The Rise of Fascism & Totalitarianism Or how did these crazy nutjobs come into power in the first place?

What is Fascism? Fascism = a militant political movement Originated in Italy by Benito Mussolini Loyalty to the state Extreme nationalism Uniforms and salutes Nations must struggle and fight No individual rights Each class had special place Used religion Hated Communism

Reasons for Rise Economic distress Fear of Communism Appeal to nationalism Weak government No democratic tradition

Mussolini and Italy After WWI, Italy was Mad about no territorial gains Afraid of a Communist Revolution Benito Mussolini promised to save economy and rebuild army Bring back glory of Rome Mussolini and Black Shirts marched on Rome Made King hand over power to Mussolini Took power legally (Sort of…)

More Mussolini “Il Duce” = the leader Abolished democracy Secret police galore Created a model Fascist State

Militaristic Expansion Desire to create colonial empire Invaded: Ethiopia (1935) Albania (1939) The League of Nations Condemned Italy’s actions but didn’t do anything to stop it.

The Rise of the NAZIs National Socialist German Workers’ Party Swastika for a symbol Brownshirts = storm troopers (militia, not star wars) Hitler became der Führer of NAZI party Attempted coup failed Lesson learned: Had to take power legally

Hitler’s Plans for Germany Hitler imprisoned for treason Wrote book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) Germans were master race (called them “Aryans”) Non Aryans were inferior Vowed to reverse the Treaty of Versailles Conquer eastern Europe and Russia Gain “lebensraum” or “living space”

Hitler’s Rise to Power… 100% Legal During depression, Hitler rose in prestige and prominence Widespread fear of communism President appointed Hitler chancellor Hitler asked for dictatorial powers for 4 years

Totalitarian Regime Banned all other political parties SS (schutzstaffel)- elite military force loyal only to Hitler Gestapo = secret police Took control of economy Propaganda and book burning Hitler Youth and League of German Girls

The German Scapegoat Targeted the Jewish population for failure in WWI Anti-Semitism already engrained in German (and all European) society Deprived Jews of their rights Kristallnacht- “Night of the Broken Glass” Attack on Jewish owned businesses A “pogrom”- gov’t sponsored violence against Jews

German Expansion- Today Germany Tomorrow the World! 1935- began rebuilding military 1936- took the Rhineland 1938- Anschluss 1938- Munich Conference Germany, French, and British leaders met to discuss the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia GB & F said G could have Sudetenland if Hitler promised not to invade Czechoslovakia Policy of appeasement 1939- took Czechoslovakia 1939- invaded Poland, start of WWII

Rise of Japanese Militarism 1920’s- struggled with weak Parliamentary system Depression hit Japan hard Relied on exports to foreign nations Drought which led to extreme famine Government efforts to boost economy Spent less on the military

Right-winged military leaders mad Throughout the 1930’s a series of militaristic Prime Ministers Hideki Tojo Did not want to overthrow political system Extreme nationalism Belief in “chosen-ness” of Japanese people Asia should be dominated by the “superior” Japanese “Asia for Asians”- anti-European Imperialism Focused increasingly on Emperor veneration Belief that Emperor is god on Earth Emperor had little political power

Desire to save economy by foreign expansion 1931- Japan invaded Manchuria Sought resources Iron and coal 1937- Japan invaded China

Totalitarianism under Stalin Another crazy leader-but NOT a fascist!

Power Struggle When Lenin died, he left no successor He meant to remove Stalin from power Trotsky v Stalin Trotsky Stalin Best choice Horrible ego Compromises, realistic Rude and crude Power hungry and ambitious Violent and impatient Malicious

Stalin wins dictatorship in 1928 Has support of people Surrounds himself with other like himself

FIVE YEAR PLANS Industrialization- create demand as you create supply Central government planners set goals Soviet industry almost catches up to rest of Europe in less than 15 years

Collectivization Individual ownership of an economic resource (farm) replaced by people that work there Everyone owns a piece Disastrous effect on food production

COLLECTIVE FARMS

PURGES Campaign of Terror Stalin removed anyone he saw as a threat Eventually all of the old Bolsheviks of the Revolution were replaced by “Little Stalins” Arrests tens of millions and placed them in gulags 9 of 10 generals and 1 of 2 officers imprisoned or exectued Killed 22 million Soviets

Gulag Slave labor camps MOSTLY IN SIBERIA – MASSIVE PROJECTS BUILT BY SLAVE LABOR

THE GULAG “ARCHIPELAGO”

DEATH OF STALIN 1953 NO CLEAR SUCCESSION