Inter-War YearsMrs. Belof’s History 20

Inter-War Years

• This is a fairly lengthy unit that encompasses a large amount of content. In order for me not to make your unit exam too lengthy and difficult, I am breaking this unit into two parts. Part I will cover: “The League of Nations”, “Mussolini and Italian Fascism” and the “Great Depression” Part II will contain material relating to Germany in the 1920’s and 30’s and the Rise of Hitler and Nazism

a) Introduction 

- World War I proved not to be the “war to end all wars”. - The Treaty of Versailles, the document that officially ended the war,

and the creation of the League of Nations did not produce long term security. In fact, the Treaty contained terms which promoted instability and resentment.

 - The future of Germany was one issue which caused dissension among

the victorious wartime allies. 

- France feared that Germany would pose a military threat in the future. It was determined to keep Germany weak.

 

France’s insecurity was reinforced by the ending of wartime alliances with Britain, and the United States refusal to join the League of Nations.

b) The League of Nations 

- The League of Nations was created by the vision of Woodrow Wilson at the peace conference in Paris of 1919.

 - -Wilson saw the League as a means of eliminating war between nations, and providing a collective security

that would replace the Alliance system which was behind the carnage of WWI.

- The League was to be made up of countries which would join voluntarily. Members would be required to respect and protect each other. This would, in theory, deter aggression and maintain world peace.

 

- The League was made up primarily of the victorious wartime allies: 

  Britain (1920-France (1920-Italy (1920- 1935)Japan (1920-1935)USSR (1934- ) USA …. ummm

Purpose of the LON:  i) to create world peace

ii) provide a higher level of diplomacy between nations.

iii) to prevent further wars.

- In order to settle disputes:i) members submit to arbitrationii) settlement by world courtiii) mediation by council and assembly 

- Protection of Members:“If one member attacks another member, then the aggressive member is at war with all members of the league.”Members could then:i) impose economic sanctions (ie) boycott or block trade)ii) take military action

Some rules involved with the League of Nations included that membership in the league be voluntary, and that the League had to have a unanimous vote before any action could take place. Do you see any problems with the League thus far?

Fundamental Problems: 

i) The United States did not become involved.

ii) The League came to be seen as an organization to maintain the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, rather than a peace initiative.

iii) It assumed that all countries wanted to maintain the peace.** handout on The League of Nations: 1920-1939

What do I need to know about the LON for an exam• Whose vision helped to create the “League of Nations”?• How did Wilson view the purpose of the League?• How was membership determined and what was required of its

members?• Name 4 countries involved with the League when it was created and

the 1 that did not take its seat.• Provide the 3 purposes of the League.• How did the League intend for disputes to be settled?• What was the Leagues motto in regards to protection of its

members?• What were 2 options members had available if they were attacked?• Provide the 3 Fundamental problems associated with the League of

Nations.

League of Nations Documentary

• People's Century - 1919: Lost Peace (Interwar Period / League of Nations)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvl8sx6JK-0)

Dictator Emerges in ItalyThe Treaty of Versailles left Italy angry and frustrated. They felt this way because Italy did not receive much of the “spoils of war” for fighting with the Allies.

- Not all Italians were especially concerned that Italy had been “cheated” of what they considered their rewards. However, most Italians were very concerned with Italy’s economic situation.

- Problems included poverty, landless peasants, rapidly rising prices, and increasing unemployment.

- The government was unstable at best. Between 1919 and 1922, Italy had five different coalition governments, none of which were able to make firm decisions.

- Amidst the turmoil, a former newspaper editor named Benito Mussolini saw his chance. Mussolini set up his own Fascist Party to provide discipline and order.

Benito MussoliniMussolini and his Fasci thought it was necessary to “kill and die” for Italy

because of their fear of a Communist revolution. In

1917 Communists had overthrown the Russian government and in 1918 there was a revolution

attempt in Germany. In 1919, it seemed that

Communism was sweeping through all of Europe. The Fascists,

then, were ready to “kill and die” in fighting

Communists and were ready to make Italy a new

and better nation.

Fascism: This is an extreme form of nationalism which believed in denying individual rights, the supremacy of the state, and dictatorial rule. 

- Mussolini’s Fascist Party consisted of angry former soldiers ready for a fight. 

- Mussolini turned them loose on workers and peasants. These “combat squads” clubbed strikers and communists to death. - Italian industrialists financed Mussolini’s movement to restore

order and get workers back to work.

- 1922 was a decisive year for Mussolini and the Italian Fascist Party, which now had 320,000 members. Among his supporters were 50,000 “Blackshirts” (the Fascist Army).

Amid the fear of socialism in Italy, Mussolini demanded to be named Prime Minister, or he and his supporters would “march on Rome” in October. (below)  

The “March on Rome”• There is little doubt that the army could have beaten the Fascists in a

showdown. The Fascists had however taken key positions throughout the country and now the capital lay before them.

• The plan looked good on paper, but in practice it was unlikely to succeed.

• There were only 40,000 men in the columns (some of whom had no guns only clubs), they had no cannons and there wasn’t enough food to go around

• It was also pouring rain when they started off and waiting for them in Rome was a garrison of 28,000 well-armed and well trained soldiers loyal to the government

• Despite the likely defeat of the Fascists, the existing Prime Minister wanted to take no chances and asked the King for extra powers (aka control of the army)

• The King refused because he:

1. did not trust Facta (Luigi Facta- existing Prime Minister)

2. did not trust the army to remain loyal

3. afraid of the Fascists

• Instead the King sent a telegram to Mussolini inviting him to be the new Prime Minister, an offer Mussolini accepted. He became Prime Minister on October 30, 1922.

• The Fascists columns came to a halt 30 km outside Rome, and then were brought into the city for a victory parade – the Fascists came to power by threatening violence, but they never had to fire a single shot

• King Victor Emmanuel failed to sign a decree which would have stopped the Fascists because in September he had been reassured by Mussolini that his throne was not in jeopardy. The King’s failure to act served an open invitation to Fascism.

Mussolini’s ItalyAfter World War I, new ideas about government power promoted by Benito

Mussolini led to drastic change in the Italian government.

• Mussolini wanted to build a great, glorious Italian empire

• Founded National Fascist Party, 1919

– from Latin fasces, Roman symbol for unity, strength

– Fascism, authoritarian form of government

– Good of nation above all else

Fascist Ideology Mussolini in Power• Fascists significant force in

Italian politics, 1922• Mussolini wanted more,

wanted to rule Italy• Called March on Rome• Show of force convinced

Italy’s king to put Mussolini at head of government

• Mussolini moved to establish dictatorship

Mussolini was not satisfied merely with political control So he used threats, violence, political skill to outlaw all opposition • Through the use of terror, Mussolini put the country back on it’s

feet. He had factories working and producing again, and it was said that he “made the trains run on time”.

• In 1925, Mussolini appointed an all-fascist government, thus effectively eliminating all political opponents. The following year, all power in Italy was in the hands of one man: Mussolini a.k.a. Il Duce (the leader).

Mussolini tried to influence Italians’ thoughts, feelings, behaviors

• Government attempt to control all aspects of life, totalitarianism

• Used propaganda to promote Italy’s greatness• Established festivals, holidays to remind Italians

of proud Roman heritageMussolini had built a party and inspired a nation with speeches about the glory of the Roman Empire. Mussolini and Italy strived to acquire an empire so as to restore national pride. 

Invasion of Ethiopia• In order to acquire an empire, the Italians launched an invasion of

Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in October 1935.• Mussolini set out to make Italy strong military power• Looked for easy target, settled on Ethiopia  What do you think happened? You Guessed It!!! - The Italians attacked using planes, tanks, and other tools of modern

warfare. However, many Ethiopians were still using spears and swords.- Ethiopia had two serious disadvantages, located between two Italian

colonies, military ill-equipped; Italian forces crushed Ethiopia, 1935

 Who would this invasion and aggression anger?

League of Nations• Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie appealed to League to take

action against Italy’s aggression• No nation willing to get involved, to risk another world war• League placed economic sanctions on Italy, took no real actionThe League condemned the invasion and placed economic

sanctions (cutting off supplies of goods) on Italy. The problem was that they cut off goods that Italy had a sufficient supply of already.

 - Britain also refused to close the Suez Canal to stop Italian

military transports. They essentially allowed a dictator to get what he wanted.

 - By 1936, Mussolini controlled Abyssinia, and the League of

Nations inability to act effectively was exposed.• Handouts: “Mussolini and Italian Fascism 1919-1929” ; “Another War: the Italian invasion of

Abyssinia and the ‘failure of sanctions’ ; “Ethiopia Crisis, 1935-36”

What do I need to know for Italy and Mussolini for the exam?

• Describe the situation and feelings in Italy after WWI. Why? What problems did the Italian people face?• What was the main weakness of the post-WWI Italian government?• Describe Mussolini’s rise to power?• Define Fascism. Who made up the Fascist Party initially?• How did the Fascist Party gain the support of wealthy industrialists?• Who were the “Blackshirts”?• Describe the March on Rome.• Who was the King of Italy? How did he react to Mussolini’s demands? Why?• What position did Mussolini receive? What special powers was he given?• How did Mussolini secure his hold on power in 1925? What title was he given and what did this mean? What did Mussolini

desire in order to restore National Pride?• Describe the invasion of Abyssinia? Who What When Where Why? What were the results? What options were available to

the League? What were their actions and how did this show the weakness of the League?• Mussolini and Italian Fascism Question Sheet • Describe problems facing Italy prior to the rise of Mussolini• Where did Italy hope to gain territory at the end of WWI? • #5 - Provide 2 ways that Mussolini tightened his grip on power.• Describe how Mussolini’s regime was viewed by countries outside Italy?• How did Mussolini view the Fascist State? What pact did Britain and France use to try to halt Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia?

Documentary of Mussolini, dictator of Italy

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L--tIaau9o4

The Great Depression• From 1923-29, the American stock market and economy boomed. Production and

people’s standard of living increased. People felt that stock prices would only go higher.

• Many people were living on borrowed money: as new goods were put on the market, it was easy to buy them on credit. Why wait a year to buy a new car when you can borrow money and get a new one this year?

• The stock market was not different. People borrowed money and put that money towards stocks (something they believed would only increase in value).

• Shrewd investors, sensing disaster began to “dump” their stocks on October 24, 1929 or “Black Thursday”. By October 29, 1929 panic had set in.

• People became frantic to sell their stocks:

• Therefore increasing supply of stocks and a decreased demand for the stocks caused their price to rapidly drop.

• These events would trigger the “Great Depression”.

The events of that day ushered in a financial disaster that would affect everyone in society. The Stock Market Crash caused a downward spiral: 

Because people lost borrowed money in the crash...... 

Banks closed 

More people lost their savings 

People could not afford to buy new goods 

Therefore production decreased  

Resulting in more people being laid off and less people with available money to buy goods 

Therefore businesses failed 

Therefore unemployment increased  

And so on...... Handout: “The Great Depression” and textbook pgs 649-652

What do I need to know for the exam about the Great Depression?• Describe the economic situation of America in the 1920s

• What was Black Thursday and when did it occur?• Be able to explain the supply/demand/price relationship and how this pertains to the stock market

crash.• Explain the downward spiral that the stock market crash caused throughout the American

economy.• The Great Depression Handout and Text Book Questions• What is “protectionism”?• When were stock prices in the States increasing?• What was peoples initial reaction to the crash?• Define depression• What were the long term consequences of the crash? What other areas of the economy did it

affect?• Name 2 European countries hit hard by the Depression. Why?• Who was the American President elected during the Depression? What was his plan to stimulate

the economy and what did it intend the government to do? What were the 3 “R”s that his plan was based around?

• **Describe 3 main weaknesses of the American Economy that led to the depression** (In detail)

BBC2 Documentary 1929 The Great Crash 1929

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXNziew6C9A

The Inter-war years

• Exam…. Part 1

Inter-War Years Part II

• Germany in the 1920’s and 30’s and the Rise of Hitler and Nazism

The Political Situation in Germany in the 1920’s

• The German reaction to the harsh Treaty of Versailles was one of bitter resentment.

• In 1919, political power in Germany was placed in the hands of a democratic body called the Weimar Republic.

• The Weimar Republic was responsible for signing the Treaty of Versailles. For this they were viewed as traitors by their country men.

• One of the weaknesses of the new democratic government was that it allowed for many political parties.

• In regards to the economy, Germany was in a crisis. As set out by the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was forced to pay reparations for the war to allied nations. In 1922, Germany defaulted (could not pay back) on those reparations. As a result, French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr (an industrial area) in 1923 where they confiscated mines and factories.

 • Because of this takeover, German workers in this area

refused to work for the “enemy”. Thus unemployment increased and German trade came to a standstill.

 • With the decrease in production, goods became scarce.

Thus, prices went up. (decreased supply = increased demand = increased price)

• Workers demanded better wages, unemployment benefits etc. As a result incomes began to soar.

Where do they get the money for this?????

JUST PRINT MORE MONEY.

In 1923, Germany was experiencing “hyper-inflation”, which means a massive rise in the prices of goods and services. Prices skyrocketed and paper mills churned out money to keep up with prices. 

ie) Loaf of Bread-1918- 4 marks 1923- 4,000,000 marks

 -The people of Germany blamed the Weimar Republic and weak leaders for the problems rather than recognizing this was the fallout of the war.  - In 1924, “The Dawes Plan” was created. This plan called for an influx of American money ($200,000,000) and a more realistic payment schedule. It brought a 5 year period of relative stability and economic growth.

As the German economy recovered, the country took further loans from the U.S. - In 1929, factories were producing more than in 1913. - Germany was admitted to the League of Nations in

1925. As Germany recovered, it started becoming more active in European affairs. Germany renounced war and signed a number of treaties with their European neighbors

- Textbook pages 642-645 (identify: A,B,C) (Questions: 2ab, 3abc, 4ab)

The Rise of Adolf Hitler

Short summary: Adolf Hitler was born in 1889 in Austria. After an unexceptional education, Hitler travelled to Vienna in hopes of entering an arts academy. He was rejected and lived in poverty for several years. - It was during his stay in Vienna, shortly before WWI, that Hitler acquired two ideas that were to guide his political vision. 1) Hitler adopted the concept of Pan Germanism which called for the uniting of all Germans into one nation.  2) Hitler developed a strong belief in Anti-Semitism or a hatred of the Jewish people.

Creator of the Holocaust• Hitler would go on to become the leader of the Nazi party and has become known as the most evil man in history. In his quest for power (as we will see) becoming dictator of Germany was not enough. He wanted to ‘rule the world’ and to make all conquered peoples the slaves of the German ‘master race’. Because of anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) consumed his mind like an incurable disease, he also wanted to make the entire Jewish people extinct.

• He became very close to accomplishing all his goals. Over 45 million people died in the war he started, including 6 out of the 9 million Jews living in continental Europe. They also killed 5 million non-Jewish people (Catholics, Lutherans, Gypsies etc)

• Hitler was not German, but Austrian. • His father, Alois, was 52 and his mother was in her 20’s• He was NOT part Jewish, as many people believe. This idea originated

because the real identity of his paternal grandfather has never been proved

• His father was born to an unmarried woman (Marianne Schickelgruber) who was employed as a maid by a Jewish homeowner. Many historians have tried to find evidence that this Jewish homeowner was the father of Alois. They have been unable to find any evidence to prove this. Hitler, himself, had the Gestapo (Nazi secret police) investigate the matter in 1942, but they also were unable to prove anything.

• Adolf almost had the last name Schickelgruber instead of Hitler. (Alois kept his mother’s name until he was 40- 12 years before Adolf was born).

• Can you imagine… Excited German crowds would have been saluting and shouting “Heil, Schickelgruber !!!!”

Hitler the Constant Failure• Two words describe Hitler during the first 30 years of his life-

BIG FAILURE• A school dropout, this future leader of Germany and world

conqueror, never received a diploma from any school. Poor grades and constant failure forced him to quit school at 16

• All his life Hitler used a scapegoat for his failures. He blamed his failure in school on his father and his teachers (he said he deliberately failed to “get back” at his father, whom he secretly hated- he called his teachers boring and stupid)

• The truth was that Hitler was a spoiled child- because his mother (Klara) pampered and overprotected him- he revolted against his stern father, his teachers, and all other authority figures

• Young Hitler frequently suffered from hallucinations• Laziness was another of Hitler’s lifelong traits- in fact he

never held a regular job until he became dictator of Germany• After his father died, his mother was forced to support him

and his sister on a small pension because Hitler refused to get a job

• He moved to Vienna at 18 – and insisted his mother send him an allowance to live on. He proceeded to live in high style and had visions of becoming a great architect or artist

• But when Hitler tried to enter the Academy of Fine Arts, he twice failed the entrance test and was told he had no artistic talent (of course it wasn’t his fault… it was the “stupid professors”)

• Hitler’s allowance ended when his mother died, but he still couldn’t be bothered to find a job

Hitler the hobo…• For the next 5 years (1907-1912 ish) Hitler lived as a tramp• In good weather he slept on park benches, when it turned

cold he joined other tramps in Austria’s flophouses for the poor and homeless

• His condition deteriorated so much by the end of this period that he was once judged unfit company for other tramps- the director of a home for hobos took one look at this filthy, lice-infested man and ordered him to leave immediately

• By this time Hitler’s mind was already harboring some very EXTREME ideas about people and politics (REALLY???? The thinking of this failure, loser and homeless dude would emerge as the official leader of the Nazi party 16 years later…)

Hitler the WWI Soldier• In 1913, armed with his extremist notions and determined to

avoid being drafted into the Austrian army (that he considered to be “contaminated with Jews, Eastern Europeans and other mongrels”), he fled Vienna for his beloved Fatherland, Germany (eventually ending up in Munich)

• Austrian police later tracked him down and arrested him for draft dodging, Hitler, an expert liar, was able to convince them that as a poor and homeless struggling artist he had simply kept on the move to find work. His wasted physical condition also helped his cause- the examining Austrian doctor rejected him as ‘unfit to bear arms’

• In 1914 WWI broke out. For Hitler, serving in the Reichwehr (German army) was the greatest of all honours

• Literally, he got down on his knees and thanked God for giving him the opportunity to show his love for the Fatherland

• He joined up and was assigned to the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment where, for the next 4 years, he served as a dispatch runner on the Western Front

• He had, at last, met his calling- WAR. He LOVED everything about it!• He volunteered for the most dangerous missions• When his comrades complained about the muddy, rat-infested

trenches, he went into rages about their disloyalty to the Fatherland• Once when he was shot in the leg, he begged not to be sent to the

hospital and away from the front lines (even though he had been in battle for 2 years without leave)

• Hitler was twice wounded and the winner of 4 medals for bravery, including the Iron Cross

• Despite these accolades, he was never promoted beyond the rank of corporal

• His superiors found him to mentally unstable. Like his old classmates, his fellow soldiers shied away from this oddball who would sit silently for hours on end and then suddenly burst into wild screaming fits

• His hallucinations also continued• Several narrow escapes from death on the battlefield created a fantastic

vision in this strange man’s mind. He was convinced that God put him on this earth for some divine mission

• This “mission” became clear to Hitler on Nov 10, 1918, as he lay in an army hospital (temporarily blinded from a gas attack) when he learned that Germany had lost the war…for the first time, Germany was a republic

• Hearing this news, Hitler buried his head in his pillow and sobbed- “How could Germany have lost the war? We were winning! It must be traitors in the revolutionary government! They forced the German army to give up so they could take over. It’s the Jews! They’re behind it all. They stabbed Germany in the back!”

• Then, according to Hitler, “voices” began calling out his divine mission. He was to become Germany’s saviour…the one to save the Fatherland from the Jewish takeover

• So here you have an uneducated, unskilled, penniless and friendless 30 year old who sees and hears hallucinations, thinking he has a divine calling to rescue a country from an imagined Jewish takeover. SOUNDS CRAZY

• HOW DOES A COUNTRY END UP WITH A GUY LIKE THIS RULING THEM???

Hitler and the Nazi Party• Hitler was convinced that Germany had been “stabbed in the

back” by Jews and Marxists. • Turning to politics to promote his beliefs, Hitler joined the

small German Workers Party in 1919.• A combination of economic instability and Hitler’s ability to

appeal to the fears of people resulted in the party increasing it’s membership in the 1920’s. In 1920, the party was renamed the National Socialist German Workers Party or the NAZI Party. 

• He became known as Der Fuehrer (“the leader”) and adopted a modified version of the swastika (hooked cross) as its emblem. He turned it in a clockwise direction and tipped it on its edge and created the hakenkreuz

• He created: 1)The Stormtroopers (Sturmabteilung) or the SA the BROWN SHIRTS- his own private army to help him overthrow the government- they had 2 main jobs:

a) to create so much violence in the streets that the German people the present government was too weak to keep control

b) to destroy all opposing political parties 2) The Gestapo- secret police 3) The Elite Guard (Schutzstaffel) or the SS the BLACK SHIRTS – from

the ranks of the SA he handpicked a few top men to serve as his (and other Nazi leaders) body guards. Also known as “Hitler’s Butchers”- these men and

their brides were to be the parents of the “pure blooded master race” of “super people”. Once accepted to the SS, they received a

special “SS Dagger” that symbolized the “honour” of killing anyone (including family) who opposed Hitler- no law, judge or court could punish him

• Hitler and the Nazi Party, in hopes of gaining political power, took action on November 8, 1923. 

• “The Beer Hall Putsch” as it is called, took place when Hitler and his men broke into a right wing political meeting in a Munich beer hall. The leaders of the meeting agreed to join a mass march on Berlin.

• What does this remind you of?• The idea for the march on Berlin was patterned on Mussolini’s ‘March on Rome’.• The next day, police opened fire on Nazi members. Sixteen party members and three

policemen were killed. The failed takeover against the government was aborted. Hitler was arrested and tried. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

• Hitler served less that 1 year (8 months to be specific), but used his time to gain national attention and promote his ideas. During his stay, Hitler wrote his book titled “Mein Kampf” or My Struggle.

• In his book, Hitler discussed his belief in the “greatness of Germany’s racial heritage”, the superiority of the Aryan people, and the betrayal to Germany by the Weiman Republic.

Mein Kampf• While in prison Hitler wrote, Four and a Half Years of Struggle Against Lies, Stupidity and

Cowardess. Actually, he dictated the ideas while other Nazi prisoners (mostly school dropouts themselves) did the actual writing for him because he was such a poor writer and speller

• After correcting thousands of mistakes in grammar and spelling and convincing Hitler to change the name to Mein Kampf (my struggle), the book went on the market in 1925- but sold poorly- most readers thought it was the work of a madman

• But after Hitler came to power millions of German bought the book- out of a sense of fear and duty

• Mein Kampf became the required gift for every occasion (from birthdays, anniversaries, weddings etc). Every household needed to have a copy that was visible to company (not on a bookshelf, but out on the table). The only other book that sold as many copies was the bible

• Most copies remained unread, however. This is both a sad and scary fact, because in the book Hitler outlines his plans to be the future warlord and dictator of Germany

• Hitler said that he would conquer Europe and that the Slavic lands to the east, Especially Russia, would provide Germans with more lebensraum (living space)

• Millions died as he sought to make good on these promises

• To create a German master race Hitler said he would make the Eastern Europeans slaves of Germany, and to make Europe Judenrein (Jew free)- the result of this was the Holocaust

• In Mein Kampf, Hitler gave the world public notice of his intentions, but nobody paid attention

Mein Kampf Summary- The Nazi Creed

Nazism was Hitlerism, or the beliefs of Adolf Hitler…

1) Men are not created equal. As the most superior race on earth, Germans are the true creators of culture. Since only they are capable of solving mankind’s future problems, the future of civilization depends on them. Therefore, Aryan blood must be kept pure, or these superior qualities will be lost. Marriages to inferior races are forbidden. Germans must create a pure master race to rule the world

2) Jews, the most inferior race, are the true destroyers of culture. They have deliberately invaded and drained all countries of the world of money and power. Therefore the future of world power rests on either the rightful German Masters or the Jews. Germans must save the world by ridding it of this Jewish poison

3) Slavs, blacks, and Mediterranean peoples rank only slightly above Jews. They are fit to live only as German slaves4) The German master race will take as much land to the east as it needs for Lebenstraum, or extra living space. Political

boundaries are nonsense. If others resist, Germany will use its arms and take the land by force.5) Democracy and majority rule are stupid. The masses are ignorant sheep that need leading by a brilliant statesman. This

divinely appointed leader is Adolf Hitler, who will rule the world with a few chosen elite. The Third Reich, the New German Empire, will last a thousand years. It will be a Nazi totalitarian state with total control of government and the lives of all citizens

6) Propaganda, or a system to spread political ideas, must be used to gain support of the ignorant masses. Since the people are dull and forgetful, propaganda must be limited to only a few points and repeated over and over again in slogans. It is not important that these ideas be true, for people are willing to believe anything. In fact, the bigger the lie the better7) Force and fear are the only means to keep the masses under control.

Reason and argument have no place in the Third Reich8) Give the people a single enemy to hate and to blame for all their troubles.

Then they will not feel guilty and will aim all their frustrations in one direction. Blame the Jew for everything evil

9) Thou shalt have no other God but Germany! (Hitler even proposes this to be the eleventh commandment) Christianity is just a scheme created by Jews. Christian love, mercy, and charity must be replaced with pride, willpower, defiance and hate. Honor not a heavenly Father but the Fatherland.

• However, during Hitler’s stay in prison, the Nazi party began to disintegrate.

• Germany, under the Weimar Republic began to regain some economic stability. Strengthened by these conditions, the Weimar Republic forbid Hitler from speaking to the masses.

• Slowly the Nazi party recovered and began to grow. When the worldwide economic collapse of 1929 took place and ushered in the Great Depression, conditions were set for the growth of the Nazi cause.

1) Unemployment increased during the early 30s 2) Support for the Communist Party increased and frightened the middle class. 3) As the Depression continued, the republic was plagued with a series of short lived coalition governments.

- With the country in an economic crisis, Hitler used this opportunity to plead his cause with the angry masses. - Hitler and the Nazis took advantage of the situation. The Nazis contributed to the political instability. The Nazi force called the “SA” or the “Brownshirts” battled communists in the streets.  - Hitler promised economic, military and political stability. The Nazis soon became the second largest party in the country, capturing more than 6 million votes in the 1930 election. - Hitler was positioned to make his ascension to power.....

Hitler Takes Control of Germany• In the elections of 1932, Hitler ran against Germany’s war hero

President Paul von Hindenburg, capturing more than 1/3 of the votes.

• This compelled Hindenburg to appoint Hitler, whom he detested, to the position of Chancellor (Prime Minister). Hitler became the man in Germany’s government on January 30, 1933.

• On February 27, 1933 a fire destroyed the Reichstag (the German parliament building).

• The fire, probably set by Nazi agitators, was blamed on the Communist Party. Hitler placed blame on the communists and imprisoned their leaders.

In March of 1933, amidst a communist scare, Hitler passed the “Enabling Act”. This gave Hitler the power to make his own laws and to have dictatorial powers for the next four years. - Hitler wasted little time.1) He outlawed all other political parties 2) He removed all Jews and other “undesirables” from government and government controlled institutions. 3) He then turned on his own party.... Where is my shocked face???!!!!

The Night of the Long Knives• Hitler feared that certain leaders of the SA would be a threat to his

power. • Among these was a man named Ernst Rohm, the former leader of

the SA, whose strong arm tactics were essential in Hitler’s rise to power

• On the night of June 30, 1934, Hitler unleashed the “Night of the Long Knives”, where Rohm and hundreds of potential challengers to Hitler were massacred. 

• Hitler then replaced the SA with the SS or “Blackshirts”.

Night of the Long Knives

Heinrich HimmlerUnder the command of Heinrich Himmler, the SS worked with the secret police force, the Gestapo,

to begin the round up and elimination of Jews and political

adversaries.

**handout: “The Making of a Dictator…Adolf Hitler”

Economy under the Nazis• The government supervised labour and business, and also passed laws to

prevent strikes and ban unions.• - Hitler helped turn around the German economy by putting people back to

work. • ie) constructing factories• building super highways (the Autobahn)• - And manufacturing weapons (see a problem here?) 

• - Hitler’s efforts to put people back to work had the desired effect. Unemployment dropped from 6 million people in 1932 to 1.5 million in 1936.

Propaganda and the Persecution of Jews

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it people will

eventually come to believe it”Dr. Joseph Goebbels 

• Hitler wanted to create a German society that followed “Nazi values”.• Hitler created a “Ministry of Culture”(Propaganda and Enlightenment) led by

Dr. Joseph Goebbels to supervise the press, broadcast, literature, film, etc.

• Hitler’s taste in music and art became the tastes of Nazi Germany.

• The Nazis forbid the Christian Church from criticizing the Nazi Party.

• The fact many Germans opposed Nazism was no surprise to Hitler. That is why he used terror tactics to keep people in line

• Hitler knew that the minds of children could be shaped like clay. In a 1933 speech Hitler said: “If an adult says I will not come over to your side, I will calmly say, ‘Your child belongs to us already. What are you? You will soon pass on!”

• Hitler became known to children as The Big Father, and took control of all German children. He took over their upbringing, their education and even their leisure time. The Nazis forewarned parents that interference or failure to cooperate would result in imprisonment and/or having your child taken from you to be raised in a good Nazi home

• The Nazis used public schools to indoctrinate children with Nazi ideals.ie) School children were required to join the “Hitler Youth Movement. It was meant to teach boys

to fight and prepare girls for motherhood.

• In the education of youth Hitler cared nothing for reading, writing and arithmetic, he said:

I do not want an intellectual education. I want young people who will grow up to frighten the world…arrogant, violent, unafraid, cruel youth who must be able to suffer pain. Nothing tender or weak must be left in them!• He wrecked the once highly acclaimed school system by

turning it into a Nazi training center. From university all the way down to elementary school, every course was Nazified

• Brilliant Jewish teachers (like Albert Einstein) were fired• By the time Hitler was finished, some German youth became

so brainwashed, they actually turned in their anti-Nazi parents to be jailed or executed

A Typical School Scene in Nazi Germany

• Imagine you are in a typical elementary of high school in Nazi Germany. Staring you in the face at the front of the classroom is a huge picture of Adolf Hitler.

• Law requires you to stand and salute it at least 10 times a day• At lunch you recite a prayer to the Fuehrer thanking him for your food• All loyal Nazis, like your teachers (who all belong to the Nazi Teacher’s

League) have sworn an oath to Hitler promising to make YOU a Nazi and to use Mein Kampf as the foundation of all their teaching

• Above all, you must learn to hate Jews passionately and to believe you are a member of a master race that will rule the world by force

• Since you will also provide that force, you must be taught to lose your fear of death

• To drill Nazi ideas in your mind, all your textbooks have been rewritten

• You study a new course called, racial science• Math problems deal with bombs, soldiers, planes and

machine guns• Stories in elementary reading books call the Jews “devils”,

“scum”, even “poison mushrooms”. You are warned that one Jew, like one poisonous mushroom, can destroy a whole town

• Even the games little ones play at recess teach hatred of Jews.. One of your favorite games is called “Jews Get Out!”

He Takes Charge of After School as Well• To fill young minds with Nazism after school hours, Hitler organized two mandatory youth

groups:• Hitler Youth for boys: ages 6-18• League of German Maidens: ages 10-18

• Hitler Youth- a juvenile version of the German army• Became compulsory after 1936• Attend military camp, train to be soldiers, study Nazism• Must swear an oath to the Fuehrer promising to give up their lives for

him if need be• A dagger with the words “Blood and Honour” was the graduation

diploma• For boys with strong Nazi feelings and qualities of leadership they have

6 more years of training in one of Hitler special schools for Nazi leaders• Others go on to serve in the Nazi Labour Service cultivating fields or

building roads, after that, they lay down their shovels and take up arms in a branch of the military for a minimum of 2 more years

• League of German Maidens- girls became fully indoctrinated into Nazism and were prepared to deal with war

• They wore uniforms, went backpacking on long marches, learned survival techniques

• But it was not soldiering but MOTHERING was to be their main role• The more Germans there were the better the Fuehrer liked it (more

future soldiers and more Aryans to fill up all the living space Germany was to gain in her conquered lands)

• German girls were told: “It is your duty to bear children for the Fatherland. The Fuehrer wills it! Marriage is unimportant!”

• As a result, many young teenagers (children still themselves) became mothers, and there was little their heartbroken parents could do about it

• After high school, 18 year old girls went on to serve a year working on farms or in homes caring for children of large families

• This free babysitting service was another way to encourage German women to have more babies

Hitler realized that propaganda was a very powerful weapon. If a lie was told enough times, people would believe it. - Hitler preached the superiority of the German race and denounced people of other ethnic backgrounds such as Jews, Poles, Americans, etc. - People of Jewish background made up about 1% of Germany’s population. Many were very well renowned.ie) Albert Einstein - Hitler hated the Jewish people because he blamed them for Germany’s defeat in WWI. The Jews were an easy scapegoat.

Two examples of the persecution of the Jews in the 1930s are: i) The Nuremberg Laws • When Hitler came to power in 1933, he passed laws which forbid Jews from holding public

office. This was just the first stage. • In September of 1935, The Nuremberg Laws were passed. This set of laws: deprived the Jews of German citizenship. • Jews were not allowed to fly the German flag. • Jews were not allowed to write, publish, act, teach, work in hospitals, banks, sell books, etc.  ALSO: They had to wear a yellow Star of David on their clothing so that they could be easily identified.

• These laws served as open and state approved discrimination against the Jewish people of Germany. Things would get worse...

ii) “The Kristallnacht” 

• Nov. 7, 1938- A Jewish youth assassinates a member of the German Embassy in Paris in retaliation for the suffering of his family.

 • The Nazis use this as an excuse to use violence against the Jewish people. • On the night of Nov. 9-10, 1938, Nazi mobs attacked the Jewish community,

destroying over 7000 Jewish owned businesses, over 250 synagogues, and assaulting Jewish people in the streets.

Insult was added to injury because the Jews were ordered to clean up the mess. They were denied all insurance payments for damages to their property. Even worse, the entire Jewish community was fined 1 million Reichmarks for “causing all the trouble”

• Because of all the damage to the stores and other buildings that were ransacked, this became known as “The Night of Broken Glass”

 • This event is more than an attack on the Jewish community. It

represented a change in Nazi policy towards the Jews. This event took the step from discrimination to violence. Soon, Jewish people were being sent to Concentration Camps.

Assignments: Handouts and Questionsfrom “Hitler’s Germany” – Josh Brooman

• Section 1: Adolf Hitler- questions: A, C• Section 2: Road to Dictatorship- questions: B,C• Section 3: The Nazi Police State- questions: A-D• Section 4: Jews in Nazi Germany- questions: B,C• Section 5: Young People in Nazi Germany- questions: A,B• Section 7: Workers and Working in Nazi Germany- questions: C• Section 9: Winning People Over- Propaganda and Censorship-

questions: BHandout: student information sheet: Persecution of Jews in GermanyTextbook: pg 654-658- define: (all), identify: (all), answer: (1 abc, 6ab), critical thinking:***possible exam essay question…. #9

QUIZ??????

Defiance of the Treatyi) Rearmament When Hitler became the “Fuehrer” (the leader) he began setting up a German state that was prepared for war. This was done in complete defiance of the terms set out in the Treaty of Versailles.

1) He took Germany out of the League of Nations in 1933. 2) He authorized the production of U-boats, tanks, and planes for

the new German Air Force called the “Luftwaffe”. ( best German word ever!!!)

3) He virtually ended unemployment by conscripting 1/2 million soldiers into the army.

ii) Testing his strength: The Rhineland

• After seeing Mussolini’s successful invasion of Ethiopia and the weak response by the League of Nations, Hitler was convinced his next step would not meet any serious opposition. 

• In March of 1936, he ordered a token force of 35,000 German troops into the Rhineland, an area demilitarized since 1919. 

• If the French were to oppose the troops, they had been ordered to retreat. It was all a BLUFF!!

• The response from France and the League of Nations....NOTHING!

Hitler then went looking for allies.  

1) In October 1936, Nazi Germany signed an alliance with Fascist Italy. This was called the “Rome-Berlin Axis”. 

2) Late in 1936, Germany signed an Anti-Communist Pact with Japan.  At this point, everything Hitler had done seemed legitimate to the western democracies. After all, he was only taking back areas that rightfully belonged to Germany. After 1936, Hitler’s demands went beyond Germany’s borders.Why? Hitler and Germany desired “Lebensraum” or living space. They also believed that the millions of Germans living outside of Germany needed protection.

iii) Austria 

The Treaty of Versailles prohibited a union between Germany and Austria. In 1938, Hitler demanded a union between these countries. Support for the Nazis within Austria was strong, and the majority of Austria’s population supported the union. In March of 1938, Hitler ordered his army to “restore order” in Austria.  The response of Britain and France, who had pledged to protect Austrian independence....NONE!!! Austria was annexed (absorbed) by Germany unopposed.

L) The Munich Conference

After annexing Austria, Hitler turned his attention to Czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia was a prosperous democracy that had a strong army, as well as defense agreements with both France and the USSR.

However, there were about 3 million German speaking people living in the western part of the country. This was a mountainous region called the Sudetenland.

Why would a mountainous region like this be important to Hitler? This area had natural barriers which made it a strategic location and the main point of a Czech defense against Germany.

Hitler encouraged German speaking people in this region to demand special privileges and stir up trouble.

In September 1938, Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia give up the Sudetenland. The Czechs refused and asked France for help. Hitler threatened an invasion.

People in Europe prepared for the imminent conflict. The world was again on the brink of war......

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain received a message from Hitler inviting him, Mussolini, and French Premier Daladier to an emergency meeting in Munich, Germany.  

Edouard Daladier (France) Neville Chamberlain (Britain) Adolf Hitler (Germany) Benito Mussolini (Italy)

Do you see a problem with this situation? 

- No representatives of the Czechoslovakian government were invited.

The meeting began on Sept. 29, 1938. Hitler promised that this would be his last territorial demand. Chamberlain’s reaction:“This was a man who could be relied on when he had given his word”. The British and French believed they could maintain peace by giving in to the dictators demands. This was called a policy of appeasement. 

Britain and France allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland. Hitler maintained he would not invade Czechoslovakia. - Chamberlain believed that he had achieved “peace for our time”. 

Results:- In less than 6 months (March 1939), the Nazis rolled into the Czechoslovakian capital of Prague.  - By giving in to Hitler’s demands, Chamberlain and others helped to make World War II inevitable.  If you were in Hitler’s shoes right now, how would you be feeling?

Assignments and HandoutsRoads to War- Josh Brooman

• Section 6: From the Saarland to the Rhineland-questions: A, B1,2

• Section 9: The Disappearance of Austria 1938- questions: A,B• Section 10: The Czech Crisis-questions: A,B• Section 11: Europe’s Last Year of Peace-questions: A,B

Epilogue: Another War• After the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia, it became clear to Britain and

France that the policy of appeasement they had employed with Hitler had failed. They began to prepare for the inevitable conflict that was to come.

• In preparation for war, Hitler wished to neutralize the Soviet Union and prevent Germany from being involved in a two front war.

• The USSR was also worried about the possibility of being a target of German aggression.

• As a result, in August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a “Non-Aggression Pact”. This agreement stated that they would not attack each other and that they would divide eastern Europe into “two spheres of influence”.

In response to this, Britain and France indicated their willingness to protect Poland. The line in the sand had been drawn. On September 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland. Britain and France would declare war two days later. The bloodiest conflict the world has ever known had begun.

The Inter-War Years Outline Part IIWho governed Germany after WWI? Describe people’s feelings toward the government. Why? What was the major weakness of this government?Describe the German economy and the problems that it faced after the end of WWI. What was taken

from Germany in 1923? By who? Why? Why did Germany experience “hyper-inflation”?What was the Dawes Plan? Describe.How did German relations on an international scale change in the 1920s? What did Germany enter

into in 1925? What was the Kellog-Briand Pact?What did Hitler hope to become in Vienna? Name and describe the 2 ideas that Hitler adopted while

living in Vienna. Who did Hitler Blame for Germany’s loss in WWI? What party did Hitler join in 1919? What was it later renamed? (abbreviation and full name).Describe the “Beer Hall Putsch” (When, what did it plan to do?, Who was it patterned after?

Results?Describe Mein Kampf . What did Hitler discuss in this publication?How did the economic crisis of 1929 affect the Nazi Party? Who were the “Brownshirts” or “SA”? What did Hitler and the Nazis promise the German people?How did Hitler become Chancellor? Who appointed him? When?

• What event helped Hitler eliminate Communist opponents? When?• What gave Hitler absolute power? Describe?• What were 3 things that Hitler did once he gained absolute power? Who did he perceive as a

threat? Who was the leader of the SA? How did Hitler deal with the SA? What was this called? Describe.

• Who did Hitler replace the SA with? Who was the leader of this group? Who were the Nazi secret police?

• Provide 3 ways that Hitler turned around the economy and put people back to work.• Describe Nazi use of Propaganda. Who was the Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment?• Describe the Nuremberg Laws.• Describe the Kristallnacht.• What title was given to Hitler after the death of Paul Von Hindenburg?• Be able to describe the ways that Hitler defied the Treaty of Versailles (aside from territorial

expansion).• When and where did Hitler test his strength in regards to territorial gains? Why was this

event significant? What was the response from the LON, Britain, and France?• Name 2 countries Germany allied with.

· Why did western democracies not respond to Hitler’s expansion in early 1936? · What was it that Germany hoped to gain? What does this term mean?· Where did Hitler turn his attention in early 1938? Results· Why did Hitler want the Sudetenland (2 reasons)? · ***Name 4 leaders that attended the meeting to avoid war over the

Sudetenland. What was this meeting called? Describe this meeting.· Define appeasement.· Where and when did Hitler go next in regards to territorial expansion?· How did Hitler attempt to avoid a 2 front war? · When and where did Hitler attempt to take over that caused Britain and France

to say:“ OK. It’s go time”(or something like that)