Chapter 28 and 29
World War IIWorld War II
As world-wide economic depression got worse, peoples’ lives got worse and grew frustrated
Desperate for change, people turned to new leaders who off ered simple solutions to complex problems
Totalitarian Regime-Dictatorship form of government that controls all aspects of peoples’ lives
TOTALITARIAN REGIMES
Dictators came to power by using FASCISM – idea that promises return to glory for the nation, strong leadership from one leader, commitment of loyalty to government by citizens
Fascists promote extreme nationalism, people can keep private property, religion used as a tool to promote government ideas
Fascists hate democracy and communism (no class in society, government controls all property, desire to spread ideas to other nations) but have some things in common with communists: 1 strong dictator rules Censorship, propaganda and secret police force used to
control people
Poor economic conditions and anger of “betrayal” of Versailles Treaty led to rise of Benito Mussolini
Socialist and journalist prior to WWI, but became militant nationalist. Formed political party in 1919 called Fascists
BENITO MUSSOLINI IN ITALY
Rise to power: Became popular by supporting workers and peasants and
stopped communist revolution in Italy Created Blackshirts (secret police force) to enforce goals of
Fascists and led a March on Rome in 1922 King Victor Emmanuel was intimidated by Mussolini and
named him Prime Minister
As dictator, Mussolini consolidated power by ending democratic rule, strengthened military, spread patriotism and nationalism
Earned nickname II Duce – “The Leader”
One of many groups challenging Weimar Republic was fascist group called National Socialist Workers’ Party (NAZI); Hitler was an early recruit
Formed Brownshirts (secret police) to enforce ideas
ADOLF HITLER IN GERMANY
Jailed in 1923 for trying to overthrow Weimar government; wrote Mein Kampf in prison:
Blamed Jews for problems Saw himself as leader (Fuhrer) of master Aryan race Lebenstraum – need to spread out and gain living space for
Germans
Reorganized NAZI party after release from jail and made speeches promoting NAZI party; ran NAZIs in elections but never won majority vote
Hitler was feared by Weimer Republic, thought they could satisfy Hitler by naming him chancellor in 1933
RISE TO POWER
As dictator, Hitler removed political opponents
Started fire in Reichstag government building and blamed on communists
In 1934, Night of Long Knives – Hitler had hundreds of his own secret police murdered
Called government Third Reich-restore Germany army and pride
DICTATOR
Hitler used anti-Semitism (hatred and hostility towards Jews) and blamed Jews for all of Germany’s problems
In 1935, Hitler passed Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of German citizenship; all Jews were required to wear yellow star of David as identification
ATTACK ON JEWS
Nov 9-10, 1938, Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) destroyed Jewish synagogues and businesses, created concentration camps and ghettos for prisoners
First Solution (Holocaust) – Hitler began a plan to eliminate Germany of all non-Aryans (Jews, Slavs, homosexuals, political opponents)
6 million Jews were murdered in firing squads and gas chambers throughout Europe by special killing units called the SS
Japan felt the West did not accept it as an equal even though its population and industry boomed in 1920s
Dreamed of large empire to expand with lots of natural resources – 1931, invaded Manchuria, 1937, invaded China
HIDEKI TOJO IN JAPAN
Militarism grew – Emperor Hirohito relied on Hideki Tojo to reorganized military, Emperor Hirohito of Japan ruled throughout the war
General Hideki Tojo held dictatorial power from October 1941 to July 1944
Japan: 1931 – invaded Manchura and northern China; 1940 – invaded Indochina and East Indies
Italy: 1936 – occupied Ethiopia; 1941 – invaded Egypt and Greece
Germany: 1938 – annex Austria and Czechoslovakia, 1939 – invaded Poland
USSR: 1941 – occupied Lithuania, Lativa, and Estonia
TOTALITARIAN AGGRESSION
Axis Coalition formed – treaties between Italy, Germany, and Japan ( 1936 to 1940) to offer mutual protection and support if ever involved in war
ALLIANCE FORMED
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