Class-9 History SST Nazism and The Rise of Hitler
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [1 MARK]
Q.1.What was the response of the Germans to the new Weimar Republic?
(a) They held the new Weimar Republic responsible for Germany’s defeat and the disgrace at Versailles
(c) It became the target of attacks in the conservative national circles
(d) All the above
Q.2. In what ways did the First World War leave a deep imprint on European society and polity?
(a) Soldiers were put above civilians, trench-life was glorified
(b) Politicians and publicists laid stress on men to be aggressive and masculine
(c) Aggressive war propaganda and national honour were given the most support and
Conservative dictatorships were welcomed
(d) All the above
Q.3.Which of the following statements is false about soldiers in the World War I?
(a) The soldiers, in reality, led miserable lives in trenches, survived with feeding on the copra’s
(b) They faced poisonous gas and enemy shelling and loss of comrades
(c) All soldiers were ready to die for their country’s honour and personal glory
(d) Aggressive propaganda glorified war
Q.4.The following statements are about Hitler’s early life. Which of them is incorrect?
(a) Hitler was born in 1889 in Austria and spent his youth in poverty
(b) He joined the army during World War I and earned accolades for bravery
(c) He was totally unaffected by German defeat in the war and only thought of improving his career
(d) In 1919 he joined a small group called the German Workers' Party, which later was known as the Nazi Party.
Q.5.The Treaty of Versailles (1920) signed at the end of World War I, was harsh and humiliating for Germany, because
(a) Germany lost its overseas colonies, and 13 per cent of its territories
(b) It lost 75% of its iron and 26% of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania, was forced to paycompensation of 6 billion pounds
(c) The western powers demilitarised Germany and they occupied resource-rich Rhineland in the 1920s
(d) All the above
Q.6.Which of the following was a special surveillance and security force created by Hitler?
(a) Regular police force in green uniform and storm troopers
(b) Gestapo (secret state police), the SS (the protection squads)
(c) Criminal police (SD), the security service
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Q.7.What was Hitler’s historic blunder and why?
(a) Attack on Soviet Union in 1941 was a historic blunder by Hitler
(b) He exposed his western front to British aerial bombing
(c) The Soviet Red Army inflicted a crushing and humiliating defeat on Germany atStalingrad
(d) All the above
Q.8. Hitler’s world view, which was also the Nazi ideology, was
(a) There was no equality between people, only a racial hierarchy
(b) The blond, blue-eyed, Nordic German Aryans were at the top and Jews at the bottom. The coloured people were placed in between
(c) Jews were the anti-race, the arch enemies of the Aryans
(d) All the above
Q.9. Why did Helmut’s father kill himself in the spring of 1945?
(a) He was depressed by Germany’s defeat in Second World War
(b) He feared that common people would mishandle him and his family
(c) He feared revenge by the Allied Powers
(d) He wanted to die because of the crimes he had committed during Nazi rule
Q.10.Which of the following countries led the Allied Powers in the Second World War?
(a) UK and France (b) USSR and USA (c) Germany and Austria (d) Both (a) and (b)
Q.11.Which of the following bodies was set up to try and prosecute the Nazi war criminals at the end of World War II?
(a) International Military Tribunal (b) British Military Tribunal(c) Allied Military Tribunal(d) Allied Judicial Court
Q.12. Germany’s ‘genocidal war’ was against which of the following people?
(a) Jews and political opponents (b) Gypsies and Polish civilians
(c) Germans who were considered mentally and physically disabled (d) All the above
Q.13. Why did the Nuremburg Tribunal sentence only 11 Nazis to death for such a massive genocide?
(a) Only these 11 Nazis were found guilty
(b) The Allies did not want to be harsh on the defeated Germany as they had been after WorldWar I
(c) Germany promised never to repeat such an act
(d) Germany was ready to pay a huge compensation to the Allied countries for these killings
Q.14. Against which of these countries had Germany fought during World War I (1914-1918)?
(a) England (b) France (c) Russia (d) All the above
Q.15.What was the most important result of the Spartacus League uprising in Germany in 1918-19?
(a) The Weimar Republic crushed the rebellion
(b) The Spartacists founded the Communist Party of Germany
(c) The Weimar government accepted the demands of the Spartacus League
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Q.16. Who were called the ‘November criminals’?
(a) The Opponents of Weimar Republic (b) The Emperor who abdicated, and his men
(c) The supporters of Weimar Republic (d) none of the above
Q.17. War in 1917 led to the strengthening of Allies and the defeat of Germany because of entry of
(a) China (b) Japan (c) the USA (d) Spain
Q.18.The National Assembly met at Weimer and decided to establish
(a) A democratic constitution with a federal structure (b) A communist form of government (c) A powerful monarchy (d) A military state
Q.19.What was ‘Dawes Plan’?
(a) A plan which imposed more fines on Germany(b) A plan which withdrew all punishment from Germany (c) A plan which reworked the terms of reparation to ease financial burden on the Germans (d) None
Q.20.Which of the following statements is true about the economic crisis in Germany in 1923?
Q.20.Which of the following statements is true about the economic crisis in Germany in 1923?
(a) The value of ‘Mark’ (German currency) collapsed (b) Prices of goods soared high
(c) Weimer Republic brought economic prosperity (d) Both (a) and (b)
Q.21.What gave Nazi state its reputation as the most dreaded criminal state?
(a) Extra-constitutional powers were given to the newly organised forces like Gestapo, the SS and SD
(b) People could be detained in Gestapo torture chambers and sent to concentration camps
(c) No legal procedures were there for the arrested people
(d) All the above
Q.22Which of the following was a feature of Hitler’s foreign policy?
(a) He pulled out of the League of Nations in 1933 (b) He decided not to attack any country
(c) He thanked the Allied Powers for having put Germany on the right track (d) All the above
Q.23.What was the slogan coined by Hitler when he followed his aggressive foreign policy?
(c) One people, one empire, and one leader (d) we are Aryans, the real rulers
Q.24.Which incident led to the start of World War II?
(a) German invasion of Switzerland (b) German invasion of Poland
(c) Russian invasion of Germany (d) Japan’s sinking of ship at Pearl Harbour
(c) Russian invasion of Germany (d) Japan’s sinking of ship at Pearl Harbour
Q.25.When and among which countries was the Tripartite Pact signed?
(c) 1940, England, France and USA (d) 1938, England, Germany and USSR
Q.26.When did Germany attack the Soviet Union?
(a) 1939 (b) 1941 (c) 1942 (d) 1943
Q.27.Which incident persuaded the USA to join the war?
(a) Hitler’s attack on Eastern Europe (b) Hitler’s policy of genocide of the Jews
(c) Helplessness of England and France (d) Japan’s attack on the US base at Pearl Harbour
(c) Helplessness of England and France (d) Japan’s attack on the US base at Pearl Harbour
Q.28. When did the Second World War come to an end?
(a) January 1944 (b) May 1945 (c) June 1946 (d) August 1947
Q.29.What was Hitler’s ideology of ‘lebensraum’ or living space?
(a) Multi-storeyed buildings should be built in Germany to increase the living space
(b) The world must be occupied enabling the material resources and power of the German nation.
(c) New territories had to be acquired for settlement
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Q.30. According to the Nazis, which people were to be regarded as desirable?
(a) Pure and healthy Nordic Aryans (b) German soldiers who helped in territorial expansion
(c) German police of different types (d) All those who were willing to consider Hitler as God
KEY TO MCQ:
1(d)2(d)3(c)4(c)5(d)6(d)7(d)8(d)9(c)10(d)11(a)12(d)13(b)14(d)15(d)16©17(c)18(a)19(c)20(d)21(d)22(a)23(c) 24(b)25(a)26(b)27(d)28 (b)29 (d)30 (a)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS [3 MARKS]:
Q.1. Describe what happened to Germany after its defeat in the First World War.
2-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 per cent of its territories, 75 per cent of its iron and 26 per cent of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
3-The Allied Powers demilitarised Germany to weaken its power. Germany was forced to pay compensation amounting to 6 billion.
Q.2.Give reasons for Hitler’s rise to power.
Ans (i) The economic crisis: Germany had to face a great economic crisis after the First WorldWar. 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.
(ii) 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.
(iii) Making the best use of his personal qualities: Hitler was a powerful orator, an able Organiser.
Q.3. Explain the following terms:
(a) A Racial State (b) Propaganda (c) Jungvolk
Ans (a) 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’.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.4. Explain the role of women in Hitler’s Germany.
Ans. 1. According to Hitler’s ideology, women were radically different from men.
2. The democratic idea of equal rights for men and women was wrong and would destroy society.
3. 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.
Q.5. 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.
1. He glorified the use of force and brutalities and the rule by a great leader and ridiculed internationalism, peace and democracy.
2. These principles were accepted by all followers of Hitler.
3. Throughout Germany an atmosphere of terror was created. Hitler glorified violent nationalism and extolled war.
4. 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,
5. He also revealed his bitterness over German surrender in World War I.
Q.6. Why is Nazism considered a calamity not only for Germany but for the entire Europe?
Ans. Nazi ideology specified that there was racial hierarchy and no equality between people.
1. The blond, blue-eyed Nordic German Aryans were at the top, while the Jews were located somewhere on the lowest rung of the ladder.
2. The number of people killed by Nazi Germany was 6 million Jews, 200,000 Gypsies, 1 million Polish civilians, 70,000 Germans.
3. Nazism glorified the use of force and brutality. It ridiculed internationalism, peace and democracy.
4. Nazi Germany became the most dreaded criminal state. Hitler chose war as the way out of approaching the economic crisis.
5. Germany invaded Poland. This started a war with France and England in September 1940.
Q.7.What happened in schools under Nazism?
Ans. 1. All schools were cleansed and purified.
2. This meant that teachers who were Jews or seen as politically unreliable were dismissed.
3. Children were segregated — Germans and Jews could not sit together or play together.
4. Later on the undesirable children — the Jews, the physically handicapped, gypsies — were thrown out of schools
Q.8. ‘In my state the mother is the most important citizen.’ Discuss this statement made by Hitler.
Ans. 1. Though Hitler said that in my state the mother is the most important citizen, it was not true.
2. All mothers were not treated equally. Women who bore racially desirable children were awarded, while those who bore racially undesirable children were punished.
3. 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.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS [5 MARKS]:
Q.1. Give reasons why the Weimar Republic failed to solve the problems of Germany.
Ans. 1. The birth of the Weimar Republic coincided with the uprising of the Spartacus League on the pattern of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.
2. The Democrats, Socialists and Catholics opposed it. They met in Weimar to give shape to a democratic republic.
3. The republic was 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.
4. Many Germans held the new Weimar 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. Soon after the economic crisis hit Germany in 1923, the value of German mark fell considerably.
5. The Weimar Republic had to face hyperinflation. Then came the Wall Street exchange crash in 1929.
Q.2. Why was Nazism considered to be a negation of both democracy and socialism?
Ans. 1. After assuming power on 30th January 1933, Hitler set out to dismantle the structure of democratic rule.
2. The Fire decree of 28th February 1933 indefinitely suspended civic rights like freedom of speech, press and assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar constitution.
3. The repression of the Jews and Communists was severe. On 3rd March 1933, the famousEnabling Act was passed. This Act established dictatorship in Germany.
1. This Act gave Adolf Hitler all political and administrative power to side line the German parliament.
2. All political parties of Germany and trade unions were banned except for the Nazi party and its affiliates. The state established complete control over the economy, media, army and judiciary.
3. Special surveillance and security forces besides the existing regular police force, the Gestapo, the SD plus the extra-constitutional powers of these newly constructed forces gave the Nazi state its reputation of being the most dreaded criminal state.
Q.3. Describe Hitler’s rise to power with reference to his
(a) Policy towards the youth (b) His personal qualities (c) Development of the art of propaganda
Ans. (a) Policy towards youth: Hitler was fanatically interested in the youth of the country. He felt that a strong Nazi society could be established only by teaching children the Nazi ideology. This required a control over the child, both inside and outside school.Good German children were subjected to a process of Nazi schooling, a prolonged period of ideological training. Youth organisations were made responsible for educating the 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
(b)His personal qualities: Hitler was a tireless worker and an able organiser. He had a charming personality. He was an effective orator. Bitterly anti-Communist, he promised to save the country from the onslaught of communism. He won over the nationalists by promising to vindicate national honour by repudiating the Treaty of Versailles
(c)Development of the art of propaganda:
The Nazi regime used language and media with care, and often to great effect. The terms they coined to describe their various practices were not only deceptive, they were chilling. Nazis never used words ‘‘kill’’ or ‘‘murder’’ in their official communications.
Q.4. Describe in detail Hitler’s treatment of the Jews Explain Nazi ideologies regarding the Jews.
Ans. 1. 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 were mentally or physically unfit Germans, Gypsies, blacks, Russians, Poles.
2. But Jews remained the worst sufferers in Nazi Germany. They were stereotyped as ‘killers ofChrist and usurers'. Until medieval times, Jews were barred from owning land.
3. They survived mainly through trade and moneylending. They lived in separately marked areas called ‘ghettos’.
4. They were often persecuted through periodic organised violence and expulsion from land.
5. All this had a precursor in the traditional Christian hostility towards Jews for being the killers of Christ.However, Hitler’s hatred of the Jews was based on pseudo-scientific theories of race, which held that conversion was no solution to ‘the Jewish problem’. It could be solved only through their total elimination.
Q.5.What were the effects of peace treaty on Germany after the First World War
Ans. 1. The defeat of Germany in World War I made Hitler angry. It horrified him. The Treaty of Versailles made him furious.
3. He joined the German Workers Party and renamed it National Socialist German Workers Party. This later came to be known as the Nazi Party.
4. Hitler promised to build a strong nation, undo the injustice of the Versailles Treaty and restore the dignity of the German people. After First World War, Germany was compelled to sign this treaty under the threat of war.
5. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. In1940, a Tripartite Pact was signed between Germany, Italy and Japan, strengthening Hitler’s claim to international power. Puppet regimes, supportive of Nazi Germany, were installed in a large part of Europe. Hitler then attacked the Soviet Union.
HOTS:
Q.1. Describe the main provisions of Treaty of Versailles.
Ans. The Treaty of Versailles was harsh and humiliating peace for the Germans.
(i) Germany lost all its overseas colonies, a tenth of its population.
(ii) 13 per cent of its territories, 75 per cent of its iron and 26 per cent of its coal to France.
(iii) Germany was demilitarised to weaken its power.
(iv)The war guilt clause held Germany responsible for war and damages the Allied countries suffered. It was forced to pay a compensation amounting to £6 billion.
(v) The Allied forces occupied the resource-rich Rhineland till the 1920s.
Q.2. How did the ordinary Germans react to Nazism
Ans.1- Many saw the world through Nazi eyes and spoke their mind in Nazi language.
2-They felt hatred and anger even when someone they thought who looked like a Jew.
3-They reported against Suspected Jews and marked their houses.
4-They believed Nazism would make them prosperous and happy. The large numbers of Germans were passive onlookers, too scared to act, to differ or protest.
Q.3. From whom did Hitler borrow his racist ideology? Explain.
Ans. 1-Hitler borrowed his racist ideology from thinkers like Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer.
2-Darwin was a natural scientist who tried to explain the creation of plants and animals through the concept of evolution and natural selection.
3-Herbert Spencer later on added the idea of survival of the fittest. According to this idea, only those species survived on earth that could adapt themselves to changing climatic conditions.
4-Darwin never advocated human intervention in what he thought was a purely natural process of selection.
5- However, his ideas were used by racist thinkers and politicians to justify imperial rule over conquered peoples.
Nazims and The Rise of Hitler NCERT Class-9 History Extra Questions
Question-1
Trace the events that led to the birth of the Weimar Republic.
Solution:
In the 20th century Germany was a powerful Empire. During the First World War Germany took up the cause of Austria against the Allies. Many countries joined the war hoping to gain something, without realizing the fact that the war would prolong and drain Europe of its resources. Though Germany made initial gains by occupying France and Belgium, the Allies became stronger when the US joined them in 1917 and defeated Germany and the Central Powers.
The defeat of Germany resulted in the abdication of the German Emperor. This gave an opportunity for the parliamentary parties to bring in a change, in German politics. A democratic constitution with a federal structure was formed by the National Assembly, which met at Weimar and the Weimar Republic came into existence.
Question-2
What was the out come of the Versailles treaty?
Solution:
At the end of the First World War, in which Germany lost, a peace treaty was signed at Versailles with the Allies. The Versailles treaty was harsh and humiliating, for the Germans. Germany lost its
* Over seas colonies
* One tenth of its population
* 13% of its territories
* 75% of its iron and
* 26% of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
The Allied powers demilitarized Germany to weaken its power.
The War Guild Clause held Germany responsible for the war and damages the Allied countries suffered.
Germany was forced to pay a compensation of £ 6 billion.
The Allied armies occupied the resource- rich Rhineland.
Question-3
What was the impact of the war on the European Society and politics?
Solution:
The impact of the war on the European Society was devastating. It affected the economic, social and political fibre of Europe.
• The soldiers were placed above the civilians.
• Politicians and publicists emphasized on the need for men to be aggressive, strong and masculine.
• Trench life was glorified by the media though in actual practice the soldiers led a miserable life in the trench with rats feeding on the corpses and faced poisonous gas.
• Though war and national honour was brought to the fore front, people were in support of the conservative dictatorship.
• Due to the instabilities of war, European democracy could not survive, as it was a new idea.
Question-4
Write a short note on the Spartacist League.
Solution:
Germany had to pay war reparation after its defeat in the First World War. But Germany refused to pay the reparation and France occupied Ruhr to claim Germany’s coal. In retaliation Germany printed paper currency recklessly. As a result, the value of German mark collapsed and prices of goods soared.
In December 1923, 1 US dollar was equal to 98,860,000 marks. People had to carry a cart load of currency to buy a loaf of bread. This crisis is known as hyperinflation.
Question-5
What brought about the Great Economic Depression?
Solution:
There was some financial stability between 1924 and 1928. Short term loans from the USA helped industrial recovery in Germany. In 1929, when the Wall Street Exchange crushed, the US withdrew all the loans. People rushed in to sell their shares as they thought that the prices would go down drastically. It was said that on the 24th October alone about 13 million shares were sold. This brought about the Great Economic Depression.
The national income of the US fell by nearly 50% between 1929 and 1932. The factories were shut down, exports fell, farmers were affected badly and the speculators withdrew their money from the market. All these affected not only the US but the entire world.
Question-6
How did the Great Economic Depression affect Germany?
Solution:
As in the USA and the rest of the world, the Great Economic Depression had adverse effect on Germany and its people. The industrial production came down to less than 40% compared to 1929.
Workers either lost their jobs or were paid less.
About 6 million people were left without any employment.
As jobs disappeared the youth took to criminal activities.
Total despair, a deep anxiety and fear became common place in people.
The saving of salaried people and the pensioners began to diminish when the value of money went down.
Small businessmen, self employed and the retailers were ruined.
Big business was not possible.
The sharp fall in agricultural prices affected the peasants to a great extent.
Women were in deep despair as they could not feed their children properly.
Question-7
What were the powers that were given to the Police Forces in the Nazi State?
Solution:
The newly organised Police Forces , in the Nazi State, were given so much powers that people could be detained in Gestapo torture chambers, they could be rounded up and sent to concentration camps, or be deported or arrested without any legal procedure. The police force could function with such unwieldy authority that the Nazi state was known as the most dreaded criminal state.
Question-8
What were Hitler’s Foreign Policies?
Solution:
Hitler’s Foreign Policies were a great success. He pulled out of the League of Nations in 1933. He reoccupied the Rhineland , which was confiscated by the French ,in 1936. In 1938 Hitler integrated Austria and Germany under the slogan, One people, One empire, and One leader.
He then captured the German-speaking Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, and soon gobbled up the entire country.
In all of his foreign activities Hitler had the unspoken support of England, which had considered the Versailles verdict too harsh. These quick successes Hitler had at home and abroad reversed the destiny of the country.
Question-9
What was the historic blunder Hitler committed in 1941?
Solution:
In June 1941, Hitler attacked the Soviet Union. The German western front was exposed to British aerial bombing and the eastern front was crushed by the powerful Soviet Red Army at Stalingrad. Thus the Soviet established its leadership over entire Eastern Europe for the next 50 years. This was the historical blunder committed by Hitler.
Question-10
What was the reaction of the common people to Nazism?
Solution:
The common people reacted positively to Nazism. They saw the world through Nazi eyes and spoke their mind in the Nazi language. The common man felt anger and hatred when he saw the Jews. They marked the houses of the Jews and reported about suspicious neighbours.
They believed that Nazism would bring prosperity and general well-being.
A large majority of Germans were passive onlookers and were scared to differ or protest.
Question-11
What were the terms given by the Nazis when they wanted to convey the words ’kill’ or ‘murder in their official communications ?
Solution:
The Nazis used the words ‘special treatment or final Solution’ to convey mass killing of the Jews. The words , ‘selection or disinfection’ was used for the elimination of the disabled and to deport people to the Gas Chambers the Nazis used the word ‘evacuation’.
Gas Chambers were called ‘disinfection areas’. These chambers looked like a bath rooms with fake showerheads.
Question-12
How were women treated in Nazi Germany?
Solution:
Women in the Nazi Germany were treated as important citizens. Motherhood was glorified, but not all mothers were not treated equally. The women who bore desirable children were awarded. They were given favoured treatment in hospitals and concessions in theatres and shops. Those who bore undesirable children were condemned and punished severely.
Honour Crosses were given to women who produced more children. Women with 4 children were given a Bronze cross, women with 5 were given a Silver cross , while women who bore 8 children and more were given a Gold cross.
Aryan women who deviated from the given code of conduct were severely punished
Question-13
What was expected of the youth in Nazi Germany?
Solution:
All the young men above the age of 18 years were expected to serve in the armed forces and enter one of the Nazi organisations.
At the tender age of 10 they had to join ‘Jungvolk’ – Nazi youth groups for children below 14 years of age. At 14 years of age they enrolled in the Nazi Youth Organisation called ‘Hitler Youth’.
The German youth were educated in the spirit of National Socialism by these youth organisations. They were taught to worship war, glorify aggression and violence , condemn democracy , hate Jews, communists, gypsies and all those who were called ‘undesirable’.
Question-14
Why did the Nazis hate the Jews?
Solution:
Traditionally the Jews were considered as the killers of Jesus Christ. It was this traditional hostility and the fact that were basically money lenders charging excessive interest that made the Nazis hate the Jews.
Trace the events that led to the birth of the Weimar Republic.
Solution:
In the 20th century Germany was a powerful Empire. During the First World War Germany took up the cause of Austria against the Allies. Many countries joined the war hoping to gain something, without realizing the fact that the war would prolong and drain Europe of its resources. Though Germany made initial gains by occupying France and Belgium, the Allies became stronger when the US joined them in 1917 and defeated Germany and the Central Powers.
The defeat of Germany resulted in the abdication of the German Emperor. This gave an opportunity for the parliamentary parties to bring in a change, in German politics. A democratic constitution with a federal structure was formed by the National Assembly, which met at Weimar and the Weimar Republic came into existence.
Question-2
What was the out come of the Versailles treaty?
Solution:
At the end of the First World War, in which Germany lost, a peace treaty was signed at Versailles with the Allies. The Versailles treaty was harsh and humiliating, for the Germans. Germany lost its
* Over seas colonies
* One tenth of its population
* 13% of its territories
* 75% of its iron and
* 26% of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
The Allied powers demilitarized Germany to weaken its power.
The War Guild Clause held Germany responsible for the war and damages the Allied countries suffered.
Germany was forced to pay a compensation of £ 6 billion.
The Allied armies occupied the resource- rich Rhineland.
Question-3
What was the impact of the war on the European Society and politics?
Solution:
The impact of the war on the European Society was devastating. It affected the economic, social and political fibre of Europe.
• The soldiers were placed above the civilians.
• Politicians and publicists emphasized on the need for men to be aggressive, strong and masculine.
• Trench life was glorified by the media though in actual practice the soldiers led a miserable life in the trench with rats feeding on the corpses and faced poisonous gas.
• Though war and national honour was brought to the fore front, people were in support of the conservative dictatorship.
• Due to the instabilities of war, European democracy could not survive, as it was a new idea.
Question-4
Write a short note on the Spartacist League.
Solution:
Germany had to pay war reparation after its defeat in the First World War. But Germany refused to pay the reparation and France occupied Ruhr to claim Germany’s coal. In retaliation Germany printed paper currency recklessly. As a result, the value of German mark collapsed and prices of goods soared.
In December 1923, 1 US dollar was equal to 98,860,000 marks. People had to carry a cart load of currency to buy a loaf of bread. This crisis is known as hyperinflation.
Question-5
What brought about the Great Economic Depression?
Solution:
There was some financial stability between 1924 and 1928. Short term loans from the USA helped industrial recovery in Germany. In 1929, when the Wall Street Exchange crushed, the US withdrew all the loans. People rushed in to sell their shares as they thought that the prices would go down drastically. It was said that on the 24th October alone about 13 million shares were sold. This brought about the Great Economic Depression.
The national income of the US fell by nearly 50% between 1929 and 1932. The factories were shut down, exports fell, farmers were affected badly and the speculators withdrew their money from the market. All these affected not only the US but the entire world.
Question-6
How did the Great Economic Depression affect Germany?
Solution:
As in the USA and the rest of the world, the Great Economic Depression had adverse effect on Germany and its people. The industrial production came down to less than 40% compared to 1929.
Workers either lost their jobs or were paid less.
About 6 million people were left without any employment.
As jobs disappeared the youth took to criminal activities.
Total despair, a deep anxiety and fear became common place in people.
The saving of salaried people and the pensioners began to diminish when the value of money went down.
Small businessmen, self employed and the retailers were ruined.
Big business was not possible.
The sharp fall in agricultural prices affected the peasants to a great extent.
Women were in deep despair as they could not feed their children properly.
Question-7
What were the powers that were given to the Police Forces in the Nazi State?
Solution:
The newly organised Police Forces , in the Nazi State, were given so much powers that people could be detained in Gestapo torture chambers, they could be rounded up and sent to concentration camps, or be deported or arrested without any legal procedure. The police force could function with such unwieldy authority that the Nazi state was known as the most dreaded criminal state.
Question-8
What were Hitler’s Foreign Policies?
Solution:
Hitler’s Foreign Policies were a great success. He pulled out of the League of Nations in 1933. He reoccupied the Rhineland , which was confiscated by the French ,in 1936. In 1938 Hitler integrated Austria and Germany under the slogan, One people, One empire, and One leader.
He then captured the German-speaking Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, and soon gobbled up the entire country.
In all of his foreign activities Hitler had the unspoken support of England, which had considered the Versailles verdict too harsh. These quick successes Hitler had at home and abroad reversed the destiny of the country.
Question-9
What was the historic blunder Hitler committed in 1941?
Solution:
In June 1941, Hitler attacked the Soviet Union. The German western front was exposed to British aerial bombing and the eastern front was crushed by the powerful Soviet Red Army at Stalingrad. Thus the Soviet established its leadership over entire Eastern Europe for the next 50 years. This was the historical blunder committed by Hitler.
Question-10
What was the reaction of the common people to Nazism?
Solution:
The common people reacted positively to Nazism. They saw the world through Nazi eyes and spoke their mind in the Nazi language. The common man felt anger and hatred when he saw the Jews. They marked the houses of the Jews and reported about suspicious neighbours.
They believed that Nazism would bring prosperity and general well-being.
A large majority of Germans were passive onlookers and were scared to differ or protest.
Question-11
What were the terms given by the Nazis when they wanted to convey the words ’kill’ or ‘murder in their official communications ?
Solution:
The Nazis used the words ‘special treatment or final Solution’ to convey mass killing of the Jews. The words , ‘selection or disinfection’ was used for the elimination of the disabled and to deport people to the Gas Chambers the Nazis used the word ‘evacuation’.
Gas Chambers were called ‘disinfection areas’. These chambers looked like a bath rooms with fake showerheads.
Question-12
How were women treated in Nazi Germany?
Solution:
Women in the Nazi Germany were treated as important citizens. Motherhood was glorified, but not all mothers were not treated equally. The women who bore desirable children were awarded. They were given favoured treatment in hospitals and concessions in theatres and shops. Those who bore undesirable children were condemned and punished severely.
Honour Crosses were given to women who produced more children. Women with 4 children were given a Bronze cross, women with 5 were given a Silver cross , while women who bore 8 children and more were given a Gold cross.
Aryan women who deviated from the given code of conduct were severely punished
Question-13
What was expected of the youth in Nazi Germany?
Solution:
All the young men above the age of 18 years were expected to serve in the armed forces and enter one of the Nazi organisations.
At the tender age of 10 they had to join ‘Jungvolk’ – Nazi youth groups for children below 14 years of age. At 14 years of age they enrolled in the Nazi Youth Organisation called ‘Hitler Youth’.
The German youth were educated in the spirit of National Socialism by these youth organisations. They were taught to worship war, glorify aggression and violence , condemn democracy , hate Jews, communists, gypsies and all those who were called ‘undesirable’.
Question-14
Why did the Nazis hate the Jews?
Solution:
Traditionally the Jews were considered as the killers of Jesus Christ. It was this traditional hostility and the fact that were basically money lenders charging excessive interest that made the Nazis hate the Jews.
Why did the German Mark collapse?
Solution:
Germany had to pay war reparation after its defeat in the First World War. But Germany refused to pay the reparation and France occupied Ruhr to claim Germany’s coal. In retaliation Germany printed paper currency recklessly. As a result, the value of German mark collapsed and prices of goods soared.
In December 1923, 1 US dollar was equal to 98,860,000 marks. People had to carry a cart load of currency to buy a loaf of bread. This crisis is known as hyperinflation.
