Transcript Chapter 24 Notes

Totalitarianism
Nationalism – Following the first World War,
many countries found themselves reaching
for self pride. This leads to a feeling of
superiority, loyalty, and expansion of
boundaries.
The Treaty – Versailles caused resentment.
Germany lost colonies, income, territory, and
became economically depressed as a result.
In addition, the Soviet Union had issues with
the loss of some of their territory.
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Joseph Stalin – was a standout in Soviet politics,
ranking third behind Trotsky. He takes over
forcefully after Lenin’s death to focus the failing
communist government. He does this by eliminating
his potential threats through a purging of
government and society.
Totalitarian – Stalin attempted to control citizens by
eliminating rights, suppressed opposition, and
restructured economy.
Benito Mussolini – economic depression forces
Italians to rethink their direction. Mussolini sides
with middle and upper classes to consolidate power.
Fascism – which nationalizes and shifts the priorities
of the country over the individual.
Adolf Hitler – Gained influence by supporting
unemployed soldiers in their plight. Sets forth a
vision of extreme nationalism, with the goal of
uniting all German speaking people.
Nazism – a form of Fascism that promoted
nationalism to the extent that it proposed to purify
racial preferences and rid the world of inferior races.
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Japan – had begun to militarize. Nationalism
spurred them to make movements into Korea
and Manchuria again. Rumors of horrific
treatment spread.
Hideki Tojo – was able to eliminate the Samurai
class to a modern military, and consolidate
power away from the Emperor.
Spain – was dealing with political change,
Francisco Franco led a revolution to turn to a
totalitarian governed state. Franco achieves
victory in 1939 establishing fascism there.
Africa – was left vulnerable to attack due to
decreased economic power of their former
controlling countries. Italy invaded Ethiopia in
1935.
Hideki Tojo
Francisco Franco
Joseph Stalin
Benito Mussolini
Adolf Hitler
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American response – many were concerned
with actions in Europe, but few wanted to
veer from the isolationist path.
Protection – was a priority, thus legislators
pass Acts that would keep Americans out of
a larger conflict. The Neutrality Acts.
Addressing prior mistakes the Acts outlawed
the sale of arms, loans, to nations at war, and
those engaged in civil war.
Not completely – in 1937, Japan furthered its
attacks on China, essential in U.S. economic
recovery, which forced some response.
Fighting Begins
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Hitler’s rise leads to larger ambition and entitlement.
Seeking Austria and Czechoslovakia.
Appeasement – Neville Chamberlain wanted to avoid
war, and Hitler promised not to attempt to gain more
land. This was believed and granted in the Munich
Agreement. Though not all believed Chamberlain’s
claim of “peace in our time.”
Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia by force and
it is believed that he wants Poland.
Poland – protected by U.S.S.R., France, and Britain,
would be a bigger deal. All 3 would feel threatened.
Soviets – want to avoid war, as it did not fit Stalin’s
five year plan, sign the nonaggression pact to avoid
war with Germany.
September 1939 – Blitzkrieg of Poland begins, and
so does the larger conflict.
Hitler’s Plan
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Blitzkrieg – lightning/fast war. He wanted to win
battles, control government and thus people.
This plan allowed Germany to gain territory before
others could offer assistance.
By the time Germany controlled Poland, Britain and
France were deciding to do something.
They both declare war, and set up shop on the
Maginot Line. Start the sitzkrieg/phony war.
Clever – movement of German forces through
Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands avoids
early confrontation with Allied forces on their way to
Paris.
Germans force the French and British to the beach
and they flee to Britain. Italy enters France from the
south to finish the Job.
France and Britain Fight for Life
The fall of France put a large strain on
Britain, Charles de Gaulle led what was
left of France’s army from Britain. Britain
fought Hitler’s troops from the air, and in
the Battle of Britain, for several months.
 France was taken over, Hitler ruled the
North from Paris, Marshal Pétain in the
south from Vichy as a puppet government.
 Meanwhile Japan gaining more power in
Asia as they take over much of China’s
coast.
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The World Learns of the Horrors
Hitler’s drive for perfection, however blind,
led him to eliminate those who did not fit
the mold. Racial Purification, The Holocaust.
 Jews – were the first, but not the only
target. Stripped of citizenship, forced to
identify themselves, and limits on income
and businesses.
 Kristallnacht – Nazi storm troopers raided
and attacked Jews, businesses,
synagogues and homes. They were then
blamed for the destruction.
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Horrors Continued
Jews look for escape, but find the world
less than willing. The St. Louis was
denied entry to America, 943 turned away
among countless others.
 Hitler decides upon genocide as a
“solution” to the world’s “problem” of
inferior races.
 Targets – Jews, Gypsies, Supporters of
Jews (Freemansons), and Jehovah’s
Witnesses. Of course, anyone who
disagreed could join the masses.
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Continued…
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Nazis force Jews and others into condensed
living quarters. These were known as ghettos,
fenced in, crowed, and heavily guarded.
In ghettos, they were often forced to work. This
was usually the bidding of the German military.
From there they were frequently sent to labor
camps where they lived in heinous conditions,
forced to labor, starved to near death, and
executed when no longer useful. Concentration
Camps became the enduring symbol of the evil
during WWII
Often prisoners would be shifted away from
families, and at the end of their “service” would
be shipped to a “death camp” where they would
be stripped of all remaining belongings and put
to death in a mass extermination.
Continued…
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The rest of the world began to hear the rumors
of Hitler’s plan. Allied powers used this as a tool
to influence other nations to join the fight against
the Axis powers.
Hitler used massive propaganda campaigns to
ensure compliance of citizens and military
personnel.
It is estimated that 6.5 million people died due to
Hitler’s plan, 6 million of which were Jewish.
Survivors still tell their stories to maintain
awareness to the evil of genocide.
The Condemned
War or No War…
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Neutrality – was threatened as Germany, Italy,
and Japan join forces in the Tripartite Pact
forming the Axis powers.
Roosevelt asks congress to authorize the cash
and carry program. That is pay cash and deliver
the war goods yourself.
Roosevelt also authorizes a build up of military
goods to protect America.
In addition Congress passed the first peace time
Selective Service Act. Roosevelt himself drew
the names.
Roosevelt runs for a third term, his competition
offered nothing different so voters elected
Roosevelt again.
Continued…
Fears grew that U.S. could be an eventual
target, still isolationists fought to stay out
of the conflict.
 Roosevelt felt that if we helped Britain win
the war, indirectly, that we would be better
off and secure the future of our country.
 Lend-Lease Act – was passed and
compared to helping a neighbor who was
in trouble. We loaned supplies in return
for leases on British military bases, all of
which were in strategic spots.
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Hitler Lies???
Hitler breaks his promises to Stalin and
drives into the Soviet Union.
 Americans, though reluctant, offer the
lend-lease to Stalin. Enemy of my enemy
is my friend. Churchill was glad to have
the U.S.S.R. on the same side.
 Fighting U-boats again, this time wolfpacks were used to attack convoys.
 Radar, sonar, and airplanes were
becoming very important parts of war.
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The Conflict Expands
Roosevelt assures Churchill that America
would not let Britain fall, the Atlantic
Charter was signed, a declaration of the
“United Nations” against the evils. The
Allies were formed.
 Roosevelt knew that war was looming.
 Japan was becoming more aggressive,
Americans feared a two ocean war.
 Peace talks fail, code broken, attack is
obvious, though no one knows where.
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The Pearl
Surprise – Sunday morning attack, well
planned and executed.
 2400+ died, 1700+ injured.
 Destroyed much of the Pacific Fleet,
carriers were out on drills due to a mistake
made the day before.
 Americans and their leaders have little
choice of what to do next.
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ENTER AMERICA