CHC2D - The Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations, Totalitarianism, The Great Depression, and the Underlying Causes of WWII

By the end of the WWI, had the Allied front line gained or lost ground?

Gained

When was "The Decisive Year" of WWI?

1917

What made "The Decisive Year" so decisive?

The Halifax Explosion. The Communist Revolution - Russia withdraws. Germany transfers 600,000 soldiers to the Western Front. The USA joins the war. The Allies won victories at Vimy and Passchendaele

When did Canada's Hundred Days Begin?

August 8, 1918

Who led Canadians in Canada's Hundred Days?

Sir Arthur Currie

Where did Canadians go during Canada's Hundred Days?

Amiens, Canal du Nord, and Cambrai in France, and Mons in Belgium

How far did the Canadians push back Germany at Amiens during the Hundred Days?

13 Kilometers

Of all the Allies, who suffered the most casualties?

Britain, France, and Russia (in the millions of casualties)

How many casualties did Canada suffer in WWI?

66,000 soldiers killed.

Of the Triple Alliance, who suffered the most casualties?

Germany (2 million killed) and Austria-Hungary (1.2 million killed)

What were the total casualties of WWI?

8.5 million killed, 21 million wounded

When was the Armistice of WWI reached?

November 11th, 1918

What were the terms of the Armistice in WWI?

Germany agreed to cease-fire at 11:00am on November 11, 1918.

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

June 28th, 1919

Who negotiated what the Treaty of Versailles should contain?

The "Big Three:" Georges Clemenceau, David Lloyd George, and Woodrow Wilson (Leaders of France, Great Britain, and USA)

Who was the leader of France that signed the Treaty of Versailles?

Georges Clemenceau

What were Georges Clemenceau's beliefs?

That Germany should be brought to its knees so it could never start a war again.

Who was the leader of the USA that signed the Treaty of Versailles?

Woodrow Wilson

What were Georges Clemenceau's beliefs?

The "14 Points" to support peace in the post-war era.

What did Woodrow Wilson form?

The League of Nations

Who was the leader of Great Britain that signed the Treaty of Versailles?

David Lloyd George

What were Georges Clemenceau's beliefs?

Like the British citizens, he wanted to make Germany Pay.

What did the Treaty of Versailles address?

MAIN (the causes of the war)

How was MILITARISM addressed in the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany's army was reduced to 100,000 men. Germany was not allowed an airforce or submarines. Germany was only allowed 6 capital naval ships. The west of the Rhineland and 50kms east of the River Rhine was made into a demilitarized zone (DMZ) as a buffer.

What happened to the Rhineland as a DMZ?

The Allies kept an army of occupation on the west bank of the Rhine for 15 years.

How were ALLIANCES addressed in the Treaty of Versailles?

Austria-Hungary was dismantled, as they were a failing empire even before their heir was assassinated. Yugoslavia formed, which is what the Black Hand wanted. Italy switched sides at the end of the war and was largely unpunished. The League of Nations formed in 1919.

How was IMPERIALISM addressed in the Treaty of Versailles?

Alsace-Lorraine was given back to France. The League of Nations took control of Germany's overseas colonies. Germany had to return Russia's land taken in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Germany was forced to pay reparations to allies for the cost of war.

How was NATIONALISM addressed in the Treaty of Versailles?

Article 231 = The War Guilt Clause

Germany had to admit full responsibility of the war.

How did Germany react to the Armistice of WWI?

They agreed, but believed they would be included in negotiating the contents of the Treaty, which did not happen.

What choices was Germany given regarding the Treaty of Versailles?

Sign the Treaty or be invaded by Allies.

How did the Great War change society as a whole so that Totalitarianism would rise?

Royal dynasties were overthrown. Class distinctions that showed the "natural order" were demolished. Religious truths no longer seemed credible due to the bloody war. Thousands of factories were destroyed, creating poverty and an believed unreliability of capitalism.

Which two political ideologies did totalitarianism find expression in?

Fascism and Stalinism.

What is the fundamental assumption of totalitarianism?

All aspects of human society should be subordinate to the state.

What is the view of the individual under totalitarianism?

He has no independent existence or worth. All he was he received from the greater society.

How was the idea objective truth treated under totalitarianism?

It was denied/ignored.

How did the dominant party act under totalitarianism?

They determined what ideas were "true" (whatever aligned with their beliefs)

How was propaganda/control used under totalitarianism?

Information is controlled. All form of media, including art, radio, music, newspapers, literature, were controlled by the government and told “the truth.”

What is Communism also known as?

Leninism, Marxism, and Stalinism.

What was Mussolini's upbringing?

He was born in 1883 as the son of a blacksmith and had a fiery temper, as he assaulted a priest school teacher.

What was Mussolini's job before the Great War?

He was a newspaper editor for the left, and took a keen role in the socialist movement.

Why did Mussolini's view change from socialism to fascism?

He was conscripted into the war and rose to the rank of corporal. He became a fierce nationalist who saw the war as an opportunity for Italy to complete the Risorgimento (unification of all Italians in one state)

Did the fascists have a lot of support in 1921?

No; they only won 35 out of 500 seats in Parliament.

How did Mussolini gain power?

He appealed to the middle and upper classes' fear of socialism and communism. They formed a group of young vigilantes (Blackshirts) called squadristi to break up strikes, destroy labour union offices, intimidate left-wing politicians, and force elected Socialists and Communists from office. The propertied classes provided financial support.

What did Mussolini do in October of 1922?

He ordered the March on Rome, where Blackshirts would converge on Rome.

What was the authority's response to the March on Rome?

The legitimate PM (Luigi Facta) wanted to impose a martial law against the Fascists, but the King, Vittorio Emmanuele II, who feared civil war, refused. The government resigned and named Mussolini prime minister. He gained a year's grant of emergency powers to deal with civil unrest.

Which law did Mussolini pass to help the Fascists gain and maintain power?

Any party winning the most seats in elections would receive two-thirds of the seats in Parliament (majority government)

How did Fascists gain power in 1924?

They won over 60% of the total votes, and thus formed a majority government.

What were the reforms of the Italian State due to Fascism?

All other political parties were abolished. Labour unions were abolished and replaced by Fascist Labour Organizations. Censorship of the press was enforced. Workers could not strike. The Vatican was recognised as an independent state, in return for official recognition of the Italian state and establishment as the official religion. Restorations and excavations of Ancient Rome's great past. Education was controlled through government propaganda. The infrastructure was improved through government buildings, energy projects, and modern transportation methods. A re-armament programme was introduced, which produced airplanes and submarines. Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. All economic activity was to be regulated by the government.

What did Mussolini do in 1935?

He invaded Ethiopia using modern airplanes and mustard gas. The Emperor, Haile Selassie, was forced to flee.

How did Mussolini seek to eliminate conflict between labour and business?

Economic activity was to be controlled by the government. It was divided into 22 major areas/corporation, in which the worker representatives, employers, and government decided prices, wages, and outputs. All 22 corporations formulated a national economic policy.

What was Mussolini called?

"Il Duce" ("The Leader"

When did the Russian Revolutions take place?

February and October/November 1917

When did totalitarianism first appear?

The October Revolution of 1917 in Russia

What were the assumptions that classical Communism rested on?

Nationalism and Patriotism are used by the capitalists to exploit the proletariats. Oligarchies/autocracies are unjust. All men are entitled to certain human rights.

At the start of Communism in Russia, what was believed to happen to the proletariat/state?

Once the bourgeoisie was overthrown, the proletariat would rule temporarily. The state would "wither away" and the big government would no longer be needed.

Did the Soviet state follow its initial principles?

No

How did Lenin's Bolsheviks gain support?

The working classes supported their slogan of "peace, land, and bread." This helped the Bolsheviks seize power from the Provisional Government on November 6/7, 1917.

What was the treaty that Russia signed to end fighting with Germany?

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918.

What did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk entail?

The fighting ended, but Russia lost the Baltic provinces, Poland, and Ukraine.

Why did Russia not experience peace?

A civil war against the anti-Bolshevik forces lasted until 1922, when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was proclaimed.

What was the first institution founded by the Bolsheviks/Communists?

A police force known as the Extraordinary All-Russian Commission of Struggle Against Counter-Revolution, Speculation, and Sabotage (CHEKA).

What was Cheka later known as?

The KGB, who were a much-feared secret police force that used espionage, torture, assassination, and intimidation to root out opposition.

When was the Cheka instrumental to Communists?

During the period of the Civil War known as the Red Terror, they fought against foreigners and counter-revolutionaries.

Why were thousands of people shot without trial during Communist Russia?

They had a bourgeois background, a middle class profession, or capitalist education.

What did Communists do regarding land?

They abolished private ownership of land and gave it to peasants.

What problems ensued after the abolishment of private land?

Food production fell because farmers cut back production and hoard their produced food due to worthless money, insecure property titles, collapsing transportation systems, and armed marauders.

How much of the land in Russia was cultivated by 1920 compared to 1914?

Only 62%

Why did a massive famine ensue in Communist Russia?

Farmers were discouraged as their food supplies were taken by force, and four to five million died.

Why did Lenin establish a new economic policy?

To end the famine crisis.

What did Lenin's "Nep" entail?

It restored a measure of capitalism. Farmers could sell their produce freely for profit. As well, others could buy and sell produce and manufactured products, and sell them at market prices.

What emerged as a result of Lenin's "Nep"?

A middle class

What was the sole permitted party of the Soviet Union?

The Communist Party

What was the relationship between state and party?

It was very close.

What was the top committee of the Communist Party?

The Central Committee

What was the sub-committee of the Central Committee consisting of high-ranking officials?

The Politburo

Was the Politburo subject to outside control?

No

What did the Politburo rely on to enforce discipline?

The Cheka/KGB

What were the members of the Communist Party considered as?

The Vanguard of the proletarian revolution.

What training did members of the Communist Party undergo?

Intensive training in Marxist-Leninist ideologies

What were the benefits of being a member of the Communist Party?

The best jobs, better housing, special food coupons, preferential seating on trains, and they became a new privileged class (nobles/professional class).

What did Stalin introduce after eliminating Trotsky?

The first five-year plan

What did Stalin's First Five-Year Plan entail?

The national economic goals, administered by the Gosplan. They would determine how much of everything should be produced, worker wages, prices, and the capital invested in specific industries/factories. The government controlled every aspect of the national economy.

How did industrial expansion affect the Soviet Union?

20 million people moved to the cities to work for factories. 1928-1938, iron and steel increased four times, and coal increased three and a half times (2 plants produced as much iron and steel as the entire Empire in 1914). 1938 - USSR was the world's largest producer of tractors and railway locomotives. 1939 - USSR was third in gross industrial output (to USA and Germany).

What was the draw to the economic benefits of Stalin's First Five-Years Plan?

There were enormous costs.

What happened during the Purges?

1933 - a third of the party was purged. 1936 - Stalin rooted out opposition. 16 high-ranked veterans were tried for the murder of Serge Kirov, and later confessed in court and were shot. 17 Old Bolsheviks were tried, found guilty, and condemned. Many Russians were executed or sent to labour camps in Siberia. As well, there were thousands of arrests, inquisitions, and executions.

When did the Purge end?

1938

How were Russians forced to live due to commitment to capital investment?

They had few consumer products, food rationing, shoddy housing, hard work, and low wages.

Who formed the Fascist National Unity Party of Canada?

Adrien Arcand, who was later arrested in 1940 for "plotting to overthrow the state."

According to Adam Smith, why would Communism never work?

Capitalism is like an invisible hand that moves the world.

How was Germany humiliated in the Treaty of Versailles?

The war guilt clause, demilitarization of the Rhineland, loss of overseas colonies, and drastic reductions of armed forces were a source of great shame for Germany.

Which clause of the Treaty caused economic crisis in Germany/Weimar Republic?

The reparations clause, which fixed the amount at $35 Billion USD, mostly to France and Belgium. This was way more than Germany could have hoped to pay, as they fell behind on payments in 1923.

What was France's response in 1923 when Germany fell behind on payments?

They sent soldiers to occupy the Ruhr valley industrial heartland, despite it violating the League of Nations policy.

What was Germany's response to the economic crisis?

They printed more money. This lead to the mark becoming nearly worthless (nearly $4 trillion USD). This caused the middle class to become impoverished, and disillusioned with the government, democracy, and Treaty of Versailles. This created new, radical political parties.

How did the Nazis gain power?

Through intimidation, forcing other politicians to resign or join the Nazi Party, and abolishing the Brownshirts and arresting Röhm and other leaders.

What did the Nuremberg Laws (1935) entail?

Jews were defined as anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent; they were deprived of citizenship rights; forbidden to marry non-Jews, forbidden from professions such as law, medicine, the army, education, and public office; Could only leave the country if they surrendered their property; curfews, travel restrictions, and forbidden from public spaces; forced to wear a visible mark on their clothing.

Who did Germany blame their problems on?

The Jews

What was the Gestapo?

A secret police force that rooted out Nazi opposition, Communists, Jews, Social Democrats, academics, newspaper editors, and religious leaders. They put the enemies in concentration camps, or made them "disappear."

What happened to religious groups in the Nazi State?

Jehovah Witnesses were barred outright. Other churches could not criticize the Nazis, connections were restricted, and religious schools were discouraged. Clergy who refused the changes were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

How was employment increased in Nazi Germany?

Massive infrastructure programmes were launched (land cleared, houses and autobahns built).