Weimar Germany and the Rise of Hitler
Printed Curriculum [$25]
Downloadable Curriculum [$20]
Class Set [$12.50 ea] (10 min)
Fourth edition.
Overview
The study of democracy -- its historical roots, its economic and social prerequisites, its institutions and structures, and its ramifications for international relations -- is particularly important today. In Weimar Germany and the Rise of Hitler students have an opportunity to ponder the lessons for democracy from one of the 20th century's most troubling political legacies.
Weimar Germany and the Rise of Hitler asks students to see the world through the eyes of Germans in the Weimar era and to contemplate German political choices in 1932.Students examine the foundations of Western democracy and explore the political culture of Weimar Germany. In the end, students are compelled to consider why democracy failed to take root in a modern, industrialized society that had long been at the forefront of Western civilization, and how the carefully crafted parliamentary system of the Weimar Republic resulted in the triumph of Nazism.
Readings
The background reading in Weimar Germany and the Rise of Hitler familiarizes students with the zeitgeist of the Weimar era and prepare them to consider the choices facing the German electorate in July 1932. Throughout the unit, students are exposed to primary source documents, excerpts from Weimar literature and drama, campaign posters, and political art.
- Part I reviews Germany's emergence as a major power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and recounts the country's defeat in World War I.
- Part II examines the forces that contributed to the polarization of German politics in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
- Part III has students explore the highly politicized art and culture of the Weimar period.
The Choices Role Play
The four distinct political party platforms at the core of the unit reconstruct the German political spectrum in July 1932. Each platform is grounded in a clearly defined philosophy about the German role in the world, the lessons of World War I, and Germany's compliance with the Versailles Treaty. By exploring a broad range of alternatives, students gain a deeper understanding of the competing values and assumptions that framed the political debate in the Weimar Republic. Ultimately, the intent is to help students clarify their thoughts on the failure of democracy in Weimar Germany, articulate their own views, and apply the lessons of history to the challenges facing democratic institutions today both at home and abroad.
Lessons
The Teacher's Resource Book accompanying Weimar Germany and the Rise of Hitler contains a day-by-day lesson plan and student activities.
- Day One engages students in a study of the birth pangs of the Weimar Republic.
- Day Two examines the impact of hyperinflation and economic depression on Weimar society.
- Day Three asks students to focus on the political content of Weimar culture.
- Day Four engages students in a simulation based on the election of July 1932.
- Day Five engages students in consideration of the implementation of Hitler's strategy to establish a totalitarian dictatorship.
- Two Optional Lessons are included in the unit. The first examines how the political values of the Weimar era were reflected in the children's literature of the period. The second invites students to step into the shoes of two patriotic Germans who openly challenged Nazi rule.