TOTALITARIANISM

Dictators of the Post-WWI World

Characteristics of Totalitarianism An official ideology

Italy—FascismGermany—NazismUSSR—Communism

A single mass partyFascists (Italy)Nazis (Germany)Communists (USSR)

Characteristics--continued A system of terroristic

police controlNKVD—USSRBlack Shirts—ItalyGestapo—Germany

Characteristics-continued A monopoly on all means of

communicationRadio, press, movies

A monopoly on all weapons and military

Central control of the economy

Mussolini’s Rise to Power

Post-WWI—strikes,

unemployment, peasants seize land Mussolini’s Promises

Protect property for landownersEmployment and benefits for workersRestore Italy to former greatness

Black Shirts—used violence to gain support

March on Rome—October 1922 King Victor Emmanuel III—named him

Prime Minister

Fascism Italy became Fascist under

Mussolini Fascism

Glorification of the StateSingle party system with

strong rulerAggressive form of

Nationalism—gave state absolute authority

Fascism Mussolini used terminology

and symbols that recalled the “glory” of ancient Rome, and by association, Italy

The term fascist derived from the Latin word fasces--a bundle of rods that were tied around an axe

The fasces were an ancient Roman symbol of authority and strength through unity.

Fascist Italy

Traditional values Persecution of minorities Militarism Media controlled by government Imperialism and War—Invasion of

Ethiopia, WWII

Fascist Headquarters in Rome—The face of Mussolini surroundedby the Italian word for “yes”.

Mussolini’s Dictatorship 1924—”Black Shirts” used violence to gain

control of Parliament 1926—non-fascist parties banned IL Duce—”the Leader”

The masses must obeyBrought stability to the country

Corporate StateSyndicates

○ Corporations of workers and employers○ Each syndicate sent reps to Rome to set policies

Lateran Accords

Catholicism made state religion Papacy given sovereign power over

Vatican City

Russia Joseph Stalin takes

power! Used the NKVD—Soviet

secret police to control every aspect of Soviet life.

Police encouraged active spying/informing across society to create a climate of fear.

Political Purges Stalin “purged”—eliminated

political opposition throughout the Communist Party

Reached throughout Soviet society resulting in millions of deaths through outright execution and deaths through mistreatment in the “gulag.”

Severely weakened the leadership of the Red Army, leaving it unable to meet the initial challenges of Hitler’s army at the beginning of WWII

“Enemies of the state” executedduring Stalin’s purges

Germany and Hitler Born in Austria 1889. Served in German Army in

WWI. 1921--He had control of the

National Socialist Workers Party—the Nazi’s.

He led a revolt in 1923 to take over government. Supporters known as “Brown Shirts” (Beer Hall Putsch)

The putsch failed and Hitler was put into prison, where he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

Hitler as a soldier in WWI

How did Hitler gain power?

Hitler realized that he had to gain power through legal means

By 1932 the Nazi Party was the largest party in the German Parliament--

the Reichstag. Hitler appeals to German

Nationalism:

> Promises to restore national pride

> Rebuild economy

> Punish Germany’s enemies Hitler is voted into power by

the German people!! Named Chancellor in January

1933.

Hitler speaking to the Reichstag

The Reichstag Fire The Reichstag

Legislative Building of GermanyEquivalent of US Capitol Building

Burned in February, 1933 Quickly established that it was an act of arson. A young, mentally-handicapped communist, Marinus

van der Lubbe was arrested at the site of the fire. Hitler used the incident as an excuse to eliminate

the communists. Widely believed that the Nazis actually started the

fire.

The Third Reich Enabling Act: gave Hitler

complete control without any checks on his power.>Became sole ruler upon death of President Hindenburg in 1934

Der Fuhrer: or leader, would be how Hitler was to be called.

Aryan Nation: Hitler believed that it was destiny for Germany to dominate the world. (Third Reich)

Nazi Rule Hitler used totalitarian

methods in governing Germany.> Government enacted public works projects.

Hitler used terror as a tool to control the masses.> SS under the direction of Himmler. ( became the German secret police)> Beatings, Concentration Camps, and Murder were used to keep control.

Hitler Youth

German Army Hitler gradually grew the

Germany military in violation

of the Treaty of Versailles. German military force re-named the

Wehrmacht in 1935 and conscription reinstituted.

Hitler insisted that all members of the German armed forces swear a personal oath of loyalty to him rather than to the nation.

Rallying the Masses Hitler used spectacles to

rally the masses. Nuremberg:

> Nazi Party rally sparked mass enthusiasm and excitement.

Churches, Schools, and Universities were placed under Nazi control.

Nazi control also extended into many of the German professional organizations.

Nuremburg Rally

Women in the Nazi Party

Women played major role in Nazi way of life

> Needed to have more children for the Aryan world domination.> Important to work in war factories.> Some jobs were considered not suitable for women. Nazi Party Magazine for Women

Persecution Anti-Semitic Policies:

> Hitler blamed Jews for everything including the Versailles Treaty. (scapegoats)> 1935 Nuremberg Laws:

* no German citizenship* no marriages between

Jews and Germans* Had to wear arm band

with the star of David & carry ID cards

Kristallnacht Kristallnacht: Nov. 9,

1938

> “Night of Shattered Glass”> Nazi’s burned synagogues and destroyed Jewish businesses.> 100 Jews killed, 30,000 sent to concentration camps.> Jews were forced to clean up.

Jews were encouraged to leave Germany.

Purging the Potential Opposition

“Night of the Long Knives” Hitler encouraged competition

among senior Nazi leadership, “divide and rule”

June 30-July 2, 1934Over 200 senior leaders in

government and the Nazi Party were arrested and most were executed.

Included some of Hitler’s oldest associates in the Brown Shirts, including Ernst Roehm, who had been instrumental in his rise to power.

Spain and Franco

Spain:

> Francisco Franco led a revolt against democratic leaders in 1936.

* Spanish Civil War

* He became dictator in 1939

* Italy and Germany aided Franco.

Japan and the Rise of Militarism

During WWIExpanded influence in Asia21 Demands—Made China a Japanese

protectorate Post WWI

League of Nations did not accept statement of racial equality

Did not support 21 Demands—forced “Open Door policy”

U.S. closed to Japanese immigrationHumiliated Japanese

Japan—Social/Political Issues Population/industrial growth

Population Explosion—Grew from 35 to 60 million in 50 years

Rapid industrial growthBoth of these events put tremendous

pressure on the limited natural resources of Japan

Desperate need for raw materials to fuel their growth/feed population

Political Issues

Emperor Hirohito—Constitutional Monarch

Depression of the 1930’s—devastated Japanese economy

People looked to strong militaristic, anti-democratic, nationalistic government

Militarism began to affect every aspect of Japanese life in the 1930’s

Military expansion--”The Three Doors”