Bell Ringer 1/25/12

1. Bell Ringer 1/25/12 • Glue the page of world leaders into the next available page in your Bell Ringer section. Then read the following paragraph about Hitler and follow the instructions on your sheet for him. • ADOLF HITLER – Hitler was an Austrian megalomaniac who founded the German Nazi Party. Believing that the Germans were superior to the Jews and other races, his party’s aim was to set up a race of pure Germans. From 1939 to 1941, Hitler’s armies overran most of Europe, but the tide turned when he attempted to seize Russia. The combined forces of Russia, the US, and Great Britain defeated Hitler during WWII. In 1945 Hitler committed suicide as Allied forces moved in on his bunker.

2. Bell Ringer 1/26/12 • Complete the “World Leaders” Bell Ringer for the day on Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) • Known as Il Duce, Mussolini became leader of the Fascist Party. Promising to make Italy strong and powerful, he built up a dictatorship and used violence against his opponents. Fascists controlled all levels of society, from unions to politics. In 1935 Mussolini seized the country of Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia) in Africa and later occupied Albania. He became Hitler’s closest ally during WWII. The two formed the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936.

3. Bell Ringer 1/27/12 • Joseph Stalin (1875-1953) • A communist dictator, Stalin succeeded Lenin as leader of the Soviet Union. He pushed the USSR to industrialize in order to compete with the rest of the world. His five year plan outlined production goals to be met by 1933. Stalin built gulags, or prison camps, where people who did not meet these goals or disagreed with him were imprisoned. Millions died or were executed. Stalin joined Hitler in crushing Poland but later accepted aid from the allies after Germany attacked Russia.

4. Bell Ringer 1/30/12 • Winston Churchill (1874-1965) • Churchill had held a number of government posts, but his war preparedness stance kept him from gaining power. It was not until after Chamberlain resigned in 1940 that Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of Great Britain. Early in the war Great Britain stood alone in its fight against Nazi Germany, but the British refused to give in. Churchill’s great speeches and famous V for victory salute encouraged everyone. A brilliant statesman and orator, he is considered to be the architect for victory in WWII.

5. Bell Ringer 1/31/12 • Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) • This British Prime Minister began his career in 1918 as a member of the British Parliament. In 1937 he became Prime Minister. Chamberlain supported a policy of appeasement and foolishly believed that by giving Hitler what he wanted a major war could be avoided. However, he as wrong to think that Hitler would stop after invading Czechoslovakia. Poland was next on Hitler’s list, and Britain came to the country’s defense in 1939. Chamberlain died shortly after resigning in 1940.

6. Bell Ringer 2/1/12 • Mao Tse-tung (1893-1976) • In 1921 the Chinese Communist Party was founded, and Mao Tse-tung severed as one of its founders and its first leader. Ten years later he proclaimed a Chinese Soviet Republic but was subsequently driven away. Mao then led his 100,000 supporters on the Long March of 6,000 miles to a safe place in Northern China. After WWII he defeated the Nationalists and made China into a Communist state.