The Rise of TotalitarianismThe Rise of Totalitarianism
Benito Mussolini
Adolf Hitler Francisco Franco
Hideki TojoJoseph Stalin
Totalitarianism vs. Authoritarianism
Totalitarianism vs. Authoritarianism
• 'Authoritarian' refers to the structure of government rather than to society.
• Totalitarian regimes seek to control virtually all aspects of the social life.– Including: economy, education, art,
science, private life and morals of citizens.
• 'Authoritarian' refers to the structure of government rather than to society.
• Totalitarian regimes seek to control virtually all aspects of the social life.– Including: economy, education, art,
science, private life and morals of citizens.
Rise of Totalitarianism
Rise of Totalitarianism
• Totalitarianism can be traced back to the Great War.– Attrition made required total effort– War required all institutions &
individuals to subordinate their interests to victory
• Russia (1917), Italy (1922), Germany (1933), Spain (1939), Japan (1926)
• Totalitarianism can be traced back to the Great War.– Attrition made required total effort– War required all institutions &
individuals to subordinate their interests to victory
• Russia (1917), Italy (1922), Germany (1933), Spain (1939), Japan (1926)
RussiaRussia
• Vladimir Lenin & emergence of USSR– After the Revolution in 1917 the Bolsheviks
& Lenin had solidified control by 1923.
• Lenin died in 1924 Joseph Stalin rose to power in Soviet Russia
• Stalin pursued the policy of subordinating the individual to the ‘party’.
• Vladimir Lenin & emergence of USSR– After the Revolution in 1917 the Bolsheviks
& Lenin had solidified control by 1923.
• Lenin died in 1924 Joseph Stalin rose to power in Soviet Russia
• Stalin pursued the policy of subordinating the individual to the ‘party’.
StalinismStalinism• “Stalinism”- Stalin’s style for the Soviet
government– Stalin
• Rejected dissent • Stalin = sole interpreter• World wide Communist revolution post-poned
– Economic Changes• Rapid Industrialization (Five Year Plans) • Collectivization of Agriculture
– Effective BUT…
– Purges•Millions killed•Guilty executed or sent to Gulag
• “Stalinism”- Stalin’s style for the Soviet government– Stalin
• Rejected dissent • Stalin = sole interpreter• World wide Communist revolution post-poned
– Economic Changes• Rapid Industrialization (Five Year Plans) • Collectivization of Agriculture
– Effective BUT…
– Purges•Millions killed•Guilty executed or sent to Gulag
Italy & WWI Italy & WWI
• WWI leaves Italy with many problems:– Heavy debts– Did not receive the
land promised by France & G.B.
– Rising unemployment led to unrest, particularly in cities.
• WWI leaves Italy with many problems:– Heavy debts– Did not receive the
land promised by France & G.B.
– Rising unemployment led to unrest, particularly in cities.
March on RomeMarch on RomeMarch on Rome: October, 1922
– Coup d'état Mussolini's National Fascist Party rise to power in Italy
– Ousted Prime Minister– King Victor Emmanuel III handed power to
Mussolini. • Mussolini widely supported by military, business, & liberal
right-wing.
• Mussolini quickly moved to establish dictatorship
March on Rome: October, 1922– Coup d'état Mussolini's National Fascist Party
rise to power in Italy – Ousted Prime Minister– King Victor Emmanuel III handed power to
Mussolini. • Mussolini widely supported by military, business, & liberal
right-wing.
• Mussolini quickly moved to establish dictatorship
FascismFascism• Fascism is a combination of many
ideas– Corporatism: Power exercised through
large organizations (businesses, trade unions) working with each other, directed by the state
– Syndicalism: bringing industry & gov’t under control of labor unions
– Nationalism, Expansionism, Social Progress, Anti-Communism in combination with censorship & state propaganda
– Ideas of racial superiority
• Fascism is a combination of many ideas– Corporatism: Power exercised through
large organizations (businesses, trade unions) working with each other, directed by the state
– Syndicalism: bringing industry & gov’t under control of labor unions
– Nationalism, Expansionism, Social Progress, Anti-Communism in combination with censorship & state propaganda
– Ideas of racial superiority
Nationalism, Race &Fascism
Nationalism, Race &Fascism
• Struggle of nation & race fundamental in society– Communists emphasized class struggle
• Nations bind people by their ancestry • Nations are natural & good
• Fascism sought to solve economic, political, and social problems via ‘national rebirth’– Celebrates the nation & race above all else,– Cults of unity, strength and purity.
• Struggle of nation & race fundamental in society– Communists emphasized class struggle
• Nations bind people by their ancestry • Nations are natural & good
• Fascism sought to solve economic, political, and social problems via ‘national rebirth’– Celebrates the nation & race above all else,– Cults of unity, strength and purity.
Communism FascismCommunism Fascism1. History = class
struggle2. Nations are
arbitrary class should unite the world
3. Global viewpoint4. Gov’t runs industry
1. History = class struggle
2. Nations are arbitrary class should unite the world
3. Global viewpoint4. Gov’t runs industry
1. Struggle between nations & races
2. Nations are natural thus national pride is emphasized
3. National viewpoint4. Gov’t has some
control over industry
1. Struggle between nations & races
2. Nations are natural thus national pride is emphasized
3. National viewpoint4. Gov’t has some
control over industry
Germany: Weimar Republic
Germany: Weimar Republic
• A parliamentary republic established in 1919.
• Faced numerous problems– Hyperinflation– Political extremists – War Reparations
• Collapsed in the early 1930s
• A parliamentary republic established in 1919.
• Faced numerous problems– Hyperinflation– Political extremists – War Reparations
• Collapsed in the early 1930s
Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler• Austrian-born German • Decorated WWI veteran• Leader of the National Socilaist
German Workers Party (NSDAP) better known as the Nazi Party
• Austrian-born German • Decorated WWI veteran• Leader of the National Socilaist
German Workers Party (NSDAP) better known as the Nazi Party
HitlerHitler
• By 1921 Hitler & Oratory ability• Nazi Party: Centered in Munich
– German nationalist movement
• S.A. (Sturmabteilung)– Stormtroopers/”brown shirts”– Paramilitary organization
• S.S. (Schutzstaffel)– Stormtroopers loyal to Hitler
• Gestapo: official secret police of Nazi Germany
• By 1921 Hitler & Oratory ability• Nazi Party: Centered in Munich
– German nationalist movement
• S.A. (Sturmabteilung)– Stormtroopers/”brown shirts”– Paramilitary organization
• S.S. (Schutzstaffel)– Stormtroopers loyal to Hitler
• Gestapo: official secret police of Nazi Germany
Beer Hall PutschNovember, 1923
Beer Hall PutschNovember, 1923
• Failed Coup attempt• Hitler wanted to emulate the March on
Rome• November 8th: Declares a new
government in a Beer Hall• November 9th –The March Begins
– To Bavarian War Ministry– Clash with police and march destroyed
• Failed Coup attempt• Hitler wanted to emulate the March on
Rome• November 8th: Declares a new
government in a Beer Hall• November 9th –The March Begins
– To Bavarian War Ministry– Clash with police and march destroyed
Arrest, Trial, PrisonArrest, Trial, Prison• Hitler arrested for High Treason• Trial
• Uses trial as a platform• Gains noteriety & popularity
• April 1924 – Sentenced to 5 years – Served less than one year
• Mein Kampf: “My Struggle”– Part Autobiography part political rant– Helps spread his ideas.
• Hitler arrested for High Treason• Trial
• Uses trial as a platform• Gains noteriety & popularity
• April 1924 – Sentenced to 5 years – Served less than one year
• Mein Kampf: “My Struggle”– Part Autobiography part political rant– Helps spread his ideas.
Strategy of LegalityStrategy of Legality• Hitler changed his strategy to come
to power.• The Strategy of Legality:
– adhere to the rules of Weimar – Use the institutions of Weimar Republic
to destroy it/come to power
• Hitler changed his strategy to come to power.
• The Strategy of Legality: – adhere to the rules of Weimar – Use the institutions of Weimar Republic
to destroy it/come to power
Depression, ElectionDepression, Election• By 1930 the Depression strikes
Germany • President Paul von Hindenburg ran
for re-election in 1932 – The only one who could defeat Hitler– Wins election– Has difficulty fending off Nazis
• 1933 Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor of Germany
• By 1930 the Depression strikes Germany
• President Paul von Hindenburg ran for re-election in 1932 – The only one who could defeat Hitler– Wins election– Has difficulty fending off Nazis
• 1933 Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor of Germany
Reichstag FireReichstag Fire• February 1933: Reichstag set on fire• The fire began Hitler’s rise to total
power– Reichstag Fire Decree (February ‘33)
• Suspends civil liberties.– Enabling Act (March ’33)
• Parliament gave Hitler's legislative powers.
– Hindenburg dies (August ’34)• Hitler declared the office of President
vacant • Hitler makes himself head of state or "
Führer”
• February 1933: Reichstag set on fire• The fire began Hitler’s rise to total
power– Reichstag Fire Decree (February ‘33)
• Suspends civil liberties.– Enabling Act (March ’33)
• Parliament gave Hitler's legislative powers.
– Hindenburg dies (August ’34)• Hitler declared the office of President
vacant • Hitler makes himself head of state or "
Führer”
Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco• Head of State of Spain from 1936-1975. • Franco's governance went through
various phases• All emphasized:
– Spanish nationalism– Maintaining territorial integrity– Catholicism– Anti-Communism– Emphasis on traditional values
• Head of State of Spain from 1936-1975. • Franco's governance went through
various phases• All emphasized:
– Spanish nationalism– Maintaining territorial integrity– Catholicism– Anti-Communism– Emphasis on traditional values
Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
• 1936 -1939: It began after a coup by Spanish Army Generals
• The war ended with the victory of the rebel forces– Republican gov’t overthrown– Dictatorship established with Franco at
it’s helm.
• 1936 -1939: It began after a coup by Spanish Army Generals
• The war ended with the victory of the rebel forces– Republican gov’t overthrown– Dictatorship established with Franco at
it’s helm.
Guernica Guernica
• Pablo Picasso depicts the bombing of Guernica by German & Italian war planes.
• Pablo Picasso depicts the bombing of Guernica by German & Italian war planes.
The Empire of JapanThe Empire of Japan• Rapid industrialization and
Militarization emergence as a world power– Leads to membership in the Axis
Alliance of WWII
• Gained notoriety war crimes against the people within their Empire.
• Rapid industrialization and Militarization emergence as a world power– Leads to membership in the Axis
Alliance of WWII
• Gained notoriety war crimes against the people within their Empire.
TimelineTimeline• 1931-32
– Japan invades Manchuria
• 1935: – Italy invades Ethiopia– Germany reintroduces
Conscription (violation)
• 1936– Germany
Remilitarized Rhineland
– Franco revolts against Spainish Gov’t.
– Tripartate Pact:– First Concentration
Camps
• 1931-32 – Japan invades
Manchuria• 1935:
– Italy invades Ethiopia– Germany reintroduces
Conscription (violation)
• 1936– Germany
Remilitarized Rhineland
– Franco revolts against Spainish Gov’t.
– Tripartate Pact:– First Concentration
Camps
• 1937– Japan – full scale invasion
of China (Rape of Nanking)• 1938
– Anschluss: Germany invades/ annex Austria
– Hitler claims Sudetenland – Germany seizes
Czechoslovakia• 1939
– Italy invades/annexes Albania
– Hitler demands Danzig (Poland)
– Sept. 1, 1939
• 1937– Japan – full scale invasion
of China (Rape of Nanking)• 1938
– Anschluss: Germany invades/ annex Austria
– Hitler claims Sudetenland – Germany seizes
Czechoslovakia• 1939
– Italy invades/annexes Albania
– Hitler demands Danzig (Poland)
– Sept. 1, 1939