Unit 4: Authoritarian & Single Party States

Friedrich Ebert

First president of the Weimar Republic

Benito Mussolini

He was the leader of Fascist Italy. His support was from upper and middle class Italians who were afraid of Communist influence in Italy.

Fascism

A system of government characterized by strict social and economic control and a strong, centralized government usually headed by a dictator.

Communism

A form of government in which all classes are equal and property is commonly controlled.

Lateran Accord

Agreement between Mussolini and Catholic Church. Recognized independence of Vatican City. Church supported Fascist rule. Church got control over religious education in schools, recognition as official state religion.

Battle for the Southern Problem

Mussolini's plan to overcome poverty in Southern Italy by building new villages in Sicily and the south

Battle for Grain

Mussolini's plan to reduce imports by encouraging farmers to grow more cereal grains

Battle for Births

Mussolini's plan to increase the Italian population

Battle for Land

Mussolini's plan to increase the amount of arable land by draining marshes and swamps

Abyssinia

Modern-day Ethiopia. By taking over this land, Mussolini hoped to create an Italian Empire in Africa

Freikorps

Volunteer groups of demobilized soldiers who are fighting for right-wing values

Hyperinflation

Extremely rapid devaluation of (paper) money, especially when it loses its value as quickly as it is produced.

Corporatism

An Italian idea where the government has greater control of industry without destroying private enterprises

Stresa Front

An alliance between Italy, Great Britain, and France. It was intended to keep Germany's aggression at bay and maintain the status quo

Ernst Rohm

Leader of the SA

Heinrich Himmler

Leader of the SS

Paul von Hindenburg

President of the Weimar Republic of Germany who appointed Hitler Chancellor in 1933

Reichstag Fire

An incident where the Reichstag was burnt and Hitler used it to blame the Communists

Enabling Act

Gave Hitler full emergency powers for 4 years

Concordat

An agreement between Hitler and the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church would retain the rights to education while it surrendered political leadership

The Night of Long Knives

SS executes old enemies and numerous SA ofcials, including Ernst Rohm

Hermann Goering

German politician in Nazi Germany who founded the Gestapo

Autarky

A country's economic policy of self-sufficiency

The Four Year Plan

Hermann Göering's plan to make Germany's economy and military forces ready for war in 4 years

Kristallnacht

(Night of the Broken Glass) November 9, 1938, when mobs throughout Germany destroyed Jewish property and terrorized Jews.

Lebensraum

Living space. The plan for Germany to take land from the east

Rhineland

Area between Germany and France. It was demilitarized after WWI through the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler took it back in 1936 and later remilitarized it

Anschluss

Union of Austria and Germany in 1938

Sudetenland

Area of Czechoslovakia, populated with many German-speaking people, "given" to Hitler

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Signed between Hitler and Stalin. Both countries agreed to not take any military action against each other

Gustav Stresemann

Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany, most commonly associated with the "golden/stable" years of Weimar Republic. He was instrumental in establish Weimar's relations with other nations

Dawes Plan

Proposed by the American, Charles Dawes, the Dawes Plan lowered the annual amount of reparations to be paid by Germany to France and Britain, and loaned Germany a sizable amount of money so that it could pay on time.

Locarno Pact

A series of treaties signed where Germany accepted its Western borders and it was assured that Germany would not face another Ruhr crisis

Treaty of Rapallo

An agreement signed between Germany and Russia. It reestablished normal relations between the two countries and both agreed to cancel all financial claims against each other

The Young Plan

Proposed by Stresemann; Altered reparations proposal in return the allies removed all foreign controls on Germany's economy

Kapp Putsch

1920 armed conservative insurrection that temporarily caused the German government to flee and resulted in workers' strikes

Beer Hall Putsch

The failed attempt by Hitler to seize power by armed forces

Adolf Hitler

He became Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and eventual dictator

Francisco Franco

Spanish General. Leader of the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War. He was supported by Hitler and Mussolini. He became dictator of Spain from 1939-1975

Condor Legion

Units from the German Air Force and the German Army which served with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War

Miguel Primo de Rivera

With the support of King Alfonso XIII, this military general led a coup against the Spanish parliament and became the prime minister. He comes into power and suspended the constitution and instituted martial law and censorship

Basque

An ethnic group of people living on the border between Spain and France. This area had developed the steel industry in Spain during the 20th century. This region had been requesting autonomy from Spain

Catalonia

A province of Spain. This province had been requesting autonomy from Spain. It had developed the textile industry

Second Republic

This government came into power in Spain after left-wing groups won the election of 1931. This government replaced the monarchy

CEDA

Coalition of right-wing parties in Spain. Led by José Maria Gil Robles. It defended religion, property rights, and national unity

Two Black Years

Name given to the time period when right-wing groups were in power and reversed many of the reforms of the Second Republic

Popular Front

Left-wing coalition of Communists, Socialists, and Liberals who fought against right-wing policies in Spain. Won the election of 1936 and began to undo the work of the right-wing government

Manuel Azana

The frst prime minister of the Second Republic

King Alfonso X|||

He was the king of Spain. He supported the coup of Primo de Rivera and eventually made him prime minister.

General Emilio Mola

One of the military generals that orchestrated a failed coup of the Second Republic

Nationalists

Right-wing group in the Spanish Civil War

Republicans

Left-wing group in the Spanish Civil War

Non-Intervention Pact

An agreement between Great Britain, France, USSR, and US to not become involved in the Spanish Civil War (1936)

International Brigade

Groups of volunteer soldiers from the Great Britain, US, and France who helped fight against the Fascists in Spain

Falange

Extreme right-wing political group founded by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera. The group supported Franco during the civil war

Intentionalists

Historians who argue that the Nazi regime was ultimately Hitler's intention therefore arguing that he is a strong dictator. Emphasis on key individuals.

Structuralists

Historians who argue that it was the event and structure of the Nazis which led to the Holocaust therefore supporting the argument that Hitler was a weak dictator. Emphasis on social forces and structure of the regime.

League of Nations

An organization of nations formed after World War I to promote cooperation and peace.

Appeasement

Accepting demands in order to avoid conflict.

Hossbach Memorandum

Notes of a meeting between Hitler and his generals. Often used by some historians as evidence of Hitler planning a general war.

Mein Kampf

Book written by Adolf Hitler describing his life and ideology.

Ruhr Crisis

When Germany defaulted on its reparation payments, France and Belgium sent troops to take over industrial region.

Gleichschaltung

the coordination of all institutions under Nazi control

Weimar Republic

The new government that was established in Germany after Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated the throne

March on Rome

Event in 1922 that displaces King Victor Emmanuel and established Mussolini as leader of Italy

Blackshirts

The paramilitary wing of the National Fascist Party and, after 1923, an all-volunteer militia of the Kingdom of Italy. Its members were distinguished by their black uniforms and their loyalty to Benito Mussolini, the Duce of Fascism, to whom they swore an oath.

Army of Africa

Spanish and Spanish Moroccan troops stationed in Spanish Morocco. Sided with Franco and the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War

Ian Kershaw

Argued that Hitler was a "lazy dictator", an indiferent dictator who was really not interested in involving himself much in the daily running of Nazi Germany.

Hans Mommsen

Argued that Hitler was a "weak dictator" who rather than acting decisively, reacted to various social pressures. Saw the Nazi state as a chaotic collection of rival bureaucracies engaged in endless power struggles.

Karl Bracher

Argued that Hitler was the "Master of the Third Reich" and was the driving force behind Nazi Germany,