The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes The Rise of

The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes

The Rise of Dictators • The Triumph of Democracy in Europe was very short lived. • Italy, the Soviet Union, Germany and many other European States adopted dictatorial regimes.

• What are three words that come to mind when you think of the word “dictator”

The Rise of Dictators • A new form of dictatorship was the modern totalitarian state. • The gov. aims to control the political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural lives of its citizens.

The Rise of Dictators • Regimes pushed the central states powers farther than ever before. • They wanted more than passive obedience, but wanted control of the heart and minds of citizens. • They achieved this through mass propaganda techniques and modern communication.

The Rise of Dictators • Totalitarian States ruled by a single leader. • They rejected the ideal of limited government and the guarantee of individual freedom. • Freedoms were dependent on the collective will of the masses. • The leader determined the collective will.

The Rise of Dictators • The masses were expected to be actively involved in achieving the states goal. • Those goals might include war, a socialist state, or a thousand year empire like Adolf Hitler wanted to establish.

Fascism in Italy • Like the rest of Europe Italy faced economic problems. • Inflation grew, industry and agriculture workers went on strike. • Socialists spoke of revolution, and the middle class feared a communist takeover.

Fascism in Italy • From this background of unrest a man named Benito Mussolini emerged. • He set up the first European Fascist movement in Europe when in 1919 he forms the “Fascio di Combattimento”, from which the name Fascism comes from.

Fascism in Italy • Fascism is a political philosophy that glorifies the state above the individual emphasizing the need for a strong central government. • In a Fascist a state the gov. controls the people and stifles any opposition.

Fascism in Italy • By 1922 Mussolini’s movement had grown. • The middle fear of socialism, communism, and disorder made the Fascists popular. • Mussolini also saw that many Italians were still angry about the peace settlement, and their failure to receive more land.

• We have talked a lot about the Treaty of Versailles; do you think that the treaty is to blame for the collapse of democracy in Europe.

Fascism in Italy • Mussolini recognized that nationalism was a powerful force for demanding more land for Italy. • Knowing this Mussolini converted thousands to the fascist party with nationalist ideals.

Fascism in Italy • In 1922 Benito Mussolini made a bold move, and threatened to march on Rome if they were not given power. • Victor Emanuel III gave in, and made Mussolini prime minster.

Fascism in Italy • Mussolini Used his power to create a Fascist Dictatorship. • Laws gave the government the right to stop publications the criticized the Church, monarchy, and state. • The Prime Minster was the head of the government with law making powers.

Fascism in Italy • The Police were given unrestricted authority to arrest and jail anyone for either political or non-political reasons • In 1926 the Fascists outlawed all other political parties. Mussolini became known as “Il Duce” meaning the “the leader”.

The Fascist State • Mussolini believed the Fascist State should be totalitarian, a used various means to establish control. • The OVRA watched citizens political activities and enforced government policies. • Police actions were not as harsh Nazi Germany

The Fascist State • Italian fascists controlled forms of mass media, including newspapers, radio, and film. • The media was used to spread propaganda. • Propaganda was meant to mold Italians into a single minded fascist community.

The Fascist State • Fascist also used organizations to promote ideals of Fascism to the population. • Example fascist youth groups included about 66% of the population between the ages 8 -18. • The youth groups focused on military activities and values.

The Fascist State • With these organizations, Fascists hoped to create a nation of new Italians who were fit, disciplined, and war loving. • Although in practice Fascists maintain traditional social values. Especially seen in their policy towards women.

The Fascist State • The Fascists portrayed family as the pillar of the state. • Seen as the foundation of the family, women were to be homemakers and mothers. • According to Mussolini these roles were “their natural and fundamental mission in life”.

The Fascist State • The party however did not destroy the countries old power structure. • Some institutions, such as the armed forces managed to stay independent. • Victor Emanuel III was also maintained as king.

The Fascist State • Compromise with institutions was especially evident with the catholic Church. • Mussolini organized a small independent state in Rome known as Vatican City. In return the Pope recognized the Italian State. • Also supplied the Vatican with a lot of money.

The Fascist State • In all areas of Italian life under Mussolini and the Fascists their was a large gap between ideals and practice. • The Fascists promised much but delivered considerably less.

A New Era in the USSR • We talked about how earlier, Lenin followed a policy of war communism in the Civil War. • The government controlled most industries and seized grain from peasants to ensure supply. • Once the war ended peasants sabotaged the communist system, by harboring food.

A New Era in the USSR • The Situation became even worse when a drought caused a famine between 1920 and 1922, as many as 5 million died. • With agricultural disaster came industrial collapse, and by 1921 industrial was only 20% of that in 1913.

A New Era in the USSR • Russia was exhausted • A banner proclaimed “Down with Lenin and horse-flesh. Bring back the tsar pork. ” • The government was in the verge of collapse.

Lenin and New Economic Policy • In 1921 Lenin pulled Russia back from collapse by abandoning war communism. • He instilled the New Economic Policy, or NEP, and was a modified system of the old capitalist system.

Lenin and New Economic Policy • With the NEP; • Peasants were allowed to sell their produce openly. • Retail stores, as well as small industries, could be privately owned and operated. Heavy industry, and mines remained government controlled.

The Soviet Union • In 1922 Lenin and the communists called their new state of the Union of the Soviet Socialist republics, or USSR for short. • By that time a revived market and good economy had ended the famine. • Agricultural production jumped 75%. The NEP had worked.

Industrialization • Lenin died in 1924, and a struggle for power ensued between 7 members of the Politburo. • The Politburo is the communist party’s main policy making body. • The Politburo was divided of the future direction of the Soviet Union.

Industrialization • A group led by Leon Trotsky, wanted end NEP and launch Russia a path of rapid industrialization at the expense of the peasants. • The group also wanted to spread communism. • It thought the revolution would not survive without more communist states.

Industrialization • Another group in the politburo rejected the idea of worldwide communism. • Instead it wanted to focus on building the socialist state in Russia and continue the NEP. • They believed rapid industrialization would be harmful.

The Rise of Stalin • Divisions were further strained by a rivalry between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. • In 1924 Trotsky was commissar of war, a Stalin was the party general secretary. • Stalin held a more political post, putting him in a more powerful potion.

The Rise of Stalin • Stalin used his post to gain complete control of the communist party, and thousands of officials, whom Stalin had appointed, provided him with support. • In 1929 Stalin removed the Bolsheviks of the revolution from the Politburo and formed a dictatorship.

Five Year Plans • The Stalin Era marked the beginning of economic, social, and political revolution that was more sweeping in its results. • Starting with the NEP in 1928, and afterwards when he launched his first “Five Year Plan”

Five Year Plan • The plans purpose was to transform Russia from an agricultural country into an industrialized one. • The plan emphasized max production of military and capital goods. • The plan quadrupled oil production and heavy machinery production.

Cost of Stalin Program • The social and political costs of industrialization were big. • Nothing had been done to care for expanding labor forces in cities, and between 1932 -1942 millions of workers came to flood the cities.

Cost of Stalin Program • Although more people came to the city, housing investment actually declined in 1929. • Resulting in miserable living conditions for workers and their families. • Wages also declined 43% from 1928 to 1940.

Cost of Stalin Program • They were even strict laws that limited were workers could move. • The government stressed “sacrifice” for the collective.

Cost of Stalin Program • With rapid industrialization came rapid collectivization of agriculture. • Collectivization was system that eliminated private farms. • Now the government owned the land the peasants farmed it. • Peasants resisted by hoarding crops and killing livestock.

Cost of Stalin Program • In response to the resistance Stalin stepped up the program. • In 1930 10 million families had been collectivized. • In 1936 26 million families had been collectivized.

Cost of Stalin Program • The cost of Stalin's collectivization was huge. • Hoarding crops and killing livestock lead to widespread famine. • At least 10 million people starved to death.