Prospective Master's Student (History) from Azerbaijan with questions about scholarships and blocked account

Hello everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old recent graduate from Azerbaijan, and I'm planning to apply for a Master's program in Germany (in History or International Relations).

I've been doing my own research, but I thought it would be best to get advice from people who have already gone through the process.

I have a few specific questions that I'm struggling to find clear answers for:

First of all, I'm not financially stable enough to self-fund my studies. From what I understand, scholarships in social sciences (like History) are quite competitive and limited. Does anyone have experience or advice on securing funding? Are there specific scholarships that are more accessible for non-STEM students? Any guidance would be immensely helpful. I'd also be very very grateful to talk to someone currently studying a similar subject.

Secondly, What are your top recommendations for someone before they apply? What are the most important criteria (aside from GPA) that universities look for in these fields? How can I strengthen my application to increase my chances of acceptance?

Finally, I've heard about the requirement to show proof of financial resources (around €11,000 per year I guess?) via a blocked account for the visa. If I am lucky enough to get a full scholarship that covers living costs, would this requirement still be necessary, or would the scholarship certificate suffice?

Thank you so much in advance for your help. Any insight, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated.