TOTALITARIANISM Dictators of the PostWWI World Characteristics of

TOTALITARIANISM Dictators of the Post-WWI World

Characteristics of Totalitarianism � An official ideology �Italy—Fascism �Germany—Nazism �USSR—Communism �A single mass party �Fascists (Italy) �Nazis (Germany) �Communists (USSR)

Characteristics--continued �A system of terroristic police control �NKVD—USSR �Black Shirts—Italy �Gestapo—Germany

Characteristics-continued �A monopoly on all means of communication �Radio, press, movies �A monopoly on all weapons and military � Central control of the economy

Mussolini’s Rise to Power Post-WWI—strikes, unemployment, peasants seize land � Mussolini’s Promises � �Protect property for landowners �Employment and benefits for workers �Restore Italy to former greatness Black Shirts—used violence to gain support � March on Rome—October 1922 � King Victor Emmanuel III—named him Prime Minister �

Fascism � Italy became Fascist under Mussolini � Fascism �Glorification of the State �Single party system with strong ruler �Aggressive form of Nationalism—gave state absolute authority

Fascism Mussolini used terminology and symbols that recalled the “glory” of ancient Rome, and by association, Italy � The term fascist derived from the Latin word fasces--a bundle of rods that were tied around an axe � The fasces were an ancient Roman symbol of authority and strength through unity. �

Fascist Italy � Traditional values � Persecution of minorities � Militarism � Media controlled by government � Imperialism and War—Invasion of Ethiopia, WWII

Fascist Headquarters in Rome—The face of Mussolini surrounded by the Italian word for “yes”.

Mussolini’s Dictatorship 1924—”Black Shirts” used violence to gain control of Parliament � 1926—non-fascist parties banned � IL Duce—”the Leader” � �The masses must obey �Brought stability to the country � Corporate State �Syndicates ○ Corporations of workers and employers ○ Each syndicate sent reps to Rome to set policies

Lateran Accords � Catholicism made state religion � Papacy given sovereign power over Vatican City

Russia � Joseph Stalin takes power! � Used the NKVD—Soviet secret police to control every aspect of Soviet life. � Police encouraged active spying/informing across society to create a climate of fear.

Political Purges Stalin “purged”—eliminated political opposition throughout the Communist Party � Reached throughout Soviet society resulting in millions of deaths through outright execution and deaths through mistreatment in the “gulag. ” � Severely weakened the leadership of the Red Army, leaving it unable to meet the initial challenges of Hitler’s army at the beginning of WWII � “Enemies of the state” executed during Stalin’s purges

Germany and Hitler Born in Austria 1889. � Served in German Army in WWI. � 1921 --He had control of the National Socialist Workers Party—the Nazi’s. � He led a revolt in 1923 to take over government. Supporters known as “Brown Shirts” (Beer Hall Putsch) � The putsch failed and Hitler was put into prison, where he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) � Hitler as a soldier in WWI

How did Hitler gain power? Hitler realized that he had to gain power through legal means � By 1932 the Nazi Party was the largest party in the German Parliament-the Reichstag. � Hitler appeals to German Nationalism: > Promises to restore national � pride > Rebuild economy > Punish Germany’s enemies Hitler is voted into power by the German people!! � Named Chancellor in January 1933. � Hitler speaking to the Reichstag

The Reichstag Fire � The Reichstag � Legislative Building of Germany � Equivalent of US Capitol Building Burned in February, 1933 Quickly established that it was an act of arson. A young, mentally-handicapped communist, Marinus van der Lubbe was arrested at the site of the fire. � Hitler used the incident as an excuse to eliminate the communists. � Widely believed that the Nazis actually started the fire. � � �

The Third Reich Enabling Act: gave Hitler complete control without any checks on his power. >Became sole ruler upon death of President Hindenburg in 1934 � Der Fuhrer: or leader, would be how Hitler was to be called. � Aryan Nation: Hitler believed that it was destiny for Germany to dominate the world. (Third Reich) �

Nazi Rule � Hitler used totalitarian methods in governing Germany. > Government enacted public works projects. � Hitler used terror as a tool to control the masses. > SS under the direction of Himmler. ( became the German secret police) > Beatings, Concentration Camps, and Murder were used to keep control. Hitler Youth

German Army Hitler gradually grew the Germany military in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. � German military force re-named the Wehrmacht in 1935 and conscription reinstituted. � Hitler insisted that all members of the German armed forces swear a personal oath of loyalty to him rather than to the nation. �

Rallying the Masses Hitler used spectacles to rally the masses. � Nuremberg: > Nazi Party rally sparked mass enthusiasm and excitement. � Churches, Schools, and Universities were placed under Nazi control. � Nazi control also extended into many of the German professional organizations. � Nuremburg Rally

Women in the Nazi Party � Women played major role in Nazi way of life > Needed to have more children for the Aryan world domination. > Important to work in war factories. > Some jobs were considered not suitable for women. Nazi Party Magazine for Women

Persecution � Anti-Semitic Policies: > Hitler blamed Jews for everything including the Versailles Treaty. (scapegoats) > 1935 Nuremberg Laws: * no German citizenship * no marriages between Jews and Germans * Had to wear arm band with the star of David & carry ID cards

Kristallnacht � Kristallnacht: Nov. 9, 1938 > “Night of Shattered Glass” > Nazi’s burned synagogues and destroyed Jewish businesses. > 100 Jews killed, 30, 000 sent to concentration camps. > Jews were forced to clean up. � Jews were encouraged to leave Germany.

Purging the Potential Opposition “Night of the Long Knives” Hitler encouraged competition among senior Nazi leadership, “divide and rule” � June 30 -July 2, 1934 � � �Over 200 senior leaders in government and the Nazi Party were arrested and most were executed. �Included some of Hitler’s oldest associates in the Brown Shirts, including Ernst Roehm, who had been instrumental in his rise to power.

Spain and Franco � Spain: > Francisco Franco led a revolt against democratic leaders in 1936. * Spanish Civil War * He became dictator in 1939 * Italy and Germany aided Franco.

Japan and the Rise of Militarism � During WWI �Expanded influence in Asia � 21 Demands—Made China a Japanese protectorate � Post WWI �League of Nations did not accept statement of racial equality �Did not support 21 Demands—forced “Open Door policy” �U. S. closed to Japanese immigration �Humiliated Japanese

Japan—Social/Political Issues � Population/industrial growth �Population Explosion—Grew from 35 to 60 million in 50 years �Rapid industrial growth �Both of these events put tremendous pressure on the limited natural resources of Japan �Desperate need for raw materials to fuel their growth/feed population

Political Issues � Emperor Hirohito—Constitutional Monarch � Depression of the 1930’s—devastated Japanese economy � People looked to strong militaristic, antidemocratic, nationalistic government � Militarism began to affect every aspect of Japanese life in the 1930’s � Military expansion--”The Three Doors”