THE RISE OF FASCISM AND THE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR II EUROPE 1921-1939

2. THE RISE OF FASCISM AND THE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR IIEUROPE 1921-1939

3. FASCISM • FASCISM - Impose state control over all aspects of life • Strident Nationalism • Dictator Leadership • Harsh Suppression of all Opposition • Severe Social and Economic regementation

4. Tools of Fascism • Strict control of the Media (Censorship) • Extreme use of Propaganda • Secret Police

5. Rise of Benito Mussolini • Italy in social chaos • Fear of Bolsheviks • Economic Depression • Mussolini builds the legend of “Il Duce” (The Leader) – title he bestows upon himself • A man who never slept, was always right, and could solve all the problems of politics and economics.

6. The Black Shirts • Organizes the “Black Shirts” to oppose Liberals in Italy • Quasi-Military group • Use of Violence solidifies Mussolini’s Power – eliminates opposition • Force feeding Castor Oil torture / death

7. Causes for Fascism in Germany • Mass Suffering from terms of Versailles Treaty • Severe Economic Depression • Germans are a Dejected People • German People starving for a change – want a leader

8. The Rise of Hitler • Joins German Workers Party in 1919 • Re-Names it National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi) • Swastika adopted as Party Symbol • Appointed Chancellor in 1933 • German President Hindenburg dies in 1934 – Hitler declares himself “Reichsfuhrer” (national leader)

9. Swastika History • Could be as old as 4,000 B.C. • Used universally in religious ceremonies of Buddahism, Hinduism, Native Indian • su- meaning "good, well" and asti a verbal abstract to the root as "to be"; svasti thus means "well-being". The suffix -ka forms a diminutive, and svastika might thus be translated literally as "little thing associated with well-being", • Adopted by most cultures as sign of “well being” or “good luck” • Nazis Perverted meaning into evil

11. Hitler’s Nazi Culture • Based on Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” (My Struggle) • Written (dictated) while in prison • Writes of Childhood, Race, Politics, Goals of Nazis, Future of Germany – return to glory • Aryan Race – best of all humans (Master Race) • Cites Jewish and Slavic Peoples (Polish, Russian, Czechs) as inferior and the enemy • Blames them for Germanic Hardships

12. The Road to War • Hitler infuses German people with nationalism and pride • Massive propaganda campaign – Nazi Party rallies, speeches, censorship • Violates Versailles Treaty • Begins German Re-armament • Gets German Economy going • Mirrors USA New Deal – building Germany internal improvements

13. Nazi Propaganda

14. Axis Created 1937 • Germany, Italy, Japan sign alliance treaty • Italy invades Ethiopia • Japan invades Manchuria and China

15. Hitler’s Unification Plans • Unite Germanic Peoples of Europe – Create the Third Reich (Third German Empire) • Begins reclaiming and invading lands • League of Nations powerless to stop Hitler – won’t go to war

16. Hitler’s Aggression in EuropeReclaiming German lands • Reclaims Rhineland (WW I lost territory) & • Saar and Ruhr Valleys (coal rich France exploiting) • Forces Anschluss (union) with Austria in 1938 • Invades Sudetenland (German areas in Czechoslovakia)

17. Appeasement Strategy • England and France cut a deal with Hitler – give in to Hitler • Let Hitler have what he has taken if he’ll stop there • Betrayal of Czechoslovakia • Becomes the Munich Agreement • Britain Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain: “There will be peace in our time” • Proved to be a flop and a huge embarrassment

19. Germans and the Soviets • Germany signs non-aggression pact with Soviets • Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact • Soviet leader Joseph Stalin deals up Eastern Europe with Hitler • Another Embarrassment to Britain and France

21. Hitler Violates Munich Agreement • Takes over the rest of Czechoslovakia • Invades Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 • Britain and France declare war on Germany (alliance with Poland)

22. Where is the USA??? (Again) • Isolationism • Great Depression • Neutral

23. Dr. Seuss Propaganda