1. WWII Dictators

2. Totalitarian Government
Totalitarianism- Theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people.
Totalitarian is a 20th century phenomenon.

3. What is a Dictator-ship?
Only one political party
is allowed to exist - the
Dictator is the leader of this
party, and the party helps
him to run the country
So no elections are held
because the Dictator does
not allow people to
choose who they want to
run their country
What is a Dictator-ship?
One person - the
‘Dictator’ -
holds all of the
power in the country
Dictators rely upon a
large, strong and loyal
army to help them to
maintain their power
Education and the media
(newspapers, radio, film
etc) are strictly controlled
by the Government
Anyone who is considered to
be an enemy of the Dictator
and his political party would
be persecuted

5. Joseph Stalin Suspicious, cruel, ruthless, and tyrannical.
Wanted to transform Soviet Union into an industrial power and formed collective farms. This led to 10 million deaths.
Would purge Communist party of people suspected of being a traitor. Led to 1 million deaths.
Fear and massive propaganda kept Stalin in power.

7. Benito Mussolini Leader of Fascist Party
Outlawed political parties, took over the press, created a secret police, organized youth groups to indoctrinate the young, and suppressed strikes.
Opposed liberalism and socialism

9. Adolf Hitler born in Austria-early life in Vienna
core of beliefs- anti-Semitic
wrote “Mein Kampf” in jail in 20’s
built Nazi party on dissatisfaction
won over elite and establishment
fear of communists- largest party
became chancellor

10. Adolf Hitler Total State techniques propaganda masters
mass demonstrations
rearmament of the military
SS control of police using terror based on Nazi ideology (secret police, camps execution and extermination)
Churches and youth groups under control

11. Japan Militants Gain Power
The depression of the 1930s discredited the leaders of Japan.
The Japanese military soon began to control and shape civilian and military policy.
Japan did not become a totalitarian state.

12. Japan Expands Empire 1931 Japan attacked Manchuria.
1937 Japan took control over many Chinese coastal areas and railroad links.
In the capital, Nanjing, Japanese soldiers killed more than residents and burned a major part of the city. “Rape of Nanjing)

13. Weakness of League of Nations
League of Nations never recovered from America not joining.
League had no standing army and no real power to enforce rules.
When powerful nations began to test the League, they didn’t have any action.

14. Hitler and Mussolini Threaten Peace
Hitler first focused on rebuilding Germany and nullifying the provisions of Treaty of Versailles.
He later started to expand his territory to expand Germany’s living space. He took Saar from France and sent troops into the Rhineland. The League did not respond.
Italy invaded Ethiopia. The emperor pleaded to League of Nations to stop them, but they did nothing and Ethiopia fell.

15. Aggression Goes Unchecked
France and Britain practiced appeasement- granting allowance to a potential enemy in hope that it will maintain peace.
France and Britain allowed appeasement for several reasons.
They did not want to see another WWI
Believed Soviets were more of a threat than Germany
Questioned the position of their allies, especially the U.S

16. Hitler took advantage of the lack of union between France, Britain and U.S.
He forced Austria into his Reich then took over Sudetenland, w. Czechoslovakia.
At Munich Conference the Sudetenland was sacrificed to Germany.
Munich Pact- Chamberlain told public that that the conference had preserved peace. It only postponed the war for 11 months.