Leaders of WWII Soviet Union Leader Joseph Stalin

Leaders of WWII

Soviet Union • • Leader: Joseph Stalin Came to power in: 1924 Government: Communist state Goals: – Make Soviet industry & economy strong – Farms run by the government – Get rid of anyone who opposed (kill or send to labor camps)

Italy • • Leader: Benito Mussolini Came to power in: 1922 Government: fascism Goals: – Keep his party in power (outlaw all others) – Prevent a communist takeover – Restore the greatness of Italy – Expand the empire by taking over other lands – Control the press (and information)

Germany • • Leader: Adolf Hitler Came to power in: 1933 Government: Nazism Goals: – Restore the greatness of Germany (come back from the damage of the Versailles Treaty) – Create a “perfect” race of people and get rid of those who did not fit into that (Jewish people) – Control the culture (press, school, religion) to bring Germany together – Expand the empire by taking over other lands – Build up Germany’s military

Japan • Leader: Hideki Tojo & Emperor Hirohito – Japan had an Emperor, but Tojo – the military leader – rose to power and was soon making many important decisions for Japan • Came to power in: 1931 • Government: military government • Goals: – Take power from the emperor – Expand the empire by taking over other lands – Build up Japan’s military

How did these people come to power? • Some seized power • Many were elected – People loved them because they promised great things for the country – Italy and Germany were hurt by the Treaty of Versailles • Lost land, money, military power – These new leaders promised to fix the problems caused by the treaty • Kept power by enforcing harsh laws, getting rid of those who opposed them, and spreading propaganda to keep the public supporting their ideas

Great Britain • • Leader: Winston Churchill Came to power in: 1940 Government: Democracy (with monarchy) Goals: – Prevent Germany from overtaking Europe – do NOT give them any land or allow them to grow their military – Fiercely fight the Axis Powers

United States • • Leader: Franklin Roosevelt Came to power in: 1933 Government: Democracy Goals: – At first, stay isolated and neutral (do NOT get involved in the war in Europe) – Later, wanted to support the Allies by selling them weapons and supplies – Defeat the Axis Powers, especially Japan (after the bombing of Pearl Harbor)