1. World War Looms Dictators Threaten World Peace

2. Essential Questions: How did economic problems lead to the rise of totalitarian leaders in Europe? What is the most significant cause of WWII?

3. Totalitarian Dictators- Fascist Italy: Benito Mussolini Nazi Germany: Adolf Hitler Communist Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin

4. Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles caused anger and resentment, especially from Germany French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau sought to punish Germany so hard that the country would never be able to go to war again

5. Weimar Republic, democratic government set up after WWI, was blamed for signing the Treaty of Versailles. Hyper-inflation (money becoming less and less valuable) at one point reached 4,200,000,000 Reichsmark = 1 US dollar. …..so people decided it was actually better to burn the money for warmth then to spend it! Growing Problems in Germany:

6. Weimar Republic Currency There is also a story of a German man who had a wheelbarrow full of cash. He left it outside a bakery while he tried to buy some bread. When he came outside, he found the wheelbarrow gone, but his money piled on the sidewalk.

7. Rise of Fascism in Italy Unemployment & inflation led to strikes and unrest 1921, Mussolini established the Fascist Party (nationalism & militarism) Called himself “Il Duce” (the leader) Mussolini achieved efficiency in government by creating a totalitarian form of government

8. The Soviet Union Joseph Stalin took power in 1924 “Man of Steel” Communist leader of Totalitarian state (one-party government; state-ownership of property) Stalin made agricultural and industrial growth projects the main economic goals of the Soviets Collectivism: Eliminated private ownership of farms Gulags: System of slave labor populated by dissidents Seeking to create an industrial giant capable of expansion. Responsible for 13-20 million deaths

9. Joseph Stalin

10. Talk to your neighbor: 1)What problems existed in Germany after WWI? 2)What was going on in Italy after WWI? 3)What did the Soviet Union look like under Stalin?

11. Nazis Take Over Germany Adolf Hitler joined the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi) (not socialist) Called himself “Der Furher” (the Leader) Promised to bring order and prosperity to Germany Wanted lebensraum, or living space (territorial expansion) Wished to unite all German- speaking people

12. Hitler & Nazism continued Hitler wanted to enforce racial “purification” Believed in a blond- haired, blue-eyed “master race” (Aryan)

13. Japan Militarist leaders took control of Imperial government Had desire to expand territory for population 1931, Militarists attacked Manchuria, China League of Nations investigated and condemned attack—Japan quits League of Nations

14. Japanese Expansion from 1932- 1942

15. League of Nations Fails Hitler begins military build-up Hitler sends troops into the Rhineland (demilitarized German region bordering Belgium and France) Japan leaves League of Nations Mussolini targets Ethiopia May 1936, Ethiopia falls to Italy. Emperor Haile Selassie appeals to League for help to no avail