Download Dictators in a Changing World with Comprehension Questions

Dictators in a Changing World
Rise of Fascist Dictators
Before the war, there had been elected assemblies in most countries of
Europe. These assemblies had rarely had much power. It was the
princes, kings or emperors and their advisors who made the final
decisions. Now Europeans had lost faith in their old leaders. The old
system had led them into a useless war. The diplomats at Versailles,
under the leadership of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, wanted to set up
democratic forms of government. But these new democracies had not
grown naturally. As a result, few people knew how to run a country in a
democratic way. Voters had no experience to help them judge the new
politicians.
From left to right: Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy),
Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) and Hideki Tojo (Japan)
For people in Europe, the 1920s were a time of change, insecurity, and
frustration. The Treaty of Versailles was expected to straighten out the
chaos caused by WWI. However, it created as many problems as it
solved. The losers of the war felt they had been unfairly treated. The
winners could not see that they had gained anything. Both had felt
cheated.
A New Map of Europe
The diplomats at the conference in Versailles believed every national
group should have its own country. So they gave lands that had been part
of Germany to Poland and to France. They broke up the Turkish and the
Austrian empires into independent countries. But it was impossible to
draw neat lines and put all Germans and Slavs on one side, all Poles or
Italians on the other. Within the new borders there were still minority
groups. The minorities resented being part of these new countries. The
majority groups feared the smaller nationalities might cause trouble.
Then came the Thirties. The Depression caused huge social, economic,
and political problems in stable democracies like Canada, the United
States, and Britain. In unhappy Europe, the effects were disastrous.
People felt they had to find a way out of the hopelessness, frustration, and
insecurity that surrounded their lives. They were ready to follow a leader
– one who promised better things. They wanted to be told their country
was great – and would become greater. They were prepared to believe
their problems were somebody else’s fault – the foreigners, the
communists, the democrats, the Jews. It was conditions like these that led
to the rise of FASCISM. Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco rode to power on the
backs of broken hopes, fears, poverty and hatred.
Totalitarianism = Fascism
Totalitarian governments in the early
20th century had three basic
characteristics: 1- ruled by a
single ruler (or party) with
unrestricted power. 2- used violence
and intimidation to maintain
power. 3- people were not given
political freedoms, and dissension
was not allowed.
Spanish Dictator Francisco
Franco.
FASCISM IN ITALY
In Italy, Benito Mussolini formed the Fascist party to fight communism and socialism.
Fascists in Black Shirts gathered to listen to their great leader. The Black Shirts were a
sort of uniform. They made the wearers feel like a private army. The “Blackshirts”
broke up trade union meetings and communist rallies with clubs and fist fights. They
conducted a campaign of terror against those who protested their actions. In 1922,
Italian unions called for a general strike. Mussolini said that if the government didn’t
stop the strike, the Fascists would. Fascists from all parts of Italy marched to Rome. In
panic, the king asked Mussolini to form a new government.
Mussolini promised great things for Italy. He introduced an economic program that was
to make Italy self-sufficient. Meanwhile, the Blackshirts continued their bullying tactics
to silence all criticism. Soon Mussolini was dictator of Italy. There was no opposition.
Only Fascists were allowed to run for election.
1.
The Fascist symbol, a bundle of rods
and an axe, was taken from the
ancient Roman Empire. The Rods
represented the power of corporal
punishment and the axe represented
the power of capital punishment.
Japan was the “Land of the Rising
Sun.” On the military ensign, rays
spread from the sun to show how the
armed forces could spread out to
conquer the world.
THE ARMY IN JAPAN
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, army officers prepared their nation
for conquest and empire. The Japanese emperor was considered divine by
his loyal subjects. The Japanese armed forces were responsible to him, not to
the elected government. In the late Twenties, a group of young officers took
control of the army. They dreamt of a vast Pacific empire. They were
supported by businessmen who wanted raw materials and a guaranteed
market for Japanese industry. Government ministers who opposed them
were often assassinated.
STALIN’S RUSSIA
Ten years after the Communist Revolution, Joseph Stalin came to power in the
Soviet Union. He proved to be an able but ruthless dictator. Stalin set up a
“Five year Plan.” Under the plan, Soviet citizens worked and sacrificed
together to expand industry. The plan was exciting because it looked to a
better future. It worked, but the cost was high. Stalin conducted “purges” of
those the police said were against him. They were sent to prison camps in the
Arctic or Siberia. Thousands were executed in secret.
The Hammer and Sickle of the
Communist party symbolize the
power of the workers – The Sickle
was symbolic of the Soviet Union’s
farmers, while the Hammer
represented their factory workers
and labourers.
Franco’s symbol was a crossbow and arrows.
Adapted from the Spanish Coat of Arms, it
represented Military might.
THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
In 1936 General Francisco Franco led a revolt against the government of Spain. The
government was made up of several political groups, including the Communist Party.
Franco wanted to stamp out Communism. He was supported by the army, landowners,
factory owners, members of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Falange (the Spanish
Fascists). Mussolini and Hitler sent help from Italy and Germany. Stalin supported the
government side. The world looked the other way as a democratically elected
government was crushed by Fascist rebels. Some were not content to stand aside.
They formed the International Brigades to fight alongside the government forces.
Among them were 1200 Canadian volunteers who formed the Mackenzie-Papineau
battalion. Other Canadians, especially Roman Catholics, were more worried about
Communism than about Fascism. To avoid offending anyone, the Canadian
government did its best not to get involved. The war lasted 3 years. By 1939, Franco
was dictator of Spain. He ruled Spain until his death in 1975.
Adolf Hitler
In Germany, the leader of the National Socialist (NAZI for short) Party
watched Mussolini’s rise to power with admiration.
Adolf Hitler was born in Austria n 1889. After an unhappy childhood, he
became a homeless drifter. The outbreak of World War I found Hitler in
Germany. He eagerly joined the German army. He proved an able and
courageous soldier.
Germany surrendered in 1918. Soldiers everywhere cheered because
the war was over. Hitler cried because Germany had been beaten. He
swore revenge on the “socialists and Jewish traitors who,” he said, “had
stabbed Germany in the back.” He joined the Nazi party. Its aim was to
rebuild Germany and defeat her enemies. Hitler’s passionate speeches
soon made him the party leader.
Being a Nazi was made exciting. Hitler organized the party on military lines. The Nazis marched through
the streets of German towns in unison with military precision. They had their own salute, their own
uniforms, their own songs and even their own symbol (The Swastika). They listened to stirring speeches
from their leader. The brown-shirted “Storm Troopers” broke up the Communist party meetings, attacked
the homes and businesses of Jews, and struck terror in the hearts of other “traitors.”
Many Germans were not won over. Germany had a new democratic system of
government – with 27 different political parties! By 1933, the Nazis were the largest
party in the German parliament, but they never won a majority in a free election. As
leader of the largest party, Hitler was asked to be Chancellor. He accepted on
condition that he be given dictatorial powers. That evening, the Nazis held torchlight
parades. Swept up in the excitement of the moment, the crowds roared, “Sieg Heil!
SIEG HEIL!” (Hail Victory!)
Why Germans Supported Hitler
Even people who had not voted for
Hitler were glad to see a strong man
in charge. They thought he would
solve the country’s problems. Few
understood his real intentions. Hitler
blamed Germany’s troubles on the
Treaty of Versailles. In many ways he
was right. The treaty demanded that
Germans pay for the war with money
and goods. This had made life
difficult for Germans in the 1920s.
Hitler, his face red with rage, tore the
treaty to shreds before cheering
crowds.
The Depression hit Germany hard.
Perhaps the Nazis could put Germany
back to work. Few Germans like or trusted the new democratic system of government. It had never really
worked. It was easy to blame democracy for Germany’s problems. Hitler promised a return to strong
government. His private army of storm troopers paraded through the streets. They broke up the meeting
of other political parties. Many people supported the Nazis out of fear.
Hitler gave the Germans targets to blame for all their problems. His favourite scapegoats were the
Communists and Jews. The Nazis preached “racial purity”. They claimed Germans were the “Master
Race.” Jews, Slavs, and other minorities were to be regarded as “Impure Aliens.”
Many saw Hitler as an inspiring leader. He had become a brilliant, hypnotizing speaker. Nazi rallies were
full of colourful parades and rousing marching songs. People who attended felt they were part of a great
movement.
And Hitler delivered on his promises. Germany was put back to work. New roads and bridges were built
all over the country. Guns, tanks, warships, planes – all forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles – started to
pour from German factories. Young men flocked into the army. In 1936, they rode the new tanks down the
new highways, across the bridges and into the Rhineland. The Versailles Treaty had declared this part of
Germany to be demilitarized forever, but Germany was on the way back to glory!
Meanwhile, all traces of democracy in Germany were being destroyed. Socialists, democrats,
communists, religious leaders, teachers, scientists – all who spoke out against the Nazis – found
themselves in concentration camps. Jews found they couldn’t get jobs. Instead of the truth, newspapers
printed Nazi propaganda: radios blared it forth. The unions, the schools, the army, even the churches
were under nazi control. The Gestapo, Hitler’s secret police, were everywhere
Dictators in a Changing World/Adolf Hitler
Comprehension Questions
1.
Why did the winners and losers of WWI feel cheated by the
Treaty of Versailles?
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5. Read the textboxes on “Fascism in Italy” and “The Spanish
Civil War.” Record how each of the dictators “Rode to
Power on the backs of broken hopes, fears, poverty and
hatred”.
Picture
Dictator/Country
Benito Mussolini/Italy
2. How was the Post WWI map of Europe an “Ethnic
Nightmare?”
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3. Give two reasons why the conditions were ripe for the rise
of fascist leaders. How did the failure of these “new
democracies” combine with “the Depression” to help these
dictators gain power.
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4. What is FASCISM?
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Francisco Franco/Spain
6.
Although not “Fascist,” Stalin of the USSR and Emperor
Hirohito were two tyrants from the same time period. Read
the section on each of them and record evidence leading
one to believe they were ruthless men.
Picture
Dictator/Country
Joseph Stalin/USSR
9. Describe how the Nazi party behaved:
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10. Why do you think many German citizens supported Hitler?
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1.
Emperor Hirohito/Japan
11. List 4 things Hitler did to rebuild Germany:
a) ___________________________________________________
b) ____________________________________________________
c) ____________________________________________________
d) ____________________________________________________
12. List 5 groups of people who opposed the Nazi party. What
happened to them?
a. _________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________
e. _________________________________________________
7.
When and where was Hitler born?
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8. How did Hitler take Germany’s surrender in 1918? What did
he swear to do? What party did he join? What was his aim?
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13. What was the Gestapo?
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14. Why might young people be attracted to the Nazi party?
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