IX.Chapter3.Hitler and Nazism

Chapter 3 

Nazism and the Rise of  Hitler. 

A.Glossary :  Words. 

1. Genocide.  Killing on large scale leading to destruction of large section of people.  

2. Reparation.  Make up for wrong done.  

3. Depleted.  Reduce, empty out.  

4. Wall Street Exchange.  The name of the world's biggest stock exchange located in USA 5. Proletarianisation.  To become impoverished to the level of working class.  

6. Propaganda.  Specific type of message directly aimed at influencing the opinion of people.  (Use of posters / films / speeches etc.) 

7. Gestapo.  Name of secret police service during Nazi rule.  

8. Concentration Camp.  A camp where people were isolated and detained without due process of law.  Typically, it was surrounded by electric barbed wire fences.  

9. Nordic German Aryans.  One branch of those classified as Aryans.  They lived in North European countries and had German or related origin.  

10. Gypsy.  The groups that were classified as gypsy had their own community identity.  'Sinti' and 'Rome' were two such communities.  Many of them traced their origin to India 

11. Persecute.  Systematic organized punishment of those belonging to a group or religion.  12. Usurers, moneylenders, charging excessive interest, often used as a term of abuse.  

13. Pauperised.  Reduce to absolute poverty.  

14. Exclusion.  Being excluded.  

15. Ghettoisation.  Area occupied by segregated group.  

16. Annihilation.  Destroy utterly.  

17. Euthanasia.  Bringing about easy death, 

18. Synagogues.  Place of worship  

19. Jungvolk.  Nazi youth group for children below 14 years of age.

NCERT Text Book Questions.

Q. 1. Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
Ans. From its very inception the Weimar Republic was faced with many problems.

(i) Many Germans held the new republic responsible not only for the defeat of Germany n World War I but also for the national humiliation at Versailles.  

(ii) From the onset the republic was financially crippled by the war compensation imposed on Germany.  

(iii) German government's economic reforms (e.g., printing of enormous paper money in 1923) in 1923 led to unimaginable, inflation;  with disastrous consequences for many sections of the population.  The Great Economic Depression (1929–1934) worsened the situation.  Big businesses, middle class, workers, peasants all were badly affected.  Economic crisis led to political radicalization.  

(iv) The inherent defects in the Republic i.e.  , rule by coalitions made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.  The Republic saw twenty cabinets coming and going 

Q. 2. Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930.  

Ans.  Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930 because: 

(i) Nazis capitalized on the feeling of national humiliation which many Germans felt at their defeat in war and the unjust provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.  

(ii) Nazis exploited the fact that the Republic was not received well by the people that it failed to provide a stable government and inspire faith in the democratic principles of parliamentary government.  

(iii) The provisions of the Treaty of Versailles - war redemption, loss of colonies, and temporary loss of mineral rich Rhine took a heavy toll on German economic well being.  All of this fueled anger, bitterness and desire for revenge among the German people.  Hitler stirred not only hope for a better future but promised to restore Germany to its lost glory.

(iv) Economically the World War I ruined Germany and the Great Depression worsened the situation leading to inflation and unemployment.  The Nazis exploited the misery of the people.  They used propaganda tools that played on the minds and emotions of the people to great effect.  This led people to support any individual who could improve their lot.  

(v) The political fragility of the Republic made it susceptible to intrigues and conspirational activities of the Nazis.  Also the government was unable to destroy the power of authoritarian and anti - democratic forces represented by industrialists, of Nazis.  big landowners and officers of the army.  These classes became ardent supporters 

(vi) Threat of communism was a contributing factor in the rise of popularity of Nazism Though the Spartacist uprising designed on the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia support of the conservative forces, was crushed, Nazis played the card of rising menance of  communism to win the contributed to the popularity of Nazism.  

(vii) Failure of communist party and the socialist party to put up a united front also

(viii) Hitler's personality played an important role.  He was a good orator and his words inspired cross - section of people to support him.  The working class because he promised employment and security and the propertied class because he promised to make Germany great again.  

Q. 3. What are the peculiar features of Nazi thinking?  

Ans.  The peculiar features of Nazi thinking were: 

(i)That people exist for the state rather than the state for the people.  

(ii) There was no equality between people but only racial hierarchy.  In this hierarchy the German Aryans were at the top and the claims at the lowest rung.  

(iii) Fanatical belief in antisemitic dogmas.  Their hatred for fear in particular was like a new religion not only in its fierce dogmaticism and ritual but in its fierce intolerance.  Arriving were terrorized, pauperised, segregated, compelled to leave the country, ghettoised and killed in gas chambers.  

(iv) They believed in extreme nationalism and glorified war.  They aimed at uniting all people of German race under one state to form a greater Germany and conquer land and territory.  

(v) From a very young age children were indoctrinated both inside and outside school with intense Nazi ideology.  Children were taught to be loyal, submissive, hate fighting and worship Hitler.  

(vi) Women were regarded as radically different from men.  The fight for equal rights for men and women was thought detrimental for society.  Women were seen as mere bearers of Aryan culture and race.

Q. 4. Explain why Nazi propaganda was effective in creating a hatred for involving.  

Ans.  Nazi propaganda was effective in creating hatred for the enemies because: 

(i) Nazi hatred of suspected had a precursor in traditional Christian hatred of people.  

(ii) Many in Germany blamed the fears for defeat in World War I and for all the miseries of the German people.

(iii) Germany was faced with economic crises which was accentuated by the Great Economic Depression.  This led to high unemployment and price rise.  The investigations were mainly involved in trade and money lending activities and constituted the affluent section of society.  Nazi projection of passing as pests and rodents living off society struck a chord with the deprived and the unemployed.  

(iv) Jews lived separately in marked areas called ghettos they therefore became easy targets.  

(v) Through the effective use of propaganda, images of approaching were stereotyped, mocked and abused.  Example: Propaganda films were made to create hatred for the sake.  The most famous was 'Eternal Jews'.  

The propaganda machinery cut across all sections and ages of society.  It worked on the minds and emotions of the people, 

Q. 5. (a) Explain what role women had in Nazi society.  Return to Chapter 1 on the French Revolution.  

(b) Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the role of women in the two periods.

or Explain what role women played in Nazi society.  

Ans.  (a) (i) Women in Nazi society had the role of possessing purity of race, look after the home and teach children Nazi values.  

(ii) They were to bearers of the Aryan culture and race.  

(iii) All women were not treated equally.  Those who deviated were publicly condemned and punished.  

(iv) Those who bore racially desirable children were favored in hospitals and were also entitled to concessions in shops and on theater tickets and railway fares.  

(v) To encourage women to produce more children as incentive honor crosses were awarded.  A bronze cross was given for four children, silver for six and gold for eight or more.  

(vi) Those who maintained contacts with suspected, Poles and Russians were paraded through town with shaved heads and blackened faces.  Many received jail sentences and lost civic honor as well as their husbands and families.  

(b) Women formed the deprived and unprivileged section of society both during the French Revolution of 18th century and also during 20th century Nazi society of Germany.  They had no political rights.  Women of lower classes were employed in small jobs, their wages were lower than those of men.  They had no access to education and freedom to choose their partners.  His role was limited to house, family and bearing children.  There was no equality of gender.

Unlike in Germany, French women played a very proactive role in the French Revolution which brought about many changes in French society.  To voice their interests women had their own political clubs and newspapers.  Main demand of French women were the right to vote, political representation and equality of gender.

Unlike France, Nazi women had no freedom of speech, expression and association equal rights for men and women were regarded detrimental for society.  Woman's role was limited to reproductive role and the home.  They were bearers of Aryan culture and race.

Thus while Women's role in France was progressive and proactive, Women's role in Nazi Germany was retrogressive and that of passive onlookers.  people?  

Q. 6. In what ways did the Nazi state seek to establish total control over its 

Ans.  Nazi state sought to establish full control over its people by 

(i) Dismantling democratic institutions and improving a totalitarian form of government.  Projecting communism, socialism and democracy as great enemies.  by the Weimar Constitution.

(ii) Suspension of civic rights like freedom of speech, press and association guaranteed 

(iii) Banning of all political parties and trade unions except for Nazi party and its affiliates.  judiciary 

(iv) Establishing complete control over economy, media, army, education and the judiciary. 

(v) Creating special surveillance and security forces like Gestapo and vesting them with extra constitutional powers.
(vi) Providing employment through state funded work creation programmes.  
(vii) Glorifying war and choosing the path of war as a way out of economic crises.  
(viii) Argument of the strongest race would survive and the weak one would perish.  
(ix) Blaming the suspected for national humiliation in World War I and targeting them as the cause of the misery of the people and undertaking genocidal war against the investigation,) (x) Subjecting the youth to intense period of Nazi ideological training both inside and outside school.  
(xi) By careful and deceptive use of various propaganda mediums to control the minds and emotions of people.  



III.  VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 
Q. 1. What is referred to as Fascism in History?  Mention two Fascist powers which existed during the Second World War. 
Ans.  Fascism was first propagated by Benito Mussolini.  Under the Fascist system power of the state is vested in one person or a group of persons.  The two fascist powers were Germany and Italy.  
Q. 2. Give the name of the book written by Hitler.  Mention two ideas expressed by Hitler in the book.  
Ans.  Name: 'Mein Kampf Hair Ideas: (i) The book expressed Hitler's belief in the superiority of the Aryan race.  (ii) His hatred for people.  (ii) His desire to once more make Germany a powerful nation.  
Q. 3. How did the US help Germany to overcome the 1923 financial crisis?  
Ans.  "German bonds were sold to private American investors which helped Germany pay its reparations to Britain and France. 
Q. 4. Name the four countries included in the Allied Powers in World War II. 
Ans. England, France, Russia and USA were included in  the Allied Powers. 
Q. 5. Which countries were known as Axis Powers in World War II? 
Ans, Germany, Italy and Japan were known as Axis Powers. 
Q. 6. List the single most factor for the victory of the Allies in World  War I. 
Ans. The single most important factor for the victory of the Allies in World War I was the entry of USA in 1917. The Allies were strengthened by US entry. 
Q. 7. What factors enabled the recast of Germany's political system after  World War I? 
Ans. The factors which enabled the recast of German policy after World War I were the defeat which Imperial Germany suffered in World War I and the abdication