RISE OF DICTATORS

DICTATORS Dictator - a leader who rules a country with absolute power, usually by force Dictators are usually able to take power in countries that are suffering economically and socially The conditions in The Soviet Union, Germany and Italy made it easy for these dictators to assume power

Joseph Stalin Stalin’s rise to power comes after Lenin’s death in 1924 (heart attack)

Stalin’s Rise to Power Originally studied for the priesthood Became a follower of Lenin Stalin was imprisoned several times and sent to Siberia Did not play a major role in the Bolshevik Revolution 1923 he became the General Secretary of the Party 1924: Lenin died power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky Stalin: born joseph joo-guhsh- vee-lee to a poor family – studied to be a priest & in 1900 joined bolshevicks & changed his name to Stalin “man of steel” **** organized robberies to get $$ for the party & was sent to exile ** he used the position of Sec. to build a group of followers that owed their jobs to him Trotsky- brilliant marxist thinker, skillfull speaker & architect of Bolshevick revolution Stalin: opposite– not a scholar not a good speaker – very good at organization

Rise to Power cont. Both had different views on the Future of Communism Trotsky - worldwide revolution Stalin - Build Socialism at home Lenin had doubted Stalin as a successor Wanted someone “more tolerant & loyal” 1929:became an absolute dictator Trotsky was forced to flee the country Stalin isolated trotsky & put his supporters in top jobs ---- 1929 Trotsky was stripped of membership& forced to flee 1940 he was murdered

The Five Year Plan Wanted the SU to become a modern industrial power build industry, improve transportation, and increase farm output Developed a Command Economy - government officials controlled all economic decisions Government owned all business & distributed money Under command economy SU was successful with heavy industry but failed to produce competitive consumer goods EX: clothing, cars and appliances Stalin wanted to make the SU a modern industrial power ***Bonuses to those who succeded and & punishing those who did not 1928: first 5 year plan concentrated on Iron & steel and electric – large factories, hydroelectric & industrial complexes Some peasants became skilled workers but overall standards of living remained poor – standards of living remained poor

The Five Year Plan cont. Stalin brought agriculture under government control Forced peasants to work on collectives Collectives: were large farms owned and operated by groups of peasants Allowed to keep their houses but all animals and machinery were turned over to the collective Stalin thought that small plots of land were ineffiecient – State set all prices & contolled access to farm supplies

Ukraine Famine Peasants resisted the plan by killing farm animals, destroying tools and burning crops The government responded with brutal force Angry peasants often grew only enough food to feed themselves Stalin responded by seizing the grain and leaving the peasants to starve Famine spread across the SU and over 8 million Ukrainians died Over the years the situation did not improve much Sent to labor camps, killed or died from overwork **** 5-8 million people died in Ukraine

The Great Purge Always fearful of rival party members plotting against him 1934: launched the Great Purge In his reign of terror, Stalin and his Secret Police cracked down on old Bolsheviks They were charged with a wide variety of crimes Plotting to overthrow Stalin to not meeting production quotas Even though his power was absolute– thought people were plotting against him 1936-38 Then spread to generals, writers, industrial managers and ordinary citizens

Show Trials Public trials where people were forced to confess to crimes against the Stalin regime Executed publicly and other were sent to the Gulag - a series of forced labor camps throughout the USSR but mainly in Siberia Increased Stalin’s power as old revolutionary member were replaced with young members loyal to Stalin and fearful of his wrath Staged a series of show trials 1936-38 ** people confessed to crimes after torture of family ** at least 4 million were purged during the stalin years – some estimates were much higher

Stalin Cult of Personality - propaganda used by Stalin to make himself godlike Much of the art depicting Stalin make him look strong and powerful Religion was banned and replaced by communist icons like Lenin and Stalin Radios, newspapers, loud speakers --- all blared into factories & villages --- movie theatres & schools heard about the success of communism & the evil of capitalism

Cult of Personality

Homework How did Communism develop under Lenin & Stalin? What were the effects of the 5 year plans? Why did Stalin launch the Great Purge? How did Stalin create a totalitarian state?

Benito Mussolini Named after Benito Juarez – educator, solider, politician, laborer

Fascism Strong Military Fascism State controlled economy Extreme Blind Loyalty To the leader State controlled economy Strong Military Fascism After WWI – treaty of Versailles gave away land that had been promised to Italy ***Italy was economically slow – men could not find o Use of Violence and Terror Extreme Nationalism Use of Censorship & Propaganda

What is Fascism? It was a term used by Mussolini rooted in extreme nationalism It glorified violence, discipline and blind loyalty to the state It is anti-democratic and communist Celebrates ethnicty – violence increased & freedoms were lessoned  The fascists were very pro-violence, anti-democracy, and anti-communism.   The Party believed in only one absolute ruler and the retraction of many freedoms. * Rejected ideas of enlightenment  put needs of the state before the individual

Rise of Mussolini Italy after World War I: Italy was in economic chaos and political corruption Men could not find work Trade was slow Taxes were high (to pay for the war) Inspired by the revolution in Russia Peasants took land, workers went on strike and took over factories Government split into warring factions nationalists were upset that they were not allowed to expand their territories **felt iItaly was cheated out of becoming a “great power” *** people turned to Facism which pushed Veterans faced unemployment Trade declined and taxes rose

Rise of Mussolini Mussolini took advantage of the unrest and stepped in to fix the crisis Organized the veterans & others unhappy with the conditions in Italy into the Fascist Party 1919 He was a fiery speaker

The Rise of Mussolini Mussolini promised To end unemployment Gain more land for Italy Outlaw communism Stop workers from striking Strengthen Italy’s military He promised to end corruption and return order Also spoke of reviving Roman greatness

Rise in Power Mussolini organized The “Black Shirts” Pro- violent change Through intimidation & terror – gangs got rid of elected officials in Italy Black shirts attacked- communists, republicans & anyone else they thought stood in their way Books & papers were censored – personal freedoms stripped **PPl accepted this because they lost faith in the constitutional gov’t

Rise to Power Once in power he ended: 1922: Mussolini organized a march on Rome to demand gov’t changes King Emanuel III-feared a civil war Asked Mussolini to form a gov’t as Prime Minister Once in power he ended: Free elections Free speech Free press Takes the title “Il Duce” ROME: 30,000 facists demanded the king put Mussolini in charge of government w/o a shot fired Mussolini obtained a legal appointment from the King 1925: abolished all opposition parties – formed secret police to intimidate & imprison dissendents

In Power Mussolini ran Italy like a dictatorship upheld by terror Critics were thrown in prison, exiled or killed Secret police and propaganda supported the regime He preserved capitalism but much of the economy was under gov’t control Suppressed rival parties, muzzled the press, rigged elections & replaced elected officials with fascist supporters ** took ecomony under state control to end the feud between owners & workers ** production increased but at the cost of workers – forbidden to strike & money lagged

Social Policies Fascist Italy: the individual was only important as a member of the state Men were urged to be warriors for Italy Women were pushed out of the workforce and told to focus on being mothers Fascist youth groups: Children were molded to obey strict military discipline Slogans gloifiying Mussolini: “Believe, Obey, Fight!” over loudspeakers *** wanted women to “win the battle of motherhood” anyone with more than 14 children were given a medal *** You

Mussolini At first he was received in both Italy and around the world Once his policy changed toward foreign conquest other nations lost support of him Italy’s failure in WWII and the fact that his people saw him as a pawn of Hitler lead to his demise He was captured and publicly executed He & mistress Clara Petacci – tried escaping with German forces (in german uniform) caught

ADOLF HITLER

Germany After WWI Germany was in turmoil after the war Lost land, the money was worthless, and the military destroyed Weimar Republic Created in 1919 Set up a parliamentary system led by a Chancellor Filled with problems- some did not like the weak government – looked for a strong leader like Stalin ** major inflation – people were poor

Rise of Hitler Germany needed a leader who could fix the economic problems & restore pride Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party promised to fix Germany Appealed to: Unemployed Young people Lower middle class National Socialist German Workers party *** store owners, employees, craftsmen & farmers

The Rise of Hitler World War I Nazi’s Promise Weak Government Germany has to pay large war debt. Germany loses her colonies. Germany is bitter over blame for World War I. Reduced military. Weak Government Kaiser steps down Weimar Rep. fails to end inflation signs the Treaty of Versailles which angers many Germans Economic Problems Inflation Depression Unemployment Nazi’s Promise Jobs A new German super race Rebuild the military Get back lost land Make Germany proud

Hitler Hitler had served in the military during the war In 1919 he joined the Nazi Party and became its leader in a year 1923 he tried to seize power; he failed and ended up in jail While in jail he wrote Mein Kampf which became the Nazi’s book of goals and ideology

Rise of Hitler Once out of jail he gained a loyal following of veterans and lower middle class Germans He promised them jobs and that he would rearm the military Hitler was elected as Chancellor of Germany in 1933; he was supported by conservatives that feared communism

Hitler’s Third Reich He removed all socialist and communists, suspended civil rights and made Germany a single party state He predicted his Third Reich would rule Germany for 1000 years He created a totalitarian state The Fuhrer’s rules were enforced by a brutal system of terror and repression The SS troops were the main enforcers The Gestapo - his secret police, removed all of his opposition

The Third Reich To help Germany recover economically Hitler launched a huge public works campaign The autobahn He violated the Treaty of Versailles by rearming the nation but this created jobs Capitalism was kept but big businesses and labor were brought under gov’t control

Society Under Hitler Men were to be strong and fight for their country Women were to produce as many “pure” children as possible; were rewarded Children were trained to be loyal Germans and to destroy all enemies

Society Under Hitler Ends Civil Rights Murders political enemies Uses propaganda, art and education to promote him and the Nazi party

Propaganda

Hitler Able to rebuild Germany in under 10 years Tried to expand the German Empire Nazi foreign aggression set the stage for WWII

Regimes Mussolini built a model for Hitler and Stalin All three regimes were different but had several things in common Single party dictatorship Use of terror to enforce policy Government control of the economy Strict media censorship