Political Crisis and Dictatorship -Key Concepts-

I. The Spread of Dictatorship By 1938, only 10 out of 27 European countries remained democratic For the most part, these were dictatorships in the traditional sense of the word Three of these dictatorships made the jump into totalitarianism

II. What is Totalitarianism? A Whole Set of Values Individual ceases to have any role an rights whatsoever Total rejection of liberalism and liberal values By the 1930’s, liberalism seemed spent, a thing of the past

III. Features of Modern Totalitarianism Absolute Domination over every area of life The worship and cultivation of violence --War is noble --The need for an enemy The centrality of the Party and a Leader --il Duce and der Fuhrer

III. Features of Modern Totalitarianism (cont) A mass movement, but especially appealing to the lower middle class Heavy reliance on propaganda --leader image based on sex appeal --Truth is what the Party says it is

IV. The Pervasiveness of Fascism Presents itself as the only alternative to communism Right-wing revolutionary conservatism European-wide movement—not restricted to Italy and to Germany Different forms of fascism throughout Europe—influence of nationalism

V. General Characteristics of Fascism An ideology, a program of action, and a mood as well Seen as a way out of disillusionment and uncertainty The primacy of action Powerful appeal to youth --Hitler Youth

V. General Characteristics of Fascism (cont) Middle and lower-middle class support Support from traditional conservative elite of Europe Support from the rural population as well

VI. The Ideology of Fascism Action for action’s sake --Italian squadristi or “Blackshirts” --German SA or “Brownshirts” The Significance of National Culture --The “Volk” The Superiority of National Culture and Race

VI. The Ideology of Fascism (cont) The Aryan Myth Male Leader Worship Conspiracy Theory of History A Religious-Psychological Phenomenon --Nuremberg Party Rallies

Nuremberg Party Rally, 1935

Nuremberg Party Rally, 1938

VII. The Life of Adolph Hitler His Early Years The development of his racial attitudes His World War I experience After the war, moves to Munich in Bavaria

VII. The Life of Adolph Hitler (cont) The Nazi Party: National Socialist German Worker’s Party The Munich Putsch (1923) Mein Kampf: “My Struggle”

VIII. Reasons for Hitler’s Rise to Power The weaknesses of the Weimar Republic Political resistance to the Weimar government Continuing Rise of Nationalism and Hatred for the Treaty of Versailles

VIII. Hitler’s Rise to Power (cont) The Great Depression of the 1930’s Increase in Nazi Political Power Fear of Communism --The Burning of the Reichstag The “Enabling Act” (1933) Hitler’s own skills and charisma

The Actions of the “Third Reich” The Suspension of Civil Rights Nazi Party Purge (1934) --Night of the Long Knives (June 30th) Establishment of the SS and the Gestapo --Heinrich Himmler Creation of a centralized, unified state

SS Troops on Parade in Poland

Hitler Reviews SS Troops

SS Troops Guard Members of Jewish Resistance in Warsaw

IX. “Third Reich” (cont) A Program of Anti-Semitism --Nuremberg Laws of 1935 --The “Final Solution” Mobilization of a Wartime Economy -- “Lebensraum”: “Living Space” --Four-Year Plan (1936)

IX. “Third Reich” (cont) Alliance of Nazi Party with Big Business Elimination of Unemployment --Autobahn Tremendous and Growing Popularity -- “Strength through Joy” program -- “People’s Car”: Volkswagen

Adolph Hitler and the Volkswagen: “The Strength through Joy” Car (1932 Drawing done in Munich Restaurant and passed on to head of Daimler-Benz)

X. Stalinist Russia Joseph Stalin the man Lenin’s view of Stalin “Socialism in one country” A Strategy for Rapid Industrialization Collectivization of Agriculture --The problem of the Kulaks Chaos in the countryside

X. Stalinist Russia (cont) Crop Failures in 1932-1933 Collectivization: A Revolution from Above Kolkhoz : The Collectivized Farm Surplus industrial labor The First Five-Year Plan Impact of Five-Year Plans Whole new industrial cities sprang up behind the Ural Mountains

XI. Stalin’s Terror and Political Purges (1934) The purpose of the terror and purges “Socialist Realism” in art Assassination of Sergei Kirov (1934) Moscow Show Trials Purge of the Red Army Atmosphere of Paranoia and Suspicion Impact on Soviet leadership for generations

XI. Fascist Italy Sense of Betrayal after World War I Economic Problems and Social Unrest Governmental Paralysis Mussolini’s Rise to Power Consolidation of a Dictatorship “Il Duce” and the Doctrine of the State Increasing International Prestige