1. The Rise of Dictators in Europe: Stalin, Hitler & Mussolini The Period Between the Wars – Part Two Teacher’s Edition

2. Today’s Main Idea: The political and social unrest that followed WWI helped the totalitarian dictators rise to power in Europe. Many of the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles worsened the economic situation in Europe and created conditions that allowed dictators to rise to power.

3. Mussolini: Mussolini led drastic changes in Italy, he wanted to create a grand Italian empire He was a fascist Fascism – a totalitarian system of government that focuses on the good of the state rather than the good of the individual citizen He used violence and threats to establish power Economic desperation and lack of faith in the Italian government helped him to gain power

4. Created a totalitarian government Totalitarianism – form of government in which the person or party in charge has absolute control over all aspects of life and the good of the state is valued over the good of the citizens He wanted to make a strong Italian military Invaded Ethiopia, the League of Nations could not stop him

5. Stalin and the Soviet Union: Under Stalin’s control the government commanded a larger portion of daily life Marx believed that under communism the state would eventually wither away, but Stalin wanted a totalitarian state with a large government The Five Year Plan was an attempt by Stalin to modernize the Soviet economy He created a central economic plan that increased Soviet economic output

6. Stalin also combined all of the individual farms This is called collectivization It caused widespread famine Many peasants resisted – they were killed, sent to labor camps or sent Siberia Stalin purged many of his political enemies during the 1930s

7. Hitler and Germany: Germany had been devastated by the war The Treaty of Versailles put the Weimar Republic in power, which was very unpopular in Europe The Nazi party developed during this time Nazi – National Socialist Party – fascist political party of Adolph Hitler governed on totalitarian ideals and advocated German racial superiority

8. Hitler: Served in WWI Gained prominence in the Nazi party because of his public speaking skills 1923 he attempted to overthrow the German government, but failed He was jailed, this is when he wrote Mien Kempf

9. Hitler Gains Power: Hitler promised to rebuild the German military and economy Both of which had been destroyed by WWI He promoted German racial superiority 1933 he was appointed chancellor Hitler bullied the Reichstag (the German legislator) into giving him dictatorial powers Used propaganda and fear to consolidate his power

10. Hitler and Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism – A key Nazi belief – believed in being hostile and prejudice towards Jewish people Blamed Germans economic problems on its Jewish population – they were scapegoats Many European Christians had long disliked the Jewish population Hitler wanted to remove Germany’s Jewish population from mainstream life