Nazism and the Rise of Hitler

This history chapter explains how Nazism rose in Germany and what it meant for the world. You will learn how the Weimar Republic was born after Germany's defeat in the First World War and how the harsh Treaty of Versailles of 1919 forced it to accept war guilt, lose territory and pay reparations of 6 billion pounds. You will study the crises that weakened the republic: the hyperinflation of 1923, when the value of the mark collapsed, and the Great Depression after 1929, when about 6 million Germans lost their jobs. You will see how Hitler used these crises: Nazi votes rose from 2.6 percent in 1928 to 37 percent in 1932, and he became Chancellor on 30 January 1933. Through the Fire Decree and the Enabling Act he set up a dictatorship. You will examine the Nazi worldview of racial hierarchy and Lebensraum, the persecution of Jews in the Holocaust, how youth and women were moulded, and how the Second World War ended with Germany's defeat in 1945.

Detailed Worksheet: Nazism and the Rise of Hitler Section A - Definitions (10 marks) 1. What was the Weimar Republic? Why was it unpopular from the start? (2 marks) 2. What was hyperinflation? When did it occur in Germany? (2 marks) 3. What was the Enabling Act of 1933? (2 marks) 4. Explain the Nazi idea of Lebensraum. (2 marks) 5. What was Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution? (2 marks) Section B - Calculations and Applications (15 marks) 6. In 1923, one US dollar was worth 24,000 marks in April and 353,000 marks in July. How many times did the dollar's value in marks increase? A loaf of bread cost 500 marks in April. If its price rose in the same ratio, what would it cost in July, correct to the nearest 1,000 marks? (3 marks) 7. The Nazi party got 2.6% of votes in 1928 and 37% in July 1932. If there were 3.6 crore voters in 1932, how many voted for the Nazis? How many percentage points did the vote share rise? (3 marks) 8. By 1932, German industrial production was only 40% of its 1929 level. If production in 1929 is taken as 500 units, what was it in 1932? By how many units did it fall? (3 marks) 9. Arrange in chronological order with dates: Hitler becomes Chancellor, Treaty of Versailles, Germany invades Poland, Great Depression begins, Germany attacks the USSR, Germany surrenders. (3 marks) 10. Under the Nazis, a Mother's Cross was given in bronze for four children, silver for six and gold for eight. If a town gave 50 bronze, 30 silver and 20 gold crosses, find the minimum number of children these mothers had in all. (3 marks) Section C - Diagrams (10 marks) 11. Draw a flowchart showing how the Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation and the Great Depression helped the rise of Hitler. (4 marks) 12. Draw a timeline from 1919 to 1945 showing the main events of Nazi Germany. (3 marks) 13. On an outline map of Europe, mark Germany, Poland, France and the USSR, and show the direction of German expansion. (3 marks) Section D - Analysis and Higher-order Thinking (15 marks) 14. Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic. How did they weaken democracy in Germany? (5 marks) 15. Explain the reasons for Hitler's rise to power. How did he use propaganda? (5 marks) 16. Describe how the Nazis treated Jews and other groups they considered undesirable. What lessons does the Holocaust teach us? (5 marks) Instructions: Time allowed 2 hours. Attempt all sections. Give dates and examples wherever possible and show all calculations.