The West Between the Wars (1919-1939)

1. The West Between the Wars(1919-1939) Modern World History St. John Bosco H.S. Mr. Cordova

2. New nations = new border disputes Many Germans vowed to alter T. of Versailles League of Nations too WEAK (& no U.S.) Rapid inflation in Germany (4 trillion marks = 1 dollar in 1923) Dawes Plan helped Germany recover Treaty of Locarno (1925) = improved Franco-German relations (lasting peace???) Kellogg-Briand Pact “outlawed war” Uneasy Peace … Uncertain Security

3. The Great Depression – U.S. • European recovery & prosperity ended 1929 (U.S. stock market crash) • “Depression” = low economic activity & high unemployment • Economic crisis = INSTABILITY • INSTABILITY = dramatic changes

4. Democratic States after the War • Germany – Weimar Republic • European gov’ts attempted reforms, but Depression could not be quickly fixed • John Maynard Keynes = “Keynesian economics” --- Gov’t should improve infrastructure to help create jobs (deficit spending???)

5. The Rise of Dictators • Between 1919-1939 all major Euro. Powers adopted some form of dictatorial gov’t EXCEPT Britain & France • Totalitarianism = TOTAL control over citizens’ lives

6. Fascism in Italy - Mussolini • Benito Mussolini – “IL DUCE” (the boss) • Many Italians feared Communist takeover • Large gap between Fascist policies & actual practice

7. 1921 Lenin ended “war communism” New Economic Policy (NEP) = modified capitalism 1922 Russia became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) 1924 – Lenin dies Joseph STALIN & Leon Trotsky battled for power Stalin wins and “removes” old Bolsheviks from power Five-Year Plans Collectivization = gov’t control of farms A New Era in the Soviet Union

8. Authoritarian vs. Totalitarian • An Authoritarian state (gov’t) wants to maintain social order – will use all powers to do so • A Totalitarian state (gov’t) seeks control over all aspects of society – create a new mass society • Many Parliamentary systems failed & became Authoritarian systems

9. Failed secondary school Rejected by Vienna Academy of Fine Arts Racism, anti-Semitism and extreme Nationalism Propaganda & terror Social Darwinism Entered politics after WWI – 1921 – Started the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) Failed uprising=prison Wrote Mein Kampf - Nationalism, anti- Semitism and anticommunism Hitler and His Views

10. The Rise & Victory of Nazism • Hitler’s power/influence grew – many right-wing industrialists, aristocrats, military officers, & high-level bureaucrats wanted him to lead Germany • 1933 – Nazis pressured President Hindenburg = Hitler becomes Chancellor • Mar 1933-Reichstag (legislature) – passes Enabling Act = Hitler can ignore constitution • Concentrations camps for all opponents • Hitler = Führer (leader)

11. Totalitarian State Hitler wanted Aryan racial state to control Europe (& World) Third Reich (empire) “SS” – Heinrich Himmler (terror) Improved economy -public works projects -grants to private construction companies -massive rearmament program Nuremberg Laws Kristallnacht The Nazi State 1933-1939

12. Mass Culture: Radio & Movies • Changes in mass communication • Radio broadcasting – 1920s & 1930s • By end 1930s – 40% adults saw one movie per week (industrialized nations) • Nazis = propaganda – The Triumph of the Will (1934 Nazi Party rally at Nuremberg)