Chapter 19 The Interwar Years The Challenge og

Chapter 19 The Interwar Years: The Challenge og Dictators and Depression part 1

Many problems face Europe in the years of the 1920’s

1. There are groups unhappy with the peace settlement *ethnic groups unhappy with their situation, denied self-determination *reparations *France feels treaty not being enforced properly

2. New democratic parliamentary governments that are set up are structurally flawed and are given to people without experience or skill

3. Economic problems from the heavy debt and the loss of industrial capacity and market share

Advancements in Democracy and Social Democracy • 1918 universal male suffrage in Great Britain • Many countries begin woman suffrage England 1918 to 1928 US in 1920 Soviet Union in 1917

After WWI the extremists had left the socialist parties (they are now commies) so socialists parties are peaceful and labor oriented Social legislation such as an 8 hour day, and government sponsored programs for old age pension and accident insurance are passed

1924 Ramsey Mac. Donald become the first PM from the Labour Party

The New States of Eastern and Central Europe Many of the new countries were simply created * They have no real historical background *They are a mixture of different groups

Poland Czechoslovakia have German minorities In Czechoslovakia The Slovaks resent Czech domination In Yugoslavia the Croatians and others dislike the Serbs in control-large minorities in various areas made for violent clashes

All of the new nations were democracies except Yugoslavia and Hungary which was a monarchy without a monarch – ruled by a regent

The new states attempt to modernize using the Western model Land reform is a major issue in many of these countries Does not solve problems as productivity is still down and conflict is now between peasants and hired laborers

The German Republic At the end of the war the Social Democrats were in charge They had evolved into a more mainstream party, a little to the left of center

1919 The Spartacist Revolt Communists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg attempt a Bolshevik type revolt The Provisional government is able to stop it with the help of demobilized soldiers: Freikorps

Liebknecht and Luxemburg are captured. tortured, beaten then shot by members of the Freikorps

A convention establishes the Weimar Republic which is dominated by a coalition of Social Democrats, Catholic Center Party and liberal democrats

The Weimar government is despised by the right and the left In 1920 the Kapp Putsch was an attempted revolt by ex-army officers The revolt is put down, but the government does a poor job of stopping these Free Corps, that will form the basis of the SA, or Brown Shirts of the Nazi Party

The German people see the Treaty as a Diktat - a vengeful, dictated peace They do not feel that all of the conditions are permanent Want to regain borders, end reparations

France worried about what will happen if Germany recovers The US has already backed out and Great Britain is showing signs of Splendid Isolation again France demands full payment of reparations

1923 • France occupies the Ruhr to get Germany to pay reparations • Worker stage general strike • To help the workers the Weimar gov. pays them benefits • Has to print more money • Causes runaway inflation

French march into the Ruhr Valley

Inflation July 1914 $1 = 4 marks July 1919 = 9 Jan 1920 = 64 Jan 1922 = 191 July 1922 = 400 Jan 1923 = 17, 972 July 1923 = 353, 412 Aug 1923 = 4, 620, 000 Nov 1923 = 420, 000

Price of goods – November 1923 Bread 32 billion marks Quart of milk 25 1 lb. of beef 50 1 liter of beer 42 Street car 5 -10

A woman burns money to heat the house

The Dawes Plan In order to get loan payment from Allies, America agrees to have bank lend funds to Germany so they can pay reparations

The Locarno Treaties Series of treaties designed to eliminate reasons for war German agrees to guarantee borders of France and Belgium Agrees to only change border with Poland Czechoslovakia by negotiation

Great Britain

Results of war: • 750, 000 killed • 40% of merchant fleet sunk • Debt 10 times prewar • US industry in high gear • No real reparations coming in to help

Problems: 1. War boom ends prices up unemployment up

2. Empire getting shaky Ireland: Easter Rebellion India: Gandhi

3. Reduction of money spent on arms Good-helps budget Bad-hurts preparedness if something should happen

F R A N C E

Results of War: • 2, 000 killed or incapacitated • 300, 000 houses destroyed • 20, 000 factories destroyed

Problems: 1. need to pay for rebuilding

2. Inflation: value of Franc from 20 c to 2 c

3. Government still unstable: Republicans, Socialists, Communists, Monarchists and Right Wing Military

I T A L Y

Problems: *10% unemployment *inflation *wages down *taxes up *pension for vets delayed *650, 000 killed in the war

Benito Mussolini

Follows father into Socialist Party Editor of Socialist paper Avanti

Believes in: rebellion anti-military anti-monarchy anti-church

1919 Mussolini forms: Fasci de combattimento Groups for Combat Fascists

Mussolini calls for: • revolutionary violence • seizure of land • Shooting shopkeepers who charge high prices • Taking mines & transportation

People of Italy tired of unrest, inflation and taxes See Socialists & Commies as problem Want a strong leader

Party grows: May 1920 30, 000 October 1922 300, 000 Supporters include: Army officers Industrialist

Local & National government officials like Fascists attacks on Communists Police look the other way

Fascists burn Commie offices & beat leaders

When government finally realizes Fascists are threat to them. . . It’s too late!!!

By 1922 supporters include: *King’s cousin *Leading Industrials *Army Generals-they won’t stop uprising

MARCH ON ROME

October 24, 1922 Mussolini demands power and calls for supporter to go to Rome to show power

October 28, 1922 King of Italy makes Mussolini Premier – tells him to form cabinet

Once in office Mussolini builds a dictatorship • arrests or kills leaders of other parties • limits, then abolishes other parties • censors press • rule by decree

Il Duce

Consumer Culture 1920’s sees an increase in manufacturing output due to improved production methods Companies strive for inexpensive, mass produced goods

Some view the new mass culture as a distinctly modern aspect of everyday life Others feel would threaten traditional values and traditions

Mass produced appliances change life at home Telephones, radios, electric ovens, washing machines and refrigerators transform modern life

Mass marketing pushes these products by an appeal to ‘sex appeal’

Ad for breath mints

Consumer culture both reduces and increases socio-economic differences

As manufacturers target goods to specific groups it re-enforced social differences The expense of certain item guaranteed only the wealthy could purchase them

Women gain visibility in the new consumer culture Women are working, voting, going out in public unescorted and smoking!!!

Europe joins in on the new wave of cinema the begins in the US One of the first films is Battle of the Somme in 1916 that was a propaganda film

The late 20’s see several classic films produced

Napoleon Abel Gance 1927

Nosferatu F. W. Mernau

The Passion of Joan of Arc Carl Dryer Renee Jeanne Maria Falconetti