Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Tojo: The men behind the start of WWII. “The Dictators” Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Tojo: The men behind the start of WWII. Forward

Picture taken from www.wikipedia.org America in the 1930’s President Harding was elected in 1920 due, in large part because he promised a “return to normalcy,” or the way things were before WWI. America embarked on 20 years of relative isolationism. Throughout the 1920’s the United States experienced an economic boom unlike anything seen before or since. The 1930’s ushered in a new era, one of poverty, want, and starvation. Crops failed in the Midwest due largely to the phenomenon known as the “Dust Bowl.” Forward

American Response to Fascist Aggression For the most part, American response to Fascist aggression was virtually nonexistent. Throughout the 1930’s America and the Roosevelt Administration was concerned about it’s own Economic well-being, rather than wider world affairs. With American unemployment at 25% nationwide, you can see why Roosevelt was more concerned with domestic affairs. American Response to Fascist Aggression As WWII grew closer, however, America did begin a modest building up of its military. The Roosevelt Administration also supported the Allies in Europe with weapons (Lend-Lease, Cash and Carry) and instituted economic sanctions against an expansionist Japan. Forward

Fascist States Nations with one party in control (prevalent in Europe and Asia prior to WWII) -Uses idea of Nationalism and Revenge to gain support -Promise the promotion of their country at the expense of “lesser” peoples (Germany-Jews, Japanese-Chinese) -The greater the crisis, the greater the demand for leadership -Provide scapegoats for the problems of their country -Party control of everything + Dictator = False propaganda to gain support -Crushes all opposition -Imperialism to increase strength and increase pride in their country – leads to other conflicts -Generally a very militaristic government and society Notice that all of the causes of WWI will be in existence at the start of WWII in 1939. Many of these (Nationalism, Militarism, and Imperialism) are at the center of these Totalitarian governments Back

Adolf Hitler - How did he take power? 1923 - Hitler attempted to take control of a struggling Germany through the “Beer Hall Putsch.” He failed and was arrested. In jail he wrote “Mein Kampf” exposing his political ideology. He was considered harmless and was released in 1924. 1932 - Defeated von Hindenburg in national election. Hitler was the Chancellor of Germany. 1934 - Hitler declares himself the “Fuhrer of Germany taking dictatorial power. 1938 - Anschluss with Austria (Outlawed by Treaty of Versailles 1939 - Invasion of Poland and start of WWII Picture taken from www.wikipedia.org Back

Adolf Hitler - Beliefs Hitler believed the Treaty of Versailles was a result of German leaders betraying the German people. He thought Germany would, one day, have a reemergence as a world power. Creation of the Third Reich. Picture taken from http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/sgt_stryker/hitler.gif Back

Adolf Hitler - Effect on world politics Hitler had an immediate and direct impact on politicians around the world. Some admired his beliefs and convictions, others saw a dangerous man who would, one day, have a direct impact on the death of 52 million people. Allied leaders in Europe made an attempt to appease Hitler in 1938 when they signed the Munich Agreement. Click here to view a brief description of the Munich Pact. Picture Taken from www.time.com Click here to see German Expansion throughout the late 1930’s. Click here to view the Munich Pact in its entirety. Picture Taken from en.wikipedia.org Back

Adolf Hitler - Lasting Impact The name Adolf Hitler is, today, synonymous with hate and genocide. The war he helped to start is the bloodiest war in human history. There are, unfortunately, still people today who follow the principles of Nazism. The German people are still haunted by the actions of the Nazi government. Back

Adolf Hitler and Militarism Above all else, Hitler believed in the military superiority of the German empire. His fighting techniques, such as blitzkrieg, threatened to overthrow Europe in only a year. Back Picture taken from www.malispina.com

Nazi Germany - Hitler

Benito Mussolini - How did he take power? 1921 - Entered Parliament after having been defeated in 1919 1922 - Became premier of Italy 1925 - Mussolini declared Italy a fascist dictatorship and took control over society, politics, and economics, as well as the military. Back Picture taken from http://cidc.library.cornell.edu/dof/italy/captioned/horse.htm

Benito Mussolini - Beliefs Mussolini was in favor of state control of economics, society, and that the political system should be in the hands of few. He was opposed to Communism and was very Militaristic. He directly influenced Hitler and the Nazi’s. Back Back Picture taken from http://www.comandosupremo.com/Mussolini.html

Benito Mussolini - Effect on world politics. Possibly Mussolini’s most direct and lasting impact was not in Italy, but his influence on Hitler and Nazism. He created the first Fascist government and was allied with Germany throughout WWII. Picture taken from http://www.comandosupremo.com/Mussolini.html Picture taken from http://members.telering.at/pat/muss.jpg Back

Benito Mussolini - Lasting Impact Known as Il Duce- “the Chief” Italian Imperialism -Moves to remake Roman Empire (Restore Rome to time of Caesars) -Make the Mediterranean an “Italian Lake” Same government controls of everything as in Germany -Hailed by the people because he “Made the trains run on time” Picture taken from http://home.comcast.net/~lowe9101/mussolini/ Back

Benito Mussolini and Militarism The Italian army was not known for being a preeminent power during WWII. The Nazi German Empire was forced to defend Italy against Allied advances. Mussolini did, however, extend the Italian empire, especially into Africa. Picture taken from http://home.comcast.net/~lowe9101/mussolini/ Back

Personal Flag of Mussolini Back

Joseph Stalin - How did he take power? After the death of the first Communist dictator in the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, there was a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky. Stalin won out and immediately set out to diminish any struggle for power. He further abolished all opposition and sent political prisoners to “re-education” camps. By 1928 Stalin was undoubtedly the leader of the Soviet Union. Picture taken from en.wikipedia.org Trotsky Stalin Bukharin Back

Joseph Stalin - Beliefs Five Year Plans - Goals for the Communist state (industrial - economic) Collectivization of Agriculture Increase Soviet knowledge in the sciences (Space Race after WWII) Believed in military superiority over the United States (build- up of nuclear weapons) Picture taken from en.wikipedia.org Back

Joseph Stalin - Effect on world politics Picture taken from en.wikipedia.org The effect of Stalin on world politics is virtually impossible to overstate. He led the Soviet Union through domestic instability (not always well) while fighting against Hitler in WWII, the United States in the Cold War, and trying to gain alliances with developing countries throughout the world. The United States essentially based its foreign policy around that of the Soviet Union, and vice-versa, for 50 years. Back

Joseph Stalin - Lasting Impact The lasting impact of Stalin is one of controversy. Millions of men and women died under his rule of an steel fist. He led the Soviet Union until his death in 1953. He left the United States and Soviet Union embroiled in a battle for world supremacy which would last until 1991. Back Picture taken from http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/kbank/profiles/stalin/

Joseph Stalin and Militarism Stalin believed in having a large military. When the Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany in June of 1941 Stalin started a build-up of the Soviet army which would last for several decades. Back

The U.S.S.R.- Stalin www.wikipedia.org

Hideki Tojo - How did he take power? 1920’s - Tojo works his way up the military ladder in Japan. 1930’s - Led troops in battle in China 1940 - Appointed War Minister 1941 - Emperor Hirohito elevates Tojo to the post of Prime Minister Back

Hideki Tojo - Beliefs Tojo believed in the Racial Superiority of the Japanese people, especially over the Chinese. He was also ultra-nationalistic as well as very militaristic. He wanted to expand the Japanese empire throughout the Pacific Rim. Picture taken from http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww2/who/tojo.html Back

Hideki Tojo - Effect on world politics When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Tojo became public enemy number one in the United States. Throughout his tenure as Prime Minister he increased alliances with the Axis powers in Europe and extended military control over Japanese Society and the Pacific Rim. Tojo was executed for war crimes in 1948. Picture taken from www.trumanlibrary.org Back

Hideki Tojo - Lasting Impact Hideki Tojo is, today, known as a man who led the Japanese into WWII against the United States. He is credited for increasing Japanese military, industrial, and imperialistic capacity, but also saw the end of Japanese society as it was known before 1945. Picture taken from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWtojo.htm Back

Hideki Tojo and Militarism Tojo and the Japanese military commanders believed Japan to be invincible. For hundreds of years the Japanese mainland was not successfully invaded. Japan extended its empire throughout the Pacific Rim and had visions of going quite a bit farther. Back

Flag of Japanese Navy and Army Japanese Flag Flag of Japanese Navy and Army Back

Nazi Germany - Hitler Nazi Imperialism -goal was to create the Third Reich - 3rd German Empire Lebensraum - living space for German speaking people Anschluss - Union with Austria & annex Sudentenland -Imperialism started under excuse of protecting Germans under Hitler Racism of the Nazis -Jews not only group that was considered inferior Gypsies, disabled, homosexuals, non-German’s, Communists Final Solution - ridding Germany of the above groups Played on poor conditions of the time -Promised through Propaganda that the effects of the Great Depression would be solved in the Nazi plan was followed -Gave people hope -Wanted revenge after Treaty of Versailles of 1919 (felt Germany was betrayed and never truly beaten) Hitler believes the Treaty is just a “piece of paper” Hitler as a young soldier in WWI

Hitler during WWI www.wikipedia.org

Communist Russia - Stalin The Soviet Union was led by Joseph Stalin who is known as the “Man of Steel” Wanted to make model Communist nation -Controlled everything under the communist system -Reform of industry and agriculture Collectivization of Agriculture -Large, state owned and run farms too land from people and enslaved farmers to work at the large farms - led to starvation Soviet Union as an Industrial Power -”Five Year Plans” - fixed quotas for industrial production -Made Soviet Union 3rd greatest industrial nation in the world Secret Police forced adherence to Communist System -KGB is his spy organization at home and abroad -Those found criticizing the system were sent to Siberia for “re-education” -Reconstruction (“Five Year Plans”) and persecution led to mass death and executions (Estimated that 8-13 million died due to actions of Stalin