The West Between the Wars

Instability and Uncertainty Treaty of Versailles left many nations unhappy League of Nations was weak Germany could not pay the reparations Treaty of Lucarno Kellogg-Briand Pact

the great Depression U.S. loans money to Europe Everywhere is affected, not just the US Renewed interest in Marxist Ideas More involvement of the government in economics

Rise of totalitarianism Totalitarian state – government aims to control the political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural lives of its citizens Led by a single leader or party Everyone is expected to be actively involved in achieving the state’s goals

Italy Benito Mussolini Led the Fasciti (Black Shirts) March on Rome - 1922 1926 – outlaws all other political parties; becomes Il Duce

Russia Stalin seizes control after Lenin’s death Five Year Plans Collectivization

Spain Second Republic set up – soon fails Francisco Franco led the rebellion 1936 – Spanish Civil War Franco backed by Germany & Italy; Republic supported by Russia & France

Germany – Weimar Republic Established after World War I Grew weak because of too many political parties Ultimately failed to follow through on the promises it made

Adolf Hitler Loner, angry, and stubborn Began to develop his basic social and political ideas while living in Vienna Extremely nationalistic – fought in the German army Joined the German Worker’s Party – 1919 1921 – renames it the National Socialist German Worker’s Party - Nazis

Hitler Contd. Beer Hall Putsch – 1923 – unsuccessful uprising against the government in Munich Writes Mein Kampf while in jail Proposes a new German empire Struck an emotional chord

The Nazi Party Realized they had to take power through legal means Worked endlessly to spread the party Appealed to nationalism and militarism Played on the fear and anger of the German people

Rise of the Nazi Regime By 1932 they were the largest party in the Reichstag Hitler made Chancellor in 1933 Enabling Act – 1933

The Nazi State Goal: Develop an Aryan racial state that would dominate Europe for generations Public work projects Mass marches Rearmament programs Social programs: Hitler Youth

Night of the Long Knives & Kristallnacht A purge of Hitler’s political enemies and Nazis that he believed to be disloyal Kristallnacht – The Night of Broken Glass – 1938 Jewish businesses, synagogues, and other public buildings are attacked and vandalized

Nazi Racial Theory Many ideas about racial superiority had been around for decades – a lot came from the United States Jews were the main focus of the Nazis Nuremberg Laws – 1935 Defined who was Jewish Jews could not be German citizens Stripped of civil rights Forbade marriages between Jews and Germans Required to wear a yellow star of David on their clothes