Question

Prepare a short note on the rise of Hitler.

Answer 1

Germany was a powerful empire in the early years of the twentieth century. It fought the First World War (1914-1918) alongside the Austrian empire and against the Allies (England, France and Russia). The Allies were strengthened by the US entry in 1917 and won the war in November 1918.

The defeat of the Imperial Germany paved the way for democratic republic in Germany. The parliamentary parties met at the National Assembly at Weimar and established a democratic constitution with a federal structure. Universal suffrage was allowed for electing the Deputies to the German Parliament (Reichstag).

Versailles Treaty: But after the First World War, Germany was forced to accept certain terms which hurt the pride of the German people. As per the peace treaty signed at Versailles, Germany lost its overseas colonies, a tenth of its population, 13% of its territories, 75% of its iron and 26% of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania. To weaken its power, the Allied Powers demilitarized Germany. The War Guilt Clause forced Germany to pay compensation amounting to £6 billion. The resource rich Rhineland was occupied by the Allied armies for much of the 1920s. Because of these developments, many Germans were not happy with the Weimar Republic.

Answer 2

The factors which enabled Hitler's rise to power and rise of Nazi party are inter­linked.

(i) The Weimar republic from the very beginning was unable to provide a stable government. It failed to inspire confidence of the people in the democratic parliamentary system and made the republic vulnerable to dictatorship.

(ii) Hitler capitalised on the sense of humiliation which many Germans felt at their defeat in the war and the unjust provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler promised not only to build a strong nation but to undo the injustice of the Treaty of Versailles and restore the dignity of the German people.

(iii) The economic consequences of World War I, crippling effect of redemption dues imposed by the Allies, failure of the Republic's economic reforms which led to high inflation coupled with the effects of the Great Economic Depression created an economic disaster of the worst order in Germany. Germany witnessed high unemployment and price rise. Under the circumstances Nazi propaganda stirred hopes of a better future.