Question 1 - Past Year Questions - 5 Marks - Chapter 3 Class 9 History - Nazism and the Rise of Hitler - History

Explain briefly the main causes of the rise of Nazi dictatorship in Germany.

Answer:

Points to Remember

Answer to be written in Exam 

Causes of the rise of the Nazi dictatorship in Germany are as follows:

1. First world war defeat

1. Germany, a powerful empire in the early years of 20th century, fought the first world war (1914-1918) alongside the Austrian empire against the Allies ( England, France and Russia.)
2. However, the Allies strengthened by US entry in 1917 won, defeating Germany and the Central Powers in November 1918.

2. Weakness of the Weimar Republic:

1. The Weimar Constitution had flaws that made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.  
2. Because of proportional representation, the one-party rule became impossible, resulting in coalition rule. 
3. Another flaw was Article 48, which gave the President the authority to declare a state of emergency, suspend civil rights, and rule by decree.

3. Treaty of Versailles:

1. Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles with the Allied Powers .  
2. This made Germany lose its overseas colonies ,  1/10 of its population , and 13 percent of its territories, and many other things. 
3. The Allied armies occupied the resource-rich  Rhineland.  
4. The War Guilt Clause required Germany to pay the Allied Powers £ 6 billion in War Damages.

4. The Economic crisis:

1. The German economy suffered the most. Industrial output has been reduced by 40%. 
2. Due to the Great Depression, the United States' national income fell by half, causing factories to shut down across the globe. 
3. Exports also decreased.

5. Mass unemployment:

1. Workers in Germany lost their jobs and were paid less. 
2. Unemployed youth played cards or waited in line at a local job exchange.
3. Jobs vanished, and young people indulged in criminal activity. 

So, the German people believed Hitler would be a good dictator because he promised to undo the injustice of the Treaty of Versailles . He also promised to employ those who were looking for work. Later, with 37% of the vote in the Reichstag, the Nazi Party became the largest party.