Q 1 – Allied Powers in World War II.
(a) Germany, Italy, Japan
(b) Germany, Italy, Turkey
(c) UK, France, Italy
(d) UK, France, USSR, USA
(d) UK, France, USSR, USA
Q 2 – Which nations were the Axis powers during World War II?
(a) UK, France, USA, USSR
(b) UK, France, Japan
(c) Germany, Italy, Japan
(d) Germany, France, UK
(c) Germany, Italy, Japan
Q 3 – Who among the given were called “November Criminals”?
(a) Bolsheviks
(b) Jews
(c) Nazis
(d) Socialists, Catholics and Democrats
(d) Socialists, Catholics and Democrats
Q 4 – Which of the given parties came to be known as Nazi Party?
(a) German Workers Party
(b) Socialist Democratic Party
(c) National Socialist German Workers Party
(d) Socialist Party
National Socialist German Workers’ Party,
Q 5 – Which of the following was the immediate factor for the Great Depression (1929-1932)?
(a) Collapse of Wall Street Exchange
(b) Financial Impact of World War I
(c) Fall in US exports
(d) Collapse of banks
(b) Financial Impact of World War I
Q 6 – Which was not a feature of Jew stereotypes?
(a) Weak and degenerate
(b) Vermin and rats
(c) Foreign agents
(d) Generous and charitable
(d) Generous and charitable
Q 7 – Fill in the blanks:
- A camp where people were isolated and detained without due process of law, referred to as _______.
- People of the Weimar Republic lost confidence in the democratic _______.
- The Nazi Party had become the largest party by _______.
- Nazi propaganda projected _______.
- The gas chambers that looked like bathrooms, equipped with fake shower heads, were labeled as _______.
- The Political atmosphere in ________ was charged with demands for _____________.
a) Concentration camp
b) Parliamentary System.
c) 1932
d) Hitler as a messiah
e) Disinfection areas
f) Berlin & Soviet-style governance.
Q 8 – Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
The problems faced by the Weimar Republic were present from its very inception. The Versailles Peace Treaty at the end of the First World War dispossessed Germany of its territories, its resources and its pride as a nation. In spite of the harsh terms, the Weimar Republic accepted the humiliating treaty, thereby making it unpopular amongst the German masses.
The German state was financially crippled due to overwhelming war debts which had to be paid in gold. The French occupied Germany’s chief industrial area—the Ruhr—to exact debts when the Weimar government refused to pay. The uninhibited printing of paper money caused the value of the German mark to fall considerably, thereby causing hyperinflation. When the Great Economic Depression occurred, the German economy was the worst hit because USA—which had been bailing it out of debts—discontinued its monetary support.
Democracy was a new idea in Europe, and the Weimar Republic came about to be one with huge problems during its infancy. The Weimar Republic was weak due to inherent constitutional irregularities such as proportional representation and Article 48 (which gave the President the power to impose emergency and rule by decree). The democratic parliamentary system seemed to give the people no solutions or benefits in the times of the severe economic crisis. Thus, beset with political and economic problems, the German people lost confidence in the Weimar Republic.
Directions: In each of the following questions, a statement of Assertion is given and a corresponding statement of Reason is given just below it. Of the statements, given below, mark the correct answer as:
(a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
Q 9 – Assertion (A): Nazism became a mass movement only after the Great Depression.
Reason (R): The Great Depression created heavy discontent among the people.
Reason (R): The Great Depression created heavy discontent among the people.
Q 10 – Assertion (A): It was finally in 1946 that women in France won the Right to Vote.
Reason (R): The example of the political activities of French women during the revolutionary years was kept alive as an inspiring memory.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
Q 11 – Assertion (A) : Those who resisted Collectivisation were severely punished. Many were deported and exiled.
Reason (R) : Stalin’s government allowed some independent cultivation, but treated such cultivators with sympathy.
c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
Q 12 – Trace any three main features of the foreign policy of Hitler.
- 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 13 – When did Hitler formally announce his violation of the Treaty of Versailles ? What reason did he give for this ?
- 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 14 – Explain the three fold plan of Hitler becoming Chancellor of Germany to consolidate the Nazi power.
- 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 15 – Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930.
Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930 due to a lot of reasons:
- The most apparent being the Great Depression. The Weimar Republic did little to remedy the country’s economic downfall, and Hitler was presented as a saviour to the humiliated German people living in economic and political crises.
- The powerful speeches of Hitler in which he sought to build a great nation, undo the injustice of the Versailles Treaty, restore the dignity of German people and provide employment for all stirred hopes in people.
- Nazi propaganda was unique. Red banners with the Swastika, Nazi salute and the rounds of applause attracted the people making Nazism very popular.
Q 16 – Write a short note on the Spartacist League.
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.
Q 17 – What is hyperinflation? What were the factors that led to hyperinflation in Germany?
Hyperinflation is a situation when prices rise phenomenally high. This situation occurred in Germany in 1932 due to following reasons :
- Germany had fought the war largely on loans and had to pay war reparations in gold. This depleted gold reserves at a time resources were scarce.
- In 1923 Germany refused to pay, and the French occupied its leading industrial area, Ruhr, to claim their coal. Germany retaliated with passive resistance and printed paper currency recklessly. With too much printed money in circulation, the value of the German mark fell.
Q 18 – Why did the USA show unwillingness to get involved in the Second World War initially? Why did it change its attitude afterward?
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 19 – What were the provision of the famous Enabling Act?
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 20 – Why is Nazism considered a calamity not only for Germany but for the entire Europe ?
Nazi ideology specified that there was a racial hierarchy and no equality between people.
(a) The blond, blue-eyed Nordic German Aryans were at the top, while the Jews were located somewhere on the lowest rung of the ladder.
(b) The number of people killed by Nazi Germany was 6 million Jews, 200,000 Gypsies, 1 million Polish civilians, and 70,000 Germans.
(c) Nazism glorified the use of force and brutality. It ridiculed internationalism, peace, and democracy.
(d) Nazi Germany became the most dreaded criminal state. Hitler chose war as the way out of approaching the economic crisis.
(e) Germany invaded Poland. This started a war with France and England in September 1940.
Q 21 – Explain why Nazi propaganda was effective in creating a hatred for Jews.
Propaganda films were made to create hatred for Jews. The most infamous film was The Eternal Jew. Orthodox Jews were stereotyped and marked. They were shown with flowing beards and wearing kaftans. They were referred to as vermin, rats, and pests. Their movements were compared to those of rodents. Orthodox Jews were stereotyped as killers of Christ and moneylenders. Stereotypes about Jews were popularised even through Maths classes. Children were taught to hate the Jews. The Nazi propaganda against the Jews was so effective that people felt anger and hatred surge inside them when they saw someone who looked like a Jew.
Q 22 – Explain the factors which led to the rise of Hitler in Germany.
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 23 – Describe the effect of Great Economic depression on Germany.
The impact of the Great Depression on Germany are:
It led to economic crises in Germany Reduced the wages of the employed workers may unemployed people took to criminal activities in the absence of any work Due to the reduced industrial production in 1932, many workers became unemployed due to the depreciation of the German currency, savings of the middle class and salaried employees were reduced drastically.
During this economic crisis in Germany, small business people and retailers suffered because of the reduced purchasing power of the people.
Q 24 – What did Hitler do to overcome the economic crisis that badly hit the German economy ?
After establishing his dictatorship in Germany, Hitler turned his attention towards the economic reconstruction of the country. He assigned the responsibility of economic recovery to the economist Hjalmar Sachacht 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 Volkeswagen.
Hitler’s foreign policy also got quick success. He pulled out 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 rest German speaking Sudentenland from Czechoslovakia and took over the entire country.
Hitler didn’t know to stop. He 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.
Hitler now turned towards conquering Eastern Europe. He wanted to ensure food supplies and living space for Germans. He attacked the Soviet Union inJune 1941. But he could not get success. This step of Hitler proved to be a historic blunder.
Q 25 – What steps were taken by Adolf Hitler for the destruction of democracy?
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.