📖 BAMF topic area: History and responsibility

German Citizenship Test: History and Responsibility — 75 questions

The Weimar Republic, National Socialism, the division of Germany, the GDR, the fall of the Wall and reunification — the largest body of material in the catalog. That is 75 of the 300 general questions.

What this block tests

This is the official BAMF area “Geschichte und Verantwortung” (history and responsibility), and the largest block in the catalog: 75 of the 300 general questions. A handful of turning points carry most of them, so learn these first: 1919 the Weimar Republic; 1933 the Nazi seizure of power; 1945 the end of the war; 1949 the Grundgesetz and the founding of West and East Germany; 1961 the Berlin Wall; 9 November 1989 the Wall falls; 3 October 1990 reunification. Those seven stations unlock a large part of this block.

All 75 questions on History and Responsibility

Open any question for the answer options, the reasoning, the key exam vocabulary, and the German wording used on exam day.

1. 59 How many years ago was there a Jewish community for the first time in the area of present-day Germany?

   Correct: about 1,700 years ago

2. 66 Which cities have the largest Jewish communities in Germany?

   Correct: Berlin and Munich

3. 151 Who built the Berlin Wall?

   Correct: the GDR (East Germany)

4. 152 When were the National Socialists with Adolf Hitler in power in Germany?

   Correct: 1933 to 1945

5. 153 What happened on 8 May 1945?

   Correct: End of World War II in Europe

6. 154 When did World War II end?

   Correct: 1945

7. 155 When were the National Socialists in power in Germany?

   Correct: 1933 to 1945

8. 156 In which year did Hitler become Reich Chancellor?

   Correct: 1933

9. 157 The National Socialists with Adolf Hitler established in Germany in 1933 …

   Correct: a dictatorship.

10. 158 The "Third Reich" was a …

    Correct: dictatorship.

11. 159 What did not exist in Germany during the National Socialist era?

    Correct: free elections

12. 160 Which war lasted from 1939 to 1945?

    Correct: World War II

13. 161 What characterised the Nazi state? A policy …

    Correct: of state racism

14. 162 Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg became famous for …

    Correct: the assassination attempt on Hitler on 20 July 1944.

15. 163 In which year did the National Socialists destroy synagogues and Jewish shops in Germany?

    Correct: 1938

16. 164 What happened on 9 November 1938 in Germany?

    Correct: Jewish shops and synagogues are destroyed by National Socialists and their supporters.

17. 165 What was the name of the first Federal Chancellor of Germany?

    Correct: Konrad Adenauer

18. 166 At which demonstrations in Germany did people chant "We are the people"?

    Correct: during the Monday demonstrations in 1989 in the GDR

19. 167 Which countries were called "Allied Occupation Powers" in Germany after World War II?

    Correct: USA, Soviet Union, Great Britain, France

20. 168 Which country was not an "Allied Occupation Power" in Germany?

    Correct: Japan

21. 169 When was the Federal Republic of Germany founded?

    Correct: 1949

22. 170 What existed during the National Socialist era in Germany?

    Correct: the banning of parties

23. 172 In which occupation zone was the GDR founded? In the …

    Correct: Soviet occupation zone

24. 173 The Federal Republic of Germany is a founding member of …

    Correct: the European Union (EU).

25. 174 When was the GDR founded?

    Correct: 1949

26. 175 How many occupation zones were there in Germany after World War II?

    Correct: 4

27. 176 How were Germany's occupation zones distributed after 1945?

    Correct: 1=Great Britain, 2=Soviet Union, 3=USA, 4=France

28. 177 Which German city was divided into four sectors after World War II?

    Correct: Berlin

29. 178 From June 1948 to May 1949, the citizens of West Berlin were supplied by an airlift. What circumstance was responsible for this?

    Correct: The Soviet Union interrupted all overland traffic.

30. 179 How did World War II officially end in Europe?

    Correct: through Germany's unconditional surrender

31. 180 The first Federal Chancellor of Germany was …

    Correct: Konrad Adenauer.

32. 181 What did Willy Brandt want to express with his kneeling in 1970 at the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw?

    Correct: He asked Poland and the Polish Jews for forgiveness.

33. 183 When was the "economic miracle" in Germany?

    Correct: 1950s

34. 184 On what legal basis was the State of Israel founded?

    Correct: a United Nations resolution

35. 185 What did the expression "Iron Curtain" stand for? The isolation …

    Correct: of the Warsaw Pact against the West

36. 186 In 1953, there was an uprising in the GDR that was commemorated for a long time by a public holiday in West Germany. When was it?

    Correct: 17 June

37. 187 Which German state had a black-red-gold flag with a hammer, compass and wreath of grain?

    Correct: GDR (East Germany)

38. 188 In which year was the Berlin Wall built?

    Correct: 1961

39. 189 When did the GDR build the Berlin Wall?

    Correct: 1961

40. 190 What does the abbreviation DDR stand for?

    Correct: German Democratic Republic

41. 191 When was the Berlin Wall opened for everyone?

    Correct: 1989

42. 192 Which present-day German federal state formerly belonged to the GDR?

    Correct: Brandenburg

43. 193 From 1961 to 1989, Berlin was …

    Correct: divided by a wall.

44. 194 On 3 October, Germany celebrates the Day of German …

    Correct: Unity.

45. 195 Which present-day German federal state formerly belonged to the GDR?

    Correct: Saxony-Anhalt

46. 196 Why is the time in autumn 1989 in the GDR called "The Turn"? During this time, the GDR changed politically …

    Correct: from a dictatorship to a democracy.

47. 197 Which present-day German federal state formerly belonged to the GDR?

    Correct: Thuringia

48. 198 Which present-day German federal state formerly belonged to the GDR?

    Correct: Saxony

49. 199 The abbreviation "Stasi" in the GDR referred to …

    Correct: the Ministry for State Security.

50. 200 Which present-day German federal state formerly belonged to the GDR?

    Correct: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

51. 201 Which of the following lists contains only federal states that belonged to the former GDR?

    Correct: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia

52. 202 Who did the GDR belong to during the Cold War?

    Correct: to the Warsaw Pact

53. 203 What was the economic system of the GDR called?

    Correct: Planned economy

54. 204 How did the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR become one state?

    Correct: Today's five eastern federal states joined the Federal Republic of Germany.

55. 205 With the GDR's accession to the Federal Republic of Germany, the new federal states now also belong to …

    Correct: the European Union.

56. 206 What do the so-called 'Stolpersteine' (stumbling stones) in Germany commemorate?

    Correct: the victims of National Socialism

57. 207 In which military alliance was the GDR a member?

    Correct: in the Warsaw Pact

58. 208 What was the 'Stasi'?

    Correct: the secret service of the GDR

59. 209 Which was the coat of arms of the German Democratic Republic?

    Correct: Image 4

60. 210 What happened on 17 June 1953 in the GDR?

    Correct: nationwide strikes and a popular uprising

61. 211 Which politician is associated with the 'Ostverträge' (Eastern treaties)?

    Correct: Willy Brandt

62. 215 Who is referred to as the 'Chancellor of German Unity'?

    Correct: Helmut Kohl

63. 217 In which period did the German Democratic Republic (GDR) exist?

    Correct: 1949 to 1990

64. 218 How many federal states were added to the Federal Republic of Germany during reunification in 1990?

    Correct: 5

65. 219 The Federal Republic of Germany has had its current borders since …

    Correct: 1990

66. 220 27 January is an official day of remembrance in Germany. What does this day commemorate?

    Correct: the victims of National Socialism (day of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp)

67. 228 What is the GDR's accession to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990 generally called?

    Correct: German reunification

68. 235 The then French President François Mitterrand and the then German Chancellor Helmut Kohl commemorate the dead of both world wars together in Verdun. Which goal of the European Union becomes clear at this meeting?

    Correct: Peace and security in the EU countries

69. 237 In 2007, the 50th anniversary of the 'Treaty of Rome' was celebrated. What was the content of the treaties?

    Correct: Founding of the European Economic Community (EEC)

70. 239 Through which treaties did the Federal Republic of Germany join with other states to form the European Economic Community?

    Correct: through the 'Treaty of Rome'

71. 240 Since when has cash payment been made with the euro in Germany?

    Correct: 2002

72. 288 What is Germany's special responsibility for Israel based on?

    Correct: the National Socialist crimes against Jews

73. 298 In the GDR, the migrants mainly came from …

    Correct: Vietnam, Poland, Mozambique.

74. 299 Foreign workers who were recruited by the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1950s and 1960s were called …

    Correct: guest workers.

75. 300 From which country did the first guest workers come to the Federal Republic of Germany?

    Correct: Italy

Other topics

Living in a Democracy · The State and Federalism · Law and the Rule of Law · People and Society · Basic Rights · Symbols and Public Holidays

Also worth doing: the 10 state questions for your Bundesland and the exam vocabulary list with translations.

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