Political Experiments of the 1920’s

FYI’s OPEN book Thursday on Chapter 27! Bring books any time! If you were missin some daily grades, get em in this week! I’m going to try to find time to let you play catch up I’ll make piles of extra copies

After Versailles: Demands for Revision and Enforcement Political agitation in the successor states German resentment of the treaty French demands for enforcement of the treaty

Postwar Economic Woes The war had damaged the economies of Europe’s old states The loss of so many people was also a loss of producers and consumers Every country had war debts, and no way to repay it Losers also had to pay reparations Industrial infrastructure had been destroyed The new states had nothing to begin with New borders separated factories from the resources they used Railway systems were now split between multiple nations The U.S. ceased to be dependent on European production

THE SOVIET UNION

The beginning of the Soviet Experiment The Bolsheviks had consolidated power Party membership did not exceed 1% of the population Some opposition still remained They viewed their revolution as internationally significant

Need to know… Lenin War Communism NEP Comintern Stalin Trotksy

War Communism Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) organized the Red Army to suppress both internal and foreign opposition White Russian opposition could not get properly organized The nation was run by Lenin from the top, undemocratically The government ran the banks, the transport system and heavy industry All opposition was repressed War Communism generated opposition Peasants resisted the requisition of grain Strikes in 1920 and 1921 Baltic fleet mutiny in March 1921

The New Economic Policy (NEP) Outlined by Lenin in March 1921 Private industry would be tolerated except in: Banking Heavy Industry Transportation International Commerce Peasant farming for profit was legalized The countryside stabilized

The Third International Also called the Comintern, the Third International of the European Socialist Movement was designed by Lenin to promote the Bolshevik style of Socialism in Europe 1920–21 conditions were imposed on any socialist party that wanted to join Every major European party was split on whether to accept these policies These splits helped lead to the rise of fascism Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

The Stalin/Trotsky Rivalry After Lenin’s stroke in 1922 and his subsequent death in 1924, a power vacuum was left Two factions emerged Trotsky Faction Joseph Stalin ( ), general secretary of the party, Faction Lenin had criticized both before his death, but especially Stalin

Trotsky’s Position Urged rapid industrialization financed by expropriation of farm production Collectivization of agriculture The Soviet Union should encourage worldwide Socialist revolution

Stalin’s Rise His position of general secretary allowed him to amass bureaucratic and administrative power Manipulated intraparty rivalries Backed Nikolai Bukharin (1888–1938) in his battle with Trotsky over rapid industrialization Also opposed Trotsky’s position on worldwide revolution He was thus able to eventually have Trotsky humiliated and exiled by 1929 Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Reading - Stop when he starts taking about Mussolini Hang on to reading packet – don’t lose

ITALY

Fascism in Italy Fascist governments were anti-Democratic, anti- Marxist, anti-Parliamentary and frequently anti- Semitic Rejected Liberalism Dictatorial Founded in Italy by Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

The Rise of Mussolini Italian Fasci Di Combattimento, “Bands of Combat,” founded in 1919 in Milan Mostly Italian war veterans who rejected Versailles Led by Mussolini A former socialist Broke with socialists in 1914, in order to support joining the war on the side of the Allies Nationalism replaced socialism in his personal pantheon Took advantage of postwar chaos Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

The Rise of Mussolini Took advantage of postwar chaos Postwar chaos = unemployment and discontent of returned soldiers Also, Italian leaders felt “cheated” at Versailles Peace Talks and like they didn’t get their fair share Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Early Fascist Organization Mussolini initially supported factory occupation and land seizures He later came to realize that Italians were more interested in order than abstract ideas of justice He later came to realize that Italians were more interested in order than abstract ideas of justice Most people did not support Bolshevik ideas of revolution and liberal reforms (especially middle class) Mussolini Formed local squads of terrorists to go after socialists and other perceived malcontents - squadristi Law enforcement ignored them Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Early Fascist Organization Fascists mainly made up of middle class, white collar professionals In 1921, Mussolini and 34 Fascists were elected to the government The Black Shirt March In October 1922, the Fascists marched on Rome The Cabinet resigned in protest On November 23, 1922 the king (Victor Emmanuel III) and Parliament granted Mussolini dictatorial power for one year Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

The Fascists in Power Once in power, Mussolini moved cautiously Changed election laws in 1924, so that the party which received the largest popular vote would have two-thirds of the seats in parliament In the 1924 election, the Fascists won complete control of Parliament By 1926, Mussolini was able to rule by decree (DICTATOR) Violence and terror continued Late 1924, Giacomo Matteotti, a socialist leader, was murdered Controlled press, no one allowed to disrespect Catholic Church The Lateran Accord of 1929 made peace with the Vatican The Lateran Accord of 1929 made peace with the Vatican Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Fascist Propaganda “Mussolini is always right” Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Rising Political Experiments… Bolshevism For example, Bolshevism is Socialism mixed with strong authority Fascism Fascism is Capitalism mixed with strong authority Reading - QUESTION 6 QUESTION 6

Reading - QUESTION 6

THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC (GERMANY)

Weimar Germany Created to replace German Empire Reichstag = Parliament Reichstag = Parliament as it allowed small parties to gain seats easily The Constitution, while somewhat Liberal, was also fundamentally flawed, as it allowed small parties to gain seats easily The president was permitted to rule by decree in an emergency, permitting presidential dictatorship Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Weimar Germany Also lacked popular support viewed as the government that humiliated Germany by accepting the Versailles treaty It was viewed as the government that humiliated Germany by accepting the Versailles treaty In the early 20s there were a number of violent uprisings, but they failed massive inflation There was massive inflation, due to the reparations imposed by the allies invasion of the Ruhr The invasion of the Ruhr caused the German people to resent the Weimar government even more Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Ruhr was occupied as a reprisal after Germany failed to fulfill World War I reparation government responded with "passive resistanceletting workers and civil servants refuse orders and instructions by the occupation forces consequences contributed to German hyperinflation and ruined public finances in Germany and France, In January 1923 the Ruhr was occupied as a reprisal after Germany failed to fulfill World War I reparation payments as agreed in the Versailles Treaty. The German government responded with "passive resistance", letting workers and civil servants refuse orders and instructions by the occupation forces. Production and transport came to a standstill and the financial consequences contributed to German hyperinflation and ruined public finances in Germany and France, as well as several other countries. Passive resistance was called off in late 1923, allowing Germany to implement a currency reform and to negotiate the Dawes Plan, which led to the withdrawal of the French and Belgian troops from the Ruhr in 1925.was occupiedWorld War I reparationGerman hyperinflationwas occupiedWorld War I reparation paymentsGerman hyperinflationDawes Plan RUHR

Inflation After that there was no legal limit as to how many notes it could print. The government did not want to upset people with heavy taxes. Instead it borrowed huge amounts of money which were to be paid by the enemy after Germany had won the war When the war broke out on July 31, 1914, the Reichsbank (German Central Bank) suspended redeemability of its notes in gold. After that there was no legal limit as to how many notes it could print. The government did not want to upset people with heavy taxes. Instead it borrowed huge amounts of money which were to be paid by the enemy after Germany had won the war, Much of the borrowing was discounted and monetized by the Reichsbank. As explained later, this amounted to issuing straight printing press money. By the end of the war, the amount of money in circulation had increased four-fold.

HYPERinflation From Mid-1922 to November 1923 hyperinflation raged All hope of checking the collapse of the mark vanished in January 1923 when the French--alleging treaty violations--occupied Germany's key industrial district, the Ruhr New billions of marks were printing to finance these heavy new costs All hope of checking the collapse of the mark vanished in January 1923 when the French--alleging treaty violations--occupied Germany's key industrial district, the Ruhr. Germany subsidized the occupied companies and financed an expensive program of "passive resistance." New billions of marks were printing to finance these heavy new costs. By late 1923, 300 paper mills were working top speed and 150 printing companies had 2000 presses going day and night turning out currency.

HYPERinflation By mid-1923 workers were being paid as often as three times a day. Their wives would meet them, take the money and rush to the shops to exchange it for goods The economy was collapsing By mid-1923 workers were being paid as often as three times a day. Their wives would meet them, take the money and rush to the shops to exchange it for goods. However, by this time, more and more often, shops were empty. Storekeepers could not obtain goods or could not do business fast enough to protect their cash receipts. Farmers refused to bring produce into the city in return for worthless paper. Food riots broke out. Parties of workers marched into the countryside to dig up vegetables and to loot the farms. Businesses started to close down and unemployment suddenly soared. The economy was collapsing. Meanwhile, middle-class people who depended on any sort of fixed income found themselves destitute. They sold furniture, clothing, jewelry and works of art to buy food. Little shops became crowded with such merchandise. Hospitals, literary and art societies, charitable and religious institutions closed down as their funds disappeared. Then by a mere effort of will, the government stepped in and stabilized the currency overnight.

Dawes Plan

Weimar Germany Hitler and the Early Years of Nazism Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) made his first major appearance on the political scene in Along with a number of his followers, he attempted a putsch. Though it failed, and Hitler was imprisoned, it made him a hero to many Germans. Nazism was characterized by extreme nationalism, anti-Communism and anti-Semitism Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Weimar Germany The Stresemann Years In order to repair inflation, Chancellor Gustav Stresemann introduced a new German currency He also agreed to a new system of reparation payments in 1924, which helped to lower inflation In 1925, right after the French left the Ruhr, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg became president Locarno The 1925 Locarno Agreements helped to integrate Germany back into the European system However, its conciliatory (appeasing, weak) outlook continued to alienate the German nationalist public Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Locarno Treaties France, Belgium, UK, Italy, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia Sought to “normalize” relations Negotiators won Nobel Peace Prize Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Cooperation: Nations promised to guarantee political borders discussed. Internationalism: The seven European nations had gotten together in order to establish a peace settlement. National security: All nations involved had to promise to keep to their political borders Regional security: No nations were to go into the Rhineland as it was a neutral zone. Total war: This Locarno Pact was an attempt to remove tensions between Germany and France. Countries wanted an overall peace settlement and wanted to prevent a second world war. Locarno Treaties

VICTORS AND SUCCESSOR STATES

Victors Great Britain and France “Joyless Victors” Both experienced “troubled democracies”

France Strongest military power on the continent Intended to enforce the terms of the Versailles Treaty, keep Germany in check Military alliances with Poland and other Eastern states Invaded German Ruhr in 1923 because Germany was defaulting on loans – ultimately hurt both French and German economy

Britain Escaped with almost no damage from war However, economy depressed throughout 1920s “Labour” Party – socialist but not revolutionary, replaces Liberal Party in GB for good Trouble with the Empire – self-determination for Australia, Canada, India becoming more of a discussed topic Ireland – guerilla war, negotiations over Ireland becoming independent. Irish Free State became part of the British Commonwealth (empire)

“Successor States” Newly Created or Newly Independent nations after WWI Poland Czechoslovakia Hungary Austria Yugoslavia Etc…..

Eastern Europe The fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire created a number of new states The question became, could those who had previously been powerless rule competently? Economic and Ethnic Pressures All of the new states except Czechoslovakia depended on foreign loans All of the new states except Czechoslovakia fell under authoritarian rule Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Poland Restored after 130 years of being ruled by its neighbors, nationalism was not sufficient to overcome regional differences In 1926, Marshal Josef Pilsudski (1867–1935) carried out a coup. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia was fortunate enough to have a gifted leader in Thomas Masaryk The country worked well until the 30s, when German nationalists looked to Hitler, and he Annexed the Sudetenland while the world watched Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Hungary After the war, there was a short-lived Communist Republic Following the fall of the Communists, an aristocratic government ruled Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Count István Bethlen de Bethlen

Austria Throughout the 20s there was dissention in Parliament between the Social Democrats and the Christian Socialists By the 30s, the Christian Socialists had control, until the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938 Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Southeastern Europe: Royal Dictatorships Serbs and Croats clashed in Yugoslavia Violence between ethnic nationalists led to royal dictatorship in 1929 under King Alexander I, a Serb Royal dictatorships were also established in Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Tasks Today Finish Ch 27 Reading quiz if needed – unless you were absent yesterday, needs to be in todau Finish Weimar Republic Packet (from Wednesday) Other things you might need to finish… Questions on Lenin, Stalin, and Mussolini Evaluating the Versailles Treaty