1. The Rise of the Dictators
Mr. Riddlebarger
World War II Erupts
US Global Studies 10

3. Europe after World War I
Death of Millions
Destruction of numerous cities & farms
Economy in ruins
Europe faces great challenges at end of World War I (1918)

4. Problems With Peace Demilitarized Loss of land Blame for war
Treaty of Versailles (1919) left many nations dissatisfied.
France hope it would severely weaken Germany
Italy was very unhappy with it (felt ignored)
Demilitarized
Loss of land
Blame for war
Reparations.

5. German Outrage Germany suffered the most under the treaty
Serious damage to their economy
Humiliation to their people & military
Caused period of political upheaval
Treaty caused Germany to lose land, military, make reparation payments & take blame for war.
Serious inflation in Germany after war.
Weimar Republic (democratic) is a weak government
Communists, Socialists & Jews also blamed

6. Totalitarian Leaders Arise
European leaders emerge who represent bitterness and anger of hard times.
They promise a return to greatness
People are willing to give up basic freedoms in return.

7. Mussolini and Birth of Fascism
1st of new leaders to emerge is Italian Benito Mussolini
Outraged by Treaty of Versailles & strongly anti-communist.
Founds new party- National Fascist Party
Promises to bring order to Italy.

8. Fascism
Fascism comes from Roman term that symbolized unity & authority
Fascism glorifies the state (country) over the individual & is destructive of basic human rights.
Extreme nationalism

9. “Anti-Individualistic, the Fascist conception of life
stresses the importance of the State and accepts
the individual only in so far as his interests coincide
with those of the State.”
-Benito Mussolini & Geovani Gentile,
The Doctrine of Fascism, 1932

10. Il Duce
Mussolini suppresses opposition, controlled press & rigged elections.
Used terror to silence opponents
Secret Police (“Black Shirts”) and propaganda used
What is it?
Hitler & Stalin follow Mussolini’s lead.
Enrico Prampolini- “mussolini’s black shirt, 15 April 1919
"Italy wants peace and quiet, work and calm. I will give these things with love if possible and with force if necessary.”

11. Hitler’s Rise To Power
Born in Austria, Adolf Hitler served in German Army in World War I.
Hitler saw Weimar Republic as weak.
Failed attempt to overthrow government in 1923 lands him in jail
Defendants in Beer Hall Putsch

12. Rise of Hitler & Nazi Party
In jail, he publishes Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
Becomes the basis for Nazi goals & ideology:
Extreme nationalism
Anti-Semitism
Germans as superior master race, “Aryans”
Released from prison in less than a year.

13. Parliamentary Democracy
Voters elect the legislature (parliament)
The party gaining the majority of seats chooses the prime minister
In Germany, they choose the Chancellor
If no party has a majority of seats, parties form a coalition to get a majority of seats and then choose
Nazis did this & Hitler was chosen.

14. Hitler as Chancellor
Out of prison, he gains power in a peaceful manner
1933- Nazis are most powerful German party
Hitler becomes Chancellor
Coalition government
Fire in Reichstag
Hindenburg dies & Hitler gains power

15. Nazi Rise to Power Effects of Depression play into Hitler’s hands.
Promises jobs, end to reparations and the re-arming of Germany
Use of secret police to silence critics- “the Brown Shirts”
Like Mussolini, Hitler stresses nationalism & devotion to the state.

16. Other Regimes
Same forces that bring Hitler & Mussolini to power also create other powerful regimes.
Spain- Francisco Franco, a fascist comes to power in 1930’s
In Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin takes power- dominates all areas of Soviet life
(Fascism & communism are opposites)

17. Japan Also suffers political & economic conflict
Military violently takes control of government in 1930’s.
Nationalist dreams of Japanese greatness.
Invasion of Manchuria in 1931 shows weakness of League of Nations.

18. Guernica from

20. Italians Take Ethiopia
Mussolini orders invasion of Ethiopia in 1935
Bitter history
Ethiopia is unable to resist Italians
Others are unwilling to help
Why?
Another sign of the League’s weakness
“It is collective security. It is the very existence of the League of Nations. It is the confidence that each State (country) is to place in international treaties. …it is international morality at stake.”
Haile Selassie

21. Hitler Takes Action
Hitler secretly began re-building the military after taking power.
Violates Treaty of Versailles
He convinces Britain & France to tolerate his actions
Claims he needs his military to resist Communism.
1936- sends troops into demilitarized Rhineland.
Alarms the French
Neither France nor Britain have any interest in taking military action.
German troops remain & Hitler is emboldened.
"If France had then marched into the Rhineland, we would have had to withdraw with our tails between our legs." - Hitler

22. The Anschluss Two years later (1938), Hitler takes action again.
Takes control of Austria (without a fight)
Union of Germany & Austria = Anschluss
Another Treaty violation but nothing done about it.
Map:

23. The Sudetenland Hitler is now confident no one will stop him.
Makes plans to take German-speaking part of Czechoslovakia.
British & French meet with Hitler (Munich Conference), hoping to avoid armed conflict.
Agree to give him Sudetenland- he promises no more aggression.
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain: We have achieved “peace for our time.”
The Munich Mistake

25. The Appeasement of
Hitler

26. Rise of the Dictators
What countries?