The Rise of Dictators and World War II Aggression

TOTALITARIANISM (a govt. that has total control over its people) Communism government owns the businesses and land Soviet Union Shared Characteristics extreme nationalism one strong leader one political party strong military secret police censorship propaganda indoctrination (teaching young people accepted ideas of the govt.) Fascism individual people own the businesses and land Germany, Italy

Absolute Dictators – Methods of Control Dictators often used propaganda tools to maintain power (books, radio, the press, films) People were forbidden from criticizing their government

Nazi Propaganda

Benito Mussolini (Italy) Preached a government called Fascism – movement emphasizing loyalty to the state and its leader Deeply anti-Communist; strong support for Italian corporations Deep desire to make Italy a great world power Active Secret Police would jail political opponents Linked to racism and cultural superiority Mussolini called himself “IL DUCE” (The Chief)

Adolf Hitler (Germany) Joined politics after WWI – wanted to avenge Germany’s loss Organized Nazi Party; tried to seize power in 1923 – but was arrested While in prison – wrote Mein Kampf Spoke about Germany racial superiority (German Aryans were superior; all others – like Jews, Slavs, Gypsies – were inferior) Stated German need for Lebensraum – living space

Hitler in Power During 1920s-30s – a severe depression in Germany, Civil War broke out Politicians in Germany believed they could use Hitler – so the German president named him Chancellor in 1933 Once in office, he used fear effectively to allow the Nazis to win a majority in Parliament (Reichstag Building Fire) Rule became known as “The Third Reich”

Hitler’s Policies Banned all political parties Created a black-uniformed, secret police unit called the SS (Schutzstaffel) Massive building program put millions to work – ending the Depression in Germany

Hitler’s War on the Jews and other races Nazi beliefs stressed the “purity” of the Aryan race Policies enacted to “purify” the German race (sterilization of undesirables like mentally ill and disabled) Anti-Semitism (hatred of the Jews) was a major part of Nazi beliefs Jews were used as scapegoats (blamed for Germany’s problems) – especially blamed for Germany’s economic problems after WWI Nuremberg Laws deprived Jews of their citizenship Nazis first attempted isolating Jews in ghettos, then resorted to official, blatant attacks on Jewish homes and synagogues

The Road to War: 1919-1939

The Versailles Treaty

A Weak League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations No control of major conflicts. No progress in disarmament. No effective military force.

The “Stab-In-The-Back” Theory German soldiers are dissatisfied.

International Agreements Locarno Pact – 1925 France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy Guarantee existing frontiers Establish DMZ 30 miles deep on East bank of Rhine River Refrain from aggression against each other Kellogg-Briand Pact – 1928 Makes war illegal as a tool of diplomacy No enforcement provisions

The Great Depression

Movements Toward War We need to understand the “Aggressiveness” in four countries/events to discover how and why the war began *Japan *Italy *Spain *Germany

New Government for Japan Japan seemed peaceful and had a democratic government in the 1920s However, few in government could control the military (who reported directly to the emperor) When hard economic times hit Japan (caused by the Depression), the military installed a new government that was centered around the Emperor – who the military would rule in the name of

Goals for Japan’s Militarists Expand empire overseas Improve economy through imperialism Begin a Pacific Empire that included China BENEFITS OF THE EMPIRE ARE… Could access much needed raw materials Could have an empire that included billions of people to trade with New empire would give “living space” for rising population

Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931

Japan’s invasions 1931 – Japan invaded Manchuria (Northeastern China - rich in natural resources) League of Nations protested action, but did nothing to stop Japan Japan left League of Nations in 1933 1937 – Japan invaded China (captured Beijing and Nanjing – where thousands of civilians were killed) – “Rape of Nanjing”

Manchuria

Mussolini’s Discontent Mussolini saw the League of Nations do nothing to stop Japan Envious of Britain & France’s Africa holdings Invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 – the spears and swords of Ethiopia no match for tanks, guns, and planes of Italy League of Nations – no action taken to stop Italy

Germany Prepares 1935 – Hitler announces that Germany will start to rearm their military 1936 – Confident by lack of response, Hitler ordered troops to re-conquer the Rhineland (Buffer zone between Germany and France)

German-Italian Alliance Germany and Italy form the Axis Powers in 1936 Now – two dictators with stated goals of expansion are good friends Japan soon joined the alliance as well Mussolini and Hitler

Spanish Civil War Gen. Francisco Franco (Fascist) revolted against the elected government in 1936 Civil War lasted for three years With Italy and Germany’s help – Fascists won in Spain by 1939

La Guernica

Hitler Expands Empire 1938 – Hitler and the Germans invaded Austria (most Austrians spoke German and welcomed becoming a part of Germany) But…Hitler and the Germans were expanding – and Versailles told them not to Britain and France do nothing

The Sudetenland After taking Austria – Hitler wanted more His next desire is the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia Small area of Western Czech where many German-speakers lived The Czechs didn’t want to give this area to Germany – nor did France and Russia

“Appeasement” at Munich The British step in to offer a peace and avoid war British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with Hitler in Munich, Germany They agree to give Hitler the Sudetenland Hitler has to promise he is done seeking territory

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Now we have peace in our time! Herr Hitler is a man we can do business with.

Reactions to Munich Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister who came up with the agreement, said that he had achieved “peace in our time” Winston Churchill, the future Prime Minister, said: “Britain and France had to choose between war and shame. They chose shame. They will get war, too.”

Hitler breaks his promise: Germany Starts the War After being given Sudetenland – Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia Hitler signs a Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin and the Soviet Union (they agree to not make war on each other) – now France and Britain have lost an ally in Stalin Immediately after – Germany invades Poland (France & Britain declare war on Germany) WWII officially begins

Hitler breaks his promise: Germany Starts the War After being given Sudetenland – Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia Hitler signs a Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin and the Soviet Union (they agree to not make war on each other) – now France and Britain have lost an ally in Stalin Immediately after – Germany invades Poland (France & Britain declare war on Germany) WWII officially begins The Non-Aggression Pact was publicly a peace treaty, but in reality just a ploy by Hitler and Stalin to divide up Eastern Europe