JKBOSE 9th Class Social Science Solutions Chapter 3 Nazism and the Rise of Hitler   

War-torn world : The interval of twenty years (1919-1939), between the end of the First World War and the beginning of another saw a war-torn world. The First World War caused widespread destruction of life and property. It brought the political and economic crises and the inter-war years marked the moral and cultural stagnation, which eventually led to World War I.

Triumph of Fascism and Nazism : The political situation in almost every country in Europe became complicated. The person saw the growth of socialist and communist parties in almost every country of Europe and in many countries of Europe, the socialist movements were defeated and dictatorial governments came to power, which destroyed democracy. The most dangerous development was the triumph of Fascism in Italy under the leadership of Benito Mussolini and Nazism in Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler.

Policy of Appeasement : Britain and France, however, succeeded in remaining democratic, even though they were faced with serious problems. But their foreign policy was not at all conductive to the maintenance of democracy in the world. Their policy of Appeasement of the Fascist powers, in order to get rid of the Socialist and Communist movement, which were haunting them, brought about the Second World War.

Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis : The policy of Appeasement adopted by Western powers whetted the appetite of Hitler, Mussolini and Japan for territorial expansion. This posed a serious threat to peace and the system of collective security established by the League of Nations. Hitler laid the foundation of the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis; initially an anti-communist pact, which soon developed into a military alliance.

Aggressive Policy of Axis Powers : The Axis Powers launched a series of a aggressions in Europe, Asia and Africa. “The Munich Pact was the height of appeasement and warrant of death for the Western democracies.” On 1st September, 1939, Hitler attacked Poland. It was the last straw to break the camel’s back. The Second World War started on 3rd September, 1939, both England and France was forced to declare war against Germany. The Second

World War started in Europe but soon it engulfed the globe. Having conquered almost the entire Europe, Germany showered a virtual reign of terror over England from the sky. Under Churchill’s dynamic and inspiring leadership the British contained the Nazis is the Battle of Britain. The Royal Air Force bravely defended the country, inflicting heavy losses on the German Air Force.

War becomes global : Axis Powers Collapsed. Japan, an ally of Germany and Italy, launched s surprise attack on the U.S.A. naval base of Pearl Harbour in the Hawaiian Islands. With Japan’s entry into the war, the Berlin-RomeTokyo-Axis was in full operation and the conflict became global. It continued till the middle of 1945, when the Axis powers were forced to collapse.

1. Jungvolk : Nazi Youth groups for children below 14 years of age.

2. Gypsy : The groups that were classified as ‘gypsy’ had their own community identity. Sinti and Roma were two such communities. Many of them traced their origin to India.

3. Pauperised : Reduce to absolute poverty.

4. Persecute : Systematic, organized punishment of those belonging to a group or religion.

5. Usurers : Money lenders charging excessive interest; often used as a term of abuse.

6. Nordic German Aryans : One branch of those classified as Aryans. They lived in northern European countries and had German or related origin.

7. Concentration Camp : A camp where people were isolated and detained without due process of law. Typically, it was surrounded by electrified barbed wire fences.

8. Propaganda : Specific type of message directly aimed at influencing the opinion of people (through the use of posters, films, speeches, etc.)

9. Genocidal : Killing on large scale leading to destruction of large sections of people.

10. Wall Street Exchange : The name of the world’s biggest stock exchange located in USA.

11. Allies : The Allied powers were initially led by the UK and France. In 1941, they were joined by the USSR and USA. They fought against the Axis Powers, namely Germany, Italy and Japan.

12. Axis Powers : A group was formed by Germany, Italy and Japan against the Allied powers. They were known as Axis Powers.

13. Reichstag : The German Parliament was known as Reichstag.

1. August 1, 1914 : First World War begins

2. November 9, 1918 : Germany capitulates, ending the war.

3. June 28, 1919 :  Treaty of Versailles is signed

4. 1923 : French capture Ruhr after Germany refuses to pay the war indemnity

5. 1924 : USA gives loans to Germany

6. 1925 : Hindenburg replaces Elbert as German President

7. 1926 : Germany joins the League of Nations

8. 1929 : The Wall Street Stock Exchange crashes, followed by the Great Depression

9. 1930 : The amount of war indemnity is reduced on Germany, according to the Young Plan

10. January 30, 1933 : Hitler becomes the Chancellor of Germany

11. 1935 : The Nuremberg Laws are passed

12. 1938 : Germany annexes Austria and Sudetenland

13. May 22, 1939 : Pact of Steel is signed between Germany and Italy

14. September 1, 1939 : Germany invades Poland and the Second World War begins

15. June 22, 1941 : Germany invades the USSR

16. December 8, 1941 : The United States joins the Second World War

17. January 27, 1945 :  Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz

18. May 8, 1945 : The Allies become victorious in the Second World War

Ans.— In 1918, Emperor Kaiser William II of Germany abdicated and a provisional Republican Government was established under Friedrich Ebert. It was called the Weimer Republic. The new government had faith in democratic, liberal and socialist principles. It promulgated a new constitution called ‘Weimer Constitution’. It established a federal system of government. Then government was based on liberal ideas and gave to the people political rights. But from the very beginning, the Weimer Republic was beset with many difficulties.

(i) Germany was economically wrecked.

(ii) France had occupied the Ruhr region of Germany to compel her to pay the war indemnity.

(iii) In 1924 A.D., the German Government issued new currency and the economic condition of the country improved for some time.

(iv) In 1924 A.D., Germany also became the member of the League of Nations. But the depression of 1929 brought the fall of the Weimer Republic. The prosperity of some years came to an end..

(v) The profits from agriculture reduced to a great extent. There was large scale unemployment in the country.

Ans.— 1. Political Situation in Germany : Germany had sought to satisfy her imperial ambition through war but she had suffered a crucial defeat. Her imperial ambition remained unfulfilled. The outbreak of a revolution in Germany towards the end of the First World War led to the collapse of the German monarchy. However, even though Germany became a Republic, the forces behind the monarchy-the industrialists, the big landowners and the officers of the army remained quite powerful. The government of the German Republic was not able to destroy their power. These forces began to turn to the anti-democratic forces represented by Nazism to extend their power and to check the power of the socialist movement.

2. Personality of Hitler : Like Mussolini, Hitler planned to capture powers through a march on Berlin. But he was arrested and sent to jail; he wrote his book Mein Kampf i.e. My struggle’. It was expressed some of the most monstrous ideas of Nazi movement. He advocated the use of force and brutality and ridiculed internationalism, peace and democracy. He also preached extreme hatred against the German Jews who were blamed for all the ills of Germany. The ideas of Nazis were welcomed by the army, the industrialists and landlords.

3. Humiliating Treaty of Versailles : The Nazis exploited of the sense of humiliation which many Germans felt as their defeat in the war and the unjust provisions of the Treaty Versailles.

The people looked down upon the Weimer Republic which had signed such a disgraceful treaty. The Republic was regarded as a symbol of national disgrace. Germany wanted to establish her old prestige. When Hitler assured the Germans about the revenge and restoration establishment of the old prestige, they became his followers.

4. Economic Crises : In 1923 A.D., occurred the most serious economic crises which affected all the capitalist countries of the world. As a result of the crisis, eight million workers, about half of the working population of Germany, were rendered unemployed. Moreover, Germany had to face grave economic situations to fulfil the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles. In this situation, when the Nazi party promised to get employment to the people through wars, the people, at once, accepted the principles of Nazism.

Ans.— Principles of Nazism : The principles of Nazism are given in Hitler’s book ‘Mein Kampf. Their account is as under :

(i) Government should be dictatorial and anybody opposed to it should be dealt with firmly.

(ii) Democracy and international peace are fraud.

(iii) To save a nation, policy of nascent nationalism and wars must be adopted.

(iv) All the Jews living anywhere in the World must be hated.

(v) Germans are the best race of the world and therefore, they must rule the whole world.

(vi) The state is above all. All powers should be vested in the State. People exist for the state, not state for the people,

(vii) Liberalism, socialism and communism must be rooted out.

(viii) To mobilize the private and state efforts for the development of agriculture and industries, etc.)

(ix) To extend the German empire and acquire all the colonies snatched away from her.

(x) To crush all types of party formation and opposition.

Ans.— (i) Blaming the Jews for Germany’s problems, Hitler and his Nazis began persecuting them. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 deprived Jews of their German citizenship and banned them from marrying non-Jews. Many Jews were forced to live in the ghettos and wear a yellow star to show that they were Jews.

(ii) In November 1938, Nazi mobs attacked Jewish property and synagogues all over Germany. Some 30,000 Jews were arrested. It was the start of a full-scale massacre of Jews in Germany. Over the following seven years, six million Jews, gypsies, homosexuals and coloured people were sent to the concentration camps.

(iii) Anti-Semitism relates to the anti-Jewish policy of Hitler. The Germans considered it as duty to annihilate the Jews in the territories conquered by them. The Nazis believed that the Jews had deceived Christ. This view prevailed in the whole Christendom for many centuries. The European Christians, therefore, considered the Jews as unwanted race.

(iv) The anti-Jews feelings had grown in Hitler’s mind while he was in Austria. In Austria, the anti-Jews feelings were at the height. The Catholics too supported this view. But it must be noted that by persecuting the Jews, Hitler was in no way serving the Catholic Church. He did not allow the Catholic Church to interfere in the state affairs. He even got many Catholic priests killed in the concentration camps.

Ans.— (i) The children in Nazi Germany were repeatedly told that women were radically different from men. The fight for equal right for men and women that had become part of democratic struggle everywhere was wrong and it would destroy society. While boys were taught to be aggressive, masculine and steel-hearted, girls were told that they had to become good mothers and rear pure-blooded Aryan children. Girls had to maintain the purity of the race, distance themselves from Jews, look after the home, and teach their children Nazi values. They had to be the bearers of the Aryan culture and race.

(ii) In 1933 A.D., Hitler said: ‘In my state the mother is the most important citizen’. But in Nazi Germany all mothers were treated equally. Women who bore racially undesirable children were punished and those who produced racially desirable children were awarded. They were given favoured treatment in hospitals and were also entitled to concessions in shops and on theatre tickets and railway fares. To encourage women to produce many children. Honor Crosses were awarded. A bronze cross was given for four children, silver for six and gold for eight or more.

(iii) From the very beginning women were active participants brought about so many important changes in French society. In order to discuss and voice women’s interest, the revolutionary government did introduce laws that helped to improve the lives of women. Together with the creation of state schools, schooling was made compulsory for all girls. Their fathers could no longer force them into marriage against their will. Marriage was made into a contract entered into freely and registered under civil law. Divorce was made legal and could be applied for by both women and men. Women could now train for jobs, could become artists and run small business.

(iv) Women’s movements for voting rights and equal wages continued through the next two hundred years in many countries of the world. The fight for the vote was carried out through an international suffrage movement during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The example of the political activities of French women during the revolutionary years was kept alive as an inspiring memory. It was finally in 1946 that women in France won the right to vote.

Ans.— (i) The Nazis utilized the situation prevailing in Germany to their advantage and spread their influence. The Social Democratic Party and the communist party, in spite of their large followers, failed to see eye on common issues and they even failed to come together. This contributed to the victory of the Nazi movement in Germany. In the elections held in Germany, the Nazi party won only 196 seats out of a total of his poor showing in the election, Hitler was appointed as the Chancellor of Germany by the President of Germany on 30th January, 1933.

(ii) Soon after coming to power, Hitler ordered fresh elections and let loose a reign of terror during which all the anti-Nazi elements were suppressed. The assassination of anti-Nazi leaders was organized on a large scale. On 27th February 1933, the Nazis set the Reichstag (the German Parliament) on fire and the blame was put on the Communist Party and it was officially banned.

(iii) In spite of the terror organized by the Nazis, the Nazi party could not win a majority of seats in the Parliament. However, Hitler assumed dictatorial power and in 1934 A.D., also became the President. Trade Unions were dissolved. The Socialist, Communists and other suspected anti-Nazi leaders were detained in rigorous concentration camps. The Nazis under Hitler organized a planned campaign of humiliation and persecution of the German Jews and they sought to exterminate the Jewish race from the German soil.

(iv) Youth organizations were made responsible for educating German youth in the spirit of National Socialism’. At 14, all boys had to join the Nazi youth organization-Hitler Youth-where they learnt to worship war, glorify aggression and violence, condemn democracy and hate Jews, communists, Gypsies and all those categorized as ‘undesirable.’ After a period of rigorous ideological and physical training they joined the Labour Service, usually at the age of 18. Then they had to serve in the armed forces and enter one of the Nazi organizations.

(v) The Nazis made equal efforts to appeal to all the different sections of the populations. They sought to win their support by suggesting that Nazis alone could solve all their problems. The Nazi regime used language and media with care, and often to great effect. Media care carefully used to win support for the regime and popularize its worldview. Nazi ideas were spread through visual images, films, radio, posters, catchy slogans and leaflets.

(i) GDP

(ii) Weimer Republic

(iii) Weimer Constitution

(iv) Nazi youth groups.

Ans.— (iv) Nazi youth groups.

(i) Kaiser William

(ii) Friedrich Ebert

(iii) Gypsy

(iv) Albert Francis.

Ans.—  (ii) Friedrich Ebert.

(i) Adolf Hitler

(ii) Ebert

(iii) Kaiser William

(iv) Reichstag.

Ans.— (i) Adolf Hitler.

(i) Jungvolk

(ii) Gypsy

(iii) Hitler

(iv) Heimer Republic.

Ans.— (iii) Hitler.

(i) June 20, 1919

(ii) June 28, 1919

(iii) June 20, 1920

(iv) June 28, 1918.

Ans.— (ii) June 28, 1919.

(i) 1932

(ii) 1931

(iii) 1933

(iv) 1935.

Ans.— (iii) 1933.

(i) December 8, 1941

(ii) December 10, 1941

(iii) January 15, 1941

(iv) October 15, 1941.

Ans.— (i) December 8, 1941.

(i) German leftlists

(ii) Jews

(iii) Blacks

(iv) German women.

Ans.— (ii) Jews.

(i) U.S.S.R.

(ii) U.S,A

(iii) India

(iv) Germany.

Ans.— (iii) India.

(i) 1939-45

(ii) 1940-42

(iii) 1930-32

(iv) 1950-55

Ans.— (i) 1939-45.

(i) U.S.S.R.

(ii) U.S.A

(iii) Germany

(iv) France.

Ans.— (ii) U.S.A.

Ans.— (i) 1929-33.

(i) Germany, France, U.S.A.

(ii) Germany, Italy and Japan

(iii) USA, U.K. and U.S.S.R.

(iv) None of these.

Ans.— (ii) Germany, Italy and Japan.

(i) Germany

Ans.— (iii) Japan.

(i) Aryan

(ii) Jews

(iii) Mongol

(iv) None of these.

Ans.— (i) Aryan.

(i) 8 May, 1945

(ii) 1 May, 1945

(iii) 15 May, 1945

(iv) 30 May, 1945.

Ans.— (i) 8 May, 1945.

(i) Italy

(ii) America

(iii) Germany

(iv) England.

Ans.— (iii) Germany.

(i) Tony Blair

(ii) Chamberlane

(iii) George V

(iv) Churchil.

Ans.— (ii) Chamberlane.

1. Mein Kampf’ was written by ……….. .

2. Hitler died in …………… A.D.

3. Jungvolk were Nazi ……………. groups.

4. U.S.A. entered the Second World War on 8th Oct. …………… A.D. A.D.

5. The gypsies traced their origin to ………… .

6. ……………… bombed the USA base at Pearl Harbour.

Ans.— 1. Hitler, 2. 1945, 3. Youth, 4. 1941, 5. India, 6. Japan.

1. Nazism grew in Italy.

2. Fascism grew in Germany.

3. Japan attacked Pearl harbour, the U.S.A. base.

4. Second World War started in 1939.

5. Hitler was appointed the Chancellor of Germany in 1939.

6. Hitler hated Jews the most.

Ans.— 1. x, 2. x, 3. √, 4. √, 5. ×, 6. √.

Ans.— A Peace Treaty is a formal agreement between two or more countries in order to prevent war and violence and wishing to live in peace with others.

Ans.— The term Nazism is derived from the name of the party which Hitler founded.

Ans.— Fascism is a word of Italian origin. For the first time, it was used for the movement started under the leadership of Mussolini.

Ans.— Mein Kampf is a book written by Adolf Hitler in Jail.

Ans.— Concentration camps were setup by Hitler in Germany. In these camps, those who were opposed to Nazis were tortured.

Ans.— In 1929, the whole world was gripped by a fearful economic crisis which continued up to 1933. These crises added to poverty and unemployment.

Ans.— Germany, Italy and Japan were known as Axis powers.

Ans.— Reichstag is the name of the German Parliament.

Ans.— Jungvolks were Nazi youth groups below 14 years of age.

Ans.— According to Nazi’s worldview, there was no equality between people but only racial hierarchy. In this view blond, blue-eyed, Nordic German Aryans were at the top white Jews were located at the lowest rung. They came to be regarded as the arch enemies of the Aryans.

Ans.— Goebbles were the Propaganda Minister of Hitler. Propaganda is the specific type of message directly aimed at influencing the opinion of people.

Ans.— U.S.A., Britain, France and Russia were called the Allied powers during the Second World War.

Ans.— He was born in 1889 A.D. in Austria.

Ans.— Swastika was the symbol of Nazi party.

Ans.— On 30 January, 1933, Hitler was offered Chancellorship by the President Hindenburg.

Ans.— (i) First main political ambition of Hitler was to make Germany a mighty power in the world.

(ii) Second political ambition of Hitler was to conquer whole of the Europe.

Ans.— The Treaty of Versailles was concluded after the war in 1919. Its provisions were decided by victor countries and these were imposed on Germany forcibly.

(i) Alsace and Lorraine were taken from Germany and were given to France.

(ii) Some parts of Germany were given to Belgium, Denmark, Poland and Czechoslovakia.

(iii) The military strength of Germany was fixed and war indemnity of £ 610 crore was imposed on Germany.

(iv) The coal mines of Saar valley of Germany were given to France for 15 years.

Ans.— The First World War had a very bad effect on Germany. On 28 June, 1919, in the Palace of Mirrors in Versailles the victors of the war signed the main provision of the treaty.

(i) According to this treaty, Alsace and Lorraine were taken from German and handed over to France.

(ii) The coal mines of Saar Valley were also given to France for 15 years.

(iii) Her military strength was fixed at one lakh. She was deprived of keeping submarines and air force.

(iv) All her colonies were snatched and given to the victor countries.

(v) Besides this, a war indemnity of £ 610 crore was imposed on her. As a result, economically, Germany was ruined.

Ans. The rise of Nazism under Hitler and Fascism under Mussolini took place on Germany and Italy. Following were the causes of their rise :

1. Humiliating Treaty of Versailles : People of Germany and Italy were very unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles. People of Germany felt that the treaty was humiliating. Italians were also not happy since they had gained nothing out of this war. Because of this resentment, Nazism rose in Germany and Fascism rose in Italy.

2. Economic Difficulties : As a result of the First World War, Italy has incurred a great financial loss. Its industries were ruined and unemployment increased. Similarly, because of the slump of 1929 there was a mass unemployment. As a result of these economic difficulties, Fascism and Nazism rose.

Ans.— The main factors for the rise of Hitler in Germany were as given ahead :

(i) The German government at that time was dominated by the capitalists, the industrialists and big landlords. They were against socialism and communism. So these sections began to support the Nazi movements by Hitler.

(ii) Hitler wrote his book ‘Mein Kampf’ in which he glorified the use of force and brutality and the rule by a great leader and ridiculed internationalism. Many people of Germany liked these ideas.

(iii) The economic crisis made 6 million German labourers unemployed. Hitler won their favour.

(iv) The lack of unity in the other political parties strengthened the rise of Hitler.

Ans.— Fascism rose in Italy and Nazism rose in Germany. Their main features were as follows :

(i) Both these movements were dictatorial. Mussolini was the leader of Fascism and Hitler that of Nazism.

(i) Both of them were against democracy and therefore, democracy had to face a number of trials in their time.

(iii) Both these movements were designed to take the revenge of the humiliation which these countries had to face in the World War I.

(iv) In both these movements, state was given precedence over the people.

(v) These movements were against communism and socialism.

(vi) Leaders of both these movements believed in diplomacy of war and wanted to make their countries militarily very powerful.

Ans.— (i) After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the western countries had been haunted by the danger of communism. They were prepared to tolerate the Fascist powers. But they were not prepared to tolerate communism at any rate. Thus, communism was their enemy number one.

(ii) They kept quiet even when Hitler and Mussolini committed acts of aggression one after the other. Fascist leaders were opposed to communism. The Western countries thought that the Fascist countries would get them rid of the danger of socialism and communism. So they followed the Policy of Appeasement.

Ans.— Nazism rose in Germany after the First World War. Tenets of Nazism :

(i) Nazism supported dictatorship.

(ii) Nazism was opposed to parliamentary institution. It was prepared to tolerate capitalism only to the extent were it is not against the national interests.

(iii) Nazism was opposed to communism and socialism.

(iv) Nazis considered war as inevitable. They did not believe in the world peace.

(v) Nazism is opposed to democracy. They considered democracy in European countries as a source of pleasure.

(vi) The Nazi movement gave state precedence over the people and glorified the use of force.

(i) The kingdom should be made powerful and its glory should be promoted.

(ii) Strong steps should be taken to maintain law and order.

(iii) By adopting strong policy Germany should win a world status.

(iv) Rise of communism and socialism should be checked.

(v) Peoples should be awakened to their duty towards motherland through intellectual movement.

Thus, these motives made Nazism successful in Germany.

Ans.— (i) In Germany, under the leadership of Hitler absolute authority was established.

(ii) Here Nazism grew.

(iii) Like Italy, here too communism and socialism were crushed. Militarism and war diplomacy became strong.

(iv) Thousands of cruelties were committed on the Jews.

Ans.— (i) First of all Hitler cancelled the treaty of Versailles because he thought that European nations had not followed the policy of disarmament.

(ii) With the victory of Nazism in Germany, it started to show a attitude of revenge towards winners of First World War because Hitler wanted to make Germany equal to other European countries.

(iii) Now German foreign policy was filled with Colonialism, Imperialism and Militarism. It was so because Hitler wanted to win whole of the Europe.

(iv) Germany wanted to take back all that glory and wealth which was lost due to first world war.

Ans.— Yet the Second World War was started in 1939 but it was confined only to a small and limited area till 1940. But in 1941, certain incidents happened because of which it became global. In June 1941, Germany dragged Russia into war by declaring war against it. Even U.S.A. attacked by Japan and Pearl Harbour was the naval base of U.S. at Hawaii. So U.S. was also dragged into war which declared war against the Japan on the next day. Even on Dec. 11, 1941, Germany and Italy also declared war against U.S. From here onwards this war became global.

Ans.— (i) Loss of Life and Property. Around 80 lakh people died in the first world war and there is no estimate of how much property was destroyed.

(ii) The Treaty of Versailles. This treaty was made with Germany by the winner countries and Germany had to pay a lot to them.

(iii) League of Nation. To avoid another war, league of Nation was created and it tries to avoid further wars but it failed to achieve its objective.

Ans.— The misers and trails of devastation caused by the First World War had its repercussions on the political developments in many countries. Though no real democracy of freedom emerged as claimed by the leaders of the warring countries, yet we could observe the slow change that had been taking place silently in many countries of the world. The proclamation of the republic did not satisfy the German revolutionaries who attempted another uprising in January 1919; the uprising was, however, suppressed. Two leaders of the German revolutionary movement, Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were assassinated. There was an uprising in Hungary but the revolutionary government which came into being was overthrown within a few months. As a result of the Russian Revolution, there were revolutions in many other countries of Europe such as Finland and Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania which had earlier been parts of the Russian empire. But all these revolutions were short-lived. However, the period saw the growth of the socialist and the communist parties in almost every country of Europe. But within a few years, the socialist movement was defeated due to rise of Fascism and a few form of dictatorship and one-man rule came to force in Germany and Italy. The triumph of the Fascist forces in these two countries sounded the death knell not only for the democratic trends but also for world peace in the long run, culminating the Second World War.

After Germany’s defeat in 1918, Kaiser William II abdicated and fled to the Netherlands. Thereafter, Germany became a republic and its new government ruled from Weimar, instead of Berlin. From 1919 to 1933, Germany was known as the Weimar Republic. In the election of January 1919, Friedrich Ebert, a socialist, became its First President. It is under his leadership that the Weimar Republic accepted the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles. In 1922-23, the Republic survived several attempts to bring it down. In the meanwhile, Ebert died in 1925 and was succeeded by Field. Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. Germany joined the League of Nations in 1926 A.D. However, the world wide Depression of the early 1930’s led to massive social and financial problems also in Germany.

Ans.— 1. The Nazis utilized the situation prevailing in Germany to their advantage and spread their influence. The Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party, in spite of their large followers, failed to see eye to eye on common issues and they failed to come together. This contributed to the victory of the Nazi movement in Germany. Hitler’s coming to power was the result of the political intrigues. In spite of his poor showing in the elections, Hitler was appointed as the Chancellor of Germany by the President of Germany on 30th January, 1933. Within a few weeks, the democracy in Germany was scattered.

2. Soon after coming to power, Hitler ordered fresh election and let loose a reign of terror during which all the anti-Nazi elements were suppressed. The assassination of anti-Nazi leaders was organized on a large scale. On 27th February 1933, the Nazis set the Reichstag (the German Parliament) on fire and the blame was put on the Communist Party and it was officially banned.

3. In spite of the terror organized by the Nazi Party could not win a majority of seats in the Parliament. However, Hitler assumed dictatorial power and in 1934, also became the President. Trade Unions were dissolved. The Socialist, Communists and other suspected anti-Nazi leaders were detained in rigorous concentration camps. The Nazis, under Hitler, organized a planned campaign of humiliation and persecution of the German Jews and they sought exterminate the Jewish race from the German soil.

Ans.— 1. England : The two major countries of Europe which did not become victims of the Fascism movements of the post-war era were Britain and France. Here were grave economic crises in both these countries and there were widespread unemployment and squalor. In 1921, there were 2 million unemployed persons in Britain. The worker’s movements made great advances. In 1924 A.D., the First Labour Party government came to power, but it did not remain in power for long. In 1926, occurs the biggest strike in the history of Britain involving 6 million workers. The strike ultimately failed. A few years later, Britain was badly affected by the world wide economic crisis and about three million people were unemployed. In 1931, the National government comprising the Conservative, the Labour and the Liberal parties was formed. This government took drastic steps to overcome this serious economic crisis. But unemployment situation remained unchanged and continued to be serious. After the success of the Fascism in Germany, a Fascist movement started in Britain but it could not make much headway and Britain continued to remain a democratic nation.

2. France : The government of France, for many years was under the domination of big bankers and industrialists who owned almost all the industries in France. It hoped that by making the use of that resource of the German areas which had come in her control after the war, it would be able to make France economically strong. But these hopes were not fulfilled. There was no political stability in France. The government changes often and the political instability combined with economical crisis of 1929 A.D., made the condition worse in all spheres. Fascist movement started to rise in France and there was violence in the streets. To meet the threat posed by Fascism and other anti-democratic forces, a popular Front Government comprising Socialist, Radical socialist and Communist parties was formed in 1936 A.D. It introduced many significant reforms to improve the French economy.