The First World War left a deep imprint on European society and polity. It had a devastating impact on the entire continent.
(i) In society, soldiers were ranked higher than civilians. Trench life of the soldiers was glorified by the media.
(ii) Politicians and publicists laid great stress on the need for men to be aggressive and masculine.
(iii) Aggressive war propaganda and national honour occupied centre stage in the public sphere.
(iv) People's support grew for the recently established dictatorships.
(v) Democracy as a young and fragile idea could not survive the instabilities of Europe between the two World Wars.

The lessons the German children learn't under Nazi schooling were:
(i) to be loyal and submissive
(ii) to hate Jews
(iii) and to worship Hitler.

(i) Total control over schools: Hitler put all schools under total control of the state. Undesirable children, i.e. Jews, Blacks and Gypsies were first segregated. Subsequently, 'undesirable children'-were thrown out of school. And finally in the 1940's they were taken to the gas chambers.
(ii) Teachers: Teachers who were Jews or seen as politically unreliable were dismissed.
(iii) New Education Policy: He announced his new education policy. 'Good German' children were subjected to a process of Nazi schooling and ideological training. All school textbooks were rewritten. Racial science was introduced to justify the Nazi ideas on race. Children were taught to be loyal, submissive, hate Jews and worship Hitler. Stereotypes about Jews were popularised through maths classes.
(iv) Spirit of Violence and Aggression: To inculcate the spirit of violence and aggression, new sports were introduced. Hitler believed that boxing could make children iron-hearted, strong and masculine.
(v) Youth organisation: Youth organisations were made responsible for educating German youth in 'the spirit of National Socialism'. Youth was forced to join youth organisations. The 10-year-old had to join 'Jungvolk' and 14-year-old 'Hitler Youth'.

The factors which enabled Hitler's rise to power and rise of Nazi party are interlinked. They were:
(i) Political instability of the Weimar Republic: The Weim r republic from the very beginning was unable to provide a stable government. It failed to' inspire confidence of the people in the democratic parliamentary system.
(ii) Humiliating Treaty of Versailles: Hitler capitalised on the sense of humiliation which many Germans felt at their defeat in the war and the unjust provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler promised not only to build a strong nation but to undo the injustice of the Treaty of Versailles; and restore the dignity of the German people.
(iii) The Economic Disaster:
The economic consequences of the World War 1.
Crippling effect of redemption dues imposed by the Allies, failure of the Republic's economic reforms which led to high inflation.
Germany witnessed high unemployment and price rise.
Under the circumstances, Nazi propaganda stirred hopes of a better future.
(iv) Threat of communism: Threat of communism was a contributing factor in thrise of Hitler. The Spartacist League organised an uprising on the pattern of the Bolsheviks of Russia. Though the uprising was crushed, the threat of communism enabled Hitler to win the support of the conservatives-land and business classes.
(v) Hitler's Dynamic Personality: Hitler had a dynamic personality. He was a great orator, organiser and tireless worker. His logic was convincing and his appeals touched the reasons and emotions of the people. Thus without even having a majority, Hitler became all powerful. In 1934 he assumed the title of Fuhrer and became the absolute dictator of Germany.

To effectively mobilise support in Germany Hitler devised a new style of politics
(i) He placed a lot of emphasis on rituals, propaganda and spectacles to mobilise people.
(ii) Rallies and public meetings were held to demonstrate support for Hitler and instill a sense of unity among people.
(iii) Red banners with the Swastika, Nazi, salute, rounds of applause after speeches were part of the spectacle of power.
(iv) Nazi propaganda skillfully projected Hitler as a messiah, a saviour, and one who had come to deliver the people from distress.
(v) It is an image that captured the imagination of a people whose sense of dignity and pride had been shattered, and who were living in a time of acute economic and political crises.

Nazi ideas found support in the army and the class of big landlords. They received the full backing of the industrialists who were alarmed at the growth of the socialist and communist parties.