Nazism and the Rise of Hitler For Class 9 History Extra Questions -

Q 1– What is Nazism?

Ans– It was a system, a structure of ideas about the world & politics.

Q 2– Where international military tribunal was set up? What was its purpose?
Ans– An International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg was set up to prosecute Nazi war criminals for Crimes against Peace, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

Q 3– Name the members of the Axis powers.

Ans– Germany, Italy, and Japan

Q 4– What was genocidal war?
Ans– It was a war started by Germany during the Second World War, which resulted in the mass murder of selected groups of innocent civilians of Europe.

Q 5– What was the impact of the First World War on the political system of Germany?

Ans–

The abdication of the emperor gave an opportunity to parliamentary parties to recast German polity.
A democratic constitution was established with a federal structure.

Q 6– Name the members of the Allies.

Ans– England, France and Russia.

Q 7– What was the Enabling Act which was passed by Hitler after he took control over Germany?

Ans–

The Enabling Act was passed in 1933. It gave Hitler all powers to sideline the Parliament and the rule by decree.

All political parties and trade unions were banned except the Nazi Party.

Q 8– What refers to the Secret State Police of Germany?

Ans– Gestapo

Q 9– Name the Treaty which was signed by the Allies with Germany after the First World War.

Ans– The Treaty of Versailles.

Q 10– What is hyperinflation? Mention the factor responsible for this.

Ans– It is a situation when there is a very high price rise. It occurred in Germany after the First World War due to too much printing of currency.

Q 11– The Great Depression was a period of _______ .

Ans– Economic crisis

Q 12– What is the German Parliament known as ?

Ans– The German Parliament is known as the Reichstag.

Q 13– A camp where people were isolated and detained without due process of law, referred to as _______.

Ans– Concentration camp

Q 14– Which Article of the Weimar Constitution gave the President the powers to impose emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree?

Ans– Article 48

Q 15– The Nazi Party had become the largest party by _______ .

Ans– 1932

Q 16– Who offered the chancellorship to Hitler on 30 January 1933?

Ans– President Hindenburg

Q 17– People of Weimar Republic lost confidence in the democratic _______ Ans– Parliamentary system

Q 18– When was the Tripartite Pact signed? What was its importance?

Ans– It was signed in 1940 between Germany, Italy and Japan. It strengthened Hitler’s claim to International power.

Q 19– The Tripartite Pact was signed between Germany, Japan and _______ Ans– Italy

Q 20– Nazi propaganda projected _______ .

Ans– Hitler as a messiah

Q 21– Nazi youth groups for children below 14 years of age were called _______ .

Ans– Jungvolk

Q 22– “The new republic established in Germany after the First World War was not received well by its own people”. Give reason.

Ans– Because the new republic signed the Treaty of Versailles accepting all the demands of the Allies.

Q 23– Who supported the Weimar Republic?

Ans– Socialists, Communists and Democrats.

Q 24– What was Auschwitz ?

Ans– Auschwitz was the centre for mass killing during Nazi rule.

Q 25– What was the original name of the Nazi party ?

Ans– The National Socialist German Workers Party.

Q 26– The gas chambers that looked like bathrooms, equipped with fake shower heads, were labelled as _______ .

Ans– Disinfection areas

Q 27– How did Hitler view war ?

Ans– Hitler viewed war as the way out of the approaching economic crisis.

Q 28– Why was the new Weimar Constitution introduced in August 1919 weak?

Ans– Due to the availability of many political parties, frequent changes of government and difficulty to establish stability, Weimar constitution introduced in August 1919 became weak.

Q 29– When was the Enabling Act passed in Germany ?

Ans– On 3rd March, 1933

Q 30– Name the four countries included in the Allied Powers in World War II.

Ans– England, France, Russia and the USA were included in the Allied Powers.

Q 31– Why was the Treaty of Versailles hated by Germany?

Ans– Because Germany lost 75% of its iron and was demilitarized.

Q 32– What was the significance of the Enabling Act ?

Ans– The Enabling Act enabled Hitler to sideline the Parliament and rule by decree.

Q 33– In the Weimar Republic, which right was not given to the president according to the Article 48?

Ans– To enforce Communism.

Q 34– Which concept of Hitler’s ideology revealed his desire for an extended empire?

Ans– The geopolitical concept of Lebensraum or the concept of living space revealed his desire for an extended empire.

Q 35– Why did the Nazis hate the Jews?

Ans– 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.

Q 36– Which country used atomic bombs during World War II ?

Ans– USA used atomic bombs during World War II against Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6^th Aug , 1945) and Nagasaki (9^th Aug , 1945).

Q 37– What was the work entrusted to the International War Tribunal set up in Nuremberg after the war ?

Ans– It was set up to prosecute Nazi war criminals for crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Q 38– When did Hitler become the Chancellor of Germany?

Ans– 1933

Q 39– Which year is known for the beginning of the Great Depression?

Ans– 1929

Q 40– What was the name given to separately marked areas where the Jews lived ?

Ans– The separately marked areas where the Jews lived were called ghettos.

Q 41– What was Free Corps?

Ans– It was a war veterans organization which helped the Weimar Republic to crush the uprising of the workers or socialists.

Q 42– Which incident persuaded the USA to join the war ?

Ans– Japan’s unprovoked attack on the US base at Pearl Harbour in December 1941 persuaded the USA to join the war.

Q 43– Who was assigned the responsibility of economic recovery by Hitler?Ans– Hjalmar Schacht.

Q 44– When did Germany withdraw herself from the ‘League of Nations’?Ans– 1933

Q 45– Who was the Propaganda Minister of Hitler?

Ans– Goebbels.

Q 46– Hitler integrated which two nations under the slogan, ‘One People, One Empire and One Vote’?

Ans– Austria and Germany.

Q 47– “The Weimar constitution had some inherent defects, which made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.” Explain.

Ans–

The system of proportional representation made achieving a majority by any one party a near impossible task, leading to the rule by coalitions.
Article 48 gave the President the power to impose emergency. So this article was being misused by the ruler.

Q 48– When did the Youth League of the Nazis found?

Ans– The Youth League of the Nazis was founded in 1922.

Q 49– Where was Hitler born?

Ans– Austria.

Q 50– Why was the famous Enabling Act passed?

Ans– To establish a dictatorship in Germany.

Q 51– Name any four races or people who were considered undesirable or Inferior in Germany.

Ans– Jews, Blacks, Gypsies, Russians.

Q 52– What do you know about Wall Street Exchange?

Ans– It is the name of the world’s biggest stock exchange.

Q 53– What was Dawes Plan?

Ans– It was a Plan introduced by America to bail Germany out of the financial crisis which it suffered after the First World War.

Q 54– Which countries were known as Axis Powers in World War II ?

Ans– Germany, Italy and Japan were known as Axis Powers.

Q 55– Name any four countries which were occupied or attacked by Germany battle in 1945.

Ans– Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland, Poland.

Q 56– Why were the Jews classified as ‘undesirable’ by the Nazis?

Ans– The Jews were classified as ‘undesirable’ by the Nazis because they had been stereotyped as the killers of Christ and usurers.

Q 57– Which science was introduced to justify Nazi ideas of race?

Ans– Racial Science.

Q 58– To whom did Mahatma Gandhi had written a letter for International peace?

Ans– Hitler.

Q 59– Who was the founder of Nazi Party?

Ans– Hitler.

Q 60– Define Holocaust.

Ans– These were Nazi killing operations which were carried out to kill the Jews.

Q 61– When did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?

Ans– 9 December 1941.

Q 62– What was the reason for the entry of the US in the Second World War?

Ans– Japan bombed Pearl Harbour.

Q 63– Which incident marked the end of the Second World War?

Ans– The war ended in May 1945 with Hitler’s defeat and the US dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima in Japan.

Short Type Questions

Q 64– Why did the German Mark collapse?

Ans– 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 the 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.

Q 65– Trace any three main features of the foreign policy of Hitler.

Ans–

On 30th January 1933, Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany and established dictatorship.
Right from the beginning, he followed a policy of aggression and war towards other countries.
He pulled out of the League of Nations in 1933, reoccupied Rhineland in 1936 and integrated Austria and Germany in 1938 under the slogan ‘One people, One empire, One leader’.

Q 66– What was the historic blunder Hitler committed in 1941?

Ans– 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.

Q 67– The Peace Treaty at Versailles with the Allies was a harsh and humiliating peace. Explain the statement with any three examples.

Ans–

In the First World War, Germany was defeated. The peace Treaty at Versailles with the Allies was a harsh and humiliating peace.
Germany lost its overseas colonies and also much of its territories in Europe.
Germany lost 75% of its iron and 26% of its coal to France and other countries.
The Allied Powers demilitarized Germany to weaken its power. Germany was forced to pay compensation amounting to £ 6 billion.
The Allied forces occupied the resources rich Rhineland till the 1920s.

Q 68– Explain the three-fold plan of Hitler becoming Chancellor of Germany to consolidate the Nazi power.

Ans–

Hitler’s three fold plan comprised of capturing the legal authority to rule, crushing the country’s political opposition and eliminating rivals within the party.
In the pursuit of first, he used the Reichstag fire incident to clamp down the communists. He armed himself with the emergency powers and murdered and jailed key communist leaders and suppressed civil liberties.
In March 1933, the German Reichstag passed the enabling laws which transferred all the powers from the Reichstag to the government headed by him.
Further, Hitler turned his attention to the rival political parties. He outlawed all existing and potential opposition institutions. By July 1933, the Nazis were the only legitimate party in Germany.

Q 69– When tracing the events that led to the birth of the Weimar Republic.

Ans– 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.

Q 70– What was the reaction of the common people to Nazism?

Ans–

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.

Q 71– What was the outcome of the Versailles treaty?

Ans– 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 Overseas 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.

Q 72– What were the terms given by the Nazis when they wanted to convey the words ’kill’ or ‘murder in their official communications?

Ans– The Nazis used the words ‘special treatment or final Solution’ to convey the mass killing of the Jews. The words, ‘selection or disinfection’ were 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 bathrooms with fake showerheads.

Q 73– How were women treated in Nazi Germany?

Ans– Women in 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 favored 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.

Q 74– When did Hitler formally announce his violation of the Treaty of Versailles?
What reason did he give for this?

Ans–

Hitler formally announced his violation of the Treaty of Versailles in March 1935.
Hitler claimed that he was trying to make Germany equal in position to the other European powers.
Since European nations had not followed the policy of disarmament, German rearmament was a necessity.

Q 75– Mention four major terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Ans–

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.
The Allied Powers demilitarised Germany to weaken its power.
The War Guilt Clause held Germany responsible for the war and damages the Allied countries suffered. Germany was forced to pay compensation amounting to around £ 6 billion.
The Allied armies also occupied the resource-rich Rhineland for much of the 1920s. Many Germans held the new Weimar Republic responsible for not only the defeat in the war, but the disgrace at Versailles.

Q 76– What was expected of the youth in Nazi Germany?

Ans– All the young men above the age of 18 years were expected to serve in the armed forces and enter one of the Nazi organizations. 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 organizations. They were taught to worship war, glorify aggression and violence, condemn democracy, hate Jews, communists, gypsies and all those who were called ‘undesirable’.

Q 77– What was the impact of the war on European Society and politics?

Ans– The impact of the war on the European Society was devastating. It affected the economic, social, and political fiber 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.

Q 78– State three features of political radicalism in Germany.

Ans– Features of political radicalism in Germany are :

The political situation that came into view after the rise of Weimar Republic is termed as political radicalism.
The demand and the uprising for Soviet style governance were suppressed by the Weimar republic and this enraged them to form the communist party.
Both communists and socialists wanted political radicalism against Hitler’s Rule.
This situation aggravated with economic crisis in 1923. Germany paid war reparations in Gold and so the Gold Reserves of Germany became scarce.
Due to this, Germany refused to pay the war reparations. As a result, French occupied Ruhr, which was leading industrial area of Germany to claim their coal.
Germany retaliated with passive resistance and printed paper currency in excess which further led to worsening of the situation and hyper inflation.

Q 79– Write a short note on the Spartacist League.

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.

Q 80– Examine two inherent defects in Weimar Constitution.

Ans–

The system of proportional representation made achieving a majority by any one party a near impossible task, leading to the rule by coalitions.
Article 48, which gave the President the powers to impose emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree.
Within its short life, the Weimar Republic saw twenty different cabinets lasting on an average 239 days, and a liberal use of Article 48. Yet the crisis could not be managed. People lost confidence in the democratic parliamentary system, which seemed to offer no solutions.

Q 81– What was the ideology of the Nazis regarding the Jews?

Ans– The ideology of the Nazis regarding the Jews were :

All schools were cleansed and purified under Nazism. Those teachers were dismissed who were found to be Jews or seen as politically unreliable.
German and Jew children were not allowed to sit or play together.
All the undesirable children—Jews, Gypsies, and the physically handicapped were dismissed from schools and. Finally were taken to gas chambers in the 1940s.

Q 82– What brought about the Great Economic Depression?

Ans– 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 was 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 24 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.

Q 83– Explain any three components of the ideology of Hitler.

Ans–

According to Nazi theory, 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 the Jews were at the bottom.
Hitler borrowed his ideas from the theory of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer. Both these scientists explained the concept of evolution and natural selection. They gave the concept of ‘survival of the fittest.’ This idea was used by the Nazis to justify their imperial rule and war.
Hitler also used the idea of Lebensraum or living space. He believed that new territories had to be acquired for settlement.
This would enhance the area of mother country while enabling the settlers on new lands to retain an intimate link with the place of their origin and at the same time would also enhance the material resources and power of the German nation.

Q 84– What were the powers that were given to the Police Forces in the Nazi State?

Ans– The newly-organized 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.

Q 85– What do you know about ‘Nazi schooling’ ?

Ans– All ‘Good German’ children were subjected to a prolonged period of ideological training—a process of Nazi schooling. School textbooks were rewritten. Racial science was introduced to justify Nazi ideas of race. Children were taught to be loyal and submissive, hate Jews, and worship Hitler. Even sports was used to nurture a spirit of violence and aggression among children. Hitler believed boxing made children ironhearted, strong and masculine.

Q 86– State any three major effects of the First World War in Germany.

Ans– Three major effects of the First World War in Germany are :

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 per cent of its iron and 26 per cent of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
The Allied Powers demilitarized 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 87– What was the Nazi’s ideology regarding motherhood?

Ans– In Nazi Germany, children were repeatedly told that women were radically different from men. It was preached that the fight for equal rights for men and women was wrong and it would destroy society.

The boys were taught to be aggressive, masculine and steel-hearted. The girls were taught to become good mothers. They were supposed to rear pure-blooded Aryan children and maintain the purity of the race. They had to distance themselves from Jews, look after the home, and over and above teach their children the Nazi values.

Q 88– What were Hitler’s Foreign Policies?

Ans–

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.

Q 89– What were the promises made by Hitler to the people of Germany?

Ans–

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 those looking for work, and a secure future for the youth.
He promised to weed out all foreign influences and resist all foreign ‘conspiracies’ against Germany.

Q 90– What were the results of the victory of Nazism in Germany?

Ans–

The victory of Nazism in Germany led to the destruction of democracy and establishment of dictatorship.
It also led to the militarism and preparation for the war.
In Germany, all other political parties were banned except the Nazi Party.
Nazism opposed Socialism and Communism, so the advocates of these philosophies were either jailed or killed.

Q 91– Explain the impact on Germany of her refusal to pay war compensation in 1923.

Ans–

The French occupied Ruhr, the leading industrial and mineral dominating area.
Germany retaliated with passive resistance and printed paper currency recklessly. With too much printed money in circulation, the value of the German Mark fell drastically.
Due to the fall in the value of Mark prices of goods soared and Germany fell into hyperinflation situation.

Q 92– Explain the three-fold plan of Hitler to consolidate the Nazi Power, after becoming the Chancellor of Germany.

Ans–

Suspension of Rights: 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.
End of Communism: Hitler was totally against communism. So he ordered his officials to put all the communists and their supports in the newly established concentration camps. The repression of the communists was severe. They were, however, only one among the 52 types of victims persecuted by the Nazis across the country.
Enabling Act: On 3rd March 1933, the famous Enabling Act was passed. This Act established dictatorship in Germany. It gave Hitler all powers to sideline Parliament and rule by decree. All political parties 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

Q 93– What steps were taken by Hitler to reconstruct Germany?

Ans–

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.
This project produced the famous German superhighways, and the people’s car, the Volkswagen. In foreign policy also, Hitler, acquired quick successes. He pulled Germany out of the League of Nations in 1933, reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936, and integrated Austria and Germany in 1938. .
He was of the opinion that resources are to be accumulated through the expansion of territory.

Q 94– Why did the USA show unwillingness to get involve in the Second World War initially ? Why did it change its attitude afterwards ?

Ans– The USA had resisted involvement in the war. It was unwilling to once again face all the economic problems that the First World War had caused. But it could not stay out of the war for long. Japan was expanding its power in the east. It had occupied French Indo China and was planning attacks on US naval bases in the Pacific.
When Japan extended its support to Hitler and bombed the US base at Pearl Harbor, the US entered the Second World War. The war ended in May 1945 with Hitler’s defeat and the US dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima in Japan.

Q 95– Explain Hitler’s ideology related to the geopolitical concept of Lebensraum.

Ans– Hitler’s Geo-political Concept of Lebensraum :

Hitler’s ideology was related to the geo-political concept of Lebensraum or living space. He believed new territories had to be acquired for settlement.

This would enhance the area of the mother country, while enabling the settles 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.

Q 96– How was the Nazi Party formed?

Ans– Nazi Party formed by :

Disintegration of Weimar Republic led to the formation of Nazi Party after the First World War.

Hitler enrolled for the army when the First World War broke out. He also earned medals for bravery.

The German defeat horrified him and Versailles Treaty made him furious. Later, he joined a small group called the German Workers party.

Subsequently, he took over the organization and renamed in National Socialist German Workers Party. This party came to be known as Nazi Party.

Q 97– Explain the racial policy of Hitler or the Nazis.

Ans–

The Nazis wanted to establish an exclusive racial community of pure Germans by eliminating all other races.

They wanted only a society of ‘Pure and healthy Nordic Aryans’.
Under his racial policy, Hitler even ordered to eliminate unhealthy or abnormal Aryans.

Many ‘inferior’ races like Gypsies, the Blacks and Jewish were killed and deported.

Q 98– Why was the International Military Tribunal set up in Nuremberg at the end of the Second World War ?

Ans– At the end of the Second World War the International Military Tribunal was set up in Nuremberg to prosecute Nazi War Criminals. The Tribunal prosecuted the Nazis for crimes against Peace, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity. However, the Nuremberg Tribunal sentenced only eleven leading Nazis to death. Many other were imprisoned for life.

Q 99– Who wrote the book ‘Third Reich of Dreams’? What did the author describe in this book?

Ans– Charlotte Beradt wrote the book ‘Third Reich of Dreams’. She describes how Jews themselves began believing in the Nazi stereotypes about them. They dreamt of their hooked noses, black hair and eyes, Jewish looks and body movements. The stereotypical images published in the Nazi press haunted the Jews. They troubled them even in their dreams. Jews died many deaths even before they reached the gas chamber.

Q 100– Explain the following terms :

(i) Holo-caust,
(ii) Concentration Camp,
(iii) Wall Street Exchange.

Ans– (i) Holocaust:

It refers to the Nazi killing operations. Undesirable people were taken to

concentration camp, Gestapo, gas chambers etc., and were subjected to death.

While the Germans were pre-occupied with their own plight as a defeated nation emerging out of the rubble, the Jews wanted the world to remember the atrocities and sufferings they had endured during the Nazi killing operations.

(ii) Concentration Camp :

It was a camp where people were isolated and detained without due process of law. Typically, it was surrounded by electrified barbed wire fences.

When Hitler became the Chancellor on 30th January 1933, he hurriedly packed off his arch-enemies, the communists to the newly established concentration camp.

(iii) Wall Street Exchange :

It is the world’s biggest stock exchange located in the USA.
In 1929, when the Wall Street Exchange crashed, Germans were very much affected because they were totally dependent on short-term loans, largely from the USA.

Q 101– “Nazism reflects ugly face of humanity,” State three arguments in support of the statement.

Ans–

Cleaning and Purification of Schools : All schools were cleansed and purified. This meant that teachers who were Jews or seen as politically unreliable were dismissed. Children were first segregated. Germans and Jews could not sit together or play together. Subsequently, undesirable children-Jews, the physically handicapped. Gypsies were thrown out of schools. And finally in the 1940s, they were taken to the gas chambers. Good German children were subjected to a process of Nazi schooling, a prolonged period of ideological training.
Racial Science : School textbooks were rewritten. Racial science was introduced to justify Nazi ideas of race. Stereotypes about Jews were popularised even through maths classes.
Spirit of Loyalty and Aggression : Children were taught to be loyal and submissive, hate Jews, and worship Hitler. Even the function of sports was to nurture a spirit of violence and aggression among children. Hitler believed that boxing could make children iron hearted, strong and masculine.

Q 102– Why the USA resisted its involvement in the Second World War? Which incident marked its entry into the war?

Ans– The USA had resisted involvement in the Second World War. It was unwilling to once again face all the economic problems that the First World War had caused. But it could not stay out of the war for long. Japan was expanding its power in the east. It had occupied French Indo-China and was planning attacks on US naval bases in the Pacific.

When Japan extended its support to Hitler and bombed the US base at Pearl Harbor, the US entered the Second World War.

Long Type Questions

Q 103– How did the Great Economic Depression of 1929 affect the life of the people of Germany? Explain.

Ans–

Drastic Fall in Industrial Production: By 1932, industrial production was reduced to 40 per cent of the 1929 level.
Unemployment: Workers lost their jobs or were paid reduced wages. The number of unemployed touched an unprecedented 6 million. As jobs disappeared, the youth took to criminal activities and total despair became commonplace. The economic crisis created deep anxieties and fears in people.
Loss of Saving: The middle classes, especially salaried employees and pensioners, saw their savings diminish when the currency lost its value.
Impact on Small Entrepreneur: Small businessmen, the self-employed and retailers suffered as their businesses got ruined. Big business was in crisis.
Impact on Peasants: The large mass of peasantry was affected by a sharp fall in agricultural prices and women, unable to fill their children’s stomachs, were filled with a sense of deep despair.

Q 104– Explain the factors which led to the rise of Hitler in Germany.Ans– The factors which led to the rise of Hitler in Germany were :

Germany was compelled to sign the treaty by which she had to pay a huge war indemnity. This treaty created the feeling of dissatisfaction among the people of Germany. The Weimar Republic was regarded as a symbol of national disgrace. Hitler assured the Germans about the restoration of the old prestige, so they became his followers.
Germany had to face a Great Economic crisis after the First World War. Many soldiers were no more in service, so they became unemployed. Trade and commerce were ruined. In 1929, there was, however, a great slump in Europe. Germany was in the grip of unemployment and starvation. The prices rose and the value of money fell.
The Germans had no faith in democracy. It was against their culture and tradition. They, at once, gave support to a strong man of action like Hitler who could turn their dreams into reality.

Q 105– Explain briefly the main causes of the Rise of Nazi dictatorship in Germany.

Ans– The main causes of rise of Nazi dictatorship in Germany are as follows:
(i) The First World War defeat
(ii) Weakness of Weimar Republic:

The Weimar constitution had some inherent defects which made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.
Due to proportional representation, one party rule became an impossible task, leading to a rule by coalitions.
Another defect was Article 48, which gave the President the power to impose emergency, suspend civil rights and by decree.

(iii) Treaty of Versailles: Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles with allied powers. This made Germany lose its overseas colonies, a tenth of its population, 13% of territories, and many more. The allied powers demilitarized Germany. The Allied armies also occupied the resource-rich Rhineland. The war guilt clause forced Germany to pay £ 6 billion as war damages to the Allied Powers.
(iv) The Economic Crisis: German economy was the worst hit. Industrial production was reduced to 40%. Due to the great economic depression, the National Income of the USA fell by half leading to shut down the factories. The exports fell down and farmers suffered the most during the depression.
(v) Mass Unemployment: Workers of Germany lost their jobs or were paid reduced wages. Unemployed youth played cards or lined up at local employment exchange. Jobs disappeared and youth took to criminal activities.
(vi) German people thought that Hider would be a good dictator as he promised to undo the injustice of the Treaty of Versailles. He also promised to give employment to those looking for work. Later, the Nazi Party became the largest party with 37% votes in Reichstag.

Q 106– What were the provision of the famous Enabling Act ?

Ans– On 3 March 1933, the famous Enabling Act was passed. The provisions of the Enabling Act were given below :

This Act established dictatorship in Germany. It gave Hitler all powers to sideline Parliament and rule by decree.
All political parties 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.
Special surveillance and security forces were created to control and order society in ways that the Nazis wanted.

Q 107–Explain how Hitler dismantled the democratic structure.

Ans– (i) Suspension of All Rights: The Fire Decree of 28th February, 1933 indefinitely suspended the civic rights like freedom of speech, press and assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar constitution.

(ii) Ill-treatment to the Communists: Hitler was against communists. Most of them were hurriedly packed off to the newly established concentration camps. The repression of the communists was severe. The Enabling Act: On 3rd March, 1933, the famous Enabling Act was passed. This Act established a dictatorship in Germany. It gave Hitler all powers to sideline the Parliament and the rule by decree. All political parties 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.
(iii) Total Control: Special surveillance and security forces were created to control and order society in ways that the Nazis wanted. Apart from the already existing regular police in a green uniform and the SA or the Storm Troopers, these included the Gestapo (secret state police), the SS (the protection squads), criminal police and the Security Service (SD).
(iv) Single Party System: Hitler believed in ‘One people, one empire, and one leader policy’. Immediately after coming into power, he banned all the other political parties except Nazi Party and its affiliates.

Q 108– What were the major factors responsible for the economic crisis in Germany during 1920s?

Ans– (i) War Loans: Germany had fought the First World War largely on loans. As there were no other resources to pay back so Germany had to pay back in gold. This depleted gold reserves at a time resources were scarce.

(ii) French Occupied Ruhr: Ruhr was the most important industrial region of Germany. In 1923, Germany refused to pay, and the French occupied Ruhr, to claim their coal.

(iii) Reckless Printing of Currency: Germany retaliated with passive resistance and printed paper currency recklessly. With too much-printed money in circulation, the value of the German mark fell. In April, the US dollar was equal to 24,000 marks, in July 353,000 marks, in August 46,21,000 marks and at 9,88,60,000 marks by December, the figure had run into trillions.

(iv) Hyperinflation: As the value of the mark collapsed, prices of goods soared. This crisis came to be known as hyperinflation, a situation when prices rise phenomenally high. Eventually, the Americans intervened and bailed Germany out of the crisis by introducing the Dawes Plan, which reworked the terms of reparation to ease the financial burden on Germans.

(v) Great Depression in the USA: German investments and industrial recovery were totally dependent on short-term loans, largely from the USA. This support was withdrawn when the Wall Street Exchange crashed in 1929.

Q 109– What promises did Hitler make to the German people? How did he mobilise them?

Ans–

Hitler was a powerful speaker. His passion and his words moved people. 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 those looking for work, and a secure future for the youth.

He promised to weed out all foreign influences and resist all foreign ‘conspiracies’ against Germany.

Hitler devised a new style of politics. He understood the significance of rituals and spectacle in mass mobilization. Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings to demonstrate the support for Hitler and instill a sense of unity among the people.
The Red banners with the Swastika, the Nazi salute, and the ritualized rounds of applause after the speeches were all part of this spectacle of power.

Q 110– What were the main features of Hitler’s geopolitical concept of ‘Lebensraum’? Give five features.

Ans–

Lebensraum meaning ‘living space’ was an expansionist policy of Nazi Germany.
Nazis 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.
Hitler intended to extend German boundaries by moving eastwards, to concentrate all Germans geographically in one place.
Poland became the laboratory for this experimentation.

Q 111– From whom did Hitler borrow his racist ideology? Explain.

Ans– (a) Hitler borrowed his racist ideology from thinkers like Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer.

(b) Darwin was a natural scientist who tried to explain the creation of plants and animals through the concept of evolution and natural selection. Darwin never advocated human intervention in what he thought was a purely natural process of selection.
(c) Herbert Spencer later added the idea of survival of the fittest. According to this idea, only those species survived on earth could adapt themselves to changing climatic conditions.

However, his ideas were used by racist thinkers and politicians to justify imperial rule over conquered peoples.

Q 112– Describe the effect of Great Economic depression on Germany ?

Ans– The effect of Great Economic depression on Germany were :

The German economy was the worst hit by the Great Economic depression. By 1932, industrial production was reduced to 40% of the 1929 level. Workers lost their jobs or were paid reduced wages.
The number of unemployed touched an unprecedented 6 million. Men could be seen on streets with placards saying,’ Willing to do any work’. As jobs disappeared, youth took to criminal activities, and total despair became common place.

There were deep anxieties and fears in people. The middle classes, especially salaried employees and pensioners, saw their savings diminish when the currency lost its value.
The large mass of peasantry was badly affected by a sharp fall in agricultural prices.

Q 113– ‘In my state the mother is the most important citizen.’ Discuss this statement made by Hitler.

Ans– (a) Though Hitler said that in my state the mother is the most important citizen, it was not true.
(b) All mothers were not treated equally. Women who bore racially desirable children were awarded, while those who bore racially undesirable children were punished.
(c) 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 114– Highlight Nazi cult of motherhood.

Ans– Many social programs were implemented by Hitler to encourage the growth of a strong German Nazi Volk. One such programme was to advocate the virtues of motherhood. This programme included the following features:
(i) Girls were told that they had to become good mothers, distance themselves from the Jews and look after their homes. They should teach their children Nazi values and rear pure-blooded Aryan children.
(ii) Women who bore racially desirable children were awarded with concessions in shops, theatre and railway tickets. They were also given favoured treatment in hospitals.
(iii) Cash incentives were paid for each child born.
(iv) Such was the desire to increase the German population that in 1943, a law was discussed among Nazi leaders that all women married or single should have four children. The father of these children should be racially pure. Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS was particularly keen on this idea.
(v) On the 16th December 1938, Hitler instituted a new award to honour German Nazi motherhood, especially the large family. The cross of Honour of the German Mother was created in three classes from 16th December 1938, when the decoration was first instituted, to mid-1939, Nazi mother’s crosses bore the inscription ‘Das Kind adult die Mutter’ (The child ennobles the mother). This award was formally presented in a blue envelope bearing the title of the award on the front. The gold cross was presented to the woman who has produced 8 children, silver was for 6 children and bronze was for 4 children.

(vi) All Aryan women were publicly condemned and punished if they failed to follow the Nazi conditions.

Q 115– What steps were taken by Adolf Hitler for the destruction of democracy?

Ans– The following steps were taken by Hitler for the destruction of democracy :

A mysterious fire that broke out in the German Parliament building in February, 1933 indefinitely suspended civic rights. It is said that the fire was broken out by Hitler’s supporters, while Hitler blamed his political enemies for it. The Fire Decree of 28 February, 1933 indefinitely suspended civic rights such as freedom of expression, speech, press and assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar Constitution.
After that Adolf Hitler turned on his enemy, i.e., the Communists of Germany, most of the communists were quickly packed off to the newly established concentration camps.
The repression of the Communists was severe. Their membership was in thousands. They were, however, only one among the 52 types of victims persecuted by the Nazis across the country.
On 3rd March, 1933, the famous Enabling Act was passed. This Act established dictatorship in Germany. It gave Adolf Hitler all political and administrative powers to sideline German Parliament and rule by decree.

Q 116– What were the main effects of Nazi rule on Germany ?
Ans– The victory of Nazism produced far-reaching effects on Germany :

Hitler tried to pull his country out of the Economic Crisis that had befallen on Germany as a result of her defeat in the First World War. Different types of industries were set up to provide work to the workmen. Trade was encouraged with the same aim in mind.
Hitler inspired to make Germany a powerful country and enhanced his military power in all possible ways.
All political parties except the Nazi Party were banned. And, then a Reign of Terror was let loose in Germany. Assassinations of anti-Nazi leaders took place on a large scale.
The Communist Parties were also banned.
Trade unions were suppressed.

Q 117– Describe any five consequences of defeat of Germany at the hands of Allies in the First World War.

Ans–

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.
The Allied Powers demilitarised Germany to weaken its power.
The War Guilt Clause held Germany responsible for the war and damages the Allied countries suffered. Germany was forced to pay compensation amounting to around £ 6 billion.
The Allied armies also occupied the resource rich Rhineland for much of the 1920s.
Many Germans held the new Weimar Republic responsible for not only the defeat in the war, but the disgrace at Versailles.

Q 118– Explain Hitler or the Nazi’s policy towards the Jews.

Ans–

The Jews were considered ‘undesirable’ and were given the lowest rank in the racial hierarchy.
The Jews remained the worst sufferers in the Nazi Germany. The Nazi hatred of Jews had a precursor in the traditional Christian hostility towards the Jews. They had been stereotyped as killers of Christ and usurers. Until the medieval times, Jews were barred from owning land. They survived mainly through trade and money lending. They lived in separately marked areas called the ghettos. They were often persecuted through periodic organised violence, and expulsion from the land.
However, Hitler’s hatred of the Jews was based on pseudoscientific theories of race, which held that conversion was no solution to ‘the Jewish problem’. It could be solved only through their total elimination.
From 1933 to 1938 the Nazis terrorised, pauperized and segregated the Jews, compelling them to leave the country. The next phase, 1939-1945, aimed at concentrating them in certain areas, and eventually killing them in gas chambers in Poland.

Q 119– What did Hitler do to overcome the economic crisis that badly hit the German economy?

Ans– After establishing his dictatorship in Germany, he took major steps towards economic reconstruction. 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.
In foreign policy also, Hitler acquired quick successes. He pulled out of the League of Nations in 1933, reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936, and integrated Austria and Germany in 1938 under the slogan, One people, One empire, and One leader.
He then went on to wrest German-speaking Sudentenland from Czechoslovakia and gobbled up the entire country. In all of this he had the unspoken support of England, which had considered the Versailles verdict too harsh. These quick successes at home and abroad seemed to reverse the destiny of the country. Hitler chose war as the way out of the approaching economic crisis. Resources were to be accumulated through expansion of territory. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This started a war with France and England. In September 1940, a Tripartite Pact was signed between Germany, Italy and Japan, strengthening Hitler’s claim to international power.
Hitler now moved to achieve his long-term aim of conquering Eastern Europe. He wanted to ensure food supplies and living space for Germans. He attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941. In this historic blunder, Hitler exposed the German western front to British aerial bombing and the eastern front to the powerful Soviet armies.

Q 120– How did the Nazis proceed to realize their murderous racial ideology of eliminating the undesirables? Explain.

Ans– 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. But Jews remained the worst sufferers in Nazi Germany. They were stereotyped as ‘killers of Christ and usurers’.
Until medieval times, Jews were banned from owning land. They survived mainly through trade and money lending. They lived in separately marked areas called ‘ghettos’. They were often persecuted through periodic organised violence and expulsion from land. 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.

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