3. Nazism and the Rise of Hitler
1. Why was Nazism considered as a calamity to not only Germany but also for the entire Europe?
Under the shadow of the Second World War, Germany had waged a genocidal war, which resulted
in the mass murder of selected groups of innocent civilians of Europe.
Around 6 million Jews, 200,000 Gypsies, 1 million Polish civilians, 70,000 Germans who were
considered mentally and physically disabled and innumerable political opponents were brutally
killed.
Nazis devised an unprecedented means of killing people, that is, by gassing them in various killing
centres like Auschwitz
2. Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
Versailles treaty
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.
It also had to pay 6 billion pounds as war compensation. In spite of the harsh terms, the Weimar
Republic accepted the humiliating treaty, thereby making it unpopular amongst the German
masses.
Economic Crisis
Germany was financially crippled due to great war debts which had to be paid in gold.
Subsequently gold reserves depleted and value of German mark fell.
Prices of essential goods rose dramatically.
Political defects
The Weimar Republic was weak due to inherent constitutional irregularities
The democratic parliamentary system seemed to give the people no solutions or benefits in the
times of the severe economic crisis.
3. Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany
The peace treaty at Versailles with the Allies was a harsh and humiliating peace.
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.
Germany was forced to hold the responsiblity for the war and damages the Allied countries
suffered.
Germany was forced to pay compensation amounting to 6 billion pounds.
The Allied armies also occupied the resource-rich Rhineland for much of the 1920s
4. Impact of the First World War on Europe
The war had a devastating impact on the entire continent
From a continent of creditors, Europe turned into one of debtors.
The infant Weimar Republic was being made to pay for the sins of the old empire.
The republic carried the burden of war guilt and national humiliation and was financially crippled
by being forced to pay compensation.
Those who supported the Weimar Republic, mainly Socialists, Catholics and Democrats, became
easy targets of attack in the conservative nationalist circles.
The First World War left a deep imprint on European society and polity.
Soldiers came to be placed above civilians.
Page.1
, Politicians and publicists laid great stress on the need for men to be aggressive, strong and
masculine.
Aggressive war propaganda and national honour occupied centre stage in the public sphere, while
popular support grew for conservative dictatorships that had recently come into being.
5. Impact of the Great Depression on Germany
By 1932, industrial production was reduced to 40 per cent of the 1929 level.
Workers lost their jobs or were paid reduced wages.
The number of unemployed rose into 6 million.
As jobs disappeared, the youth took to criminal activities and total despair became common place.
When the currency lost its value, the savings of the middle classes, especially salaried employees
and pensioners, diminished.
Small businessmen, the self-employed and retailers suffered as their businesses got ruined.
Agricultural prices fell down which affected the large mass of peasantry and women were unable
to fill their children’s stomachs.
6. Explain why Nazism became popular by the 1930s.
It was during the Great Depression that Nazism became a mass movement. In such a situation Nazi
propaganda stirred hopes of a better future.
Hitler’s powerful speeches 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.
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 ritualised rounds of applause after the
speeches were all part of this spectacle of power.
Nazi propaganda skillfully projected Hitler as a messiah, a saviour, as someone who had arrived to
deliver people from their distress.
It is an image that captured the imagination of a people whose sense of dignity and pride had been
shattered, and who were living in a time of acute economic and political crises.
7. Steps adopted by Hitler to destroy democracy in Germany.
Through the Fire Decree of 1933 Hitler suspended civic rights like freedom of speech, press and
assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar constitution.
By the famous Enabling Act he established dictatorship in Germany. The act 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 such as the SA or the Storm Troopers, the Gestapo (secret
state police), the SS (the protection squads), criminal police and the Security Service (SD) were
created to control and order society in ways that the Nazis wanted.
8. Hitler’s foreign policy
Page.2
1. Why was Nazism considered as a calamity to not only Germany but also for the entire Europe?
Under the shadow of the Second World War, Germany had waged a genocidal war, which resulted
in the mass murder of selected groups of innocent civilians of Europe.
Around 6 million Jews, 200,000 Gypsies, 1 million Polish civilians, 70,000 Germans who were
considered mentally and physically disabled and innumerable political opponents were brutally
killed.
Nazis devised an unprecedented means of killing people, that is, by gassing them in various killing
centres like Auschwitz
2. Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
Versailles treaty
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.
It also had to pay 6 billion pounds as war compensation. In spite of the harsh terms, the Weimar
Republic accepted the humiliating treaty, thereby making it unpopular amongst the German
masses.
Economic Crisis
Germany was financially crippled due to great war debts which had to be paid in gold.
Subsequently gold reserves depleted and value of German mark fell.
Prices of essential goods rose dramatically.
Political defects
The Weimar Republic was weak due to inherent constitutional irregularities
The democratic parliamentary system seemed to give the people no solutions or benefits in the
times of the severe economic crisis.
3. Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany
The peace treaty at Versailles with the Allies was a harsh and humiliating peace.
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.
Germany was forced to hold the responsiblity for the war and damages the Allied countries
suffered.
Germany was forced to pay compensation amounting to 6 billion pounds.
The Allied armies also occupied the resource-rich Rhineland for much of the 1920s
4. Impact of the First World War on Europe
The war had a devastating impact on the entire continent
From a continent of creditors, Europe turned into one of debtors.
The infant Weimar Republic was being made to pay for the sins of the old empire.
The republic carried the burden of war guilt and national humiliation and was financially crippled
by being forced to pay compensation.
Those who supported the Weimar Republic, mainly Socialists, Catholics and Democrats, became
easy targets of attack in the conservative nationalist circles.
The First World War left a deep imprint on European society and polity.
Soldiers came to be placed above civilians.
Page.1
, Politicians and publicists laid great stress on the need for men to be aggressive, strong and
masculine.
Aggressive war propaganda and national honour occupied centre stage in the public sphere, while
popular support grew for conservative dictatorships that had recently come into being.
5. Impact of the Great Depression on Germany
By 1932, industrial production was reduced to 40 per cent of the 1929 level.
Workers lost their jobs or were paid reduced wages.
The number of unemployed rose into 6 million.
As jobs disappeared, the youth took to criminal activities and total despair became common place.
When the currency lost its value, the savings of the middle classes, especially salaried employees
and pensioners, diminished.
Small businessmen, the self-employed and retailers suffered as their businesses got ruined.
Agricultural prices fell down which affected the large mass of peasantry and women were unable
to fill their children’s stomachs.
6. Explain why Nazism became popular by the 1930s.
It was during the Great Depression that Nazism became a mass movement. In such a situation Nazi
propaganda stirred hopes of a better future.
Hitler’s powerful speeches 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.
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 ritualised rounds of applause after the
speeches were all part of this spectacle of power.
Nazi propaganda skillfully projected Hitler as a messiah, a saviour, as someone who had arrived to
deliver people from their distress.
It is an image that captured the imagination of a people whose sense of dignity and pride had been
shattered, and who were living in a time of acute economic and political crises.
7. Steps adopted by Hitler to destroy democracy in Germany.
Through the Fire Decree of 1933 Hitler suspended civic rights like freedom of speech, press and
assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar constitution.
By the famous Enabling Act he established dictatorship in Germany. The act 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 such as the SA or the Storm Troopers, the Gestapo (secret
state police), the SS (the protection squads), criminal police and the Security Service (SD) were
created to control and order society in ways that the Nazis wanted.
8. Hitler’s foreign policy
Page.2
