Chapter 26

1. Chapter 26 Political Experiments of the 1920’s

2. The Treaty of Versailles

3. Treaty of Versailles = problems • Germany didn’t want to pay reparations. • Germany was Humiliated • Some Eastern Europeans didn’t get “self determination”

4. Postwar Economic Problems • “Normalcy” or a return to 1914 was impossible • Millions dead = less consumers and workers • War production is difficult to turn into peaceful consumer products • Russia refused to pay Tsar’s debts • United States became dominant economic power in World, replacing Europe

5. Labor • War brought increase in status and power of working class. They built the war machines, they fought the war. • Growth of Unions • Women worked during the war and earned better treatment and more rights. • Women’s suffrage in 1920 in America

6. The Soviet Union • Communist Party controlled Russia from 1917 to 1991. • War: Leon Trotsky suppressed internal and foreign dissent. • Communists won support by claiming they were for “Peace, Land and Bread.” • The Cheka: Secret Police • Lenin declared the “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” (he was the dictator) • Lost some support when war ended.

7. The Soviet Union • Peasants started resisting grain requisitions in 1918 • Strikes in 1920 and 1921 • Baltic Fleet mutinied in 1921 • No motivation = no work • Lenin retreated from strict Communism in 1921 with the New Economic Policy (NEP). • Peasants were allowed to farm for profit. Some small industry and retail was allowed as well.

8. In 1924 Lenin died.

9. Stalin v. Trotsky • Trotsky led the army during the Revolution. • He called for rapid industrialization funded by collective farming. That the farmers should pay to industrialize the country. • Argued that the USSR should support communists in other countries.

10. Stalin v. Trotsky • Stalin had been born into a poor family, had not lived in Western Europe. • Built support in the party, was ruthless with his enemies. • Pravda (Truth) was the official communist newspaper. • Stalin had removed Trotsky from power by 1927, kicked him out of Russia in 1929. • Trotsky was murdered in 1940 in Mexico by Stalin’s agents.

11. The Third International AKA Comintern • Soviet Communists created the Third International in 1919 to help create communist revolutions around the world. • Twenty-one Conditions, basically you had to acknowledge Moscow’s leadership.

12. Women and Family in the USSR • Communist ideology: everyone is equal, even women. • Alexandra Kollontai, Author of Communism and the Family (1918). • She argued that men and women should share household work, replace male dominated families with family based on love. • Not very realistic in 1918 but became part of Soviet ideology.

13. Women and Family in the USSR • New laws: nonreligious marriage, easier divorce, illegitimate children treated equal, legal abortion. • Govt was still dominated by old men. • More access to education, careers.

14. Fascists in Italy • Benito Mussolini started Fascist Party in Italy. • Fascists were: Nationalistic and militaristic. Believed in one strong person being in charge of the country. • Antidemocratic, anti-Marxist, antiparliamentary, anti-Semitic.

15. Mussolini • Son of a blacksmith, had been a teacher (!) and laborer. • 1912 editor of socialist newspaper • 1914 broke away from socialism, supported Italy joining WWI. • Started his own newspaper, Il Popolo d’Italia (The People of Italy) • Italian war veterans started Fasci di Combattimento (Bands of Combat) in 1919.

16. Mussolini • After WWI • economic problems • anger at the Treaty of Versailles • Socialists • Govt ceased to function • March on Rome: Mussolini and the Fascists had won seats in chamber of deputies. They had a symbolic March to Rome, wearing their black shirts. • King Victor Emmanuel III didn’t stop them.

17. Mussolini • In 1924 Mussolini and the Fascists took over democratically. • Once in power they eliminated opposition and democracy. • By 1926, Italy was a single party state. Fascists ran the police and used violence against opposition. • Leading Socialist Giacomo Matteoti was murdered after criticizing Mussolini.

18. Mussolini • Lateran Accord in February 1929 • Made peace between the Papacy and Italy • Recognized Pope as temporal ruler of Vatican City • Italian govt agreed to pay indemnity for confiscated lands. • Recognized Catholicism as the religion of the nation • Govt tried to encourage women to have babies. • Authoritarian govts want more babies, = more soldiers.

19. Benito Mussolini

20. France • After WWI the French elected conservative representatives to the Chamber of Deputies. • Formed alliances with new countries in the East; Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia. • Germany and Russia were isolated so they signed a treaty at Rapallo.

21. France • In early 1923 France declared Germany to be in default of reparations payments. • Raymond Poincare was the PM of France. • He sent French troops (With Belgian assistance) to occupy the Ruhr Valley to get the $. • Germans went on strike, French sent in replacement workers. • France got its money but strained its friendship with Britain.

22. Great Britain • 1918 Britain gave vote to all men 21 and over, women 30 and over. (1928 made it 21 for both) • British economy was bad in 1920’s. Over 10 Percent unemployment. • Expanded social welfare programs were created for war widows, unemployed and orphans.

23. Great Britain • Govt returned to the Gold Standard in 1925 • This hurt trade, made British goods more expensive in other countries. • Management lowered wages to try to fight inflation, workers were not happy. • In May 1926 a country wide strike was held for 9 days in protest.

24. Ireland • In 1914, the Irish Home Rule Bill passed parliament. It was delayed by WWI. • In 1916, Irish Nationalists rose in rebellion. The only war time rebellion in WWI. • The British stopped it and executed the leaders. • This made the Irish support Sinn Fein or “Ourselves Alone.” • Military wing of Sinn Fein became Irish Republican Army.

27. Ireland • Ireland became a “Dominion” of Britain like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. • Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom. • In 1949 it declared itself the independent Republic of Eire.

28. Poland • Became independent country for first time in 100 years with Treaty of Versailles. • No unity due to cultural differences, parts had been ruled by Austria, Russia, Germany. • Many minorities: Jews, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Germans. • Josef Pilduski took over in a military coup in 1926, ending Polish Democracy.

29. Czechoslovakia • Was able to remain a Democracy. • Thomas Masaryk was leader. • In 1938 the great powers chopped up Czechoslovakia to appease Hitler. • Then in 1939 did nothing to stop his further aggression as he occupied much of CZ., Poland and Hungary.

30. Hungary • In 1919 Bela Kun took over and made Hungary a Communist country. • The Allies supported a Romanian invasion to remove the communists. • In 1932 General Julius Gombos took over, he rigged elections to stay in power. • Hungary is associated with Anti-Semitism during this period.

31. Austria • 25% of Austrians lived in Vienna. • Left leaning Social Democrats and Conservative Christian Socialists fought for control. • Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. (Anschluss) • Hitler was born in Austria, they welcomed him as a hero.

32. The Weimar Republic • After WWI the new constitution was written in Weimar. • The militarists and nationalists who had helped cause the war blamed the new republic for the Treaty of Versailles. • Constitution allowed for a temporary dictatorship in times of emergency… that’s dangerous.

33. Weimar Republic • Lack of public support, people didn’t want democracy. • A coup was attempted in 1920, failed. • Germany started printing ludicrous amounts of money to repay the debt. • This caused hyper inflation, German money became worthless. • In 1923, 1 American dollar was worth 800 Million German Marks.

34. Effects of Inflation • Middle Class savings, pensions, and insurance policies were wiped out. • Ruined banks because mortgages and debts could easily be paid off. • People who owned valuable things were ok, Middle Class and Lower Class people suffered the most. • People lost all faith in the Weimar Govt. They wanted someone to fix the country and make Germany proud again.

35. Hitler • Born in Austria, tried to become an artist in 1907, failed. • Fought for Germany in WWI, hated Marxism, Jews. • Promoted to Corporal and awarded Iron cross for bravery. • Lived in Munich after the war. Joined group that became Nazi’s. (National Socialist German Worker’s Party).

37. Nazi Party • Wanted • eliminate the Treaty of Versailles • Unify with Austria • Exclude Jews from German citizenship • Confiscate war profits • Govt control of large businesses • Many veterans of WWI supported the Nazis.

38. Political Militancy • Stormtroopers or SA were thugs who wore Brown uniforms. They fought and intimidated Nazi enemies. • In 1923, Hitler attempted a putsch (Coup) from a beer hall in Munich. (The Beer Hall Putsch). It was crushed and he was sent to prison. • In prison he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). It outlined his political views and goals for Germany.

40. Stresemann • Gustav Stresemann was Chancellor in 1923. He worked to reconstruct the Republic, end the occupation of the Ruhr, introduced a new German currency. • Some of the French occupation troops were Black, from their colonies. • This became international issue, Germans were insulted and raised racist concerns about Black men sleeping with their White women. • 1 Trillion Marks = 1 Rentenmark • Resigned and became Foreign Minister until 1929.

41. The occupation of the Ruhr was another humiliation for Germany

42. Dawes Plan • 1924, Charles Dawes proposed that German payments should depend on German economy. • French Troops left the Ruhr in 1925. • Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg became President in 1925.

43. Locarno Agreements 1925 • Germany and France agreed on the Western border from Treaty of Versailles. Italy and Britain agree to help enforce agreement. • (Not Eastern Border) • France supported German membership in League of Nations, agreed to leave the Rhineland in 1930.

44. Kellogg-Briand Pact • Renounced War as an instrument of foreign policy. • Signed by Japan, United States, European powers. • Sounds good but how to enforce it? • Frank B. Kellogg: US Secretary of State • French Foreign Minister: Aristide Briand

45. Great Depression • Worldwide Economic Meltdown in 1929 • Lasted until WWII started