1. Totalitarian governments & the rise of fascism
LG 5: Describe the characteristics of totalitarianism and fascism and explain how Mussolini and Hitler came to power.

2. Key Words Secret police Obedience Dynamic ruler
State controls ALL aspects of life (education, religion, labor, business…)
Propaganda
Government sponsored youth & sports groups
Use of terror
Censorship
State-controlled economy
One political party
Live by ruler’s beliefs

3. Characteristics
Personal freedoms are limited through the use of secret police, censorship, and propaganda.
Society’s resources and the means of production are controlled by the state
Fascism and communism are examples of totalitarian systems, however, historically the two are hostile to one another.

4. Totalitarianism
Form of government based on an ideology of total control by the ruler or ruling party.
Goal is to control all aspects of public and private life

5. What examples of totalitarian leaders or countries can you think of?
Recent and historical- North Korea, China, Iraq, Soviet Union, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Burma, Ghana, Syria, Congo, Greece…

6. Fascism: Definition
A political movement that promotes an extreme form of nationalism, a denial of individual rights, and a dictatorial one-party rule

8. Characteristics of Fascism
Extreme nationalism
Militaristic
Typically headed by a dictator
Censorship
Only 1 political party
Often persecutes minorities & dissidents who speak out

9. Rise of Totalitarianism

10. What caused fascist governments in Europe prior to WWII?
Weak economy (WWI, depression…)
Gov. = not meeting needs of people
Discontent among civilians
Fear of communism
Widespread unemployment

12. Benito Mussolini
1922: Mussolini unified various nationalist groups under the idea of creating a strong Italy
crushed all opposition and took control of all aspects of life within Italy with the help of his “Black Shirts”
Believed that Italy needed a colony in order to become a world empire- in 1935 he invaded and conquered Ethiopia
Mussolini in action video clip

13. Emergence of Totalitarianism: Germany
The harsh peace imposed after World War I (Treaty of Versailles) made fascism appealing in Germany
Adolf Hitler rose to power in the National Socialist (Nazi) Party.
By 1934 Hitler was effectively dictator of Germany

14. Germany (continued)
Once Hitler rose to power, he began to remove opposition
The Gestapo and SS (Schutzstaffeln) combined to police Germany
Hitler and the SS worked to create a German Reich in central Europe with the goal of extending control of territory worldwide

15. Hideki Tojo Japanese prime minister during WWII
Held extreme right-wing views and supporter of Nazi Germany
Ordered attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and officially brought US into WWII
After fall of Saipan in July 1944, he resigned from office and tried to commit suicide before being arrested by the US in 1945
Survived, nursed backed to health, tried as war criminal, executed in Dec. 1948

16. Communism
 a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls means of production
The state:
Produces all
Employs all
Cares for all

17. Characteristics Goods distributed equally Typically ruled by dictator
Freedoms and rights have been limited
Based on Marxist teachings
No private ownership of business
Focus on the state- people are the state, work for the state, are cared for by the state

18. But how did these dictators gain power?
Case study: Germany

19. Different German Perspectives Activity
You’ll be assigned a role of a type of German citizen (example: a shopkeeper)
You will be given 6 different developments that occur in Germany from 1930 (before Hitler takes power) through 1942 (midway through WWII).

20. Development 1
Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany.

21. Development 2
Growth of Nazi Party, German economic recovery, and anti-Jewish laws

22. Development 3
Germany grows in size, Kristallnacht, and more anti-Jewish laws

23. Development 4 Germany invades Poland and WWII begins
Rumors say that Jews in Poland are moved into ghettos, isolated poor areas within a city

24. Development 5
The war is continuing on and the German army is dominating!

25. Totalitarian Regimes Assignment
Axis or Allies: Which one did this nation fight for?
Platform & Promises: How did the dictator convince (or force) people to follow them?

26. Hitler in Color documentary
Answer the questions as you view the documentary