Dictatorships Rise in Europe Main Idea In response to political turmoil and economic crises, Italy, Germany and the Soviet Union turned to totalitarian dictators. Why it Matters Now These dictators changed the course of history, and the world is still recovering from their abuse of power.

Mussolini’s Rise Original Fascism 1919 Black Shirts March on Rome King Victor Emmanuel III Appoints him as Prime Minister Dictator

Il Duce Abolished Democracy Outlawed political parties Jailed opponents Censored journalism Outlawed strikes Controlled the economy

Hitler’s Biography Early Life Born in Austria 1889 Dropped out of high school Failed as an artist Volunteered for WWI Twice awarded the Iron Cross Medal for bravery 4

Hitler Rise of the Nazis Joined the Nazi Party 1919 National Socialist German Workers Party Swastika Brown Shirts Gained control 1921 Marched on Munich 1923 Revived the Nazi Party 1924 5

Nazism 1923 Failed attempt to seize power in Munich (Beer Hall Putsch) Mein Kampf Aryan superiority Treaty of Versailles outrage Lebensraum 1924 – 1932 Gained power as economy weakened Nationalism Anti - Semitism Anti - Communism Social - Darwinism

Hitler’s Rise to Power 1932 Largest political party 1933 Gained control of the German Weimer Republic President Paul von Hindenburg names him Chancellor Despite General Erich Ludendorff’s warning Reichstag Fire Decree Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State Enabling Act Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich 7

Erich Ludendorff Letter to President Hindenburg, February 1, 1933 “By appointing Hitler Chancellor of the Reich, you have handed over our sacred German Fatherland to one of the greatest demagogues of all time. I prophesy to you this evil man will plunge our Reich into the abyss and will inflict immeasurable woe on our nation. Future generations will curse you in your grave for this action.” 8

der Fuhrer The Leader Called for new elections Blamed Communists for Reichstag fire Stirred up fear Turned Germany into a totalitarian state Banned political parties Arrested opponents SS (Schutzstaffel) Gestapo 9

Hitler Maintains Power Economy Banned strikes Dissolved labor unions Controlled business and labor Lowered unemployment Highways Weapons Military 10

Stalin’s Soviet Union Stalin’s Agenda Creation of a police state Create a model Communist state Industrial restructuring Surpassed only by the US and Germany Creation of a police state Arrested Critics Jailed prisoners in Siberian labor camps Great Purge of the 1930’s Millions Died

The Faces of Totalitarianism How does totalitarianism differ between them?

Other Countries Fall to Dictators Hungary Poland Yugoslavia Albania Bulgaria Romania Czechoslovakia 1935 Only democracy remaining in Eastern Europe

Fascism in Argentina Juan Peron President of Argentina (1946-1955) & (1973-1974) Patterned his military dictatorship on European Fascists 14

What Governments Survived? Those with strong democratic traditions Britain France Scandinavian countries United States 15

U.S. Isolationism Post WWI American public wanted the US out of global affairs Nye Committee (1934 – 1936) Special Committee on Investigation of the Munitions Industry Huge profits that arms factories had made during World War I. Bankers pressured Wilson to intervene in the war to protect loans abroad. Arms industry price fixed and excessively influenced foreign policy Good Neighbor Policy (1930s – FDR) Focus on Latin America Neutrality Acts (1930s) Sought to keep US out of war – repealed in 1941