World War II: The Road to War

1. World War II: The Road to War The Rise of Dictators

2. Warm - up Who was known as “Der Führer ”? Define the National Socialist German Workers’ Party -

3. Warm - up Match the following; 1.Hitler a. Britain 2. Stalin b. Spain 3. Mussolini c. Germany 4. Chamberlain d. USSR 5. Franco e. Italy 6. Churchill f. US

4. Totalitarinism • Government exerts total control over a nation • Dominates every aspect of life – using terror • Examples: Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin

5. Fascism • Emphasizes the importance of the nation or an ethnic group and supreme authority of the leader • Vicious form of communism • Relies upon a strong, dictatorial government • Doesn’t respect individual rights and freedoms • Historically, Fascism and Communism are fierce enemies

6. Stalin’s Mass Genocide

7. Joseph Stalin - Soviet Union • Took power after Lenin’s death (1924) • Launched plan to modernize agriculture and the building of new industries • Encouraged family farms to combine and a huge collective of farms (owned and run by the state) • Faced resistance – forced peasants off their land in the 1920’s

8. Stalin – More resistance • Punished resistant farmers • Confiscated much or all their food • Millions die from starvation or move to the cities • Millions are forced to work in labor camps in Siberia (Brrrrr…50 below) • Consequence: production fell dramatically, food shortages, forced rationing

9. Stalin – Reign of Terror • Efforts to gain political domination • Purges: process of removing enemies and undesirables from power • “Purified” the Communist Party by getting rid of all of his opponents • The Great Purge (1934-1939): 7 million arrested, 1 million executed, millions ended up in labor camps • Very Successful

10. Mussolini – Italy

11. Mussolini - Italy • WWI wounded vet • Believed strongly that the Versailles Treaty should have granted Italy more territory • Attracted support from dissatisfied war vets, opponents of the monarchy, Socialists, and anarchists • Formed Fascist party

12. Mussolini – Il Duce • Relied on gangs, blackshirts, to terrorize those who opposed him • Threatened to march on Rome … king panicked and appointed him prime minister • Vowed to end Italy’s economic problems • Suspended elections, outlawed political parties, and established dictatorship

13. Mussolini’s Empire • Ultimate dream was to restore the Roman Empire • “The country is nothing w/o conquest” • October 1935: invaded Ethiopia using warplanes and poison gas • “Italy finally has its empire”

14. Hitler – Germany

15. Hitler - Germany • Austrian painter & WWI wounded vet • Enraged by terms of WWI peace settlement • Stripped Germany of land and colonies • Burden of debt • War-guilt clause – Germany had to take blame for WWI

16. Hitler – Nazi Party • 1919 joined National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) • Nazism: form of fascism shaped by Hitler’s fanatical ideas about Germany nationalism and racial superiority

17. Hitler – The Charismatic Leader • Powerful speaker • 1923: tried to overthrow gov’t. … Sentenced to 5 yrs. in prison • Wrote MeinKampf, an autobiography, views on Germany’s problems and plans for the nation • Wanted to purify Germany – removing the undesirables • Promised to stabilize the economy after depression

18. Hitler becomes Chancellor • 1932: Nazi party is largest group in the Reichstag • 1932: Hitler placed 2nd in presidential race • 1933: made chancellor – head of German government • Suspended freedom of speech an press • Used storm troopers to wage violent campaign

19. Hitler – Der Führer • Nazi Party dominates the Reichstag in the March elections • 3 weeks later Reichstag mysteriously burns down – Hitler blames the Communists • Parliament passes an Enabling Bill to give him dictatorial powers • August 1934: becomes both chancellor and president • Gave himself the title of Der Führer

20. ReichstagGerman Capital

21. Germany Rearms • Secretly started spending money on rearmament and expansion army (violated Treaty of Versailles) • Put unemployed back to work • Autobahn and massive public buildings • 1936: Industry prospered and brought Germany out of the Depression

22. Increasing National Pride • Lebenstraum: “Living Space” • Belief that Germans needed more territory • Goal: conquer Eastern Europe and Soviet Union • March 7, 1936: German Troops entered the Rhineland (Violated Treaty of Versailles)

23. Breakin’ the Law & No Response • Reality: Germany isn’t ready for war • France & G.B. didn’t respond to his violations • 1936: Hitler signs an alliance w/Mussolini (Axis Powers)

24. Germany Expands • 1938: Hitler invades “Auschluss” (Austria) • Austrian chancellor refused to surrender • Most Austrians warmly welcome Nazis • Oct. 1938: Hitler demands the Sudetenland (Western Czechoslovakia) • Munich Council: France & G.B. pursued a policy of appeasement to maintain peace • France was bound to protect Czech. – Problem: No one consulted them about the takeover

26. Sudetenland

27. Franco – Spain

28. Franco - Spanish Civil War • General Francisco Franco led Nationalists (rebels) vs. Republicans (newly elected gov’t.) • Franco creates military dictatorship • Germany provided planes, tanks, and soldiers to the Nationalists • Soviet Union sent arms and supplies to the Republicans