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Depression
Europe after WWI
 World-wide depression (Why?)
- Economies of the world are connected
- Debt from WWI/German gov’t weak
- Many couldn’t afford to buy goods=
overproduction, layoffs, inflation
- Stock Market Crash (1929) in the USA
- USA stops loans to foreign countries
Effects of the depression
► Unemployment
(25% in the USA)
► People lost land, money & stocks
► German inflation (Marks became
worthless)
► Democratic governments started
social programs
► Social unrest- people lost everything
► Fascists promised to fix the economy
and restore national pride
► *July
Inflation in Germany
1914
4.2 marks to the dollar
► *July 1919
14.0
► *January 1920
64.8
► *January 1922
191.8
► *July 1922
493.2
► *January 1923
17,972.0
► *July 1923
353,412
► *August 1923
4,620,455
► *September 1923
98,860,000
► *October 1923
25,260,208,000
► * November 15, 1923
4,200,000,000,000
Fascism in Europe
What is Fascism?
► Total
obedience to one leader.
► Rulers
often gain control by convincing
people that there is a problem that only the
leader can solve.
► Leaders
use nationalism, propaganda, and
violent force to stay in control.
Italy After WWI
► After
WWI, Italians were
angry about not gaining land
and scared of communist
revolution.
► The
democratic government
appeared weak in handling
inflation and unemployment.
Mussolini in Italy
► Benito
Mussolini promised to
make Italy strong by building an
army and fixing the economy.
► In
1922, 30,000 Fascist
supporters demanded that
Mussolini be put into power, and
the king agreed.
Il Duce (The Leader)
► Mussolini
became the leader and
outlawed all political parties except
the Fascists.
► How




he secured his leadership:
Secret police jailed his
opponents
Radio and newspapers were
censored
Outlawed strikes and labor
unions
Nationalism
The Power of Speech
“All great world-shattering events have
Been brought about….
By the spoken word! “
~Adolf Hitler~
Rise of the Nazis
► The
Nazi Political party believed
that the Treaty of Versailles
should be overturned and that
communism was dangerous.
Adolf Hitler
► Born
1889, high school drop out,
failed artist
► Fought
in WWI and won 2 Iron Cross
awards for bravery
► Joined
the Nazis in 1920 and quickly
became known for speaking ability
Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
► 1923,
Hitler tried to take over the
government but failed and was
arrested for treason.
► Served
9 months in prison during
which he wrote Mein Kampf, a
book that was a blueprint for his
takeover of Germany.
Hitler’s Beliefs
► Hitler’s
beliefs:
 Germans, especially
“Aryans”, people with
blonde hair and blue
eyes were the master
race
 Believed Jews, Slavs,
and Gypsies were
subhuman
 Germans needed to
regain lands lost by
Treaty of Versailles
 Germany was
overcrowded and
needed lebenstraum
(living space)= leads to
the relocation of Jews.
Hitler Gets Power
► 1932,
America stopped loans to Germany, 30% of
Germans were unemployed, and inflation caused
starvation
► Frightened
and upset, Germans wanted a strong
leader and Hitler became Chancellor (1933)
► The
SS (Protection squad) was formed and
murdered Hitler’s enemies. Hitler Youth was
established.
► Hitler
(The Fuhrer) created a totalitarian government