The West Between the Wars 1919 – 1939 Chapter 24 The West Between the Wars 1919 – 1939

Key Events Europe faced severe economic problems after World War I, including inflation and the Great Depression Dictatorial regimes began to spread in Italy, Germany, and across eastern Europe The uncertainties and disillusionment of the times were reflected in the art and literature of the 1920s and 1930s

The Impact Today The current debate over the federal government’s role in local affairs and social problems developed in part from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s solution to the Great Depression Automobiles, motion pictures, and radios transformed the ways in which people lived during the 1920s and 1930s and still impact how we live our lives today

“The Great Depression” Chapter Preview “The Great Depression” Read and discuss with class – page 750.

The Futile Search for Stability Section 1 The Futile Search for Stability

Uneasy Peace, Uncertain Security The peace settlements had left many nations unhappy Border disputes were ongoing Germans vowed to revise the Treaty of Versailles The League of Nations was not very successful in maintaining peace (The U.S. was not a member) Most Americans did not wish to be involved in European affairs The U.S. Senate refused to approve the Treaty of Versailles, this meant the U.S. could not be a member of the League of Nations.

Uneasy Peace, Uncertain Security (Continued) French Demands – It was determined that Germany owed 33 billion U.S. dollars in war reparations, payable in annual installments. First payment was made in 1921, However beginning in 1922 the German government was unable to pay anymore due to financial problems. France sent troops to occupy the Ruhr Valley. France planned to collect reparations by operating and using the Ruhr mines and factories. The Ruhr Valley was Germany’s chief industrial and mining center. Read “Connections Around the World” on 752 about the Great Flu Epidemic.

Uneasy Peace, Uncertain Security (Continued) Inflation in Germany – Due to the excess printing of money, Inflation was drastic in Germany in 1923 In August, 1924 “The Dawes Plan” was introduced as a new plan for Germany to pay reparations American began to invest in Europe, which provided a brief period of European prosperity from 1924 – 1929. Inflation – Rise in prices. Dawes Plan – coordinated Germany’s annual payments with its ability to pay.

Uneasy Peace, Uncertain Security (Continued) The Treaty of Locarno – Signed in 1925, guaranteed Germany’s new western borders with France and Belgium 63 nations signed the Kellogg-Briand pact. These nations pledged “to renounce war as an instrument of national policy”. Nations were unwilling to reduce their military forces. Read 1st 2 paragraphs on 753 regarding Treaty of Locarno. Nothing was said about what would be done if anyone violated the Kellogg-Briand pact.

Causes: Effects: The Great Depression A series of downturns in the economies of individual nations in the second half of the 1920’s International financial crisis involving the U.S. stock market Effects: Trade was slowing down Industrial production was declining Unemployment was rising Depression – A period of low economic activity and rising unemployment. U.S. pulled money out of Germany to invest in the stock market which crashes in October 1929.

Responses to the Depression During 1932 (Worst year of Depression) Great Britain – 25% unemployment Germany – 40% unemployment (6 million Germans) Unemployed and homeless filled the streets During the Great Depression there was increased government involvement in the economy The Great Depression led masses of people to follow political leaders who offered simple solutions in return for dictatorial power. Democracy was on the defensive in the 1930’s.

Democratic States After the War Germany – Hit hardest by the Great Depression. The depression paved the way for fear and the rise of extremist parties. France – Had become the strongest power in Europe. The French New Deal gave workers the right to collective bargaining. Great Britain – A new government, led by the Conservatives, claimed credit for bringing Britain out of the worst stages of the depression. Collective bargaining – The right of unions to negotiate with employers over wages and hours.

The United States After the War In 1933, 12 million Americans were unemployed President Roosevelt Introduces the New Deal: Increased program of public works (Worked at building bridges, roads, post offices, and airports. Began the U.S. welfare system 1n 1935, the Social Security Act created a system of old-age pensions and unemployment insurance Although helpful, the New Deal did not solve the unemployment problems of the Great Depression. Only WW II and the growth of the weapons industries brought U.S. workers back to full employment.

The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes Section 2 The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes

The Rise of Dictators Short-lived democracy in Europe after 1919. (By 1939 only France and Great Britain remained democratic). Italy, Soviet Union, Germany (Among others) adopted dictatorships. New form of dictatorship evolves; totalitarian state. (achieved through mass propaganda). Totalitarian state – A government that aims to control the political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural lives of its citizens.

Fascism in Italy Benito Mussolini establishes a fascism movement in Italy. Fascism glorifies the state above the individual by emphasizing the need for a strong central government led by a dictator. By 1922, Mussolini’s movement was growing quickly. The middle-class fear of socialism, communism, and disorder made the Fascists attractive. In a fascist state, people are controlled by the government, and any opposition is suppressed.

Benito Mussolini

“IL DUCE” In 1922, Mussolini was named prime minister of Italy. In 1926, the Fascists outlawed all other political parties in Italy and established a secret police. By the end of the year, Mussolini ruled Italy as Il Duce – “The Leader”. Mussolini believed that Italy should be a totalitarian state, where the Fascist government controlled every aspect of society. Secret police were known as OVRA. The police were given unrestricted authority to arrest and jail anyone for either nonpolitical or political crimes.

A New Era in the Soviet Union Following WWI, Lenin became the communist leader in Russia, which then became the USSR. (1922) Lenin abandoned war communism in favor of his New Economic Policy (NEP). Retail stores as well as small industries (fewer then 20 workers) could be privately owned. Soviet agricultural production climbed significantly. Overall the NEP saved the Soviet Union from complete economic disaster. Read 1st 3 paragraphs under “A New Era in the Soviet Union” on page 761. USSR – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Heavy industry, banking, and mines remained under government control.

Lenin

The Rise of Stalin Lenin dies in 1924 A struggle for power begins with Stalin eventually taking control after competing with fellow communist and rival, Leon Trotsky. By 1929 Stalin had established a powerful dictatorship. Stalin gets rid of Lenin’s NEP and creates a series of “Five-year Plans” which will convert the USSR into an industrial country. Trotsky was expelled from the party in 1927 and murdered in Mexico in 1940.

Stalin

The “Five-year Plans” Due to industrialization, millions of workers and their families lived in awful conditions. Wages decreased by 43% from 1928 to 1940. Strict laws limited where workers could move. At the same time, collectivization took place in agriculture. Collectivization – private farms were eliminated. The government owned all of the land, while the peasants worked it. Read “Eyewitness to History” on 765 regarding Collective farms.

Costs of Stalin’s Programs During collectivization, the hoarding of food and the slaughter of livestock produced widespread famine. Stalin killed off (purged) most, if not all, of his opposition. He taught hard work, duty to country, and discipline. An estimated 8 million Russians were arrested by Stalin’s people. Millions were sent to forced labor camps in Siberia, from which they never returned. Others were executed. 10 million peasants died in the famine of 1932/1933.

Eastern Europe and Spain Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary adopted parliamentary systems. Most of these were soon replaced by authoritarian regimes. Fascism takes root in Spain in 1936, in a civil war against the democratic government. Led by Francisco Franco, the Fascists win the war in 1939, with help from Hitler’s Germany, and Mussolini’s Italy. The three fascist countries form an alliance. Authoritarian – Similar to totalitarian, however main concern was to preserve the existing social order. Regarding Alliance – However, Spain would remain neutral throughout WWII.

Hitler and Nazi Germany Section 3 Hitler and Nazi Germany

Hitler and His Views Hitler was born in Austria in 1889. At the core of Hitler’s ideas was racism, especially anti-Semitism. At the end of WWI Hitler remained in Germany and entered politics in 1919. By the summer of 1921 he had taken control of the “National Socialist German Workers’ Party” (Nazi for short) Hilter had been on the Western Front during WWI for 4 years

Hitler and Nazi

Prison and Mein Kampf After holding an uprising against the government in 1923, Hitler was sentenced to prison. During prison he wrote Mein Kampf Hitler emphasized the right of superior nations to lebensraum (LAY buhnz ROWM) – living space – through expansion. Hitler also believed superior individuals should gain authoritarian leadership over the masses. Mein Kampf means “My Struggle” it was an account of Hitler’s movement and its basic ideas.

Hitler Leaving Landsberg Prison (1924)

Rise of Nazism While in prison, Hitler realized that the Nazis would have to attain power legally. Hitler leads the Nazi party in the 1920’s and early 1930’s By 1932, there are over 800,000 members in the Nazi party. Germany’s economic difficulties were a crucial factor in the Nazi rise to power. 1932 – Nazi became the largest political party in Germany. Unemployment was extremely high and rising and thus extremist parties became more attractive.

Victory of Nazism In 1933 President Hindenburg, under pressure, agreed to allow Hitler to become chancellor and create a new government. In March, 1933 the Enabling Act was passed thus giving Hitler the power of a dictator. Concentration camps were set up for those that opposed the new regime. All political parties, except Nazis were abolished. Hitler was the sole ruler of a totalitarian state. Enabling Act – Gave the government the power to ignore the constitution for 4 years while it issued laws to deal with the country’s problems. Concentration camps = large prison camps.

The Nazi State, 1933 - 1939 Nazis thought the Germans were the true descendants of the Romans and Greeks and would create another empire like the one ruled by the ancient Romans. It was Hitler’s goal to create a Third Reich Terror and repression were widely used The SS (Schutzstaffeln or “Guard Squadrons”) controlled all of the police forces. Terror included: secret police, criminal police, concentration camps, and later execution squads and death camps. Read quote on page 769 and discuss. Read and discuss Young People in Nazi Germany on page 768/769. Reich is like an empire – 1st (Holy Roman Empire) 2nd (German Empire 1871 – 1918)

Hitler Youth Rally

The Nazi State, 1933 – 1939 (Continued) Hitler used public works projects to put people back to work and end the depression. The significant decrease in unemployment and improvement in the economy was an important factor in getting many Germans to accept Hitler and the Nazis. Hitler and the Nazis continued to enforce new Anti-Semitic policies. Read and discuss entire section on “Anti-semitic Policies” on page 771.

Comparing Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin Review and discuss the chart on page 770 comparing the 3 dictators.

Cultural and Intellectual Trends Section 4 Cultural and Intellectual Trends

Mass Culture: Radio and Movies New Inventions: Mass Production of Radios (1921/1922) Motion Pictures (1890’s) Full Length Motion Pictures (Shortly before WWI) All of the above could be and were used for political purposes Radio propaganda was effectively used by Hitler to reach the masses. Nazi’s urged manufacturers to produce inexpensive radios.

More Goods, More Leisure After WWI, the assembly line and mass production dominated industry Automobiles begin wide spread use By 1920 the 8 hour work day had been established (provided additional leisure time) Professional sporting events Travel / Vacation resorts Concerts / Operas / Films / Guided Tours

The West Between the Wars Wrap Up and Review Chapter 24 The West Between the Wars Wrap Up and Review

Key Events (Re-visited) Europe faced severe economic problems after World War I, including inflation and the Great Depression Dictatorial regimes began to spread in Italy, Germany, and across eastern Europe The uncertainties and disillusionment of the times were reflected in the art and literature of the 1920s and 1930s

The Impact Today (Re-visited) The current debate over the federal government’s role in local affairs and social problems developed in part from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s solution to the Great Depression Automobiles, motion pictures, and radios transformed the ways in which people lived during the 1920s and 1930s and still impact how we live our lives today