American History Chapter 17: World War II: The Road to War (1931 – 1941)

1. American History Chapter 17: World War II: The Road to War (1931 – 1941) I. The Rise of Dictators

2. Objectives • Find out how the government and the economy of the Soviet Union changed under Stalin. • Discover the origins and goals of Italy’s fascist government. • See how Hitler rose to power in Germany and Europe in the 1930s. • Learn about the causes and results of the Spanish Civil War.

3. Bell Ringer • The world of the 1930s was a tremendously unstable place, due to economic crisis and a slow recovery from the devastation of WWI. How could this allow totalitarian leaders like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini to take over? • In what ways might France’s fury with Germany, and its desire for punishment and revenge, now give rise to a bitter harvest?

4. A) Setting the Scene • Page 668 • Totalitarian: total control over a nation – dominates every aspect of life, using terror to suppress individual rights and silence all forms of opposition. • Fascism: political philosophy that emphasizes the importance of the nation or an ethnic group and the supreme authority of the leader. • Historically, Communists and Fascists have hated each other

5. B) Stalin’s Soviet Union • Lenin never finished the complete communism of the USSR • Stalin took over in 1924 and instituted several “5 year plans” to modernize agriculture and build new industries. • Farmers told to join communal farms controlled by the state – fought it – Stalin punished then by withholding food and camps in Siberia – millions moved to cities. • Millions died from starvation and food production dropped causing more to starve • Assigned people to work and build new industrial centers – iron, steel, oil, and coal – no housing clothing, and goods – became modern, standard of living fell

6. Stalin’s Reign of Terror • Completed domination by purges • purges: removing enemies and undesirables from power • Started with “show trials” – guilty executed, deported, or Siberia. • Purged the Communist party, local party officials, collective farms, secret police, and the military. • 1 million executed, rest put in forced labor camps • Stalin energizes as the defacto ruler

7. C) Fascism in Italy • Benito Mussolini – WWI veteran, Versailles Treaty should have given Italy more (Empire) formed Fascist Party • IL Duce (the Leader) – had gangs of “blackshirts” beat up opposition – threatened to march on Rome – King named him Prime Minister – established dictatorship • Italy’s economy improved – miracle worker – wanted a new Roman Empire • October 1935 – invaded Ethiopia – May 1936 – Addis Ababa in Italian hands.

8. D) Hitler’s Rise to Power • 1889: born at Braunau am Inn, Austria. • Real name was Schicklgruber. • Failed to pass the entrance exam at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. • 1914, Hitler volunteered for WWI, rejected first time because he failed to pass physical. • Awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and later Iron Cross 1st Class. • 1918 suffered from a poison gas attack and was in the hospital when the war ended. • War left him mad at Germany’s defeat and the degrading terms of the Treaty of Versailles – war guilt clause • Joined the Nazi Party and quickly became the leader. (55th member)

9. a) The Nazi Party 1919 – Hitler joins DAP 1920 – mark 100 to $1 1921 – becomes Der Fuhrer 1921 mark 180 - $1 1922 mark 2000 - $1 dollar 1923 mark 4,200,000,000 – 1$ • 1919 – joined the National Socialist German Workers Party – (Nazis) • Nazism: political philosophy (fascist) about German nationalism and racial superiority. • Great speaker • Beerhall Putsch: November 1923, tried to take over Munich – sentenced 5 years – served 9 months • Wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) – wrote about the problems of Germany and who to blame – Jews and Communists • Called for Lebensraum – living space • Called for purifying the “master race” – blond blue-eyed Germans called Aryans • When the Great Depression hit in the 1930’s Hitler promised to stabilize the country, rebuild the economy, and restore the empire. (Reich)

10. b) Hitler Becomes Chancellor • 1932 Nazis largest party in Reichstag • Herman Goering calls for a no-confidence vote of chancellor von Papen • New elections – tried to ban Nazis – • 1933 President Hindenburg makes Hitler Chancellor • Reichstag burns down – blames communists • Hitler evokes Article 48 in German Constitution – emergency powers – becomes dictator • Hindenburg dies – declares himself Der Fuhrer (the leader)

11. 1936 Berlin Olympic Games • Hitler wanted to showcase his “master race” of Aryans • US enters African American Jesse Owens. • He wins 4 gold medals • “I learned that the false leaders and sick movements of this earth must be stopped in the beginning, for they turn humanity against itself”.

12. c) Germany Rearms • Secretly violate Versailles treaty and re-arm • Built the autobahn – super highway • 1936 – unemployment 0 – depression over • March 7th 1936, remilitarizes Rhineland – banned by treaty – no argument from Allies 5)Axis Powers – Germany makes a treaty with Italy forming an alliance

13. b) Germany Expands • March 1938, Anschluss – Austria’s political union with Germany (annex Austria) • Hitler demanded the Sudetenland – industrial region of Germans in Czechoslovakia. • Neville Chamberlain and Edouard Daladier gave in – afraid of war. • Munich Conference – met and gave into Hitler (Joe Kennedy) • Appeasement – giving in to a competitor’s demands in order to keep peace. • Chamberlain cheered at home “Peace in our time” • No one consulted Czechoslovakia

14. E) The Spanish Civil War • Chaos in Spain before elections of 1936 • Liberals won – called Republicans • Military led by General Francisco Franco rebelled – called Nationalists • Germany and Italy supported Nationalists • USSR supported Republicans • Many US citizens fought for Republicans (communists) • 1939 Nationalists win – Franco dictator until 1975

15. Review • How did Stalin change the government and the economy of the Soviet Union? • What were the origins and goals of Italy’s fascist government? • How did Hitler rise to power in Germany and Europe in the 1930s? • What were the causes and results of the Spanish Civil War?