NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science History Chapter 3 Nazism and the Rise of Hitler are prepared by expert teachers. These solutions contain answers to all questions provided in the NCERT History (India and the Contemporary World – I) textbook.
Class 9 History Nazism and the Rise of Hitler Questions and Answers
Question 1: Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
Answer: The Weimar Republic faced several critical challenges:
- Harsh Treaty of Versailles: Germany was burdened by the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed heavy reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions leading to national humiliation and economic strain.
- Economic Challenges: The Weimar Republic grappled with severe economic difficulties, including hyperinflation in 1923, which destroyed the savings of the middle class, and the global impact of the Great Depression in the late 1920s. These economic crises led to widespread poverty, unemployment, and social unrest.
- Political Instability: The political landscape in Weimar Germany was marked by fragmentation, with numerous parties that made it difficult to form stable governments.
- Societal Polarization: Many people in Germany didn’t like the new government because they blamed it for losing the war and for the tough times that followed. The government was often called “November Criminals,” a term used to mock those who were seen as having betrayed the nation by signing the Treaty of Versailles.
- Constitutional Weaknesses: The Weimar Constitution contained several flaws that contributed to the Republic’s downfall. One significant issue was the provision for emergency powers under Article 48, which allowed the President to make decisions without asking the government during emergencies.
Question 2: Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930.
Answer: The end of World War I had changed the political landscape of Germany. Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930 for a few big reasons:
- Economic Hardship: The Great Depression of 1929 led to economic turmoil worldwide, severely affecting Germany. Banks collapsed, businesses shut down, workers lost their jobs, and the middle class faced the threat of poverty. The Nazis promised to fix these problems and make everyone’s lives better.
- Effective Propaganda: Hitler and the Nazis knew how to talk to people in a way that made them feel heard. They held big rallies and used symbols and slogans to make people feel like they were part of a strong group. Hitler promised to make Germany powerful again and to fix the unfair things from the Treaty of Versailles.
- Political Instability and Discontent: The government at the time, called the Weimar Republic, wasn’t able to solve the country’s problems. The political instability and fragmentation within the Weimar government, along with the use of Article 48 contributed to a loss of confidence in democratic parliamentary systems.
- Appeal Across Different Sections of Society: The Nazis made promises to all kinds of people – farmers, workers, and business owners. They said they had a plan to help everyone and make their lives better.
- Crisis in National Identity: The aftermath of World War I and the Versailles Treaty left Germany with a shattered sense of national pride and identity. The Nazis promised to bring back Germany’s pride and make it a strong country again.
Question 3: What are the peculiar features of Nazi thinking?
Answer: Nazi thinking had unique and harmful features:
- Belief in Superiority: Nazis thought that people with blond hair and blue eyes were the best. They considered Jews and other groups inferior.
- Survival of the Strongest: They misused Darwin’s ideas to argue that only the strongest should survive, justifying their aggressive actions.
- Need for More Land: Hitler wanted to take over more land for Germans, removing others who lived there.
- Hatred of Jews: Nazis strongly disliked Jews, blaming them for many problems and leading to the Holocaust.
- Roles for Men and Women: Women were encouraged to have many children to grow the “pure” race.
- Propaganda: Nazis used media and speeches to spread their ideas and make Hitler look like a hero.
- Control and Fear: They created a police state that got rid of anyone who disagreed with them.
These ideas led to terrible actions, including war and the killing of millions of people.
Question 4: Explain why Nazi propaganda was effective in creating a hatred for Jews.
Answer: Nazi propaganda was very effective in creating hatred for Jews due to several key strategies:
- Misleading Language: Nazis used words like “special treatment” and “final solution” for mass killings, and “evacuation” for deporting people to gas chambers. This deceptive language hid the brutal reality of their actions and made the genocide seem less horrific.
- Mass Media Use: Nazis skillfully used media, including films, radio, posters, and leaflets, to spread their ideas. For example, the film “The Eternal Jew” depicted Jews in a highly negative way.
- Scapegoating: Nazis blamed Jews for Germany’s economic problems and societal issues. By depicting Jews as the source of all troubles, Nazis united poor people against Jews.
- Dehumanization: Jews were compared to vermin and pests in Nazi propaganda, dehumanizing them and making it easier for the public to accept their persecution and extermination.
- Visual Imagery: Propaganda used powerful and evocative images to instil fear and hatred. Posters and films depicted Jews in derogatory ways, portraying them as a threat to Aryan purity and Germany’s future.
Question 5: Explain what role women had in Nazi society. Return to Chapter 1 on the French Revolution. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the role of women in the two periods.
Answer: In Nazi society, women were assigned a very specific role that revolved around being wives, mothers, and bearers of the Aryan race. They were encouraged to focus on family life and children and were awarded for having multiple children. Nazi ideology glorified motherhood and portrayed women as the guardians of German culture and racial purity. Women who deviated from these roles were punished, while those who conformed were rewarded.
Comparatively, during the French Revolution, women played a more active and visible. They fought for their rights, freedom, and equal participation in the new democratic society being envisioned. However, despite their activism and contributions, women were not granted equal political rights, reflecting the limitations of the Revolution’s principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity when applied to gender.
Question 6: In what ways did the Nazi state seek to establish total control over its people?
Answer: The Nazis established control over its people by various means:
- They used media to spread Nazi beliefs and glorify Hitler.
- The Nazis quickly banned all political parties and suppress opposition.
- The Enabling Act allowed Hitler to enact laws without the Reichstag’s consent, effectively eliminating democratic opposition and establishing a dictatorship.
- The education system was overhauled to teach Nazi values.
- Through laws like the Nuremberg Laws and various eugenic policies, the Nazis sought to purify the German race by excluding Jews, disabled people, and other groups they considered undesirable.
- The Nazis controlled culture through censorship and the promotion of art, music, and literature that supported their ideology.
These measures, among others, allowed the Nazi state to maintain tight control over German society, ensuring conformity and loyalty to the regime while eliminating opposition and dissent.