The Rise of Dictators and The Rise of Dictators and World War II AggressionWorld War II Aggression

TOTALITARIANISMTOTALITARIANISM(a govt. that has total control over its people)(a govt. that has total control over its people)

CommunismCommunism government government owns the owns the businesses businesses and landand land Soviet Soviet UnionUnion

Shared Characteristics• extreme nationalism• one strong leader• one political party • strong military• secret police• censorship• propaganda• indoctrination (teaching young people accepted ideas of the govt.)

Fascism• individual people own the businesses and land• Germany, Italy

Absolute Dictators – Methods of Absolute Dictators – Methods of ControlControl

Dictators often used Dictators often used propaganda tools to propaganda tools to maintain power maintain power (books, radio, the (books, radio, the press, films)press, films)

People were People were forbidden from forbidden from criticizing their criticizing their governmentgovernment

Nazi PropagandaNazi Propaganda

Benito Mussolini (Italy)Benito Mussolini (Italy) Preached a government Preached a government

called called FascismFascism – – movement emphasizing movement emphasizing loyalty to the state and its loyalty to the state and its leaderleader

Deeply anti-Communist; Deeply anti-Communist; strong support for Italian strong support for Italian corporationscorporations

Deep desire to make Italy Deep desire to make Italy a great world powera great world power

Active Secret Police would Active Secret Police would jail political opponentsjail political opponents

Linked to racism and Linked to racism and cultural superioritycultural superiority

Mussolini called himself “IL DUCE” (The Chief)

Adolf Hitler (Germany)Adolf Hitler (Germany) Joined politics after WWI Joined politics after WWI

– wanted to avenge – wanted to avenge Germany’s lossGermany’s loss

Organized Nazi Party; Organized Nazi Party; tried to seize power in tried to seize power in 1923 – but was arrested1923 – but was arrested

While in prison – wrote While in prison – wrote Mein KampfMein Kampf

Spoke about Germany Spoke about Germany racial superiority (German racial superiority (German Aryans were superior; all Aryans were superior; all others – like Jews, Slavs, others – like Jews, Slavs, Gypsies – were inferior)Gypsies – were inferior)

Stated German need for Stated German need for LebensraumLebensraum – living – living spacespace

Hitler in PowerHitler in Power During 1920s-30s – a During 1920s-30s – a

severe depression in severe depression in Germany, Civil War broke Germany, Civil War broke outout

Politicians in Germany Politicians in Germany believed they could use believed they could use Hitler – so the German Hitler – so the German president named him president named him Chancellor in 1933Chancellor in 1933

Once in office, he used fear Once in office, he used fear effectively to allow the effectively to allow the Nazis to win a majority in Nazis to win a majority in Parliament (Reichstag Parliament (Reichstag Building Fire)Building Fire)

Rule became known as Rule became known as “The Third Reich”“The Third Reich”

Hitler’s PoliciesHitler’s Policies

Banned all political Banned all political partiesparties

Created a black-Created a black-uniformed, secret uniformed, secret police unit called the police unit called the SS (Schutzstaffel)SS (Schutzstaffel)

Massive building Massive building program put millions program put millions to work – ending the to work – ending the Depression in Depression in GermanyGermany

Hitler’s War on the Jews and other Hitler’s War on the Jews and other racesraces Nazi beliefs stressed the Nazi beliefs stressed the

“purity” of the Aryan race“purity” of the Aryan race Policies enacted to “purify” the Policies enacted to “purify” the

German race (sterilization of German race (sterilization of undesirables like mentally ill undesirables like mentally ill and disabled)and disabled)

Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism (hatred of the (hatred of the Jews) was a major part of Nazi Jews) was a major part of Nazi beliefsbeliefs

Jews were used as Jews were used as scapegoats (blamed for scapegoats (blamed for Germany’s problems) – Germany’s problems) – especially blamed for especially blamed for Germany’s economic Germany’s economic problems after WWIproblems after WWI

Nuremberg LawsNuremberg Laws deprived deprived Jews of their citizenshipJews of their citizenship

Nazis first attempted isolating Nazis first attempted isolating Jews in ghettos, then resorted Jews in ghettos, then resorted to official, blatant attacks on to official, blatant attacks on Jewish homes and Jewish homes and synagoguessynagogues

The Versailles TreatyThe Versailles Treaty

A Weak League of Nations

A Weak League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations

The Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations

No control of major conflicts.No control of major conflicts. No progress in disarmament.No progress in disarmament. No effective military force.No effective military force.

The “Stab-In-The-Back” TheoryThe “Stab-In-The-Back” Theory

German soldiers are German soldiers are dissatisfied.dissatisfied.

International AgreementsInternational Agreements

Locarno Pact – 1925Locarno Pact – 1925 France, Germany, Great France, Germany, Great

Britain, Britain, Italy Italy Guarantee existing frontiersGuarantee existing frontiers Establish DMZ 30 miles deep on Establish DMZ 30 miles deep on

East East bank of Rhine River bank of Rhine River

Refrain from aggression against Refrain from aggression against each each other other

Kellogg-Briand Pact – 1928Kellogg-Briand Pact – 1928 Makes war illegal as a tool of Makes war illegal as a tool of

diplomacy diplomacy No enforcement provisionsNo enforcement provisions

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

Movements Toward WarMovements Toward WarWe need to understand the We need to understand the

“Aggressiveness” in four “Aggressiveness” in four countries/events to discover how and countries/events to discover how and

why the war beganwhy the war began

*Japan*Japan*Italy*Italy

*Spain*Spain*Germany*Germany

New Government for JapanNew Government for Japan

Japan seemed peaceful and had a Japan seemed peaceful and had a democratic government in the 1920sdemocratic government in the 1920s

However, few in government could control However, few in government could control the military (who reported directly to the the military (who reported directly to the emperor)emperor)

When hard economic times hit Japan When hard economic times hit Japan (caused by the Depression), the military (caused by the Depression), the military installed a new government that was installed a new government that was centered around the Emperorcentered around the Emperor – who the – who the military would rule in the name ofmilitary would rule in the name of

Goals for Japan’s MilitaristsGoals for Japan’s Militarists

Expand empire overseasExpand empire overseas Improve economy through imperialismImprove economy through imperialism Begin a Pacific Empire that included ChinaBegin a Pacific Empire that included China

BENEFITS OF THE EMPIRE ARE…BENEFITS OF THE EMPIRE ARE…Could access much needed raw materialsCould access much needed raw materialsCould have an empire that included billions of Could have an empire that included billions of

people to trade withpeople to trade withNew empire would give “living space” for New empire would give “living space” for

rising populationrising population

Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931

Japan Invades Manchuria, 1931

Japan’s invasionsJapan’s invasions

1931 – Japan invaded 1931 – Japan invaded Manchuria (Northeastern Manchuria (Northeastern China - rich in natural China - rich in natural resources)resources) League of Nations League of Nations

protested action, but did protested action, but did nothing to stop Japannothing to stop Japan

Japan left League of Japan left League of Nations in 1933Nations in 1933

1937 – Japan invaded 1937 – Japan invaded China (captured Beijing China (captured Beijing and Nanjing – where and Nanjing – where thousands of civilians thousands of civilians were killed) – “Rape of were killed) – “Rape of Nanjing”Nanjing”

ManchuriaManchuria

Mussolini’s DiscontentMussolini’s Discontent

Mussolini saw the League Mussolini saw the League of Nations do nothing to of Nations do nothing to stop Japanstop Japan

Envious of Britain & Envious of Britain & France’s Africa holdingsFrance’s Africa holdings

Invasion of Ethiopia in Invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 – the spears and 1935 – the spears and swords of Ethiopia no swords of Ethiopia no match for tanks, guns, and match for tanks, guns, and planes of Italyplanes of Italy

League of Nations – no League of Nations – no action taken to stop Italyaction taken to stop Italy

Germany PreparesGermany Prepares

1935 – Hitler 1935 – Hitler announces that announces that Germany will start to Germany will start to rearm their militaryrearm their military

1936 – Confident by 1936 – Confident by lack of response, Hitler lack of response, Hitler ordered troops to re-ordered troops to re-conquer the Rhineland conquer the Rhineland (Buffer zone between (Buffer zone between Germany and France)Germany and France)

German-Italian AllianceGerman-Italian Alliance

Germany and Italy Germany and Italy form the form the Axis PowersAxis Powers in 1936in 1936

Now – two dictators Now – two dictators with stated goals of with stated goals of expansion are good expansion are good friendsfriends

Japan soon joined the Japan soon joined the alliance as wellalliance as well

Mussolini and Hitler

Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War

Gen. Francisco Gen. Francisco Franco (Fascist) Franco (Fascist) revolted against the revolted against the elected government in elected government in 19361936

Civil War lasted for Civil War lasted for three yearsthree years

With Italy and With Italy and Germany’s help – Germany’s help – Fascists won in Spain Fascists won in Spain by 1939by 1939

La GuernicaLa Guernica

Hitler Expands EmpireHitler Expands Empire

1938 – Hitler and the 1938 – Hitler and the Germans invaded Austria Germans invaded Austria (most Austrians spoke (most Austrians spoke German and welcomed German and welcomed becoming a part of becoming a part of Germany)Germany)

But…Hitler and the But…Hitler and the Germans were expanding Germans were expanding – and Versailles told them – and Versailles told them not tonot to

Britain and France do Britain and France do nothingnothing

The SudetenlandThe Sudetenland After taking Austria – After taking Austria –

Hitler wanted moreHitler wanted more His next desire is the His next desire is the

SudetenlandSudetenland in in CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

Small area of Western Small area of Western Czech where many Czech where many German-speakers livedGerman-speakers lived

The Czechs didn’t want The Czechs didn’t want to give this area to to give this area to Germany – nor did Germany – nor did France and RussiaFrance and Russia

““Appeasement” at MunichAppeasement” at Munich The British step in to The British step in to

offer a peace and offer a peace and avoid waravoid war

British Prime Minister British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain meets with Hitler in meets with Hitler in Munich, GermanyMunich, Germany They agree to give They agree to give

Hitler the SudetenlandHitler the Sudetenland Hitler has to promise Hitler has to promise

he is done seeking he is done seeking territoryterritory

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938

Now we have peace in our time! Herr Hitler is a man we can do

business with.

Now we have peace in our time! Herr Hitler is a man we can do

business with.

British Prime Minister Neville British Prime Minister Neville ChamberlainChamberlain

Reactions to MunichReactions to Munich Neville ChamberlainNeville Chamberlain, ,

the British Prime the British Prime Minister who came up Minister who came up with the agreement, with the agreement, said that he had said that he had achieved “achieved “peace in peace in our timeour time””

Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill, the , the future Prime Minister, future Prime Minister, said: “Britain and said: “Britain and France had to choose France had to choose between war and between war and shame. They chose shame. They chose shame. They will get shame. They will get war, too.”war, too.”

Hitler breaks his promise: Germany Hitler breaks his promise: Germany Starts the WarStarts the War

After being given Sudetenland – Hitler takes the After being given Sudetenland – Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakiarest of Czechoslovakia

Hitler signs a Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin Hitler signs a Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin and the Soviet Union (they agree to not make and the Soviet Union (they agree to not make war on each other) – now France and Britain war on each other) – now France and Britain have lost an ally in Stalinhave lost an ally in Stalin

Immediately after – Germany invades Poland Immediately after – Germany invades Poland (France & Britain declare war on Germany) (France & Britain declare war on Germany) WWII officially beginsWWII officially begins

Hitler breaks his promise: Germany Hitler breaks his promise: Germany Starts the WarStarts the War

After being given After being given Sudetenland – Hitler Sudetenland – Hitler takes the rest of takes the rest of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

Hitler signs a Hitler signs a Non-Non-Aggression PactAggression Pact with with Stalin and the Soviet Stalin and the Soviet Union (they agree to not Union (they agree to not make war on each other) make war on each other) – now France and Britain – now France and Britain have have lostlost an ally in Stalin an ally in Stalin

Immediately after – Immediately after – Germany invades Poland Germany invades Poland (France & Britain declare (France & Britain declare war on Germany) WWII war on Germany) WWII officially beginsofficially begins

The Non-Aggression Pact was publicly a peace treaty, but in reality just a ploy by Hitler and Stalin to divide up Eastern Europe