The Road to Pearl Harbor

Totalitarian Regimes

• A modern dictatorial government in which the state involves itself in all aspects of society.

• A totalitarian government seeks to control not only all economic and political matters but the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population

• The citizen’s duty to the state becomes the primary concern of the community

• Goal of the state is the replacement of existing society with a perfect society (return to past greatness)– What ideal societal goal could be created?

Totalitarian Characteristics• A single party through which the people are mobilized to

muster energy and support. The party is generally led by a dictator and, typically, participation in politics, especially voting, is required

• The party leadership maintains monopoly control over the governmental system, which includes the police, military, communications, and economic and education systems.

• Opposition is systematically suppressed and people terrorized by a secret police.

• However, only with modern technology have governments acquired the means to control society; therefore, totalitarianism is a recent phenomenon.

What is Fascism?

• The term fascism has come to mean any system of government resembling Mussolini's, that in various combinations:– exalts the nation and party above the individual, with

the state apparatus being supreme.– stresses loyalty to a single leader, and submission to

a single nationalistic culture.– creation of a Corporatist State, where the differing

economic and social interests of different classes are combined with the interests of the State.• Differing social classes assumed – ALL working for greater

nation!

Nazi Ideology

• Nazi Ideology combined the following beliefs:– Human history is nothing but racial struggle in which

the strong survive and the weak die out, and the belief in the superiority of Germany over all other nations.

– The Jews were thought to be the lowest form of humanity and most inferior race. • They had nevertheless gained control over both capitalism

and communism • Needed to be eliminated.

– Unquestioned obedience to Hitler (Führer) – Extreme glorification of militarism and war to achieve

ends.

Hitler's Rise to Power

• Appealed to Germans burdened by reparations payments to the victors of World War I, and threatened by hyper-inflation, political chaos, and a possible Communist takeover.

• Hitler offered scapegoats and solutions. – To the economically depressed he promised to ruin “Jew

financiers,” to workers he promised security. – He gained the financial support of bankers and industrialists with

his strong anti-Communism stance and promises to control trade unionism.

• Hitler had a keen insight into mass psychology, and he was a master of political maneuver.

• Nazis were elected the largest party in the Reichstag (July, 1932)

Huge rallies like this one encouraged people to support the Nazis and their goals of expansion and domination.

“One People,

One Empire,

One Leader”

“Long Live Germany”

"The Reich will never be destroyed if you are united and loyal."

"Through military will to military strength."

"This is how we fight.

You, too, must work for victory."

"Be true to the Führer."

Hitler Youth

"Youth Serves the Führer. All 10-year-olds into the Hitler Youth."

English Translation:

60000 RM (Reichsmarks)Is the lifetime cost of this disabled

person for the community.Comrade this is also Your money.

Read "Neues Volk“

The monthly issues of the Bureau for Race Politics of the NSDAP

"The Jew: The inciter of war,

the prolonger of war."

Children were taught at a young age to be prejudiced

On April 1st, 1933, the boycott which

was announced by the National

socialistic party began. Placard

reads, "Germans, defend yourselves,

do not buy from Jews," at the

Jewish Tietz store.

Hitler and the Nazis used the Jews as

scapegoats for the economic problems the Germans were

experiencing.

1936 Summer Olympics• The 1936 Summer Olympics

were held in Berlin, Germany. • The government saw the

Olympics as a golden opportunity to promote their Nazi ideology.

• To ensure victories, the German government provided steroids to its athletes.

• While Germany dominated the games, the many triumphs by citizens of other nations were seen as a rebuke to racist Nazi philosophies. In particular, the black sprinter and long jumper Jesse Owens won four gold medals.

Dealing with Militaristic Dictators

• Failed Geneva Conference – proposed a reduction in offensive armaments

• Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, 1937– Mandatory arms embargo against aggressor

and victim– US citizens travel at own risk on belligerent

vessels• Cash-n-Carry Policy added in ’37

• Cash only, and they must carry

Appeasement

• After Hitler’s retaking the Rhineland (near French border) and joining with Austria, Germany looked to Sudetenland– A German speaking area of Czechoslovakia

• Hoping to avoid war, the British and French signed the Munich Agreement with Hitler– Germany could have the Sudetenland, promising to take

NO MORE territory– Allies hoped to avoid war at all cost & were militarily

unprepared to stop Hitler at this point

“My good friends, for the second

time in our history, a British Prime Minister has

returned from Germany bringing peace with honour.

I believe it is peace for our

time.”

Sudetenland

Neville Chamberla

in

Nazis

Nazis

Nazis

Nazis

Blitzkrieg – “lightning war”

• German attack strategy of WW II

• Coordinated attack using aerial bombardment and fast moving armored divisions supported by troops

• SPEED was key

• Germany flanks the Maginot Line• Italy also declares war on France• Germans establish “puppet government” in Vichy• Resistance continues to fight• Great Britain now stands alone

Fall of France

Eugenics

• Buck v. Bell (1927)

US Reaction to the War

• Americans were still determined to remain neutral, even though public opinion was set against the Axis Powers

• After France fell, the US began a significant military build-up preparing for invasion

(1940 – 66% thought Nazis were US threat)• First peace-time draft in history began• US begins supplying British

– Destroyers for Bases Deal – Sept 1940• 50 WWI destroyers in exchange for 8 defensive sites from

Newfoundland to South America – term 99 years

Opponents of Action

• The Nye Report - 1936– Senator Gerald Nye led investigation into

profiteering during WWI– Many corporations made HUGE profits during

war – Banks who had loaned money to Europe had

encouraged Wilson to seek declaration• Charles Lindbergh, Father Coughlin• America First Committee

– “England will fight to the last American”

Lend-Lease April 1941

• Due to German bombing of Britain support for more direct support of Allies grows

• Newly elected FDR gives Four Freedom’s Speech (speech, religion, from want, from fear)

• Congress responded with Lend-Lease– Authorized president to supply any

nation he deemed, “ vital to the defense of the US”

– UK out of cash – We “lent” supplies