1. Aggression and Conflicts Leading to World War II Text pages 763-764; 809-813
SSWH17 The student will be able to identify the major political and economic factors that shaped world societies between World War I and World War II.
e. Describe the nature of totalitarianism and the police state that existed in Russia, Germany, and Italy and how they differ from authoritarian governments.
f. Explain the aggression and conflict leading to World War II in Europe and Asia; include the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, the Spanish Civil War, the rape of Nanjing in China, and the German annexation of the Sudetenland.

2. Authoritarian States versus Totalitarian States
A number of states were authoritarian, but not totalitarian.
Used police powers but did not strive to create a new mass society—rather they sought to preserve the existing social order
Particularly in Eastern Europe, such as Austria, Poland, Ukraine, etc… they had tried democracy but failed to maintain and authoritarian governments emerged

3. Totalitarianism & the Police State
Commonly applied to Fascist & Communist regimes
Police operate without constraint of laws & regulations
Pursuit of state’s goal means overthrowing all old political & social institutions
Police state- restrictions on mobility, freedom to express political or other views, which are subject to police monitoring
Common in Russia under Stalin, Germany under Hitler, and Italy under Mussolini

5. Steps Toward War
March 9, Hitler announces creation of a new air force
March Military draft reinstated expanding army from 100,000 to 550,000 – a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles
March 7, 1936– sent troops into the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland
Beginning of appeasement – policy based on the ideas of satisfying reasonable demands to keep peace

8. Italian Invasion of Ethiopia
Mussolini had long dreamed of a new Roman Empire in the Mediterranean
October 1935 invaded Ethiopia
Angered by French & British opposition, Mussolini welcomed Hitler’s support
November 1936 Signed Rome-Berlin Axis –an alliance with Germany

9. Spanish Civil War
General Francisco Franco led Spanish military forces to revolt against the democratic government in 1936.
Brutal & Bloody Civil War
Fascist regimes of Italy & Germany aided Franco
Hitler used as opportunity to test his new weapons
In April 1937, German bombers destroyed Guernica which has been immortalized in the painting by Pablo Picasso

10. Guernica by Pablo Picasso

11. Spanish Civil War Continued…
Soviet Union aided the Spanish republican government
Franco captured Madrid in 1939 and established a dictatorship
Because he favored traditional groups (businesspeople, landowners, clergy) and did not try to create a new social order, his regime is considered authoritarian rather than totalitarian

12. Rape of Nanjing
Period of wartime atrocities committed by Japanese forces in the Chinese capital of Nanjing during a six week period December January 1938
Estimated 200,000 people killed
Atrocities included murdering civilians & soldiers, beating civilians, setting fire to homes, and raping women before they murdered them
Survivors describe the atrocities as killing for sport – finding new & creative ways to kill people including burial alive & decapitation

14. Hitler’s Goals…
By 1937, according to Hitler, Germany was once more a world power.
In 1938, decided to pursue one of his goals: union with Austria
Hitler threatened to invade Austria so chancellor put the Austrian Nazi Party in charge of government.
They invited German troops in to “help” maintain order
March 13, 1938– Germany annexes Austria

15. Destruction of Czechoslovakia
September 15, 1938 Hitler demanded Germany be given the Sudetenland, an area in NW Czechoslovakia that was inhabited primarily by Germans
Expressed his willingness to risk war to achieve his objectives
Munich Conference- British, French, German, and Italian reps did not object to Hitler’s plans and made an agreement virtually meeting all of Hitler’s demands
High point of western appeasement
Prime Minister of Great Britain thought along with many others that Hitler would keep his promise to make no more demands & truly believed this would keep peace!