The document discusses Nazism and the rise of Hitler in Germany following World War 1. It describes the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles that humiliated Germany, causing resentment. It also explains some of the defects of the Weimar Constitution that made it unstable, such as proportional representation and the president's emergency powers. The economic crisis of the Great Depression further destabilized Germany and destroyed faith in democracy, aiding Hitler's rise to power when he capitalized on the unrest.

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Nazism And The Rise of Hitler
What was the impact of the First World War on the European society and
polity?
Soldiers were glorified and portrayed as heroes in the society.
A great emphasis was laid on national honour.
People were encouraged to be aggressive and masculine to be able to save their nation’s interests.
The concept of republics and democracies was shaken owing to the defeat of the Weimar Republic of
Germany in the war.
The idea of conservative regimes in the form of dictatorships gained ground in Europe after the First
World War.
What were the provisions of treaty of Versailles? Humiliating shameful
The treaty of Versailles was harsh and humiliating one. Its provisions
were:-
1. Germany lost its overseas colonies, a tenth of its population, 13 percent
of its territories,75 percent of its iron and 26 percent of its coal to France,
Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
2. The allied powers demilitarized Germany to weaken its power.
3. Germany was forced to pay compensation of the damages. Allied
countries Suffered amounting to $6 billion.
4. The allied armies also occupied the resource rich Rhineland for much of
1920’s.
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Q-2) Who were the NOVEMBER CRIMINALS ?
The First World War had a devastating impact on the entire Europe both
psychologically and financially. Froma continent of creditors, Europe turned into one
of debtors. Unfortunately, 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 conservativenationalist circles. They were
mockingly called the ‘November criminals’.-
Q-3) Explain the following:-
1.ALLIES-The Allies powers were initially led by the UK and France. In
1941 they were joined by the USSR and USA. They fought against powers
namely GERMANY,ITALY and JAPAN.
2.REISHSTAG- After Germany lost in world war 1,a national assembly met
at Weimar and established a democratic constitution with a federal

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structure in Germany. The newly elected German parliament was called
REISHSTAG.
3.CONCENTRATION CAMPS-A camp where people were isolated and
detained without due process of law. Typically it was surrounded by
electrified fences.
4.JUNGVOLK- Nazi youth groups for children below 14 years of age.
5.HOLOCAUST-The Nazi Killing operations during which the jews endured
atrocities and sufferings were called as HOTOCAUST.
6.LEKENSRAUM OR LIVING SPACE-It was the geopolitical concept of Hitler’s
ideology. He believed that new territories had to be acquired for settlement
which would enhance the area of mother country and enable the settlers
on new lands to retain an intimate link with the place of origin.
7.GESTAPO OR THE SECRET STATE POLICE-It was a special surveillance
and security force created to control and order society in ways that the
Nazis wanted. It was thus given extra constitutional powers.
8.NUREMBERG TRIBUNAL-At the end of world war 2,an international
military tribunal at Nuremberg was set up to prosecute nazi war criminals
for crimes against peace, against humanity, for war crimes.
9.NAZI PARTY-German worker’s party was a small group and was joined by
Adolph Hitler in 1919 who subsequently took over the organization and
renamed it as the NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKER’S PARTYor
NAZI PARTY.
10.GREAT ECONOMIC DEPRESSION-During this factories were shut down,
exports fell, farmers were badly hit and speculators withdrew their money
from the market. The effects of this recession in US economy were felt
worldwide.
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What were the defects of Weimar republic ? or
Examine any three inherent defects in the Weimar Constitution.
 One was the proportional representation which was an impossible task
to achieve majority.
 The other-Article 48 gave the president too much powers to impose
emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree.
 Within its short life, the Weimar republic saw 20 different cabinets
lasting on an average 239 days and a liberal use of article 48.

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 But the crises could not be managed people, and they lost confidence
in the democratic parliamentary system, which seemed to offer no
solution.
Q-5) Why was the treaty of Versailles a humiliating experience for Germany?
1. Germany lost its overseas colonies, a tenth of its population,13 percent
of its territories,75 percent of its iron and 26 percent of its coal to
France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
2. The allied powers demilitarized Germany to weaken its power.
3. The war guilt cause held Germany responsible for war and forced to pay
compensation amounting to $6 billion.
4. The allied armies also occupied the resource rich Rhineland for much of
the 1920’s.
Many Germans held the new Weimar republic responsible for not only the
defeat but the disgrace at Versailles.
What was Spartacist League?
The SpartacistLeague was another political party in Germany that opposed the
Weimer Republic. They supported Soviet-stylegovernance. They wereopposed by the
Socialists, Democrats, Catholics and werecrushed by the Free Corps.
Who were the Free Corps? Veteran  soldier
Free Corps were the war veterans organization in Germany that helped Socialists and Weimar
Republic to suppress the revolutionary uprising of the Spartacist League.
Describe the problems faced by Weimar republic? OR
What were the defects in the Weimar Constitution that facilitated the rise of
dictatorship in Germany?
 The Weimar republic faced economic and political problems.
 Because of the treaty and Versailles Germany had to pay large
amounts of money for the damages caused to the allied powers.
 It also had to pay huge sums of loans taken to fight the war which
was taking away all of German’s gold reserves.
 As the government was very unstable, emergency was imposed a
number of times, so people had lost their confidence in the
democratic parliamentary systems.
What were the economic effects of great depression on Germany?
 By 1932 industrial production was reduced to 40% of the 1929 level.
 Workers lost their job or were paid reduced wages. The number of unemployed youths touched
and unprecedented 6 million on the streets of Germany.
 Unemployed youths played cards or simply sat at street corners, or desperately queued up at
the local employment exchange.
 As jobs disappeared, the youth involved in criminal activities.
 The economic crisis created deep anxieties and fears in people.

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 The middle classes, especially salaried employees and pensioners, saw their savings diminish
when the currency lost its value.
 Small businessmen, the self-employed and retailers suffered as businesses got ruined.
 Only organised workers could manage to keep their heads above water, but unemployment
weakened their bargaining power. Big business was in crisis.
 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.
Despair hopelessness
What were the political effects of Great depression on Germany?
In addition to the economic crisis the Weimar republic had some inherent
defects, which made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.
 One was the proportional representation which was an impossible task
to achieve majority.
 The other-Article 48 gave the president too much powers to impose
emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree.
 Within its short life, the Weimar republic saw 20 different cabinets
lasting on an average 239 days and a liberal use of article 48.
 But the crises could not be managed people, and they lost confidence
in the democratic parliamentary system, which seemed to offer no
solution.
proportional representation anelectoral systeminwhichpartiesgainseatsinproportiontothe
numberof votescast for them. Decree judgment
Describe the early life of Hitler or formation of nazi party
 Hitler was born in 1889 in Austria. He spent his youth in poverty.
 When the First World War broke out, he enrolled for the army, acted as a messenger in the
front, became a corporal, and earned medals for bravery.
 The German defeat horrified him and the Versailles Treaty made him furious. In 1919, he
joined a small group called the German Workers' Party.
 He subsequently took over the organisation and renamed it the National Socialist German
Workers’ Party. This party was popularly known as the Nazi party
What were the main provisions of the Enabling Act of 1933 passed by Hitler?
The Enabling Act was passed in March, 1933 by Adolf Hitler.
(1) The Act established dictatorship in Germany.
(2) It gave absolute powers to Hitler. He could even abolish the Parliament and rule by decree.
(3) All political parties and trade unions were banned.
(4) The Act established complete control of the government over the country’s economy, army,
judiciary and media.
(5) Special security forces were created by the Act to control the society in the Nazi pattern.

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Describe in detail Hitler’s treatment of the Jews. or
Explain Nazi ideologies regarding the Jews.
Nazis wanted only a society of .pure and healthy Nordic Aryans. They alone were considered
“desirable”
All others were classed as “undesirable”.
Jews remained the worst sufferers in Nazi Germany. They had been stereotyped as killers of Christ and
usurers.
Jews were not the only community classified as “undesirable”. There were others.
Many Gypsies and blacks living in Nazi Germany were considered as racial .inferiors. who
threatened the biological purity of the ‘superior Aryan’ Race. They were widely persecuted. Even
Russians and Poles were considered subhuman, and hence undeserving of any humanity.
Describe in detail Hitler’s treatment of the Polish.
1. Much of north-western Poland was annexed to Germany.
2. Polish were forced to leave their homes and properties behind to be occupied by ethnic
Germans
3. Polish were sent to the other part called the General Government, the destination of all
“undesirables”. Members of the Polish intelligentsia were murdered
4. Polish children who looked like Aryans were forcibly snatched from their mothers and
examined by .race experts.
5. If they passed the race tests they were raised in German families and if not, they were
deposited in Orphanages.
In what ways did the Nazi state seek to establish total control over its people?
The Nazis established control over its people by various means:
→ They used different propaganda through posters or films to glorify their behaviour.
→ Media was carefully used to win support for the regime and popularise it.
→ Nazism worked on the minds of the people to knock their emotions and turned their hatred
and anger against those marked as ‘undesirable’.
→ Special surveillance and security forces to control and order society in ways that the Nazis
wanted, was created.
→ The police forces had powers to rule with impunity. Genocide also created an atmosphere
of fear and repression which helped them to establish total control over its people.
impunity  exemption from punishment
What are the three steps to death?
Exclusion  NO RIGHT TO LIVE AMONG US AS CITIZENS
Ghettoisation  NO RIGHT TO LIVE AMONG US
Annihilation NO RIGHT TO LIVE
What did the Nuremberg Laws mean to the ‘undesirables’ in Nazi Germany?
What other legal measures were taken against them to
make them feel unwanted?
Basically, the Nuremberg Laws meant that the 'undesirables' had no rights to live
along with the other citizens. These included Jews, Gypsies, 'Blacks' and other

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nationalities like Polish and Russian people. These laws, promulgated in 1935,
stated
(i) Only persons of German or related blood would be German citizens, enjoying the
protection of the German Empire.
(ii) Marriages between Germans and the 'undesirables' were forbidden. Extramarital
relations between them also became a crime.
Other legal measures included
(i) Boycott of Jewish businesses.
(ii) Expulsion of Jews from government services.
(iii) Confiscation and forcible selling of the properties of Jews.
Q-7) Explain why Nazi propaganda was effective in creating a hatred for jews?
Nazi propaganda was effective in creating hatred for the Jews because of two main
reasons.
Firstly, the Jews were stereotyped as killers of Christ. They had been barred since
medieval times from ownership of land.
Secondly, they were hated as usurers or money-lenders. Violence against Jews,
even inside their residential ghettos, was common. Hitler's pseudo-scientific race
theories made this hatred complete. His "solution" was the total elimination of all
jews.
ghettos a part of a city
Q-8) Explain the role of women in nazi society?
 The principal role assigned to women was to become good mothers
and give birth to pure blooded Aryan children. They were motivated
for this.
 Their main aim was to maintain the purity of race and culture.
 They were expected to look after their homes and teach children Nazi
values.
Q-9) Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930?
 It was during the great depression that Nazism became a mass movement.
 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.
 Nazi propaganda stirred hopes in times when banks were shut down,
unemployment reigned and destitution was a common sight.
 At that time, Hitler promised jobs, restoration of national dignity and a better
future. Consequently, by 1932, the Nazi Party became the largest party with
37% votes in the Reichstag.
What are peculiar feature of Nazi thinking ?
1. The peculiar features of Nazi thinking are a belief in racial hierarchy and Lebensraum or living
space.
2. Hitler and his followers believed that Nordic German Aryans were at the top, while the Jews
formed the lowest rung of the racial ladder.

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3. They believed that only the strongest race would survive and rule, and for them, this race was
that of the Aryans.
4. Regarding living space, the Nazis were of the idea that new lands must be gained for
settlement, and for enhancing the material resources and power of Germany. Nazi views were
largely a mouthpiece of Hitler's own ideology.
Lebensraum The territory that a state or nation believes is needed for its natural
development
Who wrote the book Third Reich of Dreams? What did it tell us about?
Charlotte Beradt secretly recorded people’s dreams in her diary and later published them in a highly
disconcerting book called the 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.
In the end of World War in 1945, the Allied Powers demanded justice from the defeated Axis Powers,
especially Germany.
A Tribunal was set up in the German city of Nuremberg to prosecute Nazi leaders. Nazi Germany’s
efforts to eliminate the Jews and other communities are referred to as genocidal crimes. The term
Genocide was coined in 1944 to describe the act of destroying a community based on nationalism,
racism, religion or ethnicity.
What were the salient features of the foreign policy adopted by Hitler?
Abdicate resign
Hitler adopted an aggressive foreign policy soon after assuming the reigns of the German government.
The main features that characterised Hitler’s foreign policy were −
(1) He abdicated the membership of the League of Nations in 1933 in order to become free from any
international obligation.

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(2) He launched a policy of acquiring more and more territory, especially those that were lost by
Germany after the First World War.
(3) He occupied Rhineland in 1936 and Austria in 1938.
(4) He adopted a policy of acquiring financial resources through the expansion of territory. To achieve
this, he attacked Poland in 1939 that triggered the Second World War.
Explain any three effects of Nazism on the school system? or
What do you know about ‘Nazi Schooling’?
1. All schools were cleansed and purified i.e. teachers who were Jews or seen as ‘politically
unreliable’ were dismissed.
2. Children were first segregated. German and Jews could not sit together or play together.
3. Subsequently, ‘undesirable children’ – Jews, the physically handicapped, Gypsies – were
thrown out of schools.
4. Good German children were subjected to prolonged period of Nazi Schooling.
5. School textbooks were rewritten. Racial science was introduced to justify Nazi ideas of race.
6. Ten-year-old had to enter Jungvolk. At 14, all boys had to join the Nazi youth organisation
– Hitler Youth.
About second world war:
When Japan extended its support to Hitler and bombed the US base at PearlHarbour, the US entered the Second
World War.
The war ended in May 1945 with Hitler’s defeat and the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasakiin Japan.