1. Europe Between the Wars

2. Economic Consequences
WWI total cost  over $350 billion
Most countries raised taxes to pay for war
International trade suffered
Tariffs (taxes) raised on imports

3. Reparations??
Germany in state of economic disaster
Didn’t raise taxes during war, just printed more $$
Led to inflation
1924: Dawes Plan = $200 million loan from American banks to Germany
1929: German factories back at pre-war production
Video: What is Inflation?

5. October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday) U.S. Stock Market crashed
So what went wrong??
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday) U.S. Stock Market crashed
American bankers demanded repayment of loans
American investors withdrew $$ from Europe
Banks worldwide started failing

6. Political Consequences
League of Nations created
New countries created in Eastern Europe
Many nations turn to military dictatorships (Russia, Italy, Germany)
US emerges as a world power

7. The Rise of Fascism New militant political system
Attractive to people angered by the Treaty of Versailles and economic depression
Focused on loyalty to the state and obedience to the leader

8. Fascist Promises Revive the economy
Punish those responsible for hard times
Restore national pride

9. Key Elements of Fascism
Extreme nationalism
Nations must struggle – peaceful states doomed to be conquered
Loyalty to leader (dictator)
Often wore uniforms, used special salutes, and held mass rallies

11. Communism vs. Fascism Similarities: Ruled by dictators
Only one political party allowed
Denied individual rights
Country more important than individual
No democracy

12. Communism vs. Fascism Communism No social classes
Appealed to working class people
Internationalists - unite workers worldwide
Fascism
Keep social classes –everyone has a place
Appealed to aristocrats, industrialists, war veterans, and middle class
Nationalists – all about their own country

13. Fascism in Germany
Weimer Republic blamed for the accepting the Treaty of Versailles and economic failures
The people are looking for SALVATION

14. Hitler in WWI Austrian citizen
WWI chance for Germany to take its rightful place as the world’s greatest power
Joined the German Army as a “runner”
Brought messages from trench to trench

15. Hitler in WWI Awarded Iron Cross twice (for bravery) Wounded twice
Temporarily blinded by poison gas
Never rose far in the ranks because he was Austrian
After the war, Hitler would head back to Germany
truly believing Germany had been robbed of victory!

16. The Nazi Party
1919: joined political group that thought Germany needed to get rid of the Treaty of Versailles and combat communism
“National Socialist German Workers Party”
Nazi for short
Hitler became the leader within 2 years

17. Activity: Nazi Party Platform
What did the Nazis believe?

18. Hitler’s Political Ideas
Germany had been betrayed and must regain its world position
Communists must be removed from positions of power
Jews must be removed from positions of power
German economy must be rebuilt

19. Beer Hall Putsch Planned to take control of gov’t by force
Oct 1923: Nazis marched on Munich
Known as the Beer Hall Putsch
FAILED! Hitler jailed!
Hitler

20. Hitler in Jail
Realizes he can’t take over gov’t by force – will have to slowly gain control through legal elections
While stuck in jail writes a book detailing his ideas/plans

21. Mein Kampf Translates to “My Struggle” Main points:
Germans were the master race (Aryans)
Non-Aryans were inferior (Jews, Slavs, Gypsies)
Treaty of Versailles = outrage
Germany overcrowded and needed more lebensraum (living space)
Gain space by conquering Russia and Eastern Europe

22. Becoming Chancellor Nazis elected to the the Reichstag (German gov’t)
1932: Nazi Party largest political party
Jan. 30, 1933: Hitler appointed Chancellor
Second in command behind Pres. Paul von Hindenburg
Hindenburg and Hitler

24. German Government Feb 1933: Fire broke out the Reichstag
Nazis blame fire on communists
Public opinion allows Nazis to win major elections instead of communists
Aug 1934: Hindenburg dies
Video Clip: Hitler

26. Hitler in Power
Hitler combined offices of Chancellor and President, declared himself the Fuhrer (leader)
Enabling Acts: suspended the civil rights of the German people
No political parties (opponents arrested and killed)
S.S. (Schutzstaffel) created (elite police unit)
Economy put under government control
Children required to join the Hitler Youth
Widespread propaganda
Churches and schools not allowed to criticize Nazis

27. Activity: Do You Take the Oath?

28. “When the Führer took power in 1933, the German people's body was severely ill. The poison of foreign worldviews ran through the veins of all the people's organisms. Hardly anyone was immune. Then Providence sent the German people a doctor, the Führer. He knew the disease; he know that the German people suffered from a corruption of its racial strength. Using every possible medication, including if necessary the most radical, the bacterium was removed from the people's body. Our people is becoming racially healthy once more.
But our people is not alone in the world. It is surrounded by a ring of peoples. Most peoples today still suffer from the same disease that the German people once suffered. They are nearing racial collapse, especially the European peoples. Therefore, the Führer wants other peoples to follow the holy laws of blood that we follow, for mixing with widely foreign races means the betrayal of the blood of each people, and eventual decline. The fundamental reason for excluding foreign-raced groups from a people's body is not discrimination or contempt, but rather the realization of otherness. Only through such thinking will the peoples again become healthy, and able to respect each other.”
-Excerpt from a 5th Grade Textbook, Germany, 1935.