The Nazi Party tried to win support in a number of ways. DEPTH STUDY B: GERMANY, 1918–45

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] 'The SA was a paramilitary organisation.'
2. [1-4] 'They were Hitler's storm troopers.'
3. [1-4] 'Many of the SA were ex-soldiers from the Freikorps.'
4. [1-4] 'The SA attended Nazi meetings and attacked Hitler's opponents.'
5. [1-4] 'The head of the SA was Ernst Röhm.'
6. [1-4] 'The SA was founded in 1921 by Hitler.'
7. [1-4] 'The SA were also known as Brownshirts.'
8. [2-3] 'The Weimar government was not popular.'
9. [2-3] 'Hitler wanted to overthrow the Weimar government.'
10. [2-3] 'Hyperinflation was causing problems for many Germans.'
11. [2-3] 'The government had called off passive resistance in the Ruhr.'
12. [2-3] 'Hitler thought that Ludendorff could persuade the army to support the putsch.'
13. [2-3] 'Hitler wanted to set up a Nazi government with himself in power.'
14. [4-5] 'The Munich Putsch took place because the Weimar government was very unpopular. Hyperinflation was causing many problems for Germans and the end of passive resistance in the Ruhr made it seem as though the government had given in to the French. In parts of Germany there was support for left-wing movements and it seemed as though the Weimar government were prepared to tolerate these. Hitler wanted to overthrow the Weimar government and he thought he could capitalise on the discontent which was felt against them.'
15. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons (e.g., unpopularity of the Weimar government and hyperinflation).
16. [2-3] 'Goebbels organised mass rallies.'
17. [2-3] 'Germany was flooded with propaganda posters and leaflets.'
18. [2-3] 'People were afraid of communism.'
19. [2-3] 'The middle and upper classes did not want the Communists to come to power.'
20. [2-3] 'The economic depression meant that people looked for more extreme parties to provide solutions to the problems they were facing.'
21. [4-6] 'Goebbels was one reason for the increasing popularity of the Nazis before 1933. He was in charge of the propaganda machine and bombarded Germany with posters and leaflets about Hitler and the Nazi Party. He organised torchlight processions and mass rallies where people could hear Hitler speak. In the presidential election campaign of 1932, Goebbels organised the 'Hitler over Germany' tour when Hitler flew to many different parts of Germany, spreading the Nazi message.'
22. [4-6] 'However, there were other reasons why the Nazis became increasingly popular. One of them was that the economic depression also led to an increase in support for the Communists. They argued that the root cause of Germany's problems was capitalism and this frightened many middle and upper class Germans. Wealthy businessmen began to support the Nazi Party and gave it funding so that it would prevent the Communists from coming to power.'
23. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides (A L4 answer will have a minimum of three explanations (2 on one side; 1 on the other). Fuller explanation of one issue to be given two marks. An answer which only has one explanation on one side of the argument cannot be awarded more than 8.)
24. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far' (As Level 4 plus evaluation.)