

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Hitler's rise to power was purely due to his use of violence and intimidation.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Hitler's belief in Pan-Germanism and antisemitism grew in Vienna; it was later shaped by post-war Germany's instability. In 1919, Hitler joined the DAP, which later became the NSDAP promoting nationalism, Volkism and opposition to communism.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Pan-Germanism'

a nationalist idea in which all ethnic Germans or German-speaking people should unite under one German nation.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Hitler's rise to power was purely due to his use of violence and intimidation. Correction: While violence and intimidation played a role, Hitler's personal appeal was a major factor in attracting support. He was a highly skilled public speaker and capable of delivering passionate speeches that resonated with many Germans.

More Lessons In This Unit

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