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Citizenship test questions on National Socialism and World War II
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The 17 questions on National Socialism and the Second World War are mostly about dates and about what defined the Nazi dictatorship. You will be asked when the National Socialists were in power (1933 to 1945), when Hitler became Reich Chancellor, how long the war lasted and how it ended in Europe. Other questions cover the November pogroms of 1938, the assassination attempt of 20 July 1944, the features of the Nazi state – dictatorship, state racism, banned parties, no free elections – and remembrance today: the day of remembrance on 27 January and the Stolpersteine (“stumbling stones”). Study tip: six dates answer almost every question – 1933, 9 November 1938, 1939, 20 July 1944, 27 January 1945 and 8 May 1945. Write them down as a timeline and link one event to each.
What you should know
- The National Socialists under Adolf Hitler were in power from 1933 to 1945; Hitler became Reich Chancellor in 1933.
- The “Third Reich” was a dictatorship: parties were banned, and there was press censorship, arbitrary arrest and no free elections.
- The Nazi state was defined by state racism – culminating in the persecution and murder of Europe's Jews in the Holocaust (Shoah).
- On 9 November 1938 National Socialists and their supporters destroyed synagogues and Jewish shops (the November pogroms).
- The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945; it began with Germany's attack on Poland.
- Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg stands for the resistance: on 20 July 1944 he carried out an assassination attempt on Hitler.
- The war in Europe ended on 8 May 1945 with Germany's unconditional surrender – not with Hitler's death (question 179).
- 27 January is the day of remembrance for the victims of National Socialism – on that day in 1945 the Auschwitz extermination camp was liberated.
- Stolpersteine (“stumbling stones”) are small memorial plaques set into the pavement that commemorate victims of National Socialism.
- Don't mix up the two 9 Novembers: 1938 (the pogroms) and 1989 (the fall of the Wall) – our German history timeline has all the key dates.
The questions with the correct answer (17 questions)
Practise this topicQuestion 152
When were the National Socialists under Adolf Hitler in power in Germany?
Wann waren die Nationalsozialisten mit Adolf Hitler in Deutschland an der Macht?
- 1918 to 1923
- 1932 to 1950
- 1933 to 1945 – Correct answer
- 1945 to 1989
In the test (German): 1933 bis 1945
View this questionQuestion 153
What happened on 8 May 1945?
Was war am 8. Mai 1945?
- death of Adolf Hitler
- start of the construction of the Berlin Wall
- election of Konrad Adenauer as Federal Chancellor
- end of the Second World War in Europe – Correct answer
In the test (German): Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs in Europa
View this questionQuestion 154
When did the Second World War end?
Wann war der Zweite Weltkrieg zu Ende?
- 1933
- 1945 – Correct answer
- 1949
- 1961
In the test (German): 1945
View this questionQuestion 155
When were the National Socialists in power in Germany?
Wann waren die Nationalsozialisten in Deutschland an der Macht?
- 1888 to 1918
- 1921 to 1934
- 1933 to 1945 – Correct answer
- 1949 to 1963
In the test (German): 1933 bis 1945
View this questionQuestion 156
In which year did Hitler become Reich Chancellor?
In welchem Jahr wurde Hitler Reichskanzler?
- 1923
- 1927
- 1933 – Correct answer
- 1936
In the test (German): 1933
View this questionQuestion 157
In Germany in 1933, the National Socialists under Adolf Hitler established …
Die Nationalsozialisten mit Adolf Hitler errichteten 1933 in Deutschland …
- a dictatorship. – Correct answer
- a democratic state.
- a monarchy.
- a principality.
In the test (German): eine Diktatur.
View this questionQuestion 158
The "Third Reich" was a …
Das "Dritte Reich" war eine …
- dictatorship. – Correct answer
- democracy.
- monarchy.
- council republic.
In the test (German): Diktatur.
View this questionQuestion 159
What did not exist in Germany during the time of National Socialism?
Was gab es in Deutschland nicht während der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus?
- free elections – Correct answer
- press censorship
- arbitrary arrests
- persecution of Jews
In the test (German): freie Wahlen
View this questionQuestion 160
Which war lasted from 1939 to 1945?
Welcher Krieg dauerte von 1939 bis 1945?
- the First World War
- the Second World War – Correct answer
- the Vietnam War
- the Gulf War
In the test (German): der Zweite Weltkrieg
View this questionQuestion 161
What characterised the Nazi state? A policy …
Was kennzeichnete den NS-Staat? Eine Politik …
- of state racism – Correct answer
- of freedom of opinion
- of general freedom of religion
- of the development of democracy
In the test (German): des staatlichen Rassismus
View this questionQuestion 162
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg became known for …
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg wurde bekannt durch …
- a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games.
- the construction of the Reichstag building.
- building up the Wehrmacht.
- the assassination attempt on Hitler on 20 July 1944. – Correct answer
In the test (German): das Attentat auf Hitler am 20. Juli 1944.
View this questionQuestion 163
In which year did the National Socialists destroy synagogues and Jewish shops in Germany?
In welchem Jahr zerstörten die Nationalsozialisten Synagogen und jüdische Geschäfte in Deutschland?
- 1925
- 1930
- 1938 – Correct answer
- 1945
In the test (German): 1938
View this questionQuestion 164
What happened in Germany on 9 November 1938?
Was passierte am 9. November 1938 in Deutschland?
- The Second World War begins with the attack on Poland.
- The National Socialists lose an election and dissolve the Reichstag.
- Jewish shops and synagogues are destroyed by National Socialists and their supporters. – Correct answer
- Hitler becomes Reich President and has all parties banned.
In the test (German): Jüdische Geschäfte und Synagogen werden durch Nationalsozialisten und ihre Anhänger zerstört.
View this questionQuestion 170
What existed in Germany during the time of National Socialism?
Was gab es während der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus in Deutschland?
- the banning of parties – Correct answer
- the right to the free development of one's personality
- freedom of the press
- the protection of human dignity
In the test (German): das Verbot von Parteien
View this questionQuestion 179
How did the Second World War officially end in Europe?
Wie endete der Zweite Weltkrieg in Europa offiziell?
- with the death of Adolf Hitler
- through the unconditional surrender of Germany – Correct answer
- with the withdrawal of the Germans from the occupied territories
- through a revolution in Germany
In the test (German): durch die bedingungslose Kapitulation Deutschlands
View this questionQuestion 206
What do the so-called “Stolpersteine” (stumbling stones) in Germany commemorate?
Woran erinnern die sogenannten „Stolpersteine“ in Deutschland?
- famous German politicians
- the victims of National Socialism – Correct answer
- people killed in road accidents
- well-known Jewish musicians
In the test (German): an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus
View this questionQuestion 220
27 January is an official day of remembrance in Germany. What does this day commemorate?
Der 27. Januar ist in Deutschland ein offizieller Gedenktag. Woran erinnert dieser Tag?
- the end of the Second World War
- the adoption of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz)
- the reunification of Germany
- the victims of National Socialism (day of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp) – Correct answer
In the test (German): an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus (Tag der Befreiung des Vernichtungslagers Auschwitz)
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Frequently asked questions
How many questions on the Nazi era are in the citizenship test?
The catalogue has 17 of the 300 general questions on this topic. There's no fixed quota per topic; on average just under 2 of your 30 general questions come from it.
Why does the citizenship test ask about the Nazi era?
Germany derives a special historical responsibility from the Nazi crimes. Since 27 June 2024, applicants for naturalisation explicitly commit to this responsibility too, especially to protecting Jewish life – see our guide to the loyalty declaration.
What are Stolpersteine?
Stolpersteine (“stumbling stones”) are small brass plaques set into the pavement outside homes of people who were persecuted, deported or murdered under National Socialism; each bears the name of one victim. So the test answer is: they commemorate the victims of National Socialism.
Keep reading
- Knowledge for the testGerman history timeline for the citizenship testFrom 1933 through division and the fall of the Wall to today: the dates in German history that come up in the citizenship test, as a compact timeline.
- Test questions by topicCitizenship test questions on history, symbols and remembranceFlag, coat of arms, anthem, Jewish life, Adenauer, Brandt and the economic miracle: every citizenship test question on history and remembrance, with answers.
- Test questions by topicCitizenship test questions on the GDR, the Wall and reunificationDivision, the GDR, the Berlin Wall, 1989 and reunification in 1990: every citizenship test question on divided Germany, with the correct answer.
This guide is not legal advice. Laws and administrative practice can change; your naturalisation authority's information is binding.