VELAMMAL BODHI CAMPUS – PONNERI

Std: IX Notes of Lesson Sub: SST

Topic: Nazism and the Rise of the Hitler
NOTES
A. NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
Q.1. Describe the problems faced by the Weimer Republic.
OR
How was the Weimar Republic born in Germany? Explain.
Ans. A National Assembly met at Weimer and established a democratic constitution with a
federal
structure. The republic was, however, not received well by its own people largely because of
the terms it was forced to accept after Germany’s defeat at the end of the First World War.
Many Germans held the new Weimer Republic responsible for not only the defeat in the war
but the disgrace at Versailles. This republic was finally crippled by being forced to pay
compensation.
There was another problem which the Weimer Republic faced just at its inception. Its birth
coincided with the revolutionary uprising of the Spartacist League. The political atmosphere
in Berlin was charged with demands for Soviet-style governance. Though the uprising was
crushed by the Republic, the Spartacists founded the Communist Party of Germany. Both
parties now became enemies and could not combine together with Hitler.
This was followed by the economic crisis of 1923. The value of the German mark fell
considerably. The Weimer Republic had to face hyperinflation. Then came the Wall Street
Exchange crash in 1929. America had bailed Germany out of the hyperinflation but with this
crash it was evident that the stability was just temporary. The USA withdrew its support with
the crash. The situation in Germany became worse. The currency lost its value, business was
ruined and deep anxiety and fears haunted the people. Unemployment created an atmosphere
of crime and total despair.
The Weimer Republic within its span of power saw 20 different cabinets, lasting for an
average 239 days and a liberal use of Article 48.
Q.2. Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930.
Ans. The Nazis could not effectively mobilise popular support till the early 1930s. Nazism
became mass movement only during the Great Depression. After 1929, banks collapsed and
businesses shut down, workers lost their jobs and the middle classes were threatened with
destitution. The Nazi propaganda stirred hopes of a better future at this time. In 1928, the Nazi
Party got no more than 2.6 per cent votes in the Reichstag – the German Parliament. By 1932,
it had become the largest party with 37 per cent votes.
Hitler was a powerful speaker. He promised to build a strong nation, undo the injustice of the
Versailles Treaty and restore the dignity of the German people. He promised employment for
the unemployed, and a secure future for the youth. He promised to weed out all foreign
influences and resist all foreign conspiracies against Germany.
Hitler understood the importance of rituals and spectacle in mobilising people. Nazis held
massive rallies and public meetings to demonstrate the support for Hitler and instil a sense of
unity among the people. The red banners with the Swastika, the Nazi salute, and the ritualised
rounds of applause after the speeches were all part of this spectacle of power.
The people whose sense of dignity and pride had been shattered, and who were living in a time
of acute economic had political crises, saw in Hitler a messiah and a saviour who would
deliver them from their difficulties. This was projected by the Nazi propaganda.
Q.3. What are the peculiar features of Nazi thinking?
Ans. Nazi ideology was synonymous with Hitler worldwide. According to this there was no
equality
between people, but only a racial hierarchy. In this view, blond, blue-eyed, Nordic German
Aryans were at the top, while Jews were located at the lowest rung. They came to be regarded
as an anti-race, as arch enemies of the Aryans. All other coloured people were placed in
between, depending upon their external features. Hitler’s racism was borrowed from thinkers
like Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer. The Nazi argument was simple: the strongest race
would survive and the weak ones would perish. The Aryan race was the finest. It had to retain
its purity, become stronger and dominate the world.
The other aspect of Hitler’s ideology related to the geopolitical concept of Lebensraum, or
living space. He believed that new territories had to be acquired for settlement. This would
enhance the area of the mother country, while enabling the settlers on new lands to retain an
intimate link with the place of their origin. It would also enhance the material resources and
power of the German nation.
Their dream was to create an exclusive racial community of pure Germans by physically
eliminating all those who were seen as ‘undesirable’ in the extended empire. Nazis wanted only
a society of ‘pure and healthy Nordic Aryans’. They alone was considered ‘desirable’. Only
they were seen as worthy of prospering and multiplying, others had no such right.
Q.4. Explain why Nazi propaganda was effective in creating a hatred for Jews.
Ans. The Nazi regime used language and media with care, and often to great effect. Media was
used
to gain support for the regime and to make it popular all over the world. They spread their
ideas through visual images, radio, posters, slogans, speeches, films, etc. All enemies of
Germans, especially the Jews were mocked, abused and called as evil. They were termed as
bad-meaning foreign agents.
The most infamous film “Eternal Jew” was shown all over to the people. All orthodox Jews
were stereotyped and shown as supporting long beards and wearing loose clothes. But in
reality, it was not so. These Jews were called names such as rats, pests and vermins. Nazi
propaganda completely brainwashed the people who began to believe that Jews are to be hated
and dispised. The Nazi propaganda worked on all sections of the society and sought to win
their support by glorifying Nazism and suggesting that Nazis alone could solve their problem.
Most people began to see Jews through the Nazi vision, they even spoke in the Nazi language.
Whenever they sighted a Jew, hatred and anger welled up inside them. Jews were looked upon
with suspicion and even their living areas marked.
Q.5. Explain what role women had in Nazi society. Return to Chapter 1 on the French
Revolution. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the role of women in the two
periods.
Ans. It was made obvious that women were radically different from men. Boys were taught to be
aggressive, masculine and steel-hearted, girls were told that they had to become good mothers
and rear pure-blooded Aryan children. They had to be the bearers of the Aryan culture and
race. They had to look after the homes and teach children Nazi values. They were encouraged
to bear many children. But the children had to be ‘desirable children’. Honour crosses were
awarded to them. If the Aryan women deviated from the prescribed code of conduct they were
publicly condemned and severely punished.
In other parts of Europe, women were actively participating in democratic struggles. In countries
like France women formed clubs for protest and were ever involved in violent uprisings. They
were politically more aware of their rights and were brave enough to demand them.
Q.6. In what ways did the Nazi state seek to establish total control over its people?
Ans. The Nazis established control over its people by various means. Propaganda popularising
and
glorifying Nazism was one. Media was carefully used to win support for the regime and
popularise it. Nazism worked on the minds of the people, tapped their emotions and turned
their hatred and anger against those marked as ‘undesirable’.
Special surveillance and security forces to control and order society in ways that the Nazis
wanted, was created. It was the extra-constitutional powers of these newly organised forces
that gave the Nazi state its reputation as the most dreaded criminal state. The police forces had
powers to rule with impunity.
Genocide also created an atmosphere of fear and repression which helped them to establish
total control over its people.
Hitler played on the bitterness of the German people for the defeat in World War I. He
promised to restore Germany’s military power and told Germans that they were the greatest
people in the world. Secondly, he and his party promised to carry out radical changes in
Germany and get rid of the leaders who had failed to provide jobs to the German people.

Q.7. Describe what happened to Germany after its defeat in the First World War.
Ans. World War I, ended with the Allies defeating Germany and the Central powers in
November 1918. The Peace Treaty at Versailles with the Allies was a harsh and humiliating
treaty. Germany lost its overseas colonies, a tenth of its population, 13 percent of its territories,
75 percent of its iron and 26 percent of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
The Allied Powers demilitarised Germany to weaken its power. Germany was forced to pay
compensation amounting to 6 billion.
The Allied armies also occupied the resource-rich Rhineland for much of the 1920s.
Q.8. Give four reasons for Hitler’s rise to power.
OR
Discuss the factors contributing to the meteoric rise of Hitler.
Ans. (i) The crisis in the economy, polity and society formed the background of Hitler’s rise to
power. Born in 1889 in Austria, Hitler spent his youth in poverty. The German defeat
horrified him and the Versailles Treaty made him furious (1st reason).
In 1919, he joined a small group called the German Workers’ Party. He subsequently took
over the organisation and renamed it the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party. This
party came to be known as the Nazi Party. Hitler assured the Germans about the
establishment of the old prestige.
(ii) The economic crisis : Germany had to face a great economic crisis after the First World
War. Many soldiers were no longer in service, so they became unemployed. Trade and
commerce was ruined. Germany was in the grip of unemployment and starvation.
(iii) Exploiting the mentality of the Germans : The Germans had no faith in democracy. It was
against their culture and tradition. They at once gave their support to a strong man like
Hitler who could transfer their dreams into reality.
(iv) Making the best use of his personal qualities : Hitler was a powerful orator, an able
organiser.
Q.9. Explain any three of the following terms :
(a) Lebensraum (b) A Racial State (c) Propaganda
(d) Ghettoisation and concentration camps (e) Jungvolk
Ans. (a) Lebensraum : It was an aspect of Hitler’s Ideology which is related to the geopolitical
concept of living space. He believed that new territories had to be acquired for settlement.
This would enhance the area of the mother country while enabling the settlers on new
lands to retain an intimate link with the place of their origin.
(b) Racial State : Once in power, the Nazis quickly began to implement their dream of
creating an exclusive racial community of pure Germans by physically eliminating all
those who were seen as ‘undesirable’ in the extended empire.
Nazis only wanted a society of ‘pure and healthy Nordic Aryans’. They alone were
considered ‘desirable’.
(c) Propaganda : The Nazi regime used language and media with care and often to great
effect. They used films, pictures, radio, posters, etc. to spread hatred for the Jews.
Propaganda is a specific type of message directly aimed at influencing the opinion of
people through the use of posters, films, speeches etc
(d) Ghettoisation and Concentration Camps : From September 1941, all Jews had to wear
a yellow Star of David on their breasts. This identity mark was stamped on their passport,
all legal documents and houses. They were kept in Jewish houses in Germany and in
ghettos like Lodz and Warsaw in the east. These became sites of extreme misery and
poverty. The largest Nazi concentration camp is identified with Auschwitz (Poland). Built
in 1940, the camp served as a major element in perpetration of the holocaust, killing
around 16 million people of whom 90 % were Jews. The camp was surrounded with
barbed wire. The camp held 100,000 prisoners at one time. The camp’s main purpose was
not internment but extermination. For this purpose, the camp was equipped with four gas
chambers, and each chamber could hold 2,500 people at one time.
(e) Jungvolk : These were Nazi youth groups for children below 14 years of age. Youth
organisations were made responsible for educating German youth in ‘the spirit of National
Socialism’. Ten-year-olds had to enter Jungvolk. At 14, all boys had to join the Nazi youth
organisation.
Q.10. Explain the role of women in Hitler’s Germany.
OR
What responsibilities did the Nazi state impose on women.
Ans. According to Hitler’s ideology, women were radically different from men. The democratic
idea
of equal rights for men and women was wrong and would destroy society.
While boys were taught to be aggressive, masculine and steel-hearted, girls were told that they
had to become good mothers and rear pure blooded Aryan children.
Girls had to maintain the purity of the race, distance themselves from Jews, look after the home
and teach their children Nazi values. They had to be the bearers of the Aryan culture and race.
Hitler said, ‘‘In my state the mother is the most important citizen.’’ But in Nazi Germany all
mothers were not treated equally.
Q.11. Explain the main views of Hitler as expressed in his book 'Mein Kampf'.
Ans. Adolf Hitler wrote a book entitled ‘Mein Kampf’. Its literal meaning is ‘My Struggle’. This
book expresses some of the most monstrous ideas of the Nazi movement.
He glorified the use of force and brutalities and the rule by a great leader and ridiculed
internationalism, peace and democracy. These principles were accepted by all followers of
Hitler. Throughout Germany an atmosphere of terror was created. Hitler glorified violent
nationalism and extolled war. He wrote this book at the age of 35, it is an autobiographical
book; in this book Hitler has poured out his hatred for democracy, Marxism and the Jews. He
also revealed his bitterness over German surrender in World War I.
Q.12. Why is Nazism considered a calamity not only for Germany but for the entire Europe?
OR
How did Hitler destroy democracy in Germany? Explain.
Ans. Nazi ideology specified that there was racial hierarchy and no equality between people.
The
blond, blue-eyed Nordic German Aryans were at the top, while the Jews were located
somewhere on the lowest rung of the ladder.
The number of people killed by Nazi Germany were 6 million Jews, 200,000 Gypsies,
1 million Polish civilians, 70,000 Germans.
Nazism glorified the use of force and brutality. It ridiculed internationalism, peace and
democracy. Nazi Germany became the most dreaded criminal state. Hitler chose war as the
way
out of approaching the economic crisis. Germany invaded Poland. This started a war with
France and England in September 1940.
Q.13. ‘The German economy was the worst hit by the economic crisis.’ Discuss.
Ans. The image of a German carrying cartloads of currency notes to buy a loaf of bread was
widely
publicised evoking worldwide sympathy. This crisis came to be known as a ‘‘hyperinflation’’,
a situation when prices rise phenomenally high. The German economy was the worst hit by
economic crisis. Industrial production was reduced to 40 percent of the 1929 level. Workers
lost their jobs or were paid reduced wages. The number of the unemployed touched an
unprecedented 6 million.
On the streets of Germany you could see men with placards around their necks saying,
‘‘willing to do any work.” The economic crisis created deep anxieties and fears in people. The
middle classes, specially the salaried employees and pensioners saw their savings diminish
when the currency lost its value.
Small businessmen, the self-employed and retailers suffered as their business got ruined. Only
organised workers could manage to keep their heads above water.
The big business was in crisis, the peasantry was affected by a sharp fall in agricultural prices.
Q.14. Explain how the fragility of Weimar Republic led to the rise of Hitler.
Ans. The Peace Treaty at Versailles with the Allies was the biggest problem faced by the
Weimar
Republic. Due to this treaty, Weimar Republic was not received well by its own people, i.e.
the Germans, largely because of the harsh terms it was forced to accept after Germany’s defeat
in the First World War.
At this time started the Nazi movement. It believed in glorification of state. It also believed
in war, colonialism, militarism and expansionism. It was opposed to democracy, liberalism,
socialism, world peace and internationalism.
The unpopularity of Weimar Republic paved the way for the rise of Nazism and Hitler. Hitler
was a tireless worker and an able organiser. He was an effective orator, he promised to save
the country. He won the nationalists by promising to vindicate national honour by repudiating
the Treaty of Versailles. The middle class was assured economic relief and the disbanded
soldiers’ employment. This led to the rise and popularity of Hitler and Nazism in Germany.
Q.15. ‘Nazi ideology was synonymous with Hitler’s world view.’ Explain.
Ans. ‘Nazi’ ideology was synonymous with Hitler’s world view. It said and meant that there was
no
equality between people but only a racial hierarchy. According to it, blond, blue-eyed Nordic
German Aryans were at the top, while Jews were located at the lowest rung of the ladder. They
came to be regarded as an anti-race. Darwin was a natural scientist, who tried to explain the
creation of plants and animals through the concept of evolution and natural selection. Herbert
Spencer later added the idea of the ‘survival of the fittest.’ Their ideas were borrowed by the
Nazis – whose argument was, the “strongest race would survive and the weak ones would
perish. The Aryan race was the finest. It had to retain its purity, became stronger and dominate
the world.”
The other aspect of Hitler’s ideology was the concept of ‘lebensraum’ or living space meaning
new territories should be acquired, as it would enhance the area of the mother country.
Q.16. Explain the social utopia of the Nazis.
Ans. According to Hitler and Nazi ideology, there was no equality between people, but only
social
hierarchy. In this view blond, blue-eyed, Nordic German Aryans were at the top, while Jews
were located at the lowest rung. They came to be regarded as an anti-race, the arch enemies
of the Aryans.
Once in power, the Nazis quickly began to implement their dream of creating an exclusive
racial community of pure German by physically eliminating all those who were seen as
‘undesirable’ in the extended empire. Nazis wanted in a society of ‘pure and healthy Nordic
Aryans’. They alone were considered ‘desirable’.
Under the shadow of war, the Nazis proceeded to realise their murderous, racial ideal.
Genocide and war became two sides of the same coin. Occupied Poland was divided up. Much
of north-western Poland was annexed to Germany. Poles were forced to leave their homes and
properties behind to be occupied by ethnic Germans brought in from occupied Europe. Poles
were then herded like cattle in the other part called the ‘General Government’, the destination
of all ‘undesirables’ of the empire.
With some of the largest ghettos and gas chambers, the General Government also served as
the
killing field for the Jews.
Q.17. What happened in schools under Nazism?
OR
How were the schools in Germany 'cleansed' and 'purified' under Nazi rule?
Ans. All schools were cleansed and purified. This meant that teachers who were Jews or seen
as
politically unreliable were dismissed. Children were segregated — Germans and Jews could
not sit together or play together. Later on the undesirable children — the Jews, the physically
handicapped, gypsies — were thrown out of schools. In the 1940s, they were taken to gas
chambers. Children in school were taught to be loyal and submissive, hate Jews and worship
Hitler. Sports was given great importance. The function of sports was to nurture a spirit of
violence and aggression among children. Stereotypes of Jews was propagated through all
classes. Schooling was a prolonged period of ideological training.
Q.126. ‘In my state the mother is the most important citizen.’ Discuss this statement made by
Hitler.
Ans. Though Hitler said that in my state the mother is the most important citizen, it was not true.
In Nazi Germany, all mothers were not treated equally. Women who bore racially desirable
children were awarded, while those who bore racially undesirable children were punished.
Women who bore ‘desirable’ children were entitled to privileges and rewards. They were given
special treatment in hospitals and concessions in shops and on theatre tickets and railway
fares.
Q.18. What were the steps taken by Hitler as Chancellor to deal with the economic difficulties?
Which two things symbolized the economic recovery of Germany?
Ans. (i) First, Hitler assigned the responsibility of economic recovery to the economist Hjalmar
Schacht, who aimed at full production and full employment through a state-funded work
creation programme.
(ii) Hitler chose was as the way out of the approaching economic crisis. Resources were to
be accumulated through expansion of territory.
The famous German highways and the people's car, the Volkswagen became the symbols
of Germany's economic recovery.