Topic 2 Essay Plans

Question 1

How did Hitler consolidate his power?

Answer 1

Argument: Policy was more important than terror because of the way he used politics to enable terror
Factors: Terror, Politics, The reichstag fire

Question 2

Was the third Reich a terror state?

Answer 2

Argument: Terror was involved in the control of the public, but many cooperated with Hitlers view
Factors: There was(traditional) v there wasn’t(revisionist) v complex picture(modern)

Question 3

Maintenance of power

Answer 3

Argument: total political takeover supported his dictatorship regardless of how he was doing
Factors: rivalries, politics, character

Question 4

Hitler as a leader

Answer 4

Argument: modern view, some of it was calculating but he wasn’t as strong as originally suggested
Factors: Intentionalist v terror state(revisionist) v complex picture (modern)

Question 5

Nature of the third Reich

Answer 5

Argument: the third Reich was inherently chaotic, which didn’t allow for opposition to form
Factors: polycratic, chaotic, feudal

Question 6

Success of the Volksgemeinschaft

Answer 6

Argument: Successful on a surface level, but didn’t create actual change
Factors: Racial exclusion, Asocial exclusion, Workers policies

Question 7

Experience of Women in the Volksgemeinschaft

Answer 7

Argument: Policy cause the regression of woman’s rights back to tradition, however many welcomed this
Factors: Traditional(Policy was oppressive) v Revisionist(Different not lesser)

Question 8

Experience of Youth in the Volksgemeinschaft

Answer 8

Argument: Got people involved but didn’t create a deeper change in mindset
Factors: Was politically successful v young people didn’t care

Question 9

Church opposition to the Nazi Regime

Answer 9

Argument: Both were complicit, however the Protestants were less so
Factors: Catholic’s, Protestants

Question 10

Army opposition to the Nazi Regime

Answer 10

Argument: Whilst they could’ve done more, the failure of army resistance was a result of Britain + France’s negligence
Factors: Complacency, Resitance, Army Purge

Question 11

Success and Limitations of Opposition

Answer 11

Argument: It is difficult to define opposition due to the individual nature of the acts. More individual acts were successful than organised groups.
Factors: Organised groups v Individuals