1. Chapter 14: Section 1
Dictators and War

2. The Peace Unravels
World War 1 and the Great Depression had a huge effect on the entire world.
The agreements of the Treaty of Versailles left many countries bitter over land and money, Italy and Japan were two of these. Germany and Russia were not even present to represent themselves.
The thought that after the war peace was at hand quickly went away. Many countries would try their hands at democracy, but a few would move towards totalitarianism.

3. Totalitarianism
A theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people. These leaders are known as dictators.
Characteristics: Single party-single leader. State controls economy. Use of police and spies to terrorize and enforce. Media controlled by the government. Use of schools to spread the ideal ology to children. Censorship of anything that does not glorify the state.

4. The Dictators of the Time
Led by Vladimir Lenin, the communist revolution had taken hold in Russia by 1917.
Joseph Stalin would take over control of the party in 1924 after Lenin’s death. Name means “man of steel” and it described him very well. ( Picture pg. 437). During the Great Terror Stalin would purge the communist party and would stay in power due to fear and propaganda.
Benito Mussolini would found the Fascist Party in Italy did not receive the land it thought it would when Austria-Hungary fell after WW1. The Black Shirts took to the streets eliminating anything that was against the movement. The King would eventually ask Mussolini to form a government to control the people. He was not as powerful as Stalin but still a major figure.

5. Germany, Nazi’s, and Hitler
After WW1 Germany takes a shot at democracy with the Weimar Republic. Due to inflation and poverty the government cannot hold.
The National Socialist German Worker’s Party or Nazi Party would soon threaten the Republic. They did not believe in ism’s only class interests and worker’s rights.
Adolf Hitler quickly rose to power of the party and would soon become its leader. He was the son of an Austrian servant, a failed artist, a wounded soldier, and a borderline mad man.
Writes the book, Mein Kampf, in jail which he blames politics, communism and the Jewish people for the troubles of Germany. Hitler was very Anti-Semitic or against Jews and thought that Germany needed to be stronger for itself without the outsiders. It quickly became a best seller.

6. Hitler Seizes Power
All of the problems of Germany played into the Nazi’s hands. By 1933 The Weimar Republic would name Hitler chancellor and soon president of Germany. Hitler would consolidate his power, run the Weimar out and soon be the lone voice of Germany. ( Info graphic, pgs )
Hitler would become God like among the people and through education and propaganda convince the German people of a superior race and dominate Germany.

7. Acts of Aggression
Militarists in Japan would take control in order to get what they thought was rightfully Japans. Expansion was the only way out of the depression and a return to old ways.
A weak League of Nations is unable to stop aggression around the world it showed its true weakness.
Hitler and Mussolini begin to put into action plans of expansion. Hitler would move south to get what he called more living space for Germany, and Mussolini would head south to Africa.
Fascists would take over in Spain after a Civil War. Both Hitler and Mussolini would send aid to the cause. General Franco and his regime would take over.

8. Appeasement
Policy that France and Great Britain would pursue with the aggressive nations. It is a policy of granting concessions to a potential enemy in the hope that it will maintain peace.
This only allowed the leaders to become more bold.
Why appeasement?: WW1 was so horrible that they vowed to never let it happen again. They felt that the Soviets were a greater threat than the Nazis. A strong Germany could be used as a buffer. Some even questioned the resolve of its own people and allies.
FDR and the US would play an important role in appeasement. Improving relations with Latin America and the Soviets, but not taking a hard line against Germany. The US would once again fall behind isolationism.
Hitler found is opportunity to pounce. Because of the weak allied alliance Hitler turned towards Austria and forced the signing of the Anschluss which would forge a union with Germany. He would then turn towards an area of the Sudeteland that was inhabited by ethnic Germans.
In order to stop a war the French and English offer a deal. At the Munich Conference Hitler was given the Sudeteland in order to preserve peace. The Munich Pact would not stop what was already happening. Hitler had convinced the world that he would go not further and had no interest in world domination.