AQA GCSE History Paper 1 (1AB), June 2025: Question 5

05 In what ways did Nazi racial policies affect the lives of people in Germany before 1939?

Explain your answer.

[8 marks]

The indicative content is designed to exemplify the qualities expected at each

level and is not a full exemplar answer. All historically relevant and valid

answers should be credited.

Target Explain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-

order concepts (AO2:4)

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and

characteristics of the period studied (AO1:4)

Level 4: Complex explanation of changes 7–8

Answer demonstrates a range of accurate and detailed knowledge and

understanding that is relevant to the question

Extends Level 3.

Students may progress from a developed explanation of changes by

explanation of the complexities of change arising from differences such as

time, group, social and/or economic impact, supported by knowledge and

understanding.

For example, Nazi racial policies were based on the idea of a master Aryan

race. Many Germans suffered persecution because they were considered

inferior such as gypsies, Jewish people. At the same time the Nazis tried to

increase the numbers of the Aryan race by encouraging German women to

have more babies.

Level 3: Developed explanation of changes 5–6

Answer demonstrates a range of accurate knowledge and understanding

that is relevant to the question

Extends Level 2.

Students may progress from a simple explanation by developed reasoning

considering two or more of the identified consequences, supporting them by

factual knowledge and understanding.

In addition to a Level 2 response, students make additional developed point(s).

For example, Nazi racial policies affected non-Jewish people because they had

to decide how to behave if they did not want to be persecuted themselves.

Some non-Jewish people were determined to continue to use Jewish shops

and keep Jewish friends. Many German Jews left Germany.

For example, Nazi racial policies affected Jewish people from 1933 as they–– –

passed more and more laws that took away the rights of Jewish people as

German citizens. In September 1935 marriage between Jews and non-Jews

was banned by the Nuremberg Laws. Nazi racial policy also affected anyone

they thought was inferior which included black people, and gypsies. 9

Level 2: Simple explanation of change 3–4

Answer demonstrates specific knowledge and understanding that is

relevant to the question

Students may progress from a basic explanation of change by using simple

reasoning and supporting it with factual knowledge and understanding which

might be related, for example, to one of the identified changes.

For example, German Jews suffered from Nazi racial policies. Their shops

were boycotted and they were banned from state jobs such as teachers and

lawyers. Jewish children and non-Jewish children could not play together.

Level 1: Basic explanation of change(s) 1–2

Answer demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding that is

relevant to the question

Students identify change(s), which are relevant to the question. Explanation at

this level is likely to be implicit or by assertion.

For example, German Jews were often attacked and had their property stolen

or destroyed.

Students either submit no evidence or fail to address the question 0