Paper 3 — Modern depth: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39
Edexcel GCSE History revision on Paper 3 — Modern depth: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History 1HI0 specification. This bank has 10 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 10)
-
Question 1
The Reichstag fire (February 1933) was used by Hitler to...
- A) Prove Germany had no fire service
- B) Pass an emergency decree restricting civil liberties
- C) Declare war on Communist Russia
- D) Resign as Chancellor
Show answer
Answer: Pass an emergency decree restricting civil liberties
A young Dutch communist (van der Lubbe) was caught at the scene; the Nazis claimed a wider Communist conspiracy. Hindenburg signed the Reichstag Fire Decree suspending civil liberties — Communists were arrested en masse, opposition newspapers shut down. Crucial step in dismantling the Weimar democracy within weeks of Hitler becoming Chancellor.
-
Question 2
The Enabling Act of March 1933 gave Hitler the power to...
- A) Declare war without Reichstag approval
- B) Pass laws without the Reichstag
- C) Appoint Catholic priests
- D) Become President for life
Show answer
Answer: Pass laws without the Reichstag
Passed 23 March 1933 with the help of the Catholic Centre Party and after the Communist deputies had been arrested. Officially 'temporary' (4 years) but renewed. Marks the legal end of the Weimar Republic — democracy was voted out by its own parliament. Renewed every 4 years until 1945.
-
Question 3
The 'Night of the Long Knives' (1934) was when Hitler purged...
- A) Communists
- B) The SA (Brownshirts) leadership
- C) The Jewish community
- D) Foreign diplomats
Show answer
Answer: The SA (Brownshirts) leadership
Ernst Röhm + the SA had been crucial to Hitler's rise but were now seen as a rival power base. The regular army (Wehrmacht) demanded the SA be brought to heel as the price of loyalty. Hitler ordered SS death squads to kill SA leaders (+ other political enemies, including former Chancellor von Schleicher). The army then swore personal loyalty to Hitler.
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
7 more questions on Paper 3 — Modern depth: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole History spec.
More Edexcel History topics
- Paper 1 — Thematic: Medicine in Britain, c1250–present
- Paper 1 — Thematic: Migrants in Britain, c800–present
- Paper 2B — British depth: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88
- Paper 2B — British depth: Early Elizabethan England, 1558–1588
- Paper 2P — Period study: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91
- Paper 2P — Period study: The American West, c1835–c1895
- Paper 3 — Modern depth: Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917–41
- Paper 3 — Modern depth: USA 1954–75, Conflict at home and abroad
- Source skills (all papers)
- Wider — Britain: Power and the people, c1170–present
- Wider — WWI 1894–1918 (general context)