HSY3702
Assignment 7 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: 28 May 2026
TOPIC 1
With reference to Jill Stephenson’s notion of “Sonderweg” in the chapter found in
Mary Fulbrook’s edited book, “To what extent did Germany’s Social, Economic, and
Political experiences during the inter-war period (1919-1939) contribute to the
outbreak of the Second World War?”
1. Introduction
Germany’s road to the Second World War was shaped strongly by the social, economic and
political pressures that developed between 1919 and 1939.
TOPIC 2
With reference to the concepts you have learned from Robert Skidelsky’s chapter
about the world economy in the second half of the 20th Century, “Compare and
contrast the extent to which Japan and the Chinese People’s Republic demonstrated
characteristics of Managed and Neo-liberal markets from the post-WWII period to the
mid1990s.”
1. Introduction
Japan and the Chinese People's Republic followed very different paths after the Second
World War, but both showed that pure free-market capitalism was not the only route to
Terms of use
growth. By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 81 278 3372
TOPIC 1
With reference to Jill Stephenson’s notion of “Sonderweg” in the chapter
found in Mary Fulbrook’s edited book, “To what extent did Germany’s Social,
Economic, and Political experiences during the inter-war period (1919-1939)
contribute to the outbreak of the Second World War?”
1. Introduction
Germany’s road to the Second World War was shaped strongly by the social,
economic and political pressures that developed between 1919 and 1939. The war
did not happen only because of old German history, and it also did not happen only
because of one sudden crisis. The better view is that older weaknesses in German
society became more dangerous after defeat in the First World War, the Treaty of
Versailles, economic collapse and the failure of democratic politics. Jill Stephenson’s
idea of Sonderweg is useful because it raises the question of whether Germany
followed a special path towards dictatorship and war.1 At the same time, this view
must be used carefully, because Nazism was not simply unavoidable from the
beginning of modern German history.2 The inter-war period gave Hitler and the Nazi
Party the chance to turn grievance, fear and unemployment into support for
dictatorship and aggressive foreign policy.3
2. The Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the German Economy and Politics
The Treaty of Versailles had a serious effect on German politics because it made the
new Weimar Republic appear weak from its beginning. Many Germans believed that
the peace settlement was unfair, humiliating and forced on a defeated nation without
real choice.4 This mattered because democratic leaders were blamed for accepting
the treaty, even though Germany’s military defeat had already made its position very
weak.5 The treaty became a political weapon for nationalist groups, who claimed that
Germany had been betrayed by politicians rather than defeated by war. 6 This belief
1
Jill Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis: Sonderweg or spanner in the works?’ in Mary Fulbrook (ed),
German History since 1800 (Hodder Education 1997) 298.
2
Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis’ 299.
3
Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis’ 300.
4
Richard Bessel, ‘Germany from war to dictatorship’ in Mary Fulbrook (ed), German History since
1800 (Hodder Education 1997) 235.
5
Bessel, ‘Germany from war to dictatorship’ 236.
6
Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis’ 315.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
Assignment 7 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: 28 May 2026
TOPIC 1
With reference to Jill Stephenson’s notion of “Sonderweg” in the chapter found in
Mary Fulbrook’s edited book, “To what extent did Germany’s Social, Economic, and
Political experiences during the inter-war period (1919-1939) contribute to the
outbreak of the Second World War?”
1. Introduction
Germany’s road to the Second World War was shaped strongly by the social, economic and
political pressures that developed between 1919 and 1939.
TOPIC 2
With reference to the concepts you have learned from Robert Skidelsky’s chapter
about the world economy in the second half of the 20th Century, “Compare and
contrast the extent to which Japan and the Chinese People’s Republic demonstrated
characteristics of Managed and Neo-liberal markets from the post-WWII period to the
mid1990s.”
1. Introduction
Japan and the Chinese People's Republic followed very different paths after the Second
World War, but both showed that pure free-market capitalism was not the only route to
Terms of use
growth. By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 81 278 3372
TOPIC 1
With reference to Jill Stephenson’s notion of “Sonderweg” in the chapter
found in Mary Fulbrook’s edited book, “To what extent did Germany’s Social,
Economic, and Political experiences during the inter-war period (1919-1939)
contribute to the outbreak of the Second World War?”
1. Introduction
Germany’s road to the Second World War was shaped strongly by the social,
economic and political pressures that developed between 1919 and 1939. The war
did not happen only because of old German history, and it also did not happen only
because of one sudden crisis. The better view is that older weaknesses in German
society became more dangerous after defeat in the First World War, the Treaty of
Versailles, economic collapse and the failure of democratic politics. Jill Stephenson’s
idea of Sonderweg is useful because it raises the question of whether Germany
followed a special path towards dictatorship and war.1 At the same time, this view
must be used carefully, because Nazism was not simply unavoidable from the
beginning of modern German history.2 The inter-war period gave Hitler and the Nazi
Party the chance to turn grievance, fear and unemployment into support for
dictatorship and aggressive foreign policy.3
2. The Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the German Economy and Politics
The Treaty of Versailles had a serious effect on German politics because it made the
new Weimar Republic appear weak from its beginning. Many Germans believed that
the peace settlement was unfair, humiliating and forced on a defeated nation without
real choice.4 This mattered because democratic leaders were blamed for accepting
the treaty, even though Germany’s military defeat had already made its position very
weak.5 The treaty became a political weapon for nationalist groups, who claimed that
Germany had been betrayed by politicians rather than defeated by war. 6 This belief
1
Jill Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis: Sonderweg or spanner in the works?’ in Mary Fulbrook (ed),
German History since 1800 (Hodder Education 1997) 298.
2
Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis’ 299.
3
Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis’ 300.
4
Richard Bessel, ‘Germany from war to dictatorship’ in Mary Fulbrook (ed), German History since
1800 (Hodder Education 1997) 235.
5
Bessel, ‘Germany from war to dictatorship’ 236.
6
Stephenson, ‘The rise of the Nazis’ 315.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
