Transcript The War: 1914 -1918

A Damaged Europe &
The Rise of the
Dictators
Section 2: Events & Ideas
Uneasy Peace,
Uncertain Security
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How and why did the poor economic climate
between the wars lead to the rise of powerful
dictators?

Nations do not cut
back on their military
spending.
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Nations are unwilling
to trust their security
to anyone but their
own military forces.
Nations that receive land from
Germany after WWI
The Great Depression
High Unemployment

An economic depression is a
period of low economic activity
and rising unemployment.

Much of the Germany prosperity in
the 1920s comes from American
loans to Germany.

When the stock market collapses,
investors panic and pull their money
out of Europe.
The Great Depression

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European banks suffer because of the American
withdrawal.
Banks start to close.
Industrial production declines.
Unemployment rises.
Unemployed men protest outside a
Labour exchange in London during
the Great Depression
Responding to the
World Wide
Depression

Governments are slow to respond (Laissez-faire)

Eventually, governments become more involved with the
economy.

Renewed interest in Marxist doctrine.

Some political leaders offer simple solutions in return for
political power.
Are these the people to save the nations?
Rise of Dictatorial Regimes
Section 2 Events & Ideas
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How did totalitarian leaders use the ideas of
fascism to bring their nations out of the post war
struggles?
The basis of individual liberty in
the United States is the first 10
Amendments to the
Constitution called the “Bill of
Rights.”
Are you willing to trade any of
these rights?
Governments of Europe and the Rise of Fascism, 1920-1937
The Rise of Dictators

By 1939, only two major European
States – France and Great Britain –
remained democratic.

Italy, the Soviet Union, Germany and
others adopted dictatorial regimes.

Both Fascism and Communism
shared a lot of the same “dictatorial”
or “totalitarian” traits.
Features of a
Totalitarian State

Single-party dictatorship.

State control of economy.

Police spies and state terrorism.

Strict censorship and government control of media.

Use of schools and media to indoctrinate and mobilize citizens

Unquestioned obedience to a single ruler.
The Fascist State

Attempted to control all
forms of media.

Created Youth Groups to
mold the next generation.

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School textbooks were
rewritten to reflect Fascist
propaganda.
Children in Italy
Stalin’s Dictatorial Regime

1932 – 1933: 10 million peasants
die in the famines.
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1930s and the Great Purge.
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army officers,
diplomats,
union officials,
party members,
intellectuals and
numerous ordinary citizens.

Up to 8 million Russians were
arrested during the 1930s.

Follow Stalin or face death
Hitler and Nazi Germany

He gets his own
slideshow!

Stay tuned…..
Hitler and Nazi
Germany
Bulleted Snapshot of History #3
Unit 6
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Why was Hitler able to gain the support of the
German people in the build up to WWII?
What Hitler Did with his Power

Civil service was purged of Jews
and any democratic element

Concentration camps (prisons)
were set up for opponents of
Nazis

Trade unions were abolished

All political parties except Nazis
were abolished
Why Germans Supported Hitler

Germany had very high
unemployment during the Great
Depression, and Hitler promised jobs

Hitler promised to protect Germany
against a Communist takeover

He promised to create a new Germany
and appealed to German national
pride and honor and traditional
militarism
How Hitler Maintained Power
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Put people back to work through public works projects, but
mainly through rearmament program
Controlled opposition with SS
Held mass demonstrations, like Nuremberg party rallies, to
get people excited
How Hitler Maintained Power

Set up youth groups for
ages 10-18, which all were
expected to join.
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Nazi values were taught
and reinforced to the
youth
World War II and the Holocaust
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Hitler leads Germany
into WW II
Hitler’s “Final Solution”
(extermination of the
Jewish people)
…..to be continued in
Unit 7