Operation Barbarossa

Europe in 1939Can you remember what political system Hitler followed?

Can you remember what political system Stalin followed?

Can you remember the political systems followed by any other countries in 1939?

Conflicting Ideologies

Fascism:• People cannot vote• Only one political party• Harsh treatment of those who

disagree with govt.• Extremely nationalistic• Want to take over other countries• Run by a dictator - Hitler

Communism:• People cannot vote• Only one political party• Harsh treatment of those who

disagree with govt.• Extremely nationalistic• Want to take spread Communism to

other countries• All land, industry and agriculture is

owned by the government• Run by a dictator - Stalin

Democracy

• The people vote for the leader they want• People can own their own homes and land• The government does not control industry

(factories, etc)• Laws are made by elected representatives in a

parliament• Democratic governments and leaders have to

follow a constitution (laws and rules)

The Nazi-Soviet Pact

• In August 1939 Stalin and Hitler signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact. • They agreed not to attack each other.• In secret they also agreed to divide up Poland between

themselves. • This agreement was very important as it allowed Hitler to

invade Poland: His biggest fear had been that if he invaded Poland he would have to fight a war with the USSR, at the same time as fighting Britain and France. Stalin had been a great enemy of Fascism. It looked in 1939 like he had betrayed the rest of Europe.

A British Cartoon Published in 1939Hitler says: “The scum of the earth I presume?”

Stalin says: “The bloody assassin of the workers I presume?”

Hitler Invades the USSR: A Turning Point? Operation Barbarossa.

• However, by June 1940, Hitler had invaded Russia. But why? What had changed?