WWII

Axis Leaders

Italy: Benito Mussolini

Fascism in ItalyA. Totalitarian gov’t rose from the

failures of WWI.B. Benito Mussolini had fought and

been wounded in WWI.C. Great speaker, he began to attract

followers.D. 1919 formed the Fascist Party

E. Called himself Il Duce (the leader)

F. Used gangs of thugs known as Blackshirts to terrorize those who opposed him.

G.Vowed to end economic poverty—outlawed political parties, ended elections, became dictatorship.

H.At first Mussolini received praise from European countries, they soon regret this praise.

I. Had plans to form a new Roman Empire.

J. October 1935—invades Ethiopia, by 1936 Ethiopia was under Italian control.

Japan: Emperor Hirohito1926-1989

Prime Minister Tōjō Hideki1941-1944

Japan Builds an Empire

A.Early 20th century- Japan to increases its sphere of influence.

B. a military dictatorship soon takes control of government.

C. With a booming population and Japan required more resources.

• Manchurian Incident--Japan staged Chinese attack.--Created a “puppet state”.

D. Led to an invasion of China and a stalemate that lasted until 1939.

E. Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere– Japan’s plan to liberate Asia from Western Colonizers.

Germany: Adolf Hitler

Hitler’s Nazi GermanyA. 1919 Hitler joins National

Socialist German Workers Party or the Nazi Party

B. Nazism—form of fascism that involved Hitler’s ideas of German nationalism and racial superiority.

C.Powerful public speaking ability quickly made him leader of the Nazi Party.

D.Spoke openly of German humiliation during WWI.

E. November 1923 Hitler and 3,000 follows attempt to overthrow German Gov’t.

F. Given 5 years in prison.

G.While in prison Hitler writes Mein Kampf—outlines ideas and plans for Nazi Germany.

H.Called for among many things purifying the Aryan Race.

I. 1930’s Great Depression hits the world.

J. People look to political leaders for help.

K.Hitler and the Nazi’s promise to stabilize the country, rebuild the economy, and restore the empire lost in WWI.

Allied Leaders

Great Britain: Neville Chamberlain (1937-40)

Great Britain: Winston Churchill1940-1945, 1951-1955

                                    

Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin

Stalin’s Soviet UnionA. Lenin’s worldwide Communist

revolution never occurred.B. Stalin takes over after Lenin’s

death in 1924.--Stalin’s Economic PlansA. Modernize agriculture

Stalin’s Soviet UnionA. Lenin’s worldwide Communist

revolution never occurred.B. Stalin takes over after Lenin’s

death in 1924.--Stalin’s Economic PlansA. Modernize agriculture

B.He wanted farmers to combine family farms into farms run by the state (country). –collective farms.

C.State takeover of land took several years– resistance was met with confiscation of food—also sent to labor camps

D. Collectivization led to loss of human lives and shortage of food—rationing.

--Stalin’s Reign of TerrorA.Purges- elimination of enemies.B.Great Purge began in 1934 w/

local party officials and farmers

CC.By 1939 more than 7million

arrested at all levels of society.D. A million were executed and

millions more were sent to labor camps.

E. Purges did eliminate threats to Stalin– real or imagined.

United States: Franklin D. Roosevelt

France: Charles deGaulle(Resistance)