Download The Rise of Dictators and WWII

The Rise of Dictators
and Totalitarian
Regimes pre- WWII
Section 1: Steps to War
The Rise of Dictators
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Germany was treated severely after WWI
(stripped of territory, forced to disarm,
pay reparations)
Worldwide Depression also hit – many
people looked to new leaders to solve
problems
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Dictators (absolute rulers) seized
power in many countries, which
became totalitarian regimes
Dictator = a ruler with unrestricted
power, without any democratic
restrictions
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Totalitarian state = gov’t uses
intimidation, violence, propaganda, to
rule all aspects of social & political life
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Rise of dictatorships in Italy,
Germany, Japan, Soviet Union after
World War I
The MAJOR Dictators:
-Benito Mussolini in Italy
-Adolf Hitler in Germany
-Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union
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Others:
Emperor Hirohito & Tojo in Japan
Francisco Franco in Spain
Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)
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Communist leader
(Russia became
Communist 1917)
Controlled every
aspect of people’s
lives
Eliminated all
competition to him in
order to stay in power
Stalin cont.
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Focus on building industry & military
(ignoring the needs of the people)
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Restrict media (censorship) & travel
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Secret Police – gov’t controlled courts
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“Great Purge” millions were convicted
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Millions died under Stalin – executions
or labour camps (Gulags in Siberia)
Benito Mussolini (Italy)
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“Il Duce”(the leader)
Preached a
government called
Fascism – includes
intense patriotism
& nationalism
Very much linked
to racism and
cultural superiority
Chauvinist
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“Blackshirts”
Attacked
communists &
socialists
Gained seats
democratically
Then seized power
in a “March on
Rome”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr2swTOI49Q&feature=related
Adolf Hitler (Germany)
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Leader of the Nazi
Party (1921)
Spoke about
German racial
superiority
Wanted revenge
for Germany’s loss
in World War I
Lebensraum
Hitler cont.
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1932 – Nazis largest party
in Reichstag
1933 Hitler becomes
Chancellor
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Eliminates political parties
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Uses secret police(Gestapo)
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Defies T of V
“The Master Race”
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-
Aryans – supposedly “pure” race
Non-Aryans, especially Jewish people,
Roma, Slavs considered inferior – targeted
Targets also included:
mentally & physically handicapped
Communists
Homosexuals
Jews especially targeted:
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•
Nuremberg Laws: - wear star of David
- banned inter-marriage
- limited professions
1938 – Kristallnacht (Crystal night)
-Nazi mobs attacked Jewish homes & businesses
•
Later became illegal to own businesses, or travel
•
Hitler & Himmler institute “Final Solution”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6ddf00iqDM&feature=related
Spain: Francisco Franco 1939-1975
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1936 Fascist rebels
“Nationalists”
overthrow government
Results in 3 yr civil war
1200 Cdn volunteers
(Mac-Paps)
Canada made it illegal
to fight foreign wars
Hitler & Mussolini
support Franco
Japan:
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Emperor Hirohito
Militarists seize control
Hideki Tojo – General
Secret police
Nationalism
Notions of Racial
superiority
expansionist
Dictators Expand Territory =
IMPERIALISM
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1931 – Japan
attacks Manchuria
in northern China
Japan wants more
natural resources
for its growing
population
(Manchuria is rich
in natural
resources)
Italy invades Ethiopia
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1935 – Italy
invaded Ethiopia in
Africa
Mussolini wanted
new areas to
expand his empire
in Africa
Germany Begins Conquests
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1936 – Hitler moves
troops into the
Rhineland (German
region near the French
border)
WWI treaty said no
German troops here
French Gov’t and
League of Nations –
TAKE NO ACTION
German-Italian Alliance
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Germany and Italy
form the Axis Powers
Now – two dictators
with stated goals of
expansion are good
friends
Axis Powers help
Spain’s Fascist
military overthrow its
elected government
(Spanish Civil War)
Mussolini and Hitler
Hitler begins his own Conquests
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1938 – Hitler and the
Germans invade
Austria (most
Austrians spoke
German and
welcomed becoming a
part of Germany)
But…Hitler and the
Germans were
expanding – and the
WWI treaty told them
not to…
The Sudetenland
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After taking Austria
– Hitler wants
more
His next desire is
the Sudetenland
in Czechoslovakia
The Czechs didn’t
want to give this
area to Germany –
nor did France and
Russia
Germany’s Expansion
“Appeasement” at Munich
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The British step in
to offer a peace
and avoid war
British Prime
Minister Neville
Chamberlain meets
with Hitler in
Munich, Germany
• They agree to give
Hitler the
Sudetenland
• Hitler has to
promise he is done
seeking territory
Reactions to Munich
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Neville
Chamberlain, the
British Prime
Minister who came
up with the
agreement, said
that he had
achieved “peace in
our time”
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Winston Churchill,
the future Prime
Minister, said:
“Britain and France
had to choose
between war and
shame. They chose
shame. They will
get war, too.”
Hitler breaks his promise: Germany
Starts the War
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After being given Sudetenland – Hitler
takes the rest of Czechoslovakia
Hitler signs a Non-Aggression Pact with
Stalin and the Soviet Union (they agree to
not make war on each other) – now
France and Britain have lost an ally
Immediately after – Germany invades
Poland (France & Britain declare war on
Germany) WWII officially begins
In summary:
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Causes of WWII: similar to causes of
WWI
Nationalism (Mussolini and Hitler VERY
nationalistic)
Arms Race Germany, Italy and Japan
spent a lot of money building up the
military and formed the Axis Powers
Imperialism- Larger countries continued
to try to gain more land overseas (ex:
Italy takes Ethiopia and Japan takes
Manchuria and Germany takes
Czechoslovakia)
In summary:
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Causes of WWII different from
causes of WWI
Treaty of Versailles-Made Germans
angry
The Great Depression- made
people very poor and desperate for
change. People more willing to
follow dictators.
Causes of WWI and WWII Venn
Diagram
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What were the causes of WWI?
How were they the same or different
from the causes of WWII? Fill out a
Venn Diagram to show the
similarities and differences between
the causes of WWI and WWII.