The Coming of the War 1931-1942

DEMOCRACY

During the 1920’s many nations moved toward freedom and democracy.

Some nations took a different direction and moved toward repressive dictatorships and totalitarianism governments.

TOTALITARIANISM

Totalitarian governments

is a theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people.

The Soviet Union and Italy

were two countries that adopted repressive governments.

USSR

In 1924, Lenin died and Joseph Stalin took over as the leader in USSR.

Stalin means “Man of Steel” in Russia

Cruel and Ruthless He wanted to

transform the USSR into an “industrial power” and “state run collective farms.”

STALIN CONTINUED

The “State ran industrial power” led to 10 million deaths of his own people.

Stalin used fear, propaganda and terror to control his people

It is believed that he used the Red Army to imprison and kill up to 10 million additional people.

MUSSOLINI IN ITALY

Benito Mussolini formed the Fascist Party which was a right winged organization that trumped nationalism and promised to make Italy great again.

The followers of Mussolini were known as the Black Shirts.

MUSSOLINI CONTINUED

Mussolini took control over the government and the army within a few years.

He outlawed political parties.

He took over the press. He created the secret

police. He organized youth

groups that he could use to indoctrinate the young.

TOTALITARIANISM

A theory of government in which a party or leader controls the economic, social and cultural lives of people.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TOTALITARIANISM

Single party dictatorship controls every aspect of life

Strong, charismatic leader

State ran economy Use of police and spies to

enforce terror Government control of

the media Use of schools and youth

to spread ideology Strict censorship of artist

GERMANY

Germany was weakened by the worldwide effects of the Great Depression.

Adolf Hitler started the Nazi Party. He wrote a book called Mein Kampf which means “ My Struggles.” In his book he stated the reasons he felt that Germany had problems.

HITLER

Hitler criticized the ideologies but his sharpest assaults were against the communist and the Jews.

He spread pseudo-scientific theories of a master race that targeted the Jews for future violence.

Hitler was the symbol of a totalitaranian regime.

HITLER

He used the secret police to crush all opposition.

He ran a state controlled press-propaganda.

The state controlled press praised/worshipped Hitler’s accomplishments.

He had a state controlled educational system to indoctrinate the youth.

HITLER IN LATE 1930’S

He violates the Versailles Treaty that ended World War I and starts rearmament or rebuilding the military.

His economic policies and public works projects ended the Great Depression in Germany.

JAPAN

During the 1920’s Japan increased the freedoms and democracy. The Japanese government reduced the size of the military.

Japan passed laws giving all men the right to vote.

Japan legalized trade unions.

JAPAN

Japan allowed diverse political parties to develop.

Japan did not become a totalitarianism state. Japan continued as a constitutional monarchy.

JAPAN EXPANDS EMPIRE

Japans power shifted and turn toward military control.

Japan started a period of military expansion.

Japan moved to control Chinese railroads.

Japanese were violent killing over 200,000 and burning city “Rape of Nanking.”

WEAKNESSES OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS

America refused to join.

League had no standing army and no real power.

Aggressive nations challenged the League and it was short on action.

HITLER

Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles and increased the size of the army and navy. He spoke to the German people about needing “living space.”

In 1935 he reclaimed the Saar a region the French controlled. The League did nothing.

MUSSOLINI

1935 Mussolini lead Italy to invade Ethiopia, an independent country in east Africa. Emperor Haile Selessie appealed to the League and they did almost nothing. Ethiopia fell to Italy.

1936-1939 Spain was in a civil war. Both Hitler and Mussolini sent aid to the nationalist.

The USSR sent aid to the republican side.

APPEASEMENT POLICY

Why did Britain allow appeasement?

WWI had been horrific.

Many countries, including USA and FDR, did not take hard stance against German aggression.

HITLER & AGGRESSION

Hitler takes Sudetenland. Britain and France appease Germany.

Appeasement under Munich Pact only postponed the war 11 months.

Munich Pact Hitler would take part of Czechoslovakia but not all of it. He was ended his aggression. This was not an effective pact.

ROOSEVELT OPPOSES AGGRESSION

The Rape of Nanking and the killing of 3 navy sailerPanay Incident…ships sunk.

FDR made a statement on Japan “reign of terror and u