Dictators in Europe By: James Viglas, Lyna Zidane, Silvia Dowdell, Carlina McKinley, Shane Gindel

Mussolini’s Italy Carlina McKinley

Mussolini’s Italy Benito Mussolini came to power at the end of World War I Fascist Ideology Mussolini was known as Il Duce (The Leader) 1919 he founded the National Fascist Party Fascism- an authoritarian form of government that places the good of the nation above all else Believe that they need an all powerful dictator to make all major decisions

Mussolini’s Italy Mussolini in Power Led the March on Rome to convince the King to make Mussolini the head of the Italian Government Used threats, violence, and his political skill to establish his dictatorship, and take unlimited power Created a Totalitarian program because he wanted more than just political power Totalitarianism- the attempt by a government to control all aspects of life Propaganda promoting Italy’s strength and power Creation of festivals and holidays that reminded the Italian people of their Roman heritage

Mussolini’s Italy The Invasion of Ethiopia Mussolini wanted to have a strong military power, achieved this Chose to attack Ethiopia because it was weak, and had big disadvantages Located between two Italian colonies, had a weak military Italian military crushed the Ethiopian forces In reaction to Italy’s aggression the Ethiopian leader, Haile Selassie appealed to the League of Nations No nations were willing to go to war because of this, in fear of starting another world war There were economic sanctions placed on Italy

Hitler’s Germany James and Shane

Adolf Hitler and his Early Career: Hitler was born April 20, 1889 in Braunau Austria Served in German military during World War I As a World War I veteran, he decided to join Nazi Party In October of 1923 Hitler attempted to overthrow the German government This attempt failed and Hitler was forced to serve a short term in prison While in prison, Hitler wrote his famous work, Mein Kampf, which was an autobiography where he explains his political views and plans for Germany’s future Hitler proved to be a master of propaganda and public speaking He was able to use these skills to sway the German public with promises of a greater Germany: Germany was desperate for leadership and Hitler filled this open spot Hitler eventually took the role as chancellor of Germany in 1933, the highest political role of the German government at the time Hitler crushed his opposers and took on a totalitarianism style of rule

The Nazi Party and Postwar Germany After World War 1, Germany was left in economic decline, massive reparations were forced upon the nation which Germany could not pay A new political system, Weimar, became present in Germany and led to inflation Germany blamed the Treaty of Versailles for their economic crises People were enraged and Hitler’s promise of a greater Germany helped the Nazi party gain popularity The Nazi party became the most powerful German political party Supported ideas such as anti- semitism, racism towards Jews, which spread quickly throughout the nation Nuremberg Laws were created: these laws stripped Jews of their German citizenship Jews were a scapegoat for Germany’s problems and they became more and more abused throughout Hitler’s rule Hitler started to rebuild the German army in the attempt to become the most powerful country in the world and essentially take over Europe

Hitler’s Reign Hitler ruled as a dictator Under Hitler’s rule anti- semitism was very present in Germany Kristallnacht was one of the first examples of widespread anti- semitism in Germany Also known as “The Night of Broken Glass” A riot took place where Jewish businesses, homes, and places of worship were destroyed, along with about 100 Jewish deaths As a result, the Holocaust took place In the Holocaust Jews were mistreated, starved, and even killed in mass numbers Concentration camps and extermination camps were formed: at concentration camps Jews were forced into hard labor where they usually worked until death by exhaustion or starvation and at execution camps Jews were killed in mass numbers usually by gas chambers Auswitchts is the most famous of these camps where the most death took place The German military became very powerful Hitler led the military back to it’s former glory as being one of the most powerful in the world Eventually the efforts of the United States with the rest of Europe were able to overcome the German military and reduce them back to practically nothing

Stalin’s USSR Lyna and Silvia

Joseph Stalin in Power: After Lenin died in 1924, Stalin became the new leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics after a struggle for power. Instead of reducing the government’s power like Karl Marx’s communism, Stalin worked to turn Soviet Union into a totalitarian state. Stalin believed that having complete power would strengthen communism.

The Five-Year Plans and Collectivization Stalin planned to strengthen soviet communism through modernization, Each factory & mine had production goals set by date. The plans reflect the soviet system of central planning (gov’t makes major decisions about production). The production of oil, coal, and steel increased greatly. Stalin combined small farms hoping it would increase farm output (Collectivization). It went against what Lenin promised to the peasants so they resisted. Stalin responded violently, he sent the opponents to Gulag or he executed them.

Ukraine continued to resist , to punish them , he refused to send food when a famine struck them in 1932, millions died. Article illustrating the consequences of the famine Starving Children in Ukraine Collectivization of Farmers

Gulag and Political Purges: The Gulag was a system of labor camps in Siberia where workers -who were sent there forcefully- often died. The political purges were campaigns started by Stalin because he feared people were plotting against him. Their purpose was to get rid of people or things considered undesirable. Stalin imagined most of his opponents. They were either executed or sent to the Gulag.

Totalitarian Rule Stalin had control of all aspects of Russian life. Children joined youth organizations that taught soviet beliefs. Religion was discouraged Streets and towns were named in Stalin’s honor. Portraits of Stalin were all across Russia, he was seen as hero. He ruthlessly removed any opposition.

How European Dictators Contributed to the Start of WWII Tension between European nations Hitler’s desire to make Germany the most powerful nation in the word caused tension between Germany and other European nations Germany and the U.S.S.R. hated each other because of their different ideology (communism vs nazism). After WWI Italy was angry for not getting the lands they were promised, people like Mussolini were ready to do anything to do Italy justice.