World Leaders

1. World Leaders World War II

2. Joseph Stalin-Soviet Union1875-1953 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 reached in 1933. Stalin built gulags, or prison camps, where people who did not meet these goals or who disagreed with them were imprisoned. Millions died or were executed. Stalin joined Hitler in crushing Poland but later accepted aid from the Allies after Germany attacked Russia.

3. Benito Mussolini-Italy1883-1945 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 Abyssina) in Africa and later occupied Albania. He became Hitler’s closest ally during World War II. The two formed the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936.

4. Mao Tse-tung-China1893-1976 In 1921 the Chinese Communist Party was founded, and Mao Tse-tung served 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 World War II he defeated the Nationalists and made China into a Communist state.

5. Adolf Hitler-Germany1889-1945 Hitler was an Austrian megalomaniac who founded the German Nazi Party. Believing that the Germans were superior to 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 U.S., and Great Britain defeated Hitler during World War II. In 1945 Hitler committed suicide as Allied forces moved in on his bunker.

6. Francisco Franco-Spain1892-1975 In 1931, King Alfonso XIII of Spain abdicated his throne due to the people’s discontent with the monarchy. The democratic republic which followed was weak, and a civil war broke out in 1936. Fransisco Franco led the attack. When his party won, Franco became head of state, serving as dictator from 1937 until his death in 1975.

7. Mohandas Gandhi-India1869-1948 By the late 1890s most of India was under British control. World War I had weakened Britain’s economy, and it had become difficult to maintain the country. From 1920 on, Indian lawyer Mohandas Gandhi urged civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance against the regime. He often fasted for days to call attention to injustices. In 1948 India won its independence, but Gandhi was murdered a few months later. Today, Gandhi is called the Father of India.

8. Neville Chamberlain – Great Britain1869-1940 The British Prime Minister began his political 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 was wrong to think that Hitler would stop when he invaded 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.

9. Winston Churchill – Great Britain 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 during World War II.