Friday 4/25: Fascist and Communist Leaders in Europe Objective:  Summarize political, social, and economic reasons for why European nations turned to fascist and totalitarian leaders. Bell Work #7: Interact with History-Who Would You Vote For?

Europe after the War: Weimar Republic: the republic that was established in Germany in 1919 and ended in 1933 In Germany, the Weimar Republic was weak from the start. Germany lacks strong democratic traditions; postwar many political parties; blamed Weimar gov’t, not wartime leaders, for military defeat and humiliation at Versailles

Europe after the War: Postwar Germany suffered from severe economic inflation. German gov’t printed money for war expenses and reparations, devalued money causing loss of savings

Thousand Mark banknote with a One Millard (1 Billion Mark) Stamp

1 pound of bread cost 3 milliard 1 pound of meat: 36 milliard 1st November 1923, 1 pound of bread cost 3 milliard 1 pound of meat: 36 milliard 1 glass of beer: 4 milliard Duetsch Mark 1 Millard=1 billion marks

Fascism Rises in Europe Fascism: political movement that promotes an extreme form of nationalism, a denial of individual rights and a dictatorial one-party rule Italy: Benito Mussolini Germany: Adolf Hitler Spain: Francisco Franco

Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei Nazism: the fascist politics of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (NSDAP) based on totalitarianism, the belief in racial superiority and state control of the industry Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei

Fascism Both Communism No clearly defined program or theory Extreme form of nationalism States must struggle—peaceful countries would be conquered Each class has a function Made up of upper and middle class Anti-Communist

Fascism Both Communism No clearly defined program or theory Extreme form of nationalism States must struggle—peaceful countries would be conquered Each class has a function Made up of upper and middle class Anti-Communist Struggle is between owners and workers Classless society Dictatorship of the working class Internationalists hoping to unite workers worldwide Workers/Peasants

Fascism Both Communism Extreme form of nationalism States must struggle—peaceful countries would be conquered Each class has a function Made up of upper and middle class Anti-Communist Both ruled by a dictator One-Party state Denied individual rights State supremacy No democracy Struggle is between owners and workers Classless society Dictatorship of the working class hoping to unite workers worldwide Workers/Peasants

Benito Mussolini’s Rise to Power in Italy First Fascist followers were nationalists and soldiers from WWI; eventually, aristocrats and the middle class join in Interested in stopping communism and the rise of the working class

Benito Mussolini’s Rise to Power in Italy Mussolini and his followers (known as Black Shirts) intimidated opposing groups and eventually marched on Rome Convinced the King to step down from power and allow Mussolini to rule Set up himself as a dictator

Germany: The Weimar Republic In 1919 following World War I, Germany became a republic with a constitution German people were unhappy with the Weimar Republic because the government agreed to the Treaty of Versailles which ruined Germany Also severe economic troubles Many groups tried to overthrown the government and support moved to the Nazi Party

The Nazis and Hitler National Socialist German Worker’s Party: Nazi Party Extremely nationalistic, anti-Communist and anti-Semitic Hitler became head of Nazi Party by 1921 and wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) while in jail showing his beliefs of racial purity and elimination of all Jews

The Nazis and Hitler Speeches attracted many listeners Promised to repeal the Treaty of Versailles and restore Germany’s military power

The Nazis and Hitler Nazis in Power Gained power through elections Used private Nazi army to frighten members of the government who were not Nazis Hitler gains title of Der Führer meaning “the leader” Gave Gestapo (secret police) power Created Ghettos for the Jews

Dictatorship in the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin: rules Russia until 1924 New Economic Policy: Lenin’s policy to deal with the economic collapse in Russia that allowed some free trade Josef Stalin gains power following Lenin’s death

Dictatorship in the Soviet Union Stalin sets up a command economy where the government controls all economic decisions Changes to the Economy: Collective Farms: land is taken over by the state so the people don’t own the land they work Creates Five Year Plans for economic growth Tries to turn agricultural economy into a modern, industrialized economy

Dictatorship in the Soviet Union Stalin’s dictatorship grows harsh over time Purge: a large-scale elimination of people from an organization or area Great Purge of millions of “traitors” to Russia are executed or exiled to work camps in Siberia Sentenced because they were not loyal to Stalin above the Communist Party and other ideas

Their system of government Comparison of Fascist and Totalitarian Leaders Mussolini Hitler Stalin Their system of government Fascism Communism (Stalinism) The country Italy Germany Russia Main ideas and beliefs Restore military, protect from Communists Restore Germany’s power; anti-Communist; anti-Semitist No Classes; Government in charge of everything How the people respond to their ideas Upper classes join in against government and lower classes Large parts of society join in to fight against Weimar gov’t and restore Germany Some support Party lines but many go against or object; Purges eliminate dissention