Totalitarianism Fascism Spread in Europe Hitler Mussolini Stalin

Totalitarianism & Fascism Spread in Europe Hitler, Mussolini & Stalin Rise to Power

Russia under Lenin • In 1917, Vladimir Lenin helped lead the revolution in Russia • In 1922 Lenin renamed Russia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) • The country followed the principles of communism • Marx the founder of communism preached that the workers needed to be in control with no classes in society • In reality, Lenin’s USSR was a dictatorship with the Communist party in sole control • By 1928, the USSR was producing at pre-WWI levels, despite the worldwide Depression • When Lenin died the question of who would take over as leader of the USSR

Who follows Lenin? • Leon Trotsky & Joseph Stalin were both part of the revolution under Lenin • They both helped him set up the USSR • However, after Lenin died, both bitterly fought for control • Lenin did not trust Stalin, who was extremely cold and ruthless • From 1922 -1928 Stalin quietly climbed up the ladder of the Communist party in Russia • He was always sure to put allies in other govt. positions • By 1928 he was in sole control & a year later he sent Trotsky away into exile

Totalitarianism • Lenin & Trotsky wanted to promote & spread communism throughout the world • Stalin instead focused on improving Russia within • He wanted to perfect communism before he tried to spread it • When Stalin took over he made the Soviet Union a totalitarian state • Totalitarianism: Government takes total control of every aspect of public & private life • Totalitarianism challenged everything democracy is about: reason, freedom, dignity, & the power of the individual

Stalin’s New Ways • Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP) was about mixing free enterprise (business) & state (govt. ) control • Stalin’s economic policy was about TOTAL state control • Stalin introduced a command economy • Command economy= The government makes all economic decisions • Political leaders like Stalin make the decision on what the country’s economic needs are & fulfills them

Stalin & Industrialization • The first target of Stalin was increasing industrialization • He felt the USSR was 50 -100 years behind other western powers • Stalin set a Five-Year Plan which set extremely high quotas (goals) for steel, oil, coal & electrical output • To actually reach the goals the govt. cut down on the production of consumer goods • As a result, citizens faced shortages of food, clothing, housing & other necessary products

Stalin’s Ways Work • Under Stalin’s totalitarian plan, the govt. controlled every aspect of the workers life • Officials told the workers what jobs they had & what hours they worked • Workers had to have permission to move • The secret police would jail or execute anyone not contributing to the economy • Stalin’s total control took a toll on people’s personal lives, but was greatly improving the Soviet economy • From 1928 -1937 industrial production rose 25%

Stalin & Agricultural Revolution • Stalin was successful in pushing Russia through the industrial revolution • He was even more successful pushing it through agricultural revolution • However, he was even more brutal • When he took over in 1928, he immediately seized 25 million privately owned farms • He combined those farms into large govt. owned farms called collectives • Families worked on the farms producing food for the state • May peasants resisted-killing livestock & crops • Resistance was especially strong among kulaks- wealthy peasants • Stalin simply eliminated this group & other protesters by executing them

Democracy Falls to Fascism • During the Great Depression democracies in the U. S. , France, & Britain were able to survive • Millions in other countries lost faith in democracy • In response they turned to extreme form of govt. called fascism • Fascism: Strong govt. led by one leader, Loyalty to leader is crucial • Government is more important than the people. Opposition is quickly put down • Fascists promised to revive economy, punish those responsible & restore national pride • Message was attractive to those struggling from WWI & Depression

Communism vs. Fascism Comparison • • • Similarities Both ruled by dictators who allowed only their political party Both denied individual rights The state or government is supreme There is no democracy, people don’t have a say • • Differences Communists wanted a classless society Fascists believed each class had its place & function Communism claimed to be a dictatorship of the working class Fascist parties were rich aristocrats, industrialists, war veterans & middle class Communists wanted to unite workers around the world (internationalists) Fascists were concerned with national pride & gain

Fascism Hits Italy • Italy like the rest of Europe was ravaged by WWI and received little $ or land for their efforts • Benito Mussolini was soldier in WWI and a journalist • Led a group of followers known as “Blackshirts” threatened to march to Rome & take over (1922) • Italian king gave Mussolini temporary dictatorial powers, meaning he was sole ruler • Mussolini ended up ruling for 21 YEARS!!! • He abolished democracy in Italy, outlawing all parties except fascists • Govt. censors forced newspapers & radio stations to publish only fascist ideas

Hitler Rises to Power in Germany • Veteran of WWI, Adolf Hitler a native Austrian, came to power in Germany • Hitler became der Fuhrer or leader of the National Socialist Party or Nazis • In 1923, he & the Nazis tried to seize power in Munich, the attempt failed • While in jail, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) • Hitler asserts that Aryans, Germans who were blond haired & blue eyed, were the master race • Blamed communists & the Jews for Germany’s defeat in WWI • Felt all non-Aryans (Jews, Slavs, Gypsies) were inferior & should be eliminated • He promised to get Germany more living space by conquering lands in Eastern Europe & Russia

Hitler Gains More Control • Hitler got out of jail in 1924, but most Germans ignored his hateful words • When the economy collapsed many Germans turned to Hitler • Those in power thought they could use Hitler for their advantage • He was named Chancellor in 1933 • Hitler quickly acted to gain power • He called for more elections hoping the Nazis could gain a majority • Six days before the parliamentary elections, fire broke out in the Reichstag building (parliament) • Hitler quickly blamed the communists, by stirring up the fear, the Nazi’s won a slim majority

Hitler becomes Fascist Dictator • With majority control, Hitler demanded absolute power for 4 years • The Enabling Act gave him this power • Hitler used the power to make Germany a totalitarian state • He banned all other political parties & had opponents arrested • He created an elite black uniformed unit called the SS. • Its loyalty was strictly to Hitler • SS murdered Hitler’s enemies • His Gestapo, or secret police forced most Germany to obey • Hitler put millions of Germans to work & helped pull Germany out of Depression

Nazi Propaganda Spreads Hitler’s Ideas • Hitler wanted complete control • He took over all forms of media & used them to promote Nazi ways • Books that didn’t conform were burned • Boys had to join the Hitler Youth, while girls had to join the League of German girls • Hitler believed in Social Darwinism • Survival of the fittest

Hitler Targets Jews • Hatred of Jews or anti-Semitism, was key Nazi ideology • Jews made up less than 1% of population, but Hitler blamed them for Germany’s troubles • He banned all Jews and non. Nazis from the government and took their property • Kristallnacht – “night of broken glass”… 11/9/1938…Nazis killed over 90 Jews and hurt more • 7, 500 Jewish businesses and 177 synagogues were destroyed • By the mid-1930 s democracies were falling across Europe • The world was split into two camps--democratic & totalitarian