Rise of Hitler
Nazism and the Rise of Hitler Class 9 History Previous Years’ Board Questions:
Q. Explain the circumstances under which Nazism became popular in Germany. [2015, 2016]
OR – What is Nazism? How did it become popular in Germany? Explain. [2014]
OR – Discuss why did Nazism become popular in Germany by 1930. [2013]
Ans. 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 undo the injustice of the Treaty of Versailles.
(iv) He promised employment for those looking for work and a secure future for the youth.
(v) He promised to weed out all foreign influences and resist all foreign conspiracies against Germany.
(vi) Hitler devised a new style of politics. Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings as to show the strength and confidence for Hitler.
(vii) The red banners with the Swastika, ritualised 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.
Q. What was the impact of Hitler’s attack on Soviet Union in June 1941? [2016]
Ans. (i) In this historic blunder, Hitler exposed the German Western Front to British aerial bombing and the Eastern Front to the powerful Soviet Armies.
(ii) The Soviet Red Army inflicted a crushing and humbling defeat on Germany at Stalingrad.
(iii) The Soviet Red Army hounded out the retreating German Soldiers until they reached Berlin, establishing Soviet hegemony over the entire Eastern Europe.
Q. How did the Nazis demonstrate support for Hitler? [2016]
Ans. The support for the Hitler can be listed as below:
(i) The Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings to demonstrate the support for Hitler and instil the sense of unity among the people.
(ii) 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.
(iii) Nazi propaganda skilfully projected Hitler as a Messiah, a Saviour, as someone who had arrived to deliver people from their distress.
Q. Explain three reasons that led to the German invasion of Soviet Union. [2015]
Ans. Reasons leading to the German invasion of Soviet Union were:
(i) Hitler dreamt of settling the German with pure Aryan blood in the Asian steppe region and of using the Jews and Asians as Slaves.
(ii) He wanted to ensure food supplies for the Germans. The Germans and Russians had serious differences over the Balkan, where no clear line demarcation had been worked out.
(iii) Hitler wanted to eradicate communism.
Q. State any five steps taken by Hitler to establish his dictatorial rule in Germany. [2016]
OR | Explain any five features of political policy adapted by Hitler after coming to power in 1933. [2015]
Ans. Features of political policy adapted by Hitler:
(i) Suspended civil rights and introduced the Enabling Act.
(ii) Communists sent to concentration camps.
(iii) All Political Parties and trade unions except the Nazi Party were banned in Germany.
(iv) State control over economy, media, army and judiciary.
(v) Creation of special surveillance and security Forces.
Q. Mention five important consequences of Nazism in Germany. [2016, 2014]
Ans. Consequences of Nazism in Germany:
(i) It pulled the country out of economic crisis.
(ii) Hitler tried to make Germany a powerful country, enhanced its military.
(iii) All Political Parties except Nazi party were banned.
(iv) The Socialists, the Communists and the Jews were given harsh treatment as they were blamed of German defeat in World War I.
(v) Trade unions were banned.
(vi) A massive programme of militarism was launched and preparation for war began in a big way.
Q. Explain briefly the main causes of the rise of Nazi dictatorship in Germany. [2013]
Ans. Some of the main causes of rise of Nazi Dictatorship in Germany were as follows:
(i) The First World War defeat: It was humiliating as well as led to political instability leading to sequence of happenings that finally paved the way for rise of Nazism.
(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 rule by decree.
(iii) Treaty of Versailles: Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles with the Allied Powers. This made Germany to lose its overseas colonies, a tenth of its population, 13 per cent of its territories and many more. The Allied Powers Demilitarised 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 worst hit. Industrial production was reduced to 40 per cent. Due to Great Economic Depression, the national income of the USA fell by half, leading to shut down of the factories. The exports fell down and farmers suffered the most during the depression.
(v) Mass Unemployment: Workers of Germany lost their jobs and 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 Hitler would be a good dictator as he promised to undo the injustice of Treaty of Versailles. He also promised to give employment to those looking for work. Later, the Nazi Party became the largest Party with 37 per cent votes in Reichstag.
