Topic 15

The Inter-war Period: Civilization at Crossroads

World Civilization and Culture

The Inter-war Period (1919 to 1939)

Unjust treaties led to political instability & extremism

Emergence of various totalitarian ideologies

Failure of World War I & peace treaties to resolve the problems that caused World War I

A Political system in which A Political system in which nearly every aspect of public nearly every aspect of public and private life is controlled and private life is controlled

by the stateby the state

TotalitarianisTotalitarianismm

Totalitarianism: main Totalitarianism: main featuresfeatures

Rule by a single political party or Rule by a single political party or groupgroupRuling party controlled by a single Ruling party controlled by a single individual - ‘personality cult’ individual - ‘personality cult’

Suspension of freedom and democratic rightsSuspension of freedom and democratic rights

Unlimited power of the stateUnlimited power of the state

Violent suppression of all Violent suppression of all oppositionopposition

Three types of totalitarian Three types of totalitarian ideologiesideologies

FascisFascismm

NazisNazismm

BolshevisBolshevismm

Three totalitarian leaders

Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler Josef Stalin

Fascism

FascismIdeology representing the extreme right

Reaction of Italian rightists against the rise of socialismweakness of democratic forces

First introduced in Italy under Benito Mussolini

Popularity of Fascist Party among upper & middle classes

Controlled Italy for over twenty years

All characteristics of totalitarianism Creation of a ‘corporate state’: an attempt to merge economic & social interests of different classes & groups with the interests of the state

Features of FascismFeatures of Fascism

Nazism

Defeat of Germany in World War I and Defeat of Germany in World War I and Humiliation caused by the Versailles TreatyHumiliation caused by the Versailles Treaty

Factors behind the rise of Factors behind the rise of NazismNazism

Failure of Failure of democracydemocracyEconomic difficulties: the war & the Great Economic difficulties: the war & the Great DepressionDepressionRise of socialism – fear among the German upper & Rise of socialism – fear among the German upper & middle classesmiddle classes

Nazi party under Adolf Hitler took over power in Nazi party under Adolf Hitler took over power in 19331933

All characteristics of totalitarianismSpecial Features

Features of NazismFeatures of Nazism

Jews condemned as inferior people – hated & Jews condemned as inferior people – hated & killedkilled

Germans were claimed to be the best Germans were claimed to be the best racerace

Racial pride: “pure Aryans” – the best Racial pride: “pure Aryans” – the best racerace

Genocide of Jews: “Holocaust” - Genocide of Jews: “Holocaust” - 5.6 million to 5.6 million to 5.9 million Jews (including 1.5 million children) 5.9 million Jews (including 1.5 million children) systemically killed systemically killed

The Holocaust

Organizers of Holocaust

General Reinhardt HeydrichHimmler

Nazism - a more developed version of Nazism - a more developed version of FascismFascism

Both were basically Fascist ideologiesBoth were basically Fascist ideologies

Comparison between Fascism & NazismComparison between Fascism & Nazism

Hammer and sickleHammer and sickle

Introduced in Russia through a socialist Introduced in Russia through a socialist revolution known as October Revolution revolution known as October Revolution (October, 1917)(October, 1917)

Bolshevism: a form of Marxian Bolshevism: a form of Marxian socialismsocialism

Karl MarxKarl Marx

Abolishing exploitation of man by Abolishing exploitation of man by manman

Goals of October Goals of October RevolutionRevolution

Establishing social Establishing social justicejustice

LeadersLeaders

Josef StalinJosef Stalin

V.I. LeninV.I. Lenin

V.I. Lenin Josef Stalin

Basic Basic featuresfeatures

All basic characteristics ofAll basic characteristics of totalitarianism, but different fromtotalitarianism, but different from Fascism and Nazism – a leftist ideologyFascism and Nazism – a leftist ideology

MilitarisMilitarismm

Adoption of militarism as state policy by Adoption of militarism as state policy by Totalitarian ideologies – war seen as a solution Totalitarian ideologies – war seen as a solution to all problemsto all problemsMilitary power given highest priority – Military power given highest priority – suppression of libertysuppression of liberty

ChauvinismChauvinism

Extreme form of Extreme form of nationalismnationalismPromoted by the Nazis: Claim of German racial Promoted by the Nazis: Claim of German racial superioritysuperiority

Chauvinism - a dangerous political weapon for Chauvinism - a dangerous political weapon for dominating other nationsdominating other nations

Causes of World War IICauses of World War II

Unresolved conflicts between old & new Unresolved conflicts between old & new imperialist countriesimperialist countries

Aggressive policies followed by Aggressive policies followed by Germany & Italy - Rapid increase of Germany & Italy - Rapid increase of military strengthmilitary strength

Failure of the Treaty of VersaillesFailure of the Treaty of Versailles

Lack of trust & cooperation among anti-fascist Lack of trust & cooperation among anti-fascist forcesforcesPolicy of Policy of appeasementappeasement

Arthur Neville Chamberlain

Signing Ceremony of Munich Pact

Signing of Munich Pact

Policy of Appeasement

The Second World WarThe Second World War

Germany attacked Poland on September 1, Germany attacked Poland on September 1, 19391939On September 3, Britain & France declared war on On September 3, Britain & France declared war on GermanyGermanyGermany attacked Soviet Union on June 22, Germany attacked Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 1941

Hitler takes salute Hitler and Mussolini

Edge of a War

German soldiers destroying Polish border checkpoint on September 1939

Soviet troops move into Poland

Beginning of the War

German Ship Bismarck burnt Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor

War in the Sea

German Junkers_Ju87

German Me 110 fighter plane.

French Renault_FT-17 Tank

British Cannon

War Weapons

“Fat Man”

Atomic bombs

“Little Boy”

The aftermathThe aftermath

“Atomic Mushroom” over NagasakiRuins of Hiroshima

ConclusioConclusion n Totalitarianism: causing violence & suffering for Totalitarianism: causing violence & suffering for people all over the world people all over the world

World War II: the most tragic war in human World War II: the most tragic war in human history - Enormous economic & human losseshistory - Enormous economic & human losses

Explosion of two atomic Explosion of two atomic bombsbombsSecond World War significantly changed Second World War significantly changed modern civilization: Beginning of a new phase modern civilization: Beginning of a new phase in civilizationin civilization