Dictators Threaten World Peace

Failures of the World War I Peace Settlement Treaty of Versailles did not create a “just and secure peace” Germans didn’t think it was fair-blamed them for 100% of war Stripped them of territory they considered German

Failures of the World War I Peace Settlement Soviets lose some territories to create Poland, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia

Failures of the World War I Peace Settlement Did not make world safe for democracy Democracies in Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece were weak No democratic tradition Treaty of Versailles did nothing to help war torn nations rebuild New democracies expected to pay war debts and deal with hunger, unemployment and homelessness

Failures of the World War I Peace Settlement Some democracies collapsed and dictators seized power

Joseph Stalin Transforms the Soviet Union Takes power in Soviet Union in 1924 Iron willed-nothing would stand in his way Sought to create a model communist state in the Soviet Union

Joseph Stalin Transforms the Soviet Union Began industrial and agricultural restructuring Trampled the rights of his people Brought great suffering to Russia

Joseph Stalin Transforms the Soviet Union Began reforming Russia in 1927 Stamped out private enterprise Collectivized farming- meaning state control Forced peasants to give up land- combined into large state owned farms

Joseph Stalin Transforms the Soviet Union 2 nd goal-make Russia an industrial power st “5 year plan” Build massive state owned factories, steel mills, power plants 1939-Soviet Union world’s 3 rd largest industrial power Human cost to plan amazing Soviet Union turned into a massive police state Anyone who criticized was arrested/sent to a forced labor camp/killed

Now You See Him…

Joseph Stalin Transforms the Soviet Union 1930’s-Stalin purged his own party Labeled “enemies of the state” and executed Stalin responsible for the deaths of approximately 8 to 13 million people Created a totalitarian state –Government maintains complete control over its people –People have no rights –Government suppresses all opposition

Rise of Fascism in Italy Benito Mussolini establishing a totalitarian regime in Italy Wanted to make Italy a great power in the world Began Fascism- strong, centralized govmt. headed by a powerful dictator

Rise of Fascism in Italy Unlike Stalin –Did not try to control farms and factories Many in Italy feared Communism So they supported Fascism instead

Rise of Fascism in Italy 1921-Mussolini created Fascist party Mussolini stages march on Rome with many of his Blackshirt followers Italian king allowed him to form a new government

Rise of Fascism in Italy Called himself Il Duce or The Chief Extended Fascist control over every aspect of Italian life Crushed all opposition Made Italy a totalitarian state

The Nazis Take Over Germany Adolf Hitler-rise to power similar to Mussolini Following WWI- worked for military in southern Germany Joined National Socialist German Workers’ Party –Better known as the Nazi Party

The Nazis Take Over Germany Hitler soon became the party’s leader…or fuhrer Laid out beliefs of Nazism in Mein Kampf Nazism- a kind of fascism based on extreme nationalism

The Nazis Take Over Germany Born in Austria- dreamed of uniting all German speaking people Germans (blue eyes, blonde hair) were master race –Aryans

The Nazis Take Over Germany Inferior races-Jews, Slavs, and nonwhites, were fit only to serve the Aryans

The Nazis Take Over Germany Nazis sought national expansion Hitler believed Germany needed more lebensraum, or living space

The Nazis Take Over Germany Great Depression helped Nazis come to power million Germans unemployed Many saw Hitler as their last hope 1932 German elections-Nazis win more votes than any other party 1933 Hitler appointed chancellor

The Nazis Take Over Germany Quickly dismantled Germany’s democratic Weimar Republic Established Third Reich –Supposed to last 1,000 years

Militarists Gain Control in Japan Military leaders attempting to gain control of Japan Shared Hitler’s need for living space Launch surprise invasion of Manchuria, China in 1931

Militarists Gain Control in Japan Japanese controlled Manchuria within months –Resource rich area –Size of Alaska

Militarists Gain Control in Japan League of Nations investigated the situation Report condemned Japan Japan simply quit League Success in Manchuria put militarists firmly in control of Japan

Aggression in Europe European Dictators noticed League of Nation’s failure to act 1933-Hitler pulls Germany out of League 1935-begins military build-up –Violation of Treaty of Versailles

Aggression in Europe 1936-Hitler re- militarizes Rhineland Signs Rome-Berlin Pact- creates formal alliance between Germany and Italy The League does nothing to stop Hitler

Aggression in Europe Mussolini begins building new Roman Empire 1935-Italy conquers Ethiopia League responded with economic boycott-a slap in the wrist

Aggression in Europe Haile Selassie-ousted Ethiopian Emperor –Appealed to League for help –Nothing was done –He tells League “It is us today, it will be you tomorrow.”

U.S. Clings to Isolationism America determined to avoid war 1937 poll-70% of Americans believed U.S. should never had entered WWI Many anti-war rallies

U.S. Clings to Isolationism Congress passes Neutrality Act- to keep U.S. out of wars Outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at war Banned arms and loans undergoing civil wars

Neutrality Breaks Down Spanish Civil War Fascists led by Francisco Franco vs. elected govmt. Hitler ad Mussolini come to Franco’s aid 3,000 American volunteers go to Spain to fight fascism

Neutrality Breaks Down Hitler and Mussolini saw Spanish Civil War as practice for their military Western democracies sent only food and money to non-fascist forces Franco eventually wins

Neutrality Breaks Down Japan launches new attacks against China in 1937 Japan had never declared war on China FDR refused to enforce neutrality legislation U.S. sent aid to China FDR against isolationism