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Selling a Totalitarian System • Nobody really wins WWI • Everyone loses • Especially Germany & her Allies Post War • Treaty of Versailles • Germany to pay reparation until 1988 • Clash of Political Philosophies • Socialists and Communists –Focus on working class needs • Fascists –Parliamentary rule: Weak and unstable… chaotic • Marx – left • Rousseau – left/Center • Smith – Right/Center • Hobbes – Right • Left – Socialism/Communism • Center – Democracies • Right – Theocracies, Authoritarian Fascism • Define themselves more by what they’re against • Strong leader - restore order • Don’t settle for traditional power • Go for popular power • Expand national borders • Fulfill “historical destiny” • Get rid of outsiders & undesirables Conditions in Europe • Middle class economic frustrations • Upper class – fears socialism • Anti-Parliamentarianism –Poor economy • Aggressive Nationalism –Why? • Everyone is a victim after WWI Hyper-Inflation • England – Prices are 3 times higher in 1920 than before war • Germany – 5 times higher • Austria – 14,000 times • Hungary – 23,000 times War Reparations Impact • 1921 – Allies give Germany the bill • $33 Billion • German Currency: 4 marks=$1 • After Bill received: 75 marks=$1 • By 1922: 400 DM = $1 • Germans ask for postponement • French Refuse • Germans default on payments • French occupy Ruhr Valley lots of industry located there January 1923 After French Army Occupation • Feb. 1923: 18,000dm = $1 • July 1923: 160,000dm = $1 • Aug. 1923: 1,000,000dm = $1 • Nov. 1923: 4,000,000,000dm = $1 Europe ripe for Communism? • England – 1% of population owns 2/3 of national wealth • 1/10th of 1% owns 1/3 wealth • Germany – Weimar Republic –Very weak… Adolf Hitler • Born 1889 in Braunau, Austria • (or perhaps in 1919, Versailles?) • Teacher Quote • Quit school – 1905 • Either refused admission or rejected at Academy of Arts, Vienna • Moved to Vienna, listed in city directory in 1914: • “painter and architect” (aka Mass Murderer) Hitler’s Mommy & Daddy • Hitler on left (under “x”) dog is his pet during war: “Fuchsl” until it was stolen from him Iron Cross - 1918 • Rare among foot soldiers… • Lieutenant who recommended him was Jewish • Received 5 medals total • Suffered injury in Chlorine Gas attack by the British Munich 1919 • Hitler joins German Workers’ Party • Next year, became leader • Renamed it: National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NAZI) • Started to call him “Fuhrer” or leader in this organization This ain’t no disco • Nazi’s organized paramilitary branch: Sturmabteilungen… or S.A. (Stormtroopers) – 1921 • Led by Ernst Rohm (1887-1934) Ernst Rohm 1923 – Beer Hall Putsch • After slamming down a few pints they attempt to take power • Seize power in Munich… then push on to Berlin • Crushed and imprisoned • Hitler got 5 years (served less than 1) • Wrote book in prison, Mein Kampf Left Prison • On Parole • Forbidden to speak in public until 1927 • Faced with possible deportation back to Austria (he wasn’t a German citizen) Anschluss — March 1938 • Hitler works with Austria to allow for a “union” • Threatened with war… Austria agreed • Austrian Govt taken over by Austrian Fascists • Crowds greet Nazi Army with flags • Anschluss forbidden under Treaty of Versailles Anschluss • Nazis arrest 70,000+ • Vienna crowd beats up Jews Secret plans for Czech • Drew up plans to invade Czech on October 1st • Sudetenland – 50% german • Army Leadership shocked… not willing to invade at first • Germans – 31 divisions • Czech – 45 (1 million soldiers) • France – 100 divisions Top Brass plans to arrest Hitler • Top Generals drew up plan to try to arrest Hitler… • Depends on Allied pressure against Hitler Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) • Became British Prime Minister in 1931 • Meets with Hitler in Sept. 15th 1938 • First time on plane First Impressions? • Hitler tells Chamberlain of German pain in Sudetenland • Chamberlain asks him to delay • Chamberlain on Hitler: “In spite of the hardness and ruthlessness I thought I saw in his face, I got the impression that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word.” Britain and France agree to give in • Flew back on Sept. 22nd • Hitler moves the target – wants more! • Meet once more… Sept. 29th Mussolini, Chamberlain, Hitler, and Daladier… in Munich • Sign Munich Agreement on 30th • German Army can occupy Sudetenland Munich Conference “I have secured Peace” Meanwhile… Daladier October 1st 1938 • Nazi Army occupies Sudetenland • Austria (no fighting) – Anschluss • Sudetenland – military occupation… no fighting • Kick out all non-Germans “Our enemies are little worms” Kristallnacht • Night of Broken Glass Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) • Comes to power 1922 • Promises Second Roman Empire • Mare Nostrum = Med. Sea… “our lake” Benito the Bully • Bully in school • Quick with fists and knife • Once stabbed a girlfriend • Brother died in 1931 • Afterwards he said, “keep your heart a desert” marx and Nietzche • Joined army • Called himself a socialist • Became a political journalist • Protested Italian war in libya Editor of Avanti • Italian Socialist Paper • 1914 – denounced War • Then, flipped sides on the issue a few months later “Only Blood makes the wheels of History turn” • He thought Nietzche was a stronger man than Marx • Elected to Parliament in 1921 along with other fascists • Blamed communists for their problems in Italy • Violence begins in streets • Mussolini elected as leader Il Duce • Mussolini calls himself this • Presents himself as protector of law and order • “Italy would fulfill its historic destiny”… he would say (Marx) King –vs- Coup d’etat • Mussolini has 40,000 fascists • They begin to march on Rome • Want more Fascists on Cabinet • King gives in… Makes Mussolini Prime Minister (Oct. 29, 1922) “Il Duce ha sempre ragione!” • “Mussolini is always right!” • Sound familiar?… Animal farm • Il Duce encouraged people to use this phrase • Italian journalists required to use capitalization of pronouns when referring to Him… He… His • Italians, when 18, took oath to obey him mixed support • Those who thought well of him in the beginning? –George Bernard Shaw –Sigmund Freud –Ezra Pound –Time Magazine (8 covers) –The French?… –Hell no!! Called him, “Carnival Caesar” His Pre-war Record • Economy • Italian Society • Literacy? Pathetically low • In south, 20% of brides could not even sign their names on Marriage License (1936) mistress – C. Petacci