1. Political Crisis and Dictatorship
-Key Concepts-

2. I. The Spread of Dictatorship
By 1938, only 10 out of 27 European countries remained democratic
For the most part, these were dictatorships in the traditional sense of the word
Three of these dictatorships made the jump into totalitarianism

3. II. What is Totalitarianism?
A Whole Set of Values
Individual ceases to have any role an rights whatsoever
Total rejection of liberalism and liberal values
By the 1930’s, liberalism seemed spent, a thing of the past

4. III. Features of Modern Totalitarianism
Absolute Domination over every area of life
The worship and cultivation of violence
--War is noble
--The need for an enemy
The centrality of the Party and a Leader
--il Duce and der Fuhrer

5. III. Features of Modern Totalitarianism (cont)
A mass movement, but especially appealing to the lower middle class
Heavy reliance on propaganda
--leader image based on sex appeal
--Truth is what the Party says it is

6. IV. The Pervasiveness of Fascism
Presents itself as the only alternative to communism
Right-wing revolutionary conservatism
European-wide movement—not restricted to Italy and to Germany
Different forms of fascism throughout Europe—influence of nationalism

7. V. General Characteristics of Fascism
An ideology, a program of action, and a mood as well
Seen as a way out of disillusionment and uncertainty
The primacy of action
Powerful appeal to youth
--Hitler Youth

8. V. General Characteristics of Fascism (cont)
Middle and lower-middle class support
Support from traditional conservative elite of Europe
Support from the rural population as well

9. VI. The Ideology of Fascism
Action for action’s sake
--Italian squadristi or “Blackshirts”
--German SA or “Brownshirts”
The Significance of National Culture
--The “Volk”
The Superiority of National Culture and Race

10. VI. The Ideology of Fascism (cont)
The Aryan Myth
Male Leader Worship
Conspiracy Theory of History
A Religious-Psychological Phenomenon
--Nuremberg Party Rallies

11. Nuremberg Party Rally, 1935

12. Nuremberg Party Rally, 1938

13. VII. The Life of Adolph Hitler
His Early Years
The development of his racial attitudes
His World War I experience
After the war, moves to Munich in Bavaria

14. VII. The Life of Adolph Hitler (cont)
The Nazi Party: National Socialist German Worker’s Party
The Munich Putsch (1923)
Mein Kampf: “My Struggle”

15. VIII. Reasons for Hitler’s Rise to Power
The weaknesses of the Weimar Republic
Political resistance to the Weimar government
Continuing Rise of Nationalism and Hatred for the Treaty of Versailles

16. VIII. Hitler’s Rise to Power (cont)
The Great Depression of the 1930’s
Increase in Nazi Political Power
Fear of Communism
--The Burning of the Reichstag
The “Enabling Act” (1933)
Hitler’s own skills and charisma

17. The Actions of the “Third Reich”
The Suspension of Civil Rights
Nazi Party Purge (1934)
--Night of the Long Knives (June 30th)
Establishment of the SS and the Gestapo
--Heinrich Himmler
Creation of a centralized, unified state

18. SS Troops on Parade in Poland

19. Hitler Reviews SS Troops

20. SS Troops Guard Members of Jewish Resistance in Warsaw

21. IX. “Third Reich” (cont)
A Program of Anti-Semitism
--Nuremberg Laws of 1935
--The “Final Solution”
Mobilization of a Wartime Economy
-- “Lebensraum”: “Living Space”
--Four-Year Plan (1936)

22. IX. “Third Reich” (cont)
Alliance of Nazi Party with Big Business
Elimination of Unemployment
--Autobahn
Tremendous and Growing Popularity
-- “Strength through Joy” program
-- “People’s Car”: Volkswagen

23. Adolph Hitler and the Volkswagen: “The Strength through Joy” Car (1932 Drawing done in Munich Restaurant and passed on to head of Daimler-Benz)

24. X. Stalinist Russia Joseph Stalin the man Lenin’s view of Stalin
“Socialism in one country”
A Strategy for Rapid Industrialization
Collectivization of Agriculture
--The problem of the Kulaks
Chaos in the countryside

25. X. Stalinist Russia (cont)
Crop Failures in
Collectivization: A Revolution from Above
Kolkhoz : The Collectivized Farm
Surplus industrial labor
The First Five-Year Plan
Impact of Five-Year Plans
Whole new industrial cities sprang up behind the Ural Mountains

26. XI. Stalin’s Terror and Political Purges (1934)
The purpose of the terror and purges
“Socialist Realism” in art
Assassination of Sergei Kirov (1934)
Moscow Show Trials
Purge of the Red Army
Atmosphere of Paranoia and Suspicion
Impact on Soviet leadership for generations

27. XI. Fascist Italy Sense of Betrayal after World War I
Economic Problems and Social Unrest
Governmental Paralysis
Mussolini’s Rise to Power
Consolidation of a Dictatorship
“Il Duce” and the Doctrine of the State
Increasing International Prestige