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World War Looms. Dictators Threaten World Peace. Essential Questions:. How did economic problems lead to the rise of totalitarian leaders in Europe? What is the most significant cause of WWII?. Totalitarian Dictators-. Fascist Italy: Benito Mussolini Nazi Germany: Adolf Hitler
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World War Looms Dictators Threaten World Peace
Essential Questions: • How did economic problems lead to the rise of totalitarian leaders in Europe? • What is the most significant cause of WWII?
Totalitarian Dictators- Fascist Italy: Benito Mussolini Nazi Germany: Adolf Hitler Communist Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin
Treaty of Versailles • Treaty of Versailles caused anger and resentment, especially from Germany • French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau sought to punish Germany so hard that the country would never be able to go to war again
Growing Problems in Germany: • Weimar Republic, democratic government set up after WWI, was blamed for signing the Treaty of Versailles. • Hyper-inflation (money becoming less and less valuable) at one point reached 4,200,000,000 Reichsmark = 1 US dollar. • …..so people decided it was actually better to burn the money for warmth then to spend it!
Weimar Republic Currency There is also a story of a German man who had a wheelbarrow full of cash. He left it outside a bakery while he tried to buy some bread. When he came outside, he found the wheelbarrow gone, but his money piled on the sidewalk.
Rise of Fascism in Italy • Unemployment & inflation led to strikes and unrest • 1921, Mussolini established the Fascist Party (nationalism & militarism) • Called himself “Il Duce” (the leader) • Mussolini achieved efficiency in government by creating a totalitarian form of government
The Soviet Union • Joseph Stalin took power in 1924 “Man of Steel” • Communist leader of Totalitarian state (one-party government; state-ownership of property) • Stalin made agricultural and industrial growth projects the main economic goals of the Soviets • Collectivism: Eliminated private ownership of farms • Gulags: System of slave labor populated by dissidents • Seeking to create an industrial giant capable of expansion. • Responsible for 13-20 million deaths
Talk to your neighbor: • What problems existed in Germany after WWI? • What was going on in Italy after WWI? • What did the Soviet Union look like under Stalin?
Nazis Take Over Germany • Adolf Hitler joined the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi) (not socialist) • Called himself “Der Furher” (the Leader) • Promised to bring order and prosperity to Germany • Wanted lebensraum, or living space (territorial expansion) • Wished to unite all German-speaking people
Hitler & Nazism continued • Hitler wanted to enforce racial “purification” • Believed in a blond-haired, blue-eyed “master race” (Aryan)
Japan • Militarist leaders took control of Imperial government • Had desire to expand territory for population • 1931, Militarists attacked Manchuria, China • League of Nations investigated and condemned attack—Japan quits League of Nations
League of Nations Fails • Hitler begins military build-up • Hitler sends troops into the Rhineland (demilitarized German region bordering Belgium and France) • Japan leaves League of Nations • Mussolini targets Ethiopia • May 1936, Ethiopia falls to Italy. Emperor HaileSelassie appeals to League for help to no avail