Fascism and the road to World War II

1. Fascism and the road to World War II

2. Fascism in Italy • Fascism: loyalty to the state and obedience to its leader; authoritarian leader who guided and brought order to the state • Fascism is similar to communism • Due to rising inflation, unemployment, and social unrest, Italy’s democratic government seemed helpless • Italy wanted a leader that took action

3. Continued… • Benito Mussolini promised to rescue Italy • Founded Fascist party in 1919 • 1922: 30,000 Fascist marched on Rome, demanded that Mussolini take charge of the government, and then Mussolini took power “legally” • He outlawed all political parties except the fascist, censored media, and jailed his opponents

4. Hitler’s Rise • At first, Hitler was nothing but a guy in the German army during World War I • He joined a political group called the Nazi Party who then created policies that formed the German brand of fascism known as Nazism • Hitler soon became the leader of the Nazi party • Arrested after an attempt to Seize power in Munich, put in jail, wrote Mein Kampf- My struggle • When the Great Depression began, Germany’s economy collapsed and people turned to Hitler

5. Continued… • Hitler is soon named Chancellor of Germany • Hitler turns Germany into a totalitarian state • Hatred of Jews was a key part of Nazi ideology and blamed them for all troubles

6. Other Countries; Other Dictators • By 1935, only one country with democracy remained in Eastern Europe • Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania all turned into a “one-man show”

7. Rise of Japan • After the Great Depression, military leaders gained control of the Japanese government • Japan’s government wanted expansion • 1931- Japanese army seized a section of China called Manchuria • First direct challenge to the League of Nations • Japan withdrew from the League in 1933

8. Aggression Plans • Mussolini attacks and gains Ethiopia • Hitler defies the Treaty of Versailles and builds up his troops and moves into the Rhineland • Italy makes an alliance with Germany. Germany then makes an alliance with Japan. These three countries become known as the Axis powers

9. Civil War in Spain • July 1936- army leaders who wanted a fascist-style government joined General Francisco Franco in a revolt against the government • Civil war breaks out • 1939- Franco becomes Spain’s fascist dictator

10. Wanting Peace • Britain and France hoped to keep peace by not taking a stand against Fascist aggression • United States enters into an isolationist period • 1938- Hitler annexes Austria • Hitler also demanded that the Sudetenland be given to Germany and the Czechs refused

11. Appeasement • The making of concessions to an aggressor in order to avoid war. • Britain and France agreed that Hitler could take Sudetenland as long as Hitler respected Czechoslovakia’s new borders • 6 months later, Hitler took Czechoslovakia

12. Non-aggression Pact • Britain and France asked the Soviet Union to join them in stopping Hitler’s aggression • Soviet Union was also bargaining with Germany to never attack each other which created the Non-aggression Pact • War seemed inevitable