Between the Wars

Between the Wars

• 1.
  Between the Wars 1920sand 1930s Germany, Italy, and Spain
• 2.
  Mussolini • Forms Fascistparty in 1919 • “Il Duce” – the leader • Blackshirts terrorize and control opposition • 1922 appointed Prime Minister when he threatens to march on Rome • “The Country is Nothing Without Conquest” – Roman Empire Wannabe – Wants Mediterranean to be Mare Nostrum again – Wants lands on the Adriatic back from Yugoslavia (irredenta) • 1935 – gets Ethiopia (revenge at last)
• 3.
  Il Duce’s Italy •Suppressed rival parties, muzzled the press, rigged elections and replaced elected officials with Fascist support • Critics thrown into prison, exiled or murdered • Secret police and propaganda bolster the regime • Preserved capitalism, but workers forbidden to strike, wages very low • “Believe! Obey! Fight!” • Youth groups toughen kids and teach them strict military discipline – Taught about glories of ancient Rome – March in parades, sing hymns and chants, “Mussolini is always right” • Women asked to “win the battle of motherhood” – 14 kids and you get a medal!
• 4.
  Fascism • An authoritarian(non-communism) government that emphasizes extreme nationalism and glorifies violence, discipline and blind loyalty to the state • Bundle of sticks around an axe - “fasces” • Antidemocratic – democracy leads to corruption and weakness, allows individual or class interests to rise above national goals • Aggressive foreign expansion – “survival of the fittest”, dominance and war are necessary for survival • Sworn enemies of communists – Fascism – support comes from business leaders, wealthy landowners, and lower middle class – Communism – support comes from urban and agricultural workers
• 5.
  Appeal of fascism? •Promises a strong, stable government and end to political feuding that had paralyzed democracy • National pride
• 6.
  Totalitarian Rule • Hitler,Mussolini, and Stalin: – Single party dictatorship – State control of economy – Use of police spies and terror to enforce the will of the state – Strict censorship and government monopoly of the media – Use of schools and media to indoctrinate and mobilize citizens – Unquestioning obedience to a single leader
• 7.
  1920’s Inflation inGermany • Weimar Republic • Print money to solve economic problems • Desire for stronger leaders
• 8.
  Hitler • Adolf • 1919National Socialist German Workers Party (aka Nazi Party) – Nazism – fascism shaped with fanatical German nationalism and racial superiority • Mein Kampf and Aryan race • 1932 – Nazi’s gain majority in Reichstag • 1933 -- Hindenburg appoints Hitler chancellor – Suspends freedom of speech and press – Brownshirts/stormtroopers silence opposition • 1934 – Hindenburg dead, Hitler “Der Fuhrer”
• 9.
  Der Fuhrer • Beginsrearming • Hires unemployed workers for public works projects – Massive public buildings – Autobahn • 1936 – Depression ends in Germany • Germany needs more living space – Militarize Rhineland in 1936 • Axis powers agreed between Berlin and Rome • 1938 Anschluss realigned (most Austrians welcome them) – Sound of Music! • Czechoslovakia, Chamberlain, and Appeasements “peace in our time!”
• 10.
  Facts about theNazi Party in Germany • According to Joseph Goebbels in an official explanation of Nazism, the synthesis of the words nationalism and socialism was to "counter the Internationalism of Marxism with the nationalism of a German Socialism". – wikipedia • Heil Hitler + salute = borrowed from Italian fascists
• 11.
  The Nazi Party •Wermacht – German military (defend + power/force) – 20 million from 1935-1945; 2.2 million in 1945 – Army – Heer – Navy – Kriegsmarine – Airforce - Luftwaffe • SA – Sturmabteilung – Storm Division – Brownshirts – 3 million men; superceded by SS after 1934’s Long Knives Night • SS – Stchutzstaffel - Protection Squad, formed in 1925, led by Heinrich Himmler – Numbered at about 1 million men; most loyal; headed up divisions of the military – Waffen-SS – group dedicated to racial superiority; Order of the Death’s Head – SS ran the security service (SD), secret state police (Gestapo), criminal investigative police (Kripo), and regular uniformed police (orpo)
• 12.
  On to war! •March 1939 – Br and Fr agree to help Poland if invaded • Aug 1939 – Hitler and Stalin agree to a ten year Non-Aggression Pact (secret document attached about how to divide up E. Europe) • Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invades Poland – Blitzkrieg, Poland down in a month, Holocaust begins in Poland – Stalin seizes E. half of Poland • Sept. 3, 1939, Br and Fr declare war on Germany
• 13.
  Spanish Civil War •Nationalism group rises to power led by Franco • Nationalists v. Republicans • Nationalists – supported by Germany and Italy • Republicans supported by Soviets and International Brigade • Nationalists take Madrid, Franco rules from 1939-1975