Instability Between the Wars 1919 - 1939

Europe 1914 Europe 1919 New Countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, German Republic, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Republic of Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Ireland

Only twenty years after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, the world was at war again… The peace was not a lasting one Social, political and economic instability Leading to the rise of Totalitarian leaders

Totalitarians: Francisco Franco Benito Mussolini Joseph Stalin Adolf Hitler

SOCIAL INSTABILITY Disillusionment – loss of life & destruction for what? U.S. turned to a policy of isolationism Hope for reforms, but reforms did not happen Optimistic about new era of peace BUT League of Nations – ineffective Germany – blamed, guilt of war damaged the sentiment/morale of the people

ECONOMIC INSTABILITY Destruction of the European continent Need to rebuild & repair (expensive!!) National war debts (borrowed $ to pay for war) Germany suffering – due to reparations Inflation Severe depression leads to starvation Great Depression 1929 Collapse of U.S. stock market Leads to an international financial crisis American loans to help rebuild ended

POLITICAL INSTABILITY Nationalism high for Allies No self-determination – ethnic minorities still ruled by others Political democracies in Great Britain, France, Scandinavia Russian Revolution 1917 – established communist rule – Soviet Union Fear of communism spread around the western world First “Red Scare” Rise of Totalitarian Regimes in Italy, Germany, Spain, and Soviet Union

TOTALITARIANISM Situation was perfect for the rise of leaders who could “solve all the problems” of the country Leaders with total control of the people Soviet Union (Lenin – Stalin) Italy (Mussolini) Germany (Hitler) Spain (Franco) Leaders were welcomed and given total control…