World War II: The Road to War The Rise of Dictators

Warm - up Who was known as “Der Führer ”? Define the National Socialist German Workers’ Party -

Warm - up Match the following; 1.Hitler a. Britain 2. Stalin b. Spain 3. Mussolini c. Germany 4. Chamberlain d. USSR 5. Franco e. Italy 6. Churchill f. US

Totalitarinism Government exerts total control over a nation Dominates every aspect of life – using terror Examples: Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin

Fascism Emphasizes the importance of the nation or an ethnic group and supreme authority of the leader Vicious form of communism Relies upon a strong, dictatorial government Doesn’t respect individual rights and freedoms Historically, Fascism and Communism are fierce enemies

Stalin’s Mass Genocide

Joseph Stalin - Soviet Union Took power after Lenin’s death (1924) Launched plan to modernize agriculture and the building of new industries Encouraged family farms to combine and a huge collective of farms (owned and run by the state) Faced resistance – forced peasants off their land in the 1920’s

Stalin – More resistance Punished resistant farmers Confiscated much or all their food Millions die from starvation or move to the cities Millions are forced to work in labor camps in Siberia (Brrrrr…50 below) Consequence: production fell dramatically, food shortages, forced rationing

Stalin – Reign of Terror Efforts to gain political domination Purges: process of removing enemies and undesirables from power “Purified” the Communist Party by getting rid of all of his opponents The Great Purge (1934-1939): 7 million arrested, 1 million executed, millions ended up in labor camps Very Successful

Mussolini – Italy

Mussolini - Italy WWI wounded vet Believed strongly that the Versailles Treaty should have granted Italy more territory Attracted support from dissatisfied war vets, opponents of the monarchy, Socialists, and anarchists Formed Fascist party

Mussolini – Il Duce Relied on gangs, blackshirts, to terrorize those who opposed him Threatened to march on Rome … king panicked and appointed him prime minister Vowed to end Italy’s economic problems Suspended elections, outlawed political parties, and established dictatorship

Mussolini’s Empire Ultimate dream was to restore the Roman Empire “The country is nothing w/o conquest” October 1935: invaded Ethiopia using warplanes and poison gas “Italy finally has its empire”

Hitler – Germany

Hitler - Germany Austrian painter & WWI wounded vet Enraged by terms of WWI peace settlement Stripped Germany of land and colonies Burden of debt War-guilt clause – Germany had to take blame for WWI

Hitler – Nazi Party 1919 joined National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) Nazism: form of fascism shaped by Hitler’s fanatical ideas about Germany nationalism and racial superiority

Hitler – The Charismatic Leader Powerful speaker 1923: tried to overthrow gov’t. … Sentenced to 5 yrs. in prison Wrote Mein Kampf, an autobiography, views on Germany’s problems and plans for the nation Wanted to purify Germany – removing the undesirables Promised to stabilize the economy after depression

Hitler becomes Chancellor 1932: Nazi party is largest group in the Reichstag 1932: Hitler placed 2nd in presidential race 1933: made chancellor – head of German government Suspended freedom of speech an press Used storm troopers to wage violent campaign

Hitler – Der Führer Nazi Party dominates the Reichstag in the March elections 3 weeks later Reichstag mysteriously burns down – Hitler blames the Communists Parliament passes an Enabling Bill to give him dictatorial powers August 1934: becomes both chancellor and president Gave himself the title of Der Führer

Reichstag German Capital

Germany Rearms Secretly started spending money on rearmament and expansion army (violated Treaty of Versailles) Put unemployed back to work Autobahn and massive public buildings 1936: Industry prospered and brought Germany out of the Depression

Increasing National Pride Lebenstraum: “Living Space” Belief that Germans needed more territory Goal: conquer Eastern Europe and Soviet Union March 7, 1936: German Troops entered the Rhineland (Violated Treaty of Versailles)

Breakin’ the Law & No Response Reality: Germany isn’t ready for war France & G.B. didn’t respond to his violations 1936: Hitler signs an alliance w/Mussolini (Axis Powers)

Germany Expands 1938: Hitler invades “Auschluss” (Austria) Austrian chancellor refused to surrender Most Austrians warmly welcome Nazis Oct. 1938: Hitler demands the Sudetenland (Western Czechoslovakia) Munich Council: France & G.B. pursued a policy of appeasement to maintain peace France was bound to protect Czech. – Problem: No one consulted them about the takeover

Sudetenland

Franco – Spain

Franco - Spanish Civil War General Francisco Franco led Nationalists (rebels) vs. Republicans (newly elected gov’t.) Franco creates military dictatorship Germany provided planes, tanks, and soldiers to the Nationalists Soviet Union sent arms and supplies to the Republicans