1. Warm Up
These children are playing with Marks, which was the German currency during the Weimar Republic.
What does this picture tell you about the value of the Mark?
How did this happen?
Explain how you think people in Germany felt about this.
1 – the value of the Mark had plummeted after World War 1 due to hyper inflation. 2 – The new German government had to pay off excessive debts to the Allied Powers after WWI and its currency became de-valued. 3 – Open to opinion but it ruined people’s life savings and made almost everyone very poor.

2. The Rise of Dictators
© Students of History -

3. Comes to power in civil war with German & Italian help
Spain
Gen. Francisco Franco
Falange (Fascist)
Comes to power in civil war with German & Italian help
Neutral in WWII

4. “We do not believe in government through the voting booth
“We do not believe in government through the voting booth. Spain has no foolish dreams.”
– Francisco Franco

5. General Franco ruled Spain until 1975!

6. Italy Benito Mussolini (Il Duce) Fascist Party
Promises to revive economy & Restore the glory of the Roman Empire
Invades Ethiopia & Albania

7. “Let us have a dagger between our teeth, a bomb in our hands, and an infinite scorn in our hearts.” -Benito Mussolini 
© Students of History -

8. Mussolini was expelled from school twice as a child but was a teacher before rising to power!

9. Germany Adolf Hitler (Der Fuhrer) Nazi Party
Blames fire in Reichstag on Communists
Uses Jews as scapegoats, published his book Mein Kampf
Takes the Rhineland, Sudetenland, and Czechoslovakia

10. “Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.”
-Adolf Hitler

11. © Students of History - http://www. teacherspayteachers

13. Hitler was Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1938.

14. Soviet Union Joseph Stalin (Man of Steel) Communist
Eliminates all competition after Lenin’s death
Uses 5 year plans to industrialize
Signs non-aggression pact with Germany & invades Latvia, Lithuania, & Estonia

15. “Ideas are more powerful than guns
“Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?”
-Joseph Stalin

16. Stalin’s son was taken prisoner by the Nazis in WWII
Stalin’s son was taken prisoner by the Nazis in WWII. Hitler threatened torture but Stalin refused any ransom or agreement. His son would go on to die in prison.

17. Japan Gen. Hideki Tojo & Emperor Hirohito Militarists
Prime Minister Tojo & militarists control the country
Invade Manchuria, China for iron & coal

18. “Emperor Hirohito will believe what we tell him to believe.”
-Hideki Tojo
© Students of History -

19. Hirohito remained Emperor of Japan until 1989!

20. Is there another historical group you would like pop up figure notes for? Just let me know! I can work on creating one just for you. I can be reached through any of these:
Want to get an update of when the next one is available? Follow me on TpT by clicking the star!