The Rise of Dictators in Europe: Stalin, Hitler & Mussolini The Period Between the Wars – Part Two Student Edition

Today’s Main Idea: The political and social unrest that followed WWI helped the totalitarian dictators rise to power in Europe. Many of the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles worsened the economic situation in Europe and created conditions that allowed dictators to rise to power.

Mussolini: He was a fascist Fascism – He used violence and threats to establish power Economic desperation and lack of faith in the Italian government helped him to gain power

Created a totalitarian government Totalitarianism – He wanted to make a strong Italian military Invaded Ethiopia, the League of Nations could not stop him

Stalin and the Soviet Union: Marx believed that under communism the state would eventually wither away, but Stalin wanted a totalitarian state with a large government The Five Year Plan was an attempt by Stalin to modernize the Soviet economy

Stalin also combined all of the individual farms This is called collectivization It caused widespread famine Many peasants resisted – they were killed, sent to labor camps or sent Siberia

Hitler and Germany: Germany had been devastated by the war The Nazi party developed during this time Nazi –

Hitler: Served in WWI Gained prominence in the Nazi party because of his public speaking skills 1923 he attempted to overthrow the German government, but failed He was jailed, this is when he wrote Mien Kempf

Hitler Gains Power: Both of which had been destroyed by WWI He promoted German racial superiority 1933 he was appointed chancellor Hitler bullied the Reichstag (the German legislator) into giving him dictatorial powers

Hitler and Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism – Blamed Germans economic problems on its Jewish population – they were scapegoats Many European Christians had long disliked the Jewish population Hitler wanted to remove Germany’s Jewish population from mainstream life