Curriculum Portal

neurologyYou need to know

• Economic developments
• Gustav Stresemann's role in restoring economic confidence and political stability.
• The Dawes Plan (1924): revised reparation payments, foreign loans and US investment.
• The extent and limitations of industrial recovery, including increased production and modernisation.
• Continued economic weaknesses, including reliance on short-term American loans.
• Problems in agriculture: falling prices, debt and declining rural incomes.
• The reparations issue and negotiations leading to the Young Plan (1929).
• Why economic recovery was uneven and did not benefit all groups equally.
• Social developments
• Social welfare reforms, including improvements in housing, health provision and unemployment insurance.
• Changes in wages, working conditions and living standards.
• Differences between urban and rural experiences of recovery.
• Changing lifestyles, including increased leisure, consumerism and the visibility of the "New Woman".
• The development of Weimar culture in major cities, particularly Berlin.
• Key developments in art, including New Objectivity.
• Bauhaus architecture and design.
• Innovation in music, cabaret, theatre, literature and cinema.
• Opposition to cultural change from traditional, conservative and rural groups.
• Political developments and democracy
• The election of Paul von Hindenburg as President in 1925 and its significance.
• The main political parties and the groups they represented.
• Election results and the changing levels of support for pro-Republic parties.
• The strengths and weaknesses of coalition government.
• Attitudes towards the Republic among workers, the middle classes, landowners, industrialists, the army and the judiciary.
• The continued influence of traditional elites and their limited commitment to democracy.
• The position of extremist parties, including the Nazis and Communists.
• The Nazis' reorganisation following the Munich Putsch and Hitler's release from prison.
• The extent to which Germany achieved genuine political stability by 1928.
• Germany's international position
• Stresemann's aims: revising Versailles, improving relations with other powers and restoring Germany's international status.
• The Locarno Treaties (1925) and their importance for relations with France and Belgium.
• Germany's entry into the League of Nations in 1926.
• The improvement in Germany's diplomatic position and international reputation.
• The limits of Stresemann's achievements, including the continued existence of the Versailles settlement.
• The relationship between foreign-policy success and domestic economic and political stability.

• Explain why the years 1924–1928 are often described as Weimar Germany's "Golden Age".
• Assess Stresemann's contribution to Germany's economic, political and diplomatic recovery.
• Evaluate the successes and limitations of the Dawes Plan.
• Analyse the extent and uneven nature of Germany's economic recovery.
• Compare the experiences of industry, agriculture and different social groups.
• Assess how far living standards and social welfare improved.
• Explain the main features and significance of Weimar culture.
• Evaluate the extent to which cultural developments reflected wider social change.
• Explain why Weimar culture attracted both support and opposition.
• Analyse election results and identify patterns of support for democratic and extremist parties.
• Assess the significance of Hindenburg's presidency and the influence of traditional elites.
• Evaluate how far political extremism declined during this period.
• Judge whether democracy had become more stable and widely accepted by 1928.
• Assess the aims, methods and achievements of Stresemann's foreign policy.
• Analyse primary sources using content, provenance, tone, purpose and historical context.
• Evaluate historical interpretations by comparing arguments, evidence and emphasis.
• Use accurate evidence—dates, individuals, policies and relevant statistics—to support conclusions.
• Write focused arguments that assess both the achievements and underlying weaknesses of the Republic.