St Cenydd Comprehensive School Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1945
LESSON: Economic and Political Crisis 1929-33
Aims and Objectives: To find out why and how the Wall Street Crash
affected Germany and how the depression within
Germany after 1929 enhanced the popularity of
extremist parties – especially the Nazis.
Resources: 1. PowerPoint - Wall Street Crash
The reasons for the Crash and its impact
2. Powerpoint – Optional Task Sheets
3. Worksheet
To be used alongside the Powerpoint upon the Wall
Street Crash, or independently
4. Worsheet
This looks at the Political Crisis following the Wall
Street Crash in 1929
Initial Activity: Students will be divided into groups of four. Each
pupil will be sat on one of the four sides of a desk.
Each group of four should be given a copy of the ‘The
Golden Age of Weimar’ diagram. They will have a few
minutes to add in as much information as they can to
their ‘side’ of the diagram, e.g. ‘Economic Prosperity’.
After a minute the diagram must be rotated, so that
after four minutes each pupil has studied each of the
four ‘sides’ of the diagram and added in their own
information. A class discussion upon the Golden Years
will follow using this information. Facts could be
written up upon the Powerpoint version of the diagram
if an Interactive Whiteboard or projector is being
used.
Part One: Students will be presented with quote by Gustav
Sresemann which could lead onto a discussion about
the nature of ‘loans’ and the Dawes Plan of 1924. This
in turn could form the basis of a study upon the
economic problems associated with the Wall Street
Crash with particular emphasis being placed upon the
impact upon Germany. A series of sources will allow
students to further their knowledge of the nature of
the crisis in 1929 and why the economic fortunes of
Germany were so closely linked to the economy of the
USA.
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St Cenydd Comprehensive School Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1945
Relevant sections of the worksheet should be used
with these Powerpoint slides.
Part Two: Students are given the opportunity to study a visual
source – election poster of 1932. This should enable
them to consider how the state of the economy
contributed to the rise of extremist parties within
Germany – such as the Nazis. The election promises
made by Hitler and the appeal of Nazism can then be
discussed. The poster is reproduced within the
worksheets along with a question that requires a more
in-depth response.
Part Three: Students are asked to consider which sectors of
society would be affected by the Wall Street Crash
and how. The information that students need is found
upon the worksheets. A blank diagram (to be filled in)
has been provided in Powerpoint, but there is also the
option of bringing up information to fill the diagram
using pre-prepared information boxes.
Part Four: This explores the Political Crisis caused by the Wall
Street Crash. The last page of the worksheet
introduces this, but a separate worksheet has also
been provided upon this topic. The Powerpoint
provides sources for discussion and analysis and a key
word/term glossary. There is also the opportunity for
students to complete a diagram, or talk their way
around the diagram during class discussion. This will
be based upon how the political crisis helped Hitler
increase his popularity within Germany over time.
Plenary: A series of diagrams have been provided for the
purpose of recap and the reinforcement of knowledge
gained by working through each task.
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