Nazism and the Rise of Hitler Class 9 Extra Question: Long Answer Type

Chapter: Nazism and the rise of Hitler

Questions: Long Answer Type

1. By the end of 1940, Hitler was at the pinnacle of his power. Justify the statement.
2. What was Hitler’s long-term aim in conquering Eastern Europe? What were its consequences?
3. Explain any five features of political policy adopted by Hitler after coming to power in 1933.
4. Why was Nazism considered to be a negation of both democracy and socialism?
5. Explain the circumstances under which Nazism became popular in Germany. [CBSE 2016]

Answers

1. (i) In foreign policy 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 the German speaking, Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, and gobbled up the entire country.
   (ii) In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This started a war with France and England.
   (iii) In September 1940, 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.
2. Hitler moved to achieve his long-term aim of conquering Eastern Europe, because 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. The Soviet Red Army inflicted a crushing and humiliating defeat on Germany at Stalingrad. After this, the Soviet Red Army hounded out the retreating German soldiers and established Soviet hegemony over the entire Eastern Europe for half a century thereafter.
3. Policies adopted by Hitler once he came to power in 1933:
   (i) He suspended Civil Rights.
   (ii) He introduced Enabling Act which gave him all powers to sideline Parliament and rule by decree.
   (iii) All political parties and trade unions were banned except for the Nazi party and its affiliates.
   (iv) Hitler established complete control over the economy, media, army and judiciary.
   (v) Special surveillance and security forces were created to control and order society in ways that the Nazis wanted.
   (vi) He sent communists and other opponents to concentration camps.
4. (i) After assuming power on 30th January 1933, Hitler set out to dismantle the structure of democratic rule.
   (ii) 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.
   (iii) The repression of the Jews and Communists was severe. On 3rd March 1933, the famous Enabling Act was passed. This Act established dictatorship in Germany.
   (iv) This Act gave Adolf Hitler all political and administrative power to sideline the German parliament.
   (v) 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.
   (vi) 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.
5. Circumstances under which Nazism became popular were:
   (i) Hitler was a great orator. His passion and words moved people.
   (ii) He promised to build a strong nation.
   (iii) He promised to restore dignity of the Germans and to undo the injustice of the Treaty of Versailles.
   (iv) He promised employment for those looking for work and a secure future of the youth.
   (v) He promised to weed out all foreign influence and resist all foreign conspiracies against Germany.
   (vi) Hitler devised a new style of politics. Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings to show the strength and confidence for Hitler.
   (vii) The Red banners with the Swastika, ritualized rounds of applause and the Nazi salute after the speeches, were all part of this spectacle of power.
   (viii) Nazi propaganda projected Hitler as a messiah or a saviour.