Name of the student:_____________________________ Class: IX

Subject: SST Topic: Nazism and the Rise of Hitler Date: 7/8/2024
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L-3 Nazism and the Rise of Hitler

Answer the following questions.
Q1. Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
Ans: 1) Many Germans held the new republic responsible not only for the defeat of
Germany in World War I but also for the national humiliation at Versailles. They
were mockingly called the November criminals because they had accepted the
humiliating terms of the Versailles Treaty.
2) Economic Crisis: Germany had fought the war largely on loans. From the onset
the republic was financially crippled by the war compensation imposed on
Germany. She had to pay war reparations in gold.
3) Economic Reforms: In 1923 Germany refused to pay its war compensation.
The French retaliated by occupying the leading industrial area, the Ruhu, to claim
their coal. Germany retaliated by passive resistance. German government’s
economic reforms- printing of enormous paper money in 1923 led to unimaginable
inflation, with disastrous consequences for many sections of the population.
4) The Great Economic Depression: The economic recession of Germany was
being recovered with the help of the US. But the US withdrew its support after the
Great Depression (1929-1934). The situation worsened in Germany. By 1932,
industrial production was reduced by 40 percent, over 6 million people lost their
jobs and inflation rate was high. Big businesses, middle class workers, peasants all
were badly affected. Economic crisis led to political radicalisation.
5) Political Instability: Politically too the Weimar Republic was fragile. The
system of proportional representation made achieving a majority by one party a
near impossible task leading to rule by coalitions. Rule by coalitions made it
unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship. The Republic saw twenty cabinets coming
and going. Article 48, gave the President the power to impose emergency. The
article was open to misuse.
6) Impact of the Russian Revolution: The birth of the Weimar Republic
coincided with the Russian Revolution. Soviets workers and sailors were
established and many people were demanding soviet style governance. The
Republic throughout its career was plagued by extremism from the left wing and
right wing.
Q2. How did the Republic of Weimar get its name?
Ans: The Republic of Germany was named Weimar after the name of the town
where the constituent assembly had met and framed the new constitution.
Q3. How was the Weimar Republic constituted?
Ans: Formation of Weimar Republic
1) The defeat of Germany in the World War I and consequent abdication of the
Emperor gave the opportunity to parliamentary parties to recast German polity.
2) The National Assembly which met at Weimar established a democratic
constitution with a federal structure.
3) Deputies were elected to Reichstag (German Parliament) on the basis of equal
and universal votes cast by all adults including women.

Q4. What was the impact of the First World War on the political system of
Germany?
Ans: 1) Germany's defeat in the First World War was followed by abdication of the
Emperor. This gave an opportunity to the parliamentary parties to recast German
polity.
2) A democratic constitution with a federal structure was established.
3) Disputes to the German Parliament (Reichstag) were elected on the basis of
universal adult franchise.

Q5. When did the Second World War end in Europe?

Ans: After the Soviet armies entered Berlin and Hitler committed suicide,
Germany surrendered unconditionally on May7,1945. All hostilities ended on May
9, 1945.

Q6. Explain any three effects of the First World War on Germany.
Ans: 1) The infant Weimar Republic was made to pay for the sins of the old
empire.
2) The republic carried the burden of war guilt and national humiliation.
3) The republic was financially crippled by being forced to pay war compensation.
4) Those who supported the Weimar Republic mainly Socialists, Catholics and
Democrats became easy targets of attack in nationalist circles.
5) They were mockingly called the 'November Criminals.' This mindset had a
major impact on the political developments of the early 1930s.

Q7. Explain the circumstances which led to hyperinflation in Germany.

Ans: 1) Hyperinflation is a situation when prices rise phenomenally high.
2) Circumstances:
a) Germany after the war had to pay war reparations in gold. This further depleted
her gold reserves, as she fought the war largely on loans.
b) When Germany refused to pay the reparation, the French in lieu occupied the
coal rich leading industrial area- Ruhr.
c) The Germans retaliated by printing paper currency recklessly. With too much
printed money in circulation, the value of the German mark fell. By December
one- US dollar was equal to 98,860,000 marks which was equal to 24000 in April.
d) As the value of the mark collapsed, prices of goods soared leading to
hyperinflation.

Q8. Who were the supporters of the Nazi ideology?

Ans: Nazi ideas found support in the army and the class of big landlords. They
received the full backing of the industrialists who were alarmed at the growth of
the socialist and communist parties.

Q9. State any three promises made by Adolf Hitler to the German Society.
Ans: 1) Hitler promised to build a strong nation, undo the injustice of the
Versailles Treaty and restore dignity of the German people.
2) He promised employment for those looking for work and a secure future of the
youth.
3) He promised to weed out all foreign influences and resist all foreign
conspiracies against Germany.

Q10.What were the provisions of the Enabling Act?

Ans: 1) On 3 March 1933, the Enabling Act was passed.
2) It gave Hitler all powers to sideline the Parliament and rule by decree.
3) All political parties and trade unions were banned except for Nazi Party and its
affiliates.
4) The state established complete control over the economy, media, army and
judiciary.
5) This Act thus enabled establishment of dictatorship in Germany.

Q11. Why did Germany want Sudentenland?

Ans: Germany wanted Sudentenland because:
1) It had a substantial German population.
2) This area also formed 1/5th of Czechosolvakia.
3) Had the largest ammunition factories in the world.

Q12. How was the schools in Germany ‘cleansed and purified’ under Nazi rule?
Ans: 1) Total control over schools:
Hitler put all schools under total control of the state. Undesirable children, ie. Jews,
Blacks and Gypsies were first segregated. Subsequently, ‘undesirable children’-
were thrown out of school. And finally in the 1940’s they were taken to the gas
chambers.
2) Teachers: Teachers who were Jews or seen as politically unreliable were
dismissed.
3) New Education Policy: He announced his new education policy. ‘Good
German’ children were subjected to a process of Nazi schooling and ideological
training. All school textbooks were rewritten. Racial science was introduced to
justify the Nazi ideas on race. Children were taught to be loyal, submissive, hate
Jews and worship Hitler. Stereotypes about Jews were popularized through maths
classes.
4) Spirit of Violence and Aggression:
To inculcate the spirit of violence and aggression, new sports were introduced.
Hitler believed that boxing could make children iron-hearted, strong and
masculine.
5) Youth organization:
Youth organisations were made responsible for educating German youth in ‘the
spirit of National Socialism.’ Youth were forced to join youth organisations. The
10 year old had to join ‘Jungvolk’ and 14 year old ‘Hitler Youth.’

Q13. Explain the status of women in Nazi Germany.

Ans: 1) Women formed the deprived and unprivileged section in Nazi Germany.
2) They had no political rights. Nazi society thought it was wrong on the part of
women to demand their rights. They believed equal rights for men and women or
democratic struggle of women can destroy society.
3) Women had no freedom of speech, expression and association.
4) Women of lower class were employed in small jobs but their wages were lower
than men. Women’s role was limited to reproductive role at home. Girls were told
they had to become good mothers and rear pure blooded Aryan children. To
encourage women to produce more children, silver for six and gold for eight or
more.
5) Women had no access to education and freedom to choose their partners. There
was a code of conduct for all Aryan women. Those who deviated were publicly
condemned and severely punished. Those who maintained contact with Jews, Poles
and Russians were paraded through town with shaved heads and blackened faces.

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