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Learn about dictators like Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, and Japan's militarism during WWII. Understand the League of Nations' weaknesses and how appeasement led to unchecked aggression.
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Totalitarian Government • Totalitarianism- Theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people. • Totalitarian is a 20th century phenomenon.
So no elections are held because the Dictator does not allow people to choose who they want to run their country Only one political party is allowed to exist - the Dictator is the leader of this party, and the party helps him to run the country What is a Dictator-ship? One person - the ‘Dictator’ - holds all of the power in the country Dictators rely upon a large, strong and loyal army to help them to maintain their power Anyone who is considered to be an enemy of the Dictator and his political party would be persecuted Education and the media (newspapers, radio, film etc) are strictly controlled by the Government
Joseph Stalin • Suspicious, cruel, ruthless, and tyrannical. • Wanted to transform Soviet Union into an industrial power and formed collective farms. This led to 10 million deaths. • Would purge Communist party of people suspected of being a traitor. Led to 1 million deaths. • Fear and massive propaganda kept Stalin in power.
Benito Mussolini • Leader of Fascist Party • Outlawed political parties, took over the press, created a secret police, organized youth groups to indoctrinate the young, and suppressed strikes. • Opposed liberalism and socialism
Adolf Hitler • born in Austria-early life in Vienna • core of beliefs- anti-Semitic • wrote “Mein Kampf” in jail in 20’s • built Nazi party on dissatisfaction • won over elite and establishment • fear of communists- largest party • became chancellor
Adolf Hitler • Total State techniques • propaganda masters • mass demonstrations • rearmament of the military • SS control of police using terror based on Nazi ideology (secret police, camps execution and extermination) • Churches and youth groups under control
Japan Militants Gain Power • The depression of the 1930s discredited the leaders of Japan. • The Japanese military soon began to control and shape civilian and military policy. • Japan did not become a totalitarian state.
Japan Expands Empire • 1931 Japan attacked Manchuria. • 1937 Japan took control over many Chinese coastal areas and railroad links. • In the capital, Nanjing, Japanese soldiers killed more than 200.000 residents and burned a major part of the city. “Rape of Nanjing)
Weakness of League of Nations • League of Nations never recovered from America not joining. • League had no standing army and no real power to enforce rules. • When powerful nations began to test the League, they didn’t have any action.
Hitler and Mussolini Threaten Peace • Hitler first focused on rebuilding Germany and nullifying the provisions of Treaty of Versailles. • He later started to expand his territory to expand Germany’s living space. He took Saar from France and sent troops into the Rhineland. The League did not respond. • Italy invaded Ethiopia. The emperor pleaded to League of Nations to stop them, but they did nothing and Ethiopia fell.
Aggression Goes Unchecked • France and Britain practiced appeasement- granting allowance to a potential enemy in hope that it will maintain peace. • France and Britain allowed appeasement for several reasons. • They did not want to see another WWI • Believed Soviets were more of a threat than Germany • Questioned the position of their allies, especially the U.S
Hitler took advantage of the lack of union between France, Britain and U.S. • He forced Austria into his Reich then took over Sudetenland, w. Czechoslovakia. • At Munich Conference the Sudetenland was sacrificed to Germany. • Munich Pact- Chamberlain told public that that the conference had preserved peace. It only postponed the war for 11 months.
