The Road To WWII

Chapter 29

ItalyEconomic struggles led to totalitarianism Mussolini rose to power by preventing a communist take overBlackshirts used force to eliminate Mussolini’s competitionConsolidated power in Italy and built up Italy’s Military

Weimar RepublicIn 1919, Germans created a democratic republic

People never bought into gov’t

Owed $35 Billion in reparations

High inflation crippled economy

In the mid 1920’s Germany began to recover thanks to American loans

Adolph HitlerBorn in Austria (4/20/1889)

Only child to survive

Influences on WeltanschauungFailure at SchoolVienna years (1907-1913)Munich Years & WWI

WWI War HeroAfter war joined the board of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP-Nazis)

Rise of National SocialismConservative party consisting mostly of former soldiers in Munich

Beerhall Putsch-(10/8/1923)Imitate Mussolini

Fails due to leaks in party

Tried for Treason-Jail-MeinKampf

During mid 20’s prosperity, party lost influence

After market crash, Nazi party became very popular

Hitler Comes to PowerDuring Great Depression, Hitler’s message was heardPolitical Instability

Nazis gain seats in Reichstag (1930-33)Hitler as Chancellor (1/30/1933)

Reichstag Burns (2/27/1933)Blamed Socialists/CommunistsFeb. 28- “Protection of Ger. People”

Reichstag granted Hitler complete power to “fix” Germany

GleichshaltungEnabling Act (April 1st, 1933)

Law for the Coordination of the States (April 7th, 1933)

Restoration of Civil Service

Eliminated opposition within own party in 1934 (Night of Long Knives)

Hindenburg dies in Aug. 1934Hitler becomes Fuhrer

Nuremburg Rallies

Wagnerian Opera

Unity, Harmony, Strength

Filmed and shown as propaganda

Growth of GermanyPromoted industry

Built Autobahn

Military Rearmament

Wanted Germany to be an Autarchy

1936 Olympics

4 Year Plan (1936) to be ready for war

Hitler had to keep people happy

Instrument of Terror: Rise of the SS

Led by Heinrich Himmler

Embodied the Aryan Ideal

Created a police state and a system of terror

Developed complex ideology

Lebensborne program

Persecution of the Jews

Phase I-Jewish Boycott (1933)

Phase II-Social Segregation (1935)

Phase III-Violence (1938)Kristallnacht-Nov.9-10

Phase IV-Final Solution1939-1945

Policy of Appeasement

Geneva Disarmament Conf. (1933)German Rearmament (1935)Remilitarized Rhineland (1936)Alliance with MussoliniAnschluss w/ Austria (Mar. 1938)Sudetenland Crisis (1938)