Emergence and Consolidation of Authoritarian States: Hitler and Mao

Flashcards about the emergence and consolidation of authoritarian states under Hitler and Mao, covering economic factors, social divisions, and methods of control.

Treaty of Versailles

Post-WWI treaty that imposed reparations on Germany, contributing to economic instability and nationalist resentment, which Hitler exploited.

Great Depression

A global economic downturn that exacerbated poverty and unemployment, creating conditions ripe for extremist ideologies like Nazism and Communism to gain traction.

Hyperinflation

An extreme and rapid increase in prices in Weimar Germany, eroding the value of savings and fueling discontent, which the Nazi party capitalized on.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice against or hatred of Jews, which Hitler and the Nazis used as a core element of their ideology to scapegoat Jews for Germany's problems.

Weimar Republic

The democratic government established in Germany after WWI, which was plagued by instability, corruption, and proportional representation, leading to weak coalitions and vulnerability to extremist movements.

KMT

Kuomintang, or the Nationalist Party in China, which was perceived as corrupt and ineffective, allowing the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to gain legitimacy.

CCP

Chinese Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, gained support through promises of land reform, fighting the Japanese, and military successes against the Nationalists.

SA (Sturmabteilung)

The Nazi Party's original paramilitary wing, used to intimidate political rivals and enforce Nazi ideology through violence and street fighting.

Red Army

The military wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Under Mao, it defeated the KMT and the Japanese, and consolidated communist control.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country; Hitler appealed to German nationalism by promising to restore Germany's greatness and overturn the Treaty of Versailles.

Lebensraum

German term meaning 'living space.' This was a key Nazi ideology that advocated for territorial expansion into Eastern Europe.

25-point program

The Nazi Party's political manifesto, outlining key policies and goals, including nationalism, anti-Semitism, and territorial expansion.

Little Red Book

A book of Mao Zedong's quotations, used to indoctrinate the population with Communist ideology and reinforce his cult of personality.

Enabling Act

A law passed in Nazi Germany that granted Hitler dictatorial powers, allowing him to bypass the Reichstag and enact laws without parliamentary approval.

Gleichschaltung

German term for 'coordination,' referring to the Nazi policy of forcibly standardizing political, social, and economic institutions to align with Nazi ideology.

SS and Gestapo

The SS (Schutzstaffel) and Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei) were Nazi Germany's security organizations.

Laogai

Chinese term for 're-education through labor camps,' used by Mao's regime to suppress dissent and consolidate power by imprisoning political opponents and perceived enemies.

Cultural Revolution

A sociopolitical movement in China from 1966-1976 launched by Mao Zedong. The aim was to preserve Chinese Communism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.

Four olds

Customs, habits, culture, and thinking.

Autarky

Economic self-sufficiency; a goal pursued by Hitler's Four-Year Plan to reduce Germany's dependence on foreign imports and prepare for war.