The West Between the Wars

Chapter 24

The Futile Search for StabilitySection 1

Weak League of Nations

-The failure of the USA to join the league. Most Americans did not wish to be involved in European affairs. The US Senate refused to ratify or approve the Treaty of Versailles.-Lack of military support

French Demands / Inflation in Germany

France received 2.5 billion marks from Germany in 1921, however the following year the German government stated they can no longer pay due to financial problems. Outraged, the French sent troops to occupy the Ruhr Valley, Germanys chief industrial and mining center.In reaction, German workers went on strike and government paid their salaries by printing more money. By printing more money, the German government caused inflation.

InflationThe German mark became worthless by 19141914: 12 marks =$11923: 130,000,000,000 marks =$1Economic adversity led to political upheavals.Dawes Plan, reduced reparations and coordinated with Germany based upon Germanys ability to pay. The plan granted an initial $200 million loan for Germany recovery.

Inflation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5b618iV3tM(1minute)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkMq9IpCaK0(2minutes)

Treaty of Locarno

A brief period of prosperity came to Europe between 1924-1929.During this period leaders signed the treaty which guaranteed Germanys new western borders with France and Belgium.-Germany joins the League of Nations in 1926-Kellogg-Brand pact brought about more hope signed by Sixty-three nations.Unfortunately, the nations in Europe never reduced military forces to make war less probable. There was still distrust left from WWI.

The Great DepressionCauses:1. Downturns in the economies of individual

nations in the second half of the 1920s. Rapid production of wheat and farm products were leading towards overproduction.

2. Internal financial crisis involving the US stock market.

-The US banks had given loans out in the 1920s, now investors were pulling money out (Especially (out of Germany) in order to invest the US stock market. This led towards a weak bank of Germany.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpfY8kh5lUwStories of the Great Depression

Responses to DepressionBy 1932 1 out of 4 British workers were unemployedGovernments did not know how to deal with crisis.

The crisis led towards increased government activity; in the economy.

This low level of employment renewed interest in the Marxist doctrines.

Post-war Politics

In a number of states, women could now vote (Exceptions France, Italy and Switzerland)

Germany

The new German republic from 1918 was called the Weimar Republic.-The republic had no truly outstanding political leaders (Although they did have a President Paul von Hindenburg)-Serious economic problems and the unemployment rate led way for the rise of extremist parties.

France

After the victory in WWI France was the strongest nation in the world.After seeing instability following the depression the French government formed six different cabinets, finally in June 1936, a coalition of leftist parties (Communists, Socialists, and Radicals formed the Popular Front Government).-They started programs called the French New Deal-However, their policies failed and by 1938 France had little faith in their political system.

Great Britain

In 1931 the Labour Party which was the largest party in Britain was voted out of office due to its failure to solve economic problems.A new government took power led by Conservatives, changing policies through implementing balanced budgets and protective tariffs.

John Maynard Keynes

British economist who condemned the old theory that in a free economy, depressions should be left to resolve themselves without government interferences.Keynes argued that unemployment did not come from overproduction, but from decline in demand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk(Keynes Rap)

The United States

The US was affected most by the Great Depression.In 1932 US industrial production had fallen almost 50 percent from its 1929 level, with 12 million people unemployed.Under these circumstances, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was able to win the election in 1932 and pursued the New Deal where he increased program of public works and increased jobs 3 million jobs. -He passed the Social Security Act-However, the new deal did not completely solve unemployment.

The Rise of Dictatorial RegimesSection 2

Emergence of Totalitarian States

By the late 1930s, there were only so many democratic states remaining. Many had become totalitarian states, where the government controls politics, economy, social, intellectual and cultural aspects of peoples lives.-These governments would use propaganda to brainwash people.

Fascism in ItalyBenito MussoliniStarted a political group Fascio di Combattimento, League of combat (which is where the term fascism originates from).-The group emphasized the need for a strong central government run by a dictator.

1920-21 Mussolini forms bands of black-shirted armed Facists called the Blackshirts (squadristi).The middle-class who were fearing of a communist take over and the strikes by the farmers led towards middle class support of Mussolini.In 1922, the Facists threatened to march on Rome if not given power. Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Italy gave in and made Mussolini prime minister.Mussolini used his position as PM -pass new laws where government could suspend any publications criticizing the state or church.-Established a secret police (known as the OVRA).

The Fascist StateSuppressed people through propaganda and taking over all types of media.Fascist youth groups were formed to focus on military activities and Fascist values.-Value discipline-Love war-Keep women in the homes

However, Mussolini never achieved the degree of totalitarian control seen in Hitler's Germany or Stalin's Soviet Union.Many of the former institutions remained, the Catholic Church, the army and the King remained in their positions.The Catholic church was given large sums of money from Mussolini and in return the Catholic Church urged Italians to support the fascist.

A New Era in the Soviet Union

New Economic Policy:1921 Lenin begun his NEP (New Economic Policy), where he allowed peasants to sell their produce openly, however banking, mines and heavy industry was still controlled by the government.In 1922 Lenin and the Communists formally created a new state called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Rise of StalinFollowing Lenin's death in 1924 the party was divided.The group was divided into 2 factions. Leon Trotsky, who wanted an end to NEP and launch Russia on path of rapid industrialization and spread communismJoseph Stalin was in charge of appointing posts in the party during Lenin's rule, this background came to his advantage as many party officials vouched for his support.Stalin expelled Trotsky in 1927 (Trotsky went to Mexico where he was murdered in 1940) and took full control over the party.

Five-Year Plan

Set economic goals for five-year periods. Their purpose was to transform Russia virtually overnight from an agricultural into an industrial country.-Emphasized on producing capital goods and armaments. -Succeeded in increasing steel production-Number of workers increased-Wages declined-Collectivization of agriculture occurred where government owned all land.

Cost of Stalin's Programs

• Hoarding of food created widespread famine.• An estimate of 10 million peasants died.• Stalin ruled the party with an iron fist. Anyone

who opposed him was sent to Siberia.• An estimate of eight million Russians were

arrested, some executed.

Eastern Europe

• Many of the new states had failed democracies– Most areas were rural and had many illiterate

peasants and land owners who feared democracy.– Traditionally Eastern European states were run by

strong centralized governments.– *Exception was Czechoslovakia which had a large

middle class, liberal tradition and a political democracy.

Spain

General Francisco Franco, led forces against the democratic government in 1936.The Soviets, Germans and Italians backed Franco with soldiers and weapons.The Spanish Civil War came to an end when Franco's forces captured Madrid in 1939, establishing a dictatorship favoring businesspeople, Catholic clergy and large land owners.

Guernica-Pablo Picasso

Analyzing Guernica

In Groups (Assignment Grade)

Hitler and Nazi Germany Section 3

Hitler's Up-Bringing

Born 1889-Failed secondary school and traveled to Vienna to become an artist but rejected by the school.-He stayed in the city and lived off inheritance.-Serves in the Western Front for four years-In 1919 he joins the little-known German Workers Party, one of the several right-wing extreme nationalist parties in Munich.

By 1921, Hitler had taken control of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) or Nazi.

-Within 2 years the party grew to 55,000 with 15,000 party militia (known as the SA)In 1923 Hitler staged an uprising against the government (Beer Hall Putsch), however failed and was sent to prison.

In jail Hitler wrote the Mein Kampf (My Struggle).

The book reflects Hitlers strong nationalism,

anti-Semitism and his theory of Social Darwinian ideas that the Aryan race is

superior.

The Rise of NazismBy 1929, the Nazi party has expanded to 800,000, Hitler had realized in prison that a violent revolt is not the way, but taking over through politics, legally.Germany had a high unemployment rate, which made it easier for the Nazi’s to recruit people.Hitler promised to create a new Germany.

-National pride and honor-Traditional militarism-A strong Germany

Victory of NazismSlowly the elites in Germany began to support the right-wing in fear of a communist take over.By 1933, the president, Hidenburg was pressured to agree to allow Hitler take over as chancellor for a new government.-The Nazi’s “legally” seized the government-Enabling Act allowed the government to ingore the constitution while it deal with the countries problems for four years.-All political parties except the Nazis abolished-Hidenburg dies in 1934, and the position of president is abolished.

Early Years of the Nazi State (1933-39)• The Nazis, wanted to create an Aryan State. He

believed that in the past there have been two Aryan empires, the Romans and the German Empire of 1871, he wanted to create a Third Reich of Nazi Germany.

• The Schutzstaffeln (Guard Squadrons) SS, were a force created as Hitlers personal bodyguard. Heinrich Himmler was in charge of the SS.– The SS used terror and ideology. Terror was

implemented through police, concentration camps, death camps, while ideology was dictated by the idea of Aryans being the master race.

The new regime helped bring an end to unemployment through mass hiring when beginning a mass rearmament program.

-This played a large factor towards the German people accepting the Nazis.Nuremberg party rallies, and other massive events were used to appeal to the public and stir excitement.Institutions, such as the churches and universities were used to brainwash people.

Women

The Nazis believed that men were destined to be warriors and political leaders, while women were meant to be wives and mothers.

Women were considered unsuitable for positions such as university teaching, medicine and law, and instead encouraged women to become nurses and do social work.

Anti-Semetic Policies

Nuremberg Laws (1935) the Nazi party announced racial laws which excluded Jews from German citizenship and forbade marriage between Jews and Germans. In 1941 they were also forced to wear a yellow Stars of David and to carry identification saying that they were Jewish.

Charlie Chaplin

The Pianist

The violent phases started in 1938 (Kristallnacht, “Night of Shattered Glass) when Nazis began to destroy synagogues and burn Jewish businesses. At least a 100 Jews were killed and 30,000 rounded up to concentration camps.-Jews were barred from all public transportation-Hospitals, schools-Owning, managing stores-Forced to clean up all damaged due to Kristallnact

Turn in Hard Copy Next Class