1. What was the Treaty of Versailles and how did it affect Germany?
Answer:
The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was a peace agreement that ended World War I. It blamed Germany for the war and imposed harsh penalties:
- Heavy war reparations
- Loss of territory
- Ban on military expansion
- Hurt German pride and economy
This caused resentment among Germans and helped the rise of Nazism.
2. What was the Weimar Republic? Why was it unpopular?
Answer:
The Weimar Republic was the democratic government formed in Germany after WWI (1919). It was unpopular because:
- It accepted the Treaty of Versailles
- Faced economic crisis and inflation
- Had weak coalition governments
- People blamed it for Germany’s problems
3. Who was Adolf Hitler?
Answer:
Adolf Hitler was a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. He became Chancellor in 1933 and later established a dictatorship. His policies led to:
- World War II
- The Holocaust
- Mass destruction in Europe
4. What is Nazism?
Answer:
Nazism is the political ideology of the Nazi Party, based on:
- Extreme nationalism
- Racism and belief in the Aryan race
- Hatred of Jews (anti-Semitism)
- Belief in dictatorship and violence
5. What was Hitler’s ideology as written in Mein Kampf?
Answer:
In Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”), Hitler expressed:
- Hatred of Jews
- Desire to overthrow the Treaty of Versailles
- Belief in racial purity and Aryan superiority
- Need for strong leadership (Führer)
6. How did Hitler come to power?
Answer:
- Economic crisis after the Great Depression (1929)
- Use of propaganda
- Promise to restore German pride and jobs
- Weakness of the Weimar government
- Support from industrialists, army, and citizens In 1933, he was appointed Chancellor of Germany.
7. What was the Enabling Act (1933)?
Answer:
The Enabling Act gave Hitler full power to make laws without the parliament for four years.
It marked the end of democracy and beginning of dictatorship in Germany.
8. How did Hitler turn Germany into a totalitarian state?
Answer:
- Banned political parties
- Used Gestapo (secret police)
- Controlled media and education
- Formed youth organizations like Hitler Youth
- Promoted Nazism in schools
9. What were the Nuremberg Laws (1935)?
Answer:
These were anti-Jewish laws that:
- Removed German citizenship from Jews
- Forbade marriages between Jews