European Dictators Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Joseph Stalin

Adolf Hitler Had a very tough childhood at the hands of his strict & abusive father A failed artist & student

World War I Fought in WWI & was wounded

The Great Speaker Hitler begins his political career as a member of the German Worker’s Party in 1919. Became a great public speaker.

The Swastika Hitler changes the name of the Fascist Worker’s Party to the National Socialist German Worker’s Party or NAZI for short.

The Secret Police Hitler’s “Brown Shirts” or SA&SS (secret police) eventually become 1,000,000 strong

Hitler the Writer Wrote “Mein Kampf” while in prison 1925-26. Spoke of revenge against France & the Treaty Of Versailles. Also spoke of a pure Aryan Germany

Supreme Dictator Became Supreme Dictator “ in January 1933- Uses brute force & murder against any & all detractors. Called himself “der Fuhrer” (The Leader)

Hitler's Army

The Expansion of Germany Begins his quest for expansion in 1936 by moving troops into the Rhineland Into Austria & The Sudetenland in 1938 Munich agreement = Appeasement

WWII BREAKS OUT Hitler invades Poland on September 1, 1939 On September 3, 1939 Great Britain & France declare war on Germany WWII begins

Benito Mussolini Had a very tough childhood. He was kicked out of several schools. Stabbed a fellow student when he was 10 years old. Stuttered as a child but over came this to become a powerful public speaker

Mussolini the Teacher? Mussolini became a teacher in Switzerland but was not able to find a job

Mussolini during WWI Like Hitler Mussolini fought & was wounded during WWI. (He got injured during grenade practice.)

Mussolini enters politics Starts the Fascist movement throughout Italy (Politics based on an extreme form of nationalism and patriotism often linked to racism)

Mussolini’s Private Army Mussolini’s black shirts (foot soldiers) become very powerful & violent. Very loyal to their Fascist leader.                            

Becoming Prime Minister Becomes Prime Minister of Italy in 1922. Uses this position to spread fascism and destroy his detractors.

Il DUCE In 1925 Mussolini becomes Supreme Dictator and takes the title “Il Duce” (the leader)

Expanding Italy Begins his quest for expansion in 1935 by invading Ethiopia.  League of Nations does nothing.

Joseph Stalin (U.S.S.R.) Born Joseph Vissarionovich Djugashvili Stalin in 1879 Very tough childhood at the hands of his alcoholic and abusive father

Stalin the student Very good student in school but was also very problematic.

Rebellious youth Arrested, jailed and exiled numerous times in his early life

Superman wannabe Takes the name Stalin (man of steel) in 1910

Stalin & Lenin Works under Lenin during the Russian Civil War 1918-1920 Lenin dies in 1924 and Stalin takes ruthless steps to become his successor.

Stalin’s secret police Stalin’s private police kill millions of dissidents. By 1929 Stalin gets rid of all rivals in his party & is the sole force of government.

Stalin the communist Like Lenin Stalin was a staunch communist who put the state (himself) above everything!

Soviet Industrial Revolution Stalin works on an Industrial Revolution instead of aggressively acquiring land. This included building military weapons. Preparing for war.

What about Japan Japan is very unpopular in the West. (Europe & U.S.) U.S. limits Japanese immigrants 1924 because of fear they would “take over” the west.

In Japan Military Rules Emperor Hirohito assumes power in 1926. Throughout the 1930’s the military gains control of government.

Japanese Expansion Japan invades Manchuria, Russia & China during the 1930’s. General Tojo becomes Prime Minister in 1938.

U.S. & Britain react League of Nations criticizes war with China. Japan quits the League. Britain & U.S. place an oil embargo against Japan.

Japan joins the Axis Powers In 1940 Japan joins the Axis Powers. Axis Powers The principal countries constituting the Axis Powers were Germany, Italy and Japan. Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania also fought with the Axis Powers.