Totalitarianism

Examines the nature of totalitarianism in fascist Germany and communist Soviet Union (e.g., one party

rule; systematic violation of human rights; secret police; state supremacy over individual rights; role of

private party; class structure).

Fascist Germany

• Nazi Party led by Adolf Hitler • Goal: to create the Third Reich • Human Rights Violated via Concentration Camps,

executions of "undesirables" • Secret Police: SS or Gestapo • Jewish businesses taken over by state; turned

into war factories • Wanted a perfect Aryan race • Military State

Similarities b/n the Two

• Totalitarian rule by dictator • Citizens lived in fear of ruler and being turned

in to secret police • Loss of private property • Lots of executions • State more important than individual citizens • No individual expressions of freedom

Communist Soviet Union• Communist Party led by Josef Stalin • Goal: to have a powerful Soviet Union • Human Rights violated via Gulags, executions of "enemies

of state" • Secret Police: KGB or Cheka • Industry focused on meeting 5 year plans; produced heavy

machinery instead of consumer goods • Small farms taken from farmers; collected into large state-

run farms • Extreme socialism: People loss private property with the

goal of making every equal to one another; abolish class structure; however, Communist leaders became the new "elite" class