1. Rise of Dictators

2. Totalitarian State
The Totalitarian state was a government that aims to control the political, social intellectual and cultural lives of its citizens.
They wanted to conquer the minds and hearts of their subjects.

3. The Rise of Dictators
Dictators (absolute rulers) seized power in Italy, Germany, Japan, Soviet Union after World War I
Germany was treated severely after WWI (stripped of territory, forced to disarm, pay reparations)
Worldwide Depression also hit – many people looked to new leaders to solve problems
The MAJOR Dictators: Benito Mussolini in Italy; Adolf Hitler in Germany; Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union, Hideki Tojo in Japan

4. Fascism in Italy
Benito Mussolini set up the first European fascist movement in Italy.
Dubbed himself “LL Duce” ell-doo-chay
Means the “leader”

5. Benito Mussolini (Italy)
Preached a government called Fascism – includes intense patriotism & nationalism
Very much linked to racism and cultural superiority

6. Fascism
Fascism glorifies the state above the individual by emphasizing the need for a strong central government lead by a dictator. In a fascist state the government controls the people, and all aspects of their lives, and stops any opposition.

7. Fascism
Mussolini used nationalistic appeals to gain power and demand more land in Italy.
The Fascist propaganda used on the radio, newspapers, and in film molded Italians into single minded beings.

8. Mussolini
Benito Mussolini was an Italian journalist who gained power through force in italy following WW1
Black Shirts: Mussolini’s secret police

9. Adolf Hitler (Germany)
Leader of the Nazi Party
Spoke about Germany racial superiority
Wanted revenge for Germany’s loss in World War I

10. Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)
Communist leader (Russia went Communist after WWI)
Controlled every aspect of people’s lives
Eliminated all competition to him in order to stay in power

11. Communism in Russia
Although Russia had made great progress, in 1924 Communist leader Vladimir Lenin died, and a power struggle in the “Politburo” or “the communist parties main policy making body split the country between two main people.

12. Lenin’s tomb in Moscow!

13. Power struggle Two main figures emerged in this power struggle:
Joseph Stalin and Leon Trosky

14. Stalin
Joseph Stalin Rose from the power struggle and became the new leader of the USSR!
He arranged to have Leon Trosky killed by having him stabbed by an ice pick as he escaped from Stalin in Mexico

15. Would literally make people disappear from existence
Would literally make people disappear from existence! If you opposed Stalin you were jailed, killed or sent to Gulags- Soviet work camps in Siberia

16. Stalin
Stalin used 5 year plans or economic growth plans over a 5 year period. These plans emphasized maximum production at the expense of the people.

17. Stalin
Stalin also implemented the idea of Collectivism, this idea eliminated private farms
It was not as successful as he had planned

19. Stalin Peasants revolted by killing livestock and hoarding crops….
The result was a famine that killed millions of people…

20. Stalin
8 million people were arrested or jailed

21. Spain
A bloody civil war arose in Spain under general Francisco Franco….

22. Spain
Fascist regimes in Germany and Italy aided Franco’s rise to power…

23. Spain
The republican government that was in power was aided by 40,000 Russian troops
This created a mini war among rising dictatorships and a way to test weapons in war….

24. Hideki Tojo
Started as a general of the Japanese Imperial Navy, but moved to supreme ruler of all Japanese forces during World War 2

25. Dictators Expand Territory
1931 – Japan attacks Manchuria in northern China
Japan wanted more natural resources for its growing population (Manchuria is rich in natural resources)

26. Italy invades Ethiopia
1935 – Italy invaded Ethiopia in Africa
Mussolini wanted new areas to expand his empire in Africa

27. Germany Begins Conquests
1936 – Hitler moves troops into the Rhineland (German region near the French border)
WWI treaty said no German troops here
French Gov’t and League of Nations – TAKE NO ACTION

28. German-Italian Alliance
Germany and Italy formed the Axis Powers
Now – two dictators with stated goals of expansion are good friends
Axis Powers help Spain’s Fascist military overthrow its elected government (Spanish Civil War)
Mussolini and Hitler

29. Hitler begins his own Conquests
1938 – Hitler and the Germans invade Austria (most Austrians spoke German and welcomed becoming a part of Germany)
But…Hitler and the Germans were expanding – and the WWI treaty told them not to…

30. The Sudetenland After taking Austria – Hitler wanted more
His next desire is the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia
The Czechs didn’t want to give this area to Germany – nor did France and Russia

31. Germany’s Expansion

32. “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

33. Reactions to Munich
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.”
Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister who came up with the agreement, said that he had achieved “peace in our time”

34. Hitler breaks his promise: Germany Starts the War
After being given Sudetenland – Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia
Hitler signed 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 invaded Poland (France & Britain declare war on Germany) WWII officially begins