Question

In the post World War I scenario, Italy and Germany experienced the rise of dictatorships. In this context, explain:
(a) Any three circumstances that led to the rise of Fascism in Italy.
(b) Any three domestic policies of Hitler.
(c) How the foreign policies of Hitler were responsible for the outbreak of World War II?

Answer 1

a) Three circumstances that led to the rise of Fascism in Italy : i)Discontentment after the treaty of Versailles- Italy had joined the Anglo-French alliance against Germany and her allies in the First World War as Britain had promised large chunks of territory after their victory.

ii) Economic crises in Germany and Italy, heavy losses, unemployment, shortage of food grains.

iii) Political instability in Germany and Italy- Democracy was introduced in Italy in 1919, Collision Government, different parties and different polices, No continuity policies. Similar conditions existed even in Germany.

b) Three domestic policies of Hitler :

i)After occupying power, Hitler initiated the policy of economic reconstruction of Germany. Hjalmar Schacht was given the responsibility of devising an economic recovery plan of Germany. He aimed at creating full employment through state-sponsored work creation programmes.

ii)The Nazis after assuming power sought to eliminate the Jews and physically disabled Germans. Along with them, the Gypsies andthe black Germans were also detained in concentration camps.

iii)Hitler tried to spread his polices through education. School textbooks were rewritten. Racial sciences were used to justify Hitler’s ideology of racial supremacy. Jews were painted as dishonest and untrustworthy in books.

c) The first thing Hitler did was to pull Germany out of the League of Nations in 1933. Germany moved out on its non-aggression treaty with Poland and invaded it in 1934. In 1935, Hitler publicly announced Germany's military position including its status on arms, war planes and robust size of the army.