What is Totalitarianism? A form of government in which all social, political, economic, intellectual, cultural, and spiritual activities are controlled by the rulers. The ruler is an absolute dictator.
Dictator Person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in government without hereditary succession.
Joseph Stalin Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler
Joseph Stalin Part of the inside circle with Lenin Became General Secretary of the Communist Party, which allowed him to place his friends and supporters in key positions within the party 1922 Lenin was left incapacitated by a stroke. Soviet Union ruled by Lenin, Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev and Joseph Stalin. January 1924 Lenin dies, leaving the party to openly fight for control. Eventually Stalin wins control, and exiles Trotsky (his greatest opponent) to a remote part of the Soviet Union. Many were then sent out of the country. Soviet agents were often later sent to silence these exiled leaders. (Example: Trotsky stabbed with ice pick)
Stalin as Leader He achieved dominance by having powerful people near him eliminated. In the 1930s it is estimated that around 10 million people were arrested and either executed, sent to special camps, or died in the camps. Used force and terror to maintain control. Had an economic plan to move the Soviet Union forward: Combine all of the small farms into big ones, have the peasants work those. The rich farmers would be liquidated (murdered, exiled to Siberia, and robbed of all possessions)
Stalin and the 5-year plans A series of five-year plans were developed to take the predominantly agriculturally based country and turn it into an industrial powerhouse. The people required to work in these new industries and jobs would need to become educated and trained. The bulk of these new workers were to be peasants forced to move off their farms and into the factories. Work week went from 5 days to 7 days. Could not move from job to job; secret police kept tabs on the people. If you resisted, sent to a labor camp. Millions of people died in these camps
Life under Stalin All churches closed Schools became much more strict and focused on courses necessary to develop skilled workers. Discipline was harsh for students in order to make them disciplined workers for the factories Estimated around 20 million people were eliminated during Stalin s rule. This number is now considered the minimum. It could be as high as 60 million people this includes people who starved to death during a famine, POWs, camps and prisons, and deserters.
Fascism A governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. Often the leader disrespects human rights, controls the media, is obsessed about the nation s security, is nationalistic and militaristic Military Strength and Violence - were an intergal part of the way of life. Mussolini himself remarked, "Peace is absurb: fascism does not believe in it." (from Italy and the Rise of Mussolini)
At the start of the war in 1914, Italy should have fought with Germany and Austria as she had signed the Triple Alliance which dictated that if one of the three was attacked, the other two would go to that country's aid. Italy did not join in on Germany's side but waited until 1915 and joined the side of Britain and France. This association with Germany was enough to taint Italy in the eyes of the "Big Three". Also Italy had not played an overwhelming part in the war. Her army had been beaten at the battles of Caporetto. Her strategic importance to central Europe was minimal whilst Britain dominated the Mediterranean with naval bases in Malta and Gibraltar. Italy's potential military clout in 1919, should the need arise to put pressure on Germany and Austria, was limited. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm
Italy Disappointed in results of Treaty of Versailles. believed they should have received more land then they did. Between 1919 and 1922 there were five different governments, all of which were unsuccessful. In 1919 Benito Mussolini founded the Fascist party which won 35 seats in the 1921 elections. In an atmosphere of strikes and riots, they forced communists and socialists from office. The fascists staged a 'March on Rome, to defend Italy against a communist revolution. King Victor Emmanuel III refused to use the army against Mussolini. Within a few days, Mussolini was appointed prime minister. Adopted the title of Il Duce, which means the leader. Consolidated his power by controlling the press, industries, and schools, by arresting or murdering anyone who opposed his policies.
Il Duce All parties except the Fascists were suppressed. Opponents of the regime were either exiled or murdered. Strict press censorship was enforced Education in schools and universities was closely supervised, teachers had to wear uniforms, new textbooks were written to glorify the fascist system. Children were encouraged to criticize teachers who seemed to lack enthusiasm for the party. Children and young people were forced to join the government youth organizations which indoctrinated them with the brilliance of the Duce and the glories of war. Mussolini left religion outside the control of the government
Il Duce Production doubled and in some cases tripled under Mussolini rule Drained marshes around Rome to prevent flooding and for further land development Public Works Programs built roads, bridges, railway stations, sports stadiums, schools, and whole new towns 1935 seized the country of Ethiopia in Africa and later occupied Albania. Became Hitler s closest ally in WWII
Part I: Germany and Hitler In 1918, the Monarch was gone and a democratic republic, led by Socialists, took over. Monarchy was all that Germany had ever had. It was this new government that agreed to the armistice and signed the treaty. Stab in the back myth traitors in the new government because they signed the treaty. Treaty of Versailles Germans very upset with two major points: 1. War guilt clause Germany had to admit they caused the war. 2. Reparations had to pay back the Allies in gold, not German money. 1919-1920 Three attempts to overthrow the government: 1. Communists, 2. Communists, 3. Friecorps (old German soldiers)
Part I: Germany and Hitler September 1919 Adolf Hitler s job for the army is to go to different party meetings and report back to his supervisors. German Workers Party goes there for his job and eventually joins the party, throwing himself into the organization 1921 Hitler is indispensable to the party and they make him, after he insists, head of the party. Changes the name to National German Socialists Workers Party. 1923 Hitler tries to overthrow the government. Army fires on them, he escapes unharmed, several of his men are killed. Hitler is arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 5 years in prison, only serves less than 1 year. This is where he writes Mein Kampf Hitler changes way of thinking. Comes up with revolution after power legally get power then destroy the republic.
Nazi Takeover President is elected, chancellor appointed by the president, Reichstag is the legislative body, cabinet is appointed by chancellor. 1929 3 million out of work, 1933 6 million out of work. 1930 Article 48 chancellor can run the country without the Reichstag emergency powers 1932 Hitler runs for president and loses, but the Nazi party wins the most seats in the Reichstag. Hitler becomes Chancellor and does three things: Dissolves the Reichstag Then the Reichstag mysteriously burns down (arson) Laws are passed that suspends all civil liberties (no free press, speech, etc.)
Weimar Republic 1919-1933 Super inflation in 1923 it took 4,200,000,000,000 marcs = $1 Eventually gets under control. Unemployment drops to under 8%. But when the stock market crashed in 1929, the U.S. started to recall loans made to Germany and unemployment spiked again At one time 1 in 3 Germans were unemployed
Nazi Takeover Enabling Act next 4 years all laws will be done by the Chancellor. Hitler can now destroy the government. All political parties are eliminated President von Hindenburg dies, the cabinet gives presidential power to Hitler. The army takes an oath to Hitler, not to Germany Germany never lost the war that was the thinking, so they want to get their land back. Expansionism immediate goal of the Nazis; wherever they are speaking German, that land is ours (Germany)
Germany and Europe Hitler starts to test the water Germany leaves the League of Nations nothing happens People start going back to work, unemployment down mainly because Hitler is rebuilding the army, so things need to be built (no one stops this) 1936 sends troops into the Rhineland (nothing) 1938 Anschluss of Austria At Munich Conference, Hitler asks for Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia), and says if he gets this, he will go after no more land. The deal is approved. March 1939, Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia (nobody does anything) September 1, 1939, World War II begins when Hitler invades Poland. The Allies had warned him of this, but they had done nothing in the past, so why would they now? (Today) Map H