Study the picture and answer the questions that follow:

(a) Identify the leader in the picture. How did he establish a totalitarian state in his country?

(b) State three factors that led to the rise of Nazism.

(c) State four similarities between the ideologies of Nazism and Fascism.

(a) The leader shown in the picture is Adolf Hitler.

Hitler had no faith in the parliamentary system of government. He, therefore, eradicated all those elements which offered opposition to his authority and established a totalitarian state in his country.

1. He concentrated all power into his hands, suppressed all opposition and propagated the ideology of Nazism.
2. He changed the federal government into a unitary government.
3. He, himself became the Governor of Prussia.
4. All provincial legislatures were dissolved in 1934 and the sovereign power of the central government was established.
5. Various political parties were abolished.
6. A ban was imposed on the press, public speeches and writing of articles.
7. Even the members of the Nazi party who challenged Hitler's authority were severely dealt with.
8. A secret police known as the Gestapo, kept a check on the activities of citizens.
9. Those suspected of disloyalty to the State were arrested or executed without trial.

(b) Three factors that led to the rise of Nazism were —

1. Humiliating Treaty of Versailles — The conditions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles made the Germans feel humiliated and helpless. Hitler exploited these sentiments and encouraged the Germans to break the treaty and rebuild the empire of Germany by recapturing lost colonies.
2. Economic crisis — The harsh terms of Treaty of Versailles made Germany to suffer in agricultural production, colonies, foreign investment, trade contracts, etc. Foreign countries raised tariffs against German goods. This increased unemployment and made the conditions of farmers miserable. The Nazis exploited the situation by assuring people to follow Nazi ideology to put an end to their economic misery.
3. Growing Fear of Communism — After the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Communist influence in Germany increased considerably as they succeeded in capturing a number of seats in Reichstag. Hitler warned the people that Communists of Germany would become the servants of their Russian masters and would follow the dictates of Communists. He persuaded the people that Nazism alone could check the growing influence of Communism.

(c) Four similarities between the ideologies of Nazism and Fascism were-

1. To have faith in the totalitarian rule.
2. To despise democratic political systems.
3. To uphold One-Party and one leader.
4. To believe in aggressive nationalism and imperialism.