Chapter 19, Section 1

 Following WWI, the Treaty of Versailles laid out the groundwork for post-war society.  However, Germany (who was blamed for WWI) was not present at the treaty’s negotiations and was very bitter because of the terms.  Many countries viewed democracy as a negative aspect of society, so totalitarian governments rose up around the world.  A theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social and cultural lives of its people

 Joseph Stalin took over the Communist Party in the Soviet Union following the death of Vladimir Lenin.  ‘Stalin’ translates to ‘man of steel’ and that accurately described Stalin’s leadership style.  He promoted state-run industries, and was not afraid to kill off his opposition.  Fear and propaganda helped to keep Stalin in power.

 Italy, although on the ‘winning’ side of WWI, did not acquire new land and was crippled by the economic depression.  Benito Mussolini emerged as leader of the Fascist Party– an organization that promoted nationalism.  Mussolini maintained power by outlawing political parties, taking over the press, creating a secret police, indoctrinating the young and suppressing strikes.

 The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, grew out of the economic depression of the 1930s.  He outlined his goals in his manifesto Mein Kampf.  Specifically, he targeted the Jewish population.  Many people believed Hitler and the Nazi Party could solve Germany’s economic problems.  The power given to Hitler by the people allowed him to target populations he viewed negatively.

 The Spanish Civil War lead to the emergence of Francisco Franco as a military leader.  With the support of Hitler and Mussolini, Spain soon turned Fascist.  Japan, although not totalitarian, had no strong leader.  This allowed the military to control the country, promoting expansion into Europe.  Military leaders like Hideki Tojo.

 When Japan continued to move from neighboring Manchuria into China, Roosevelt condemned their actions in his ‘Quarantine Speech’.  He lamented the aggression of Japan, who had never issued a declaration of war.  In Dec. 1937, Japanese soldiers captured the city of Nanking and committed mass murder and mass rape on its citizens. This became known as the Rape of Nanking.

 “When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread, the community approves and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order to protect the health of the community against the spread of the disease… War is a contagion, whether it be declared or undeclared. It can engulf states and peoples remote from the original scene of hostilities. We are determined to keep out of war, yet we cannot insure ourselves against the disastrous effects of war and the dangers of involvement.”

 The League of Nations was weak because its charter granted it no enforcement power.  Because the United States had never joined, they lacked the desire to involve themselves in world affairs.  As totalitarianism spread, war grew imminent.  The Soviet Union and Germany signed the Nazi- Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, in which the two countries agreed not to take military action against one another.

 Britain and France had taken a policy of appeasement towards Hitler– where concessions (allowances) were granted in the hopes of maintaining peace.  Hitler had wanted to acquire the Sudentenland, a part of Czechoslovakia where many Germans lived.  Britain and France granted the Sudentenland to Hitler to preserve the Munich Pact– an agreement that permitted Hitler’s acquisition and had promoted peace and non-aggression. Aggression Begins in Europe

 When Germany turned their attention towards Poland, they employed a new technique known as blitzkreig– lightening war.  Using this technique, the Germans created disorganization w/their opponent, using mobile forces and localized heavy fire.  On September 1 st, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and WWII had begun.

 Why did the policy of appeasement not work? What would you have done differently?