The Coming of WarDictators and Wars

Chapter 16 Section 1

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Dictators and War

• Effects of WWI and The Great Depression touched almost the entire world.

• In some countries it led to the rise of a new kind of brutal dictatorships – the Totalitarian State.

A Bitter Peace Unravels• 1919- 27 Nations met at Versailles – but really

Britain, France and the US-made the decisions• Germany and Russia were not present.• 1920’smany countries moved toward democracy.

Others moved toward “totalitarianism” (a theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people.)

• It was more extreme than a simple dictatorship.• Pg.517 Characteristics of a Totalitarian State.

Repression in the Soviet Union and Italy

• 1917 – Communist Revolution in Russia inaugurated the first totalitarian state

• Leader - Vladimir Lenin – his programs resulted in civil war, starvation, famine, and the death of millions of Russians.

Stalin’s Grip on the Soviet Union

• 1924 – Lenin died• Joseph Stalin became head of the communist

party.• In Russian the name Stalin means “Man of

steel.”• Stalin – cruel, suspicious, ruthless, and

tyrannical. He did not think twice about killing people.

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• His effort to reform the Soviet Union into an industrial power and form state- run collective farms resulted in the deaths of at least 10 million people.

• “Great Terror” 1930’s – He purged the Communist Party of real or suspected traitors.

• A combination of fear and massive propaganda kept Stalin in power.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAh5mfkuAXk&feature=related Stalin \Soviet Union Propaganda Video

Mussolini’s Fascist Party Controls Italy• Even though Italy was on the winning side it did not

get the land along the Atlantic coast it had hoped to obtain.

• Postwar economic depression made it hard for veterans to find a job.

• Communist government was growing and the government seemed weak.

• 1919 – Mussolini – 11 Duce or the leader• Outlawed political parties, took over the press,

created secrete police, organized youth groups to indoctrinate the young and suppressed strikes.

Aggressive Leaders in Germany and Japan

• After WWI – Germany became a democracy• The Weimar Republic struggled through the

1920’s with sever economic problems.• Anger over the Treaty of Versaille and Internal

disunity plagued the young government.

The Nazi Rise

• National Socialist German Workers Party or Nazi Party.

• Nazi were not socialists• They opposed socialism, or any other “ism” that

promoted class interests or worker’s rights.• Adolf Hitler – led the Nazi party.• While in prison for leading a rebellion, he wrote

Mein Kempf (My Struggle) stated his explanations for the problems facing Germany.

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• Criticized many people, political programs, and ideologies but his sharpest assaults were against communist and Jews.

• Anti-semitic or prejudice against Jewish people who lived there.

• Greatest threat confronting Germany was Jewish people who lived there.

Hitler Seizes Power

• Widespread unemployment, homelessness, and hunger played into the Nazi’s hands.

• Jan. 1933 – Weimar Rep. appointed Hitler chancellor of Germany.

• By 1935 – Hitler spoke alone as the voice of Germany.

• Like Stalin and Mussolini, Hitler was the symbol of his totalitarian regime.

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• Secret police, crushed opposition, state-controlled press. State-controlled education that indoctrinated the young.

• Late 1930’s – Hitler’s economic policies, including rearmament and massive public – works project had ended the depression in Germany.

Militarists Gain Power in Japan

• 1920’s increased democracy• Period ended when the great depression

discredited the Japanese leaders.• Military leaders argued that expansion

throughout Asia would solve Japan’s economic troubles and guarantee future security.

• Japan did not become a totalitarian dictatorship.• Japan continued as a constitutional monarchy.

The Japanese Expand Their Empire

• Power shifted toward military control.• 1931 – Japan attacked Manchuria and established a

puppet state.• Japan controlled its domestic and foreign policies as

well as it’s abundant resources.• 1937 – Japan moved against China gaining control of

railroad links and coastal areas.• In the city of Nanjing, soldiers murdered more than

200,000 people and burned a large portion of the city.• “The Rape Nanjing”

Dictators Turn to Aggression

• 1930’s Italy and Germany restored to acts of similar to Japan and the League of Nations and democratic nations succeeded in stopping the aggression.

Weakness of the League of Nations

• League of Nations never recovered from the U.S. not joining.

• It had no standing Army and No real power.

Hitler and Mussolini Threaten Peace

• 1933 – 1936 Hitler dramatically enlarged the Army, Navy, and Air force in direct defiance of the Treaty of Versailles.

• Mid – 1930’s – Began to move toward his goal of reunifying all Germanic people into one Reich or state.

• 1936 – in a direct challenge to the League, he sent troops into the Rhineland.

• 1935 – Italy invaded Ethiopia – Emperor appealed to the League of Nations for support but they did nothing.

Fighting Breaks Out in Spain

• Fascists were victorious in the Spanish Civil War – 1936 – 1939

• Hitler and Mussolini sent military and economic aid to the nationalist leader, General Francisco Franco.

• Soviet Union sent support to Republican side but France, Britain, and the U.S. refused.

Aggression Goes Unchecked

• Policy Britain and France pursued against aggressive nations during 1930’s is known as “Appeasement” – policy of granting concession to a potential enemy in the hope it will maintain peace.

Why did France and Britain appease the fascist powers?

1. WWI was so horrible some leaders vowed never to allow another such a war to break out.

2. Other believed that the Soviet Union posed a greater threat than Nazi Germany.

3. Others questioned the resolve of their own people and their allies – Mainly the U.S.

4. U.S. embraced a policy of isolationism

Hitler Took Advantage

• Of the lack of commitment and unity of France, Britain, and the U.S.

• Spring 1938 – He brought Austria into his Reich.• Fall – Hitler turned toward the Sudetenland• Britain and France appeased Germany• Munich Conference – Hitler, British Prime Minister

Neville Chamberlain, and French Prime Minister Daladier sacrificed the Sudetenland for peace.

• This was known as the Munich Pact.