Page 74 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

Hitler passed the First Fire decree in 1933 which suspended the civic rights like freedom
of speech, press and freedom of assembly. Thus, Hitler effectively started controlling the
German population. Other measures he undertook to systematically dismantle democracy in
Germany were the following
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
(I) ‘The Enabling Act’ was passed, which gave all powers to Hitler to sideline the
parliament and rule by decree.
(ll) All political parties, with the exception of the Nazi Party, were banned. The members
of these banned parties were either imprisoned, exiled or assassinated.
(III) The communists were eradicated, with the remaining members being sent to
concentration camps.
(IV) Special security forces such as the SA, SS, SD and Gestapo were created to control
and order society in ways that the Nazis wanted. These organisations were given extra-
judicial powers.
(V) In schools, children were taught to be loyal and submissive. They were also taught to
hate Jews and worship Hitler, thus cultivating a personality cult in the process.
(VI) Nazi youth organizations, the like ‘Jungvolk’ and ‘Hitler Youth’ were created, where
the youth were taught to hate democracy, communism, Jews and other ‘undesirables’.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. The Treaty of Versailles (1920) signed at the end of World War I, was harsh and humiliating
for Germany, because
(a) Germany lost its overseas colonies, and 13 per cent of its territories
(b) It lost 75% of its iron and 26% of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania,
was forced to pay compensation of 6 billion pounds
(c) The western powers demilitarised Germany and they occupied resource-rich Rhineland
in the 1920s
(d) All the above
Ans. (d) All the above
2. In what ways did the First World War leave a deep imprint on European society and polity?
(a) Soldiers were put above civilians, trench-life was glorified
(b) Politicians and publicists laid stress on men to be aggressive and masculine
(c) Aggressive war propaganda and national honour were given the most support and
Conservative dictatorships were welcomed
(d) All the above
Ans. (d) All the above

3. What was the response of the Germans to the new Weimar Republic?
(a) They held the new Weimar Republic responsible for Germany’s defeat and the disgrace
at Versailles
(b) The republic carried the burden of war guilt and national humiliation
(c) It became the target of attacks in the conservative national circles
(d) All the above
Ans. (d) All the above

History Class IX H-65