Dictators Threaten World Peace How do dictators in Europe & Asia threaten world peace?
Stalin’s Soviet Union 1922: Joseph Stalin take control of the Soviet Union Focuses on creating model communist state Abolishes privately owned farms, creates collective farms Begins “Five-Year Plans” for rapid Soviet Industrialization Oversees “The Great Purge” to eliminate his enemies and create a totalitarian state
Italy 1930s: Italy was suffering from worldwide depression Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini promises to rescue Italian economy & restore pride to Italy Mussolini’s blackshirts march on Rome demanding Mussolini be made PM King makes Mussolini, Il Duce (the leader) Mussolini invades Ethiopia & Albania to expand his empire
Germany Hitler writes Mein Kampf, argues Germany needs more space (Lebensraum) & Germans are master race Nazi leader Adolf Hitler sent to prison, tries to overthrow govt Hitler promises to fix the economy & restore pride to Germany by getting back lost land After prison, blames Weimar Gov for Depression in Germany Brings in a brand of Fascism called Nazism, which calls for extreme nationalism Made Chancellor of Germany when Nazi win majority in Parliament Begins Third Reich, starts campaign of aggression against neighbors
Spain Civil war breaks out between Fascist General Francisco Franco & Spain’s govt 3,000 Americans travel to Spain to help fight in the civil war, incl many Af-Americans upset about Fascism (ex: Mussolini & Ethiopia) Hitler & Mussolini both send military aid to Franco Japan Military leaders led by Prime Minister Hiedki Tojo take over Japan’s government Tojo invades the resource-rich Chinese province of Manchuria By 1937, Japan invades the rest of China, commits acts of Genocide – joins alliance with Germany & Italy
Invasion of China 1. Why are the Chinese not reacting to Japanese aggression? 2. What do the Chinese do in Manchuria in 1932? 3. What war crimes are committed by Japan in Nanking? 4. Why doesn’t Chiang agree to peace terms with Japan?