A Brief Overview�

Throughout this Power Point you will have the opportunity to learn more about the
dictators who had an immediate impact on the start of WWII and determine,
specifically, what each of the men contributed to the uneasy international stage of
the 1930�s. We will also determine to what extent the failures of the Big Four at
the Treaty of Versailles had in creating a tenuous political, militaristic, and
social situation in Germany. Before we begin, consider the following questions�

? Why did the United States want to return to �normalcy?

How did the Great Depression effect American foreign policy?
Why didn�t the United States intervene in Japanese and
German expansion?
What is Fascism? Click here to find out
Do you think WWII could have been stopped? How

America in the 1930�s

President Harding was elected in 1920 due, in large part because he promised
a �return to normalcy,� or the way things were before WWI. America
embarked on 20 years of relative isolationism. Throughout the 1920�s the United
States experienced an economic boom unlike anything seen before or since. The
1930�s ushered in a new era, one of poverty, want, and starvation. Crops failed in
the Midwest due largely to the phenomenon known as the �Dust Bowl.�

3American Response to Fascist Aggression

For the most part, American response to Fascist aggression was virtually
nonexistent. Throughout the 1930�s America and the Roosevelt Administration was
concerned about it�s own Economic well-being, rather than wider world affairs.
With American unemployment at 25% nationwide, you can see why Roosevelt was more
concerned with domestic affairs.
As WWII grew closer, however, America did begin a modest building up of its
military. The Roosevelt Administration also supported the Allies in Europe with
weapons (Lend-Lease, Cash and Carry) and instituted economic sanctions against an
expansionist Japan.

4Fascist States
Nations with one party in control (prevalent in Europe and Asia prior to WWII)
-Uses idea of Nationalism and Revenge to gain support
-Promise the promotion of their country at the expense of
�lesser� peoples (Germany-Jews, Japanese-Chinese)
-The greater the crisis, the greater the demand for leadership
-Provide scapegoats for the problems of their country
-Party control of everything + Dictator = False propaganda to
gain support
-Crushes all opposition
-Imperialism to increase strength and increase pride in their
country � leads to other conflicts
-Generally a very militaristic government and society
Notice that all of the causes of WWI will be in existence at the start of
WWII in 1939. Many of these (Nationalism, Militarism, and Imperialism) are at the
center of these Totalitarian governments

6 Adolf Hitler - How did he take power?

1923 - Hitler attempted to take control of
Hall Putsch.� He failed and was arrested.
his political ideology. He was considered
1932 - Defeated von Hindenburg in national
Germany.
1934 - Hitler declares himself the �Fuhrer
1938 - Anschluss with Austria (Outlawed by
a struggling Germany through the �Beer
In jail he wrote �Mein Kampf� exposing
harmless and was released in 1924.
election. Hitler was the Chancellor of
of Germany taking dictatorial power.
Treaty of Versailles
1939 - Invasion of Poland and start of WWII

7Adolf Hitler - Beliefs

Hitler believed the Treaty of Versailles was a result of German leaders betraying
the German people. He thought Germany would, one day, have a reemergence as a
world power.

8Hitler had and direct impact on politicians aroundthe world. Some admired his
beliefs and convictions, others saw a dangerous man who would, one day, have a
direct impact on the death of 52 million people. Allied leaders in Europe made an
attempt to appease Hitler in 1938 when they signed the Munich Agreement. Click
here to view a brief description of the Munich Pact.

9Adolf Hitler - Lasting Impact

The name Adolf Hitler is, today, synonymous with hate and genocide. The war he
helped to start is the bloodiest war in human history. There are, unfortunately,
still people today who follow the principles of Nazism. The German people are
still haunted by the actions of the Nazi government.

10Benito Mussolini - How did he take power?

1921 - Entered Parliament after having been defeated in 1919
1922 - Became premier of Italy
1925 - Mussolini declared Italy a fascist dictatorship and took control over
society, politics, and economics, as well as the military.

11Benito Mussolini - Beliefs

Mussolini was in favor of state control of economics, society, and that the
political system should be in the hands of few. He was opposed to Communism and
was very Militaristic. He directly influenced Hitler and the Nazi�s.

12Benito Mussolini - Effect on world politics.

Possibly Mussolini�s most direct and lasting impact was not in Italy, but his
influence on Hitler and Nazism. He created the first Fascist
government and was allied with Germany
throughout WWII

13Benito Mussolini - Lasting Impact

Known as Il Duce- �the Chief�
Italian Imperialism
-Moves to remake Roman Empire (Restore Rome
to time of Caesars)
-Make the Mediterranean an �Italian Lake�
Same government controls of everything as
in Germany
-Hailed by the people because he
�Made the trains run on time�

14 Benito Mussolini and Militarism

The Italian army was not known for being a preeminent power during WWII. The Nazi
German Empire was forced to defend Italy against Allied advances. Mussolini did,
however, extend the Italian empire, especially into Africa.

15Joseph Stalin - How did he take power?

After the death of the first Communist dictator in the Soviet Union, Vladimir
Lenin, there was a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky. Stalin won out and
immediately set out to diminish any struggle for power. He further abolished all
opposition and sent political prisoners to �re-education� camps. By 1928 Stalin
was undoubtedly the leader of the Soviet Union.
16Joseph Stalin - Beliefs
Five Year Plans - Goals for the
Communist state (industrial -
economic)
Collectivization of Agriculture
Increase Soviet knowledge in the
sciences (Space Race after WWII)
Believed in military superiority over the United States (build-
up of nuclear weapons)

17Joseph Stalin - Effect on world politics

The effect of Stalin on world politics is virtually impossible to overstate. He
led the Soviet Union through domestic instability (not always well) while fighting
against Hitler in WWII, the United States in the Cold War, and trying to gain
alliances with developing countries throughout the world. The United States
essentially based its foreign policy around that of the Soviet Union, and vice-
versa, for 50 years.

18Joseph Stalin - Lasting Impact

The lasting impact of Stalin is one of controversy. Millions of men and women died
under his rule of an steel fist. He led the Soviet Union until his death in 1953.
He left the United States and Soviet Union embroiled in a battle for world
supremacy which would last until 1991

19Joseph Stalin and Militarism

Stalin believed in having a large military. When
the Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany
in June of 1941 Stalin started a build-up of the Soviet army which would last for
several decades.

20 Hideki Tojo - How did he take power?

1920�s - Tojo works his way up the military ladder in Japan.

1930�s - Led troops in battle in China

1940 - Appointed War Minister

1941 - Emperor Hirohito elevates Tojo to the post of Prime Minister

21Hideki Tojo - Beliefs

Tojo believed in the Racial Superiority of the Japanese people, especially over the
Chinese. He was also ultra-nationalistic as well as very militaristic. He wanted
to expand the Japanese empire throughout the Pacific Rim.

22Hideki Tojo - Effect on world politics

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Tojo became public
enemy number one in the United States. Throughout his tenure as
Prime Minister he increased alliances with the Axis
powers in Europe and extended military control over Japanese
Society and the Pacific Rim. Tojo was executed for war crimes in 1948

23 Hideki Tojo - Lasting Impact

Hideki Tojo is, today, known as a man who led the Japanese into WWII against the
United States. He is credited for increasing Japanese military, industrial, and
imperialistic capacity, but also saw the end of Japanese society as it was known
before 1945.
24Hideki Tojo and Militarism
Tojo and the Japanese military commanders believed Japan to be
invincible. For hundreds of years the Japanese mainland was
not successfully invaded. Japan extended its empire throughout
the Pacific Rim and had visions of going quite a bit farther

25Works Cited
Bragdon, H., McCutchen, S., Ritchie, D. (1998). History of a Free Nation. New York:
McGraw-Hill.

Boyer, P., Clark, C., Hawley, S., Kett, J., Salisbury, N., Sitkoff, H., Woloch, N.
(1998). The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin.

Retrieved May 18, 2006 from http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/map10eu.htm

Retrieved May 18, 2006 from

http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/ww2%20europe /ww2%20europe
%20pages/ww2%20europe%20map%2002.htm

Retrieved May 22, 2006 from www.wikipedia.org

Retrieved May 22, 2006 from

http://cidc.library.cornell.edu/dof/italy/captioned/horse.htm

Retrieved May 22, 2006 from http://home.comcast.net/~lowe9101/mussolini/

34Nazi Germany - Hitler

?Germany was led by Adolf Hitler who was known as �Der Fuhrer� or The Leader
?Takes control of German Political system as dictator
1. Assumes all power after being given position of chancellor by Von ?
Hindenbergh in 1933
-Hindenbergh gave Hitler post in an attempt to unify government
-Reichstag was controlled by Hitler�s party as well
-Nazi- National Socialist German Worker�s Party
?First move is to wipe out all Opposition
1. Burning of the Reichstag
-Nazis set fire and frame radicals (Communists)
-Nazis given power to rule all of Germany
-Hitler ordered the arrest of Communists,
All other opposition is scared away
?Hitler�s Secret police, the Gestapo, forced an alliance to the Nazi Party
?Propaganda Machine
1. Joseph Goebbels - Minister of Propaganda
-Propaganda - Information of a biased or misleading nature, used to
promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view
-Lied to people to gain support, promoted hatred of Jews, called for
support of the Third Reich
-Promoted the hatred of Jews

Retrieved May 23, 2006 from

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/sgt_stryker/hitler.gif

35Nazi Germany - Hitler

Nazi Imperialism
-goal was to create the Third Reich - 3rd German Empire
?Lebensraum - living space for German speaking people
?Anschluss - Union with Austria & annex Sudentenland
-Imperialism started under excuse of protecting Germans under Hitler
?Racism of the Nazis
 -Jews not only group that was considered inferior
?Gypsies, disabled, homosexuals, non-German�s, Communists
?Final Solution - ridding Germany of the above groups
?Played on poor conditions of the time
-Promised through Propaganda that the effects of the Great Depression would
be solved in the Nazi plan was followed
-Gave people hope
-Wanted revenge after Treaty of Versailles of 1919 (felt Germany was
betrayed and never truly beaten) Hitler believes the Treaty is just a �piece
of paper�

?Hitler as a young soldier in WWI

36Communist Russia - Stalin

?The Soviet Union was led by Joseph Stalin who is known as the �Man of Steel�
?Originally from Georgia and his name was Joseph Vissarionovich Djugashvili
?Wanted to make model Communist nation
-Controlled everything under the communist system
-Reform of industry and agriculture
?Collectivization of Agriculture
-Large, state owned and run farms too land from people and enslaved
farmers to work at the large farms - led to starvation
?Soviet Union as an Industrial Power
-�Five Year Plans� - fixed quotas for industrial production
-Made Soviet Union 3rd greatest industrial nation in the world
?Secret Police forced adherence to Communist System
-KGB is his spy organization at
home and abroad
-Those found criticizing the system
were sent to Siberia for �re-education�
-Reconstruction (�Five Year Plans�) and
persecution led to mass death and
executions (Estimated that 8-13 million died
due to actions of Stalin
?No Imperliastic gains until after USSR becomes powerful

37