Interwar Years/Facism

Facism

A political ideology characterized by authoritarian nationalism, dictatorial power, and strong centralized control, emphasizing the supremacy of the state over individual rights.

Totalitariaism

A political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

Benito Mussolini (Il Duce)

Italian politician and leader of the National Fascist Party, Mussolini ruled Italy as Prime Minister from 1922 until his ousting in 1943. He developed the doctrine of fascism and played a key role in the establishment of totalitarian regimes in Europe.

Facist Party

A political party founded by Benito Mussolini in Italy that promoted fascist ideology and aimed to establish a totalitarian regime.

Blackshirts

Paramilitary group loyal to Mussolini, known for their violent enforcement of fascist policies.

March on Rome

A 1922 event where Mussolini and his followers marched to seize power, leading to his appointment as Prime Minister of Italy. This demonstration was pivotal in establishing fascist rule in the country.

Adolf Hitler (der Fuehrer)

Leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) who rose to power in Germany, implementing fascist policies and initiating World War II.

Nazism

A totalitarian ideology characterized by extreme nationalism, racism, and militarism, implemented by Adolf Hitler in Germany. Stands for the National Socialist German Workers’ Partyand emphasized the supremacy of the Aryan race, anti-Semitism, and the need for Lebensraum (living space).

Mein Kampf

The book written by Hitler in jail after being arrested, which details his poltical views and his views on how he believed that Jewish people were to blame for Germany's problems, advocating for Aryan supremacy and outlining his future plans for Germany.

Aryan

Hitler’s “master” race, that consisted of blonde, blue-eyed individuals who were “pure Germans”. This ideology promoted the belief that the Aryan race was superior to all other races and justified racial discrimination and violence.

Lebensraum

Directly translates to “living space”. A key concept in Nazi ideology, referring to the territorial expansion necessary for the German people to thrive and ensure the growth of the Aryan race. It justified the invasion of neighboring countries and the displacement of their inhabitants to create space for the Aryan population.

Triumph of the Will

A propaganda movie created by the Nazis that portrays the Nazi party and Nazi Germany in a positive light, emphasizing the strength and unity of the German people under Hitler's leadership. It is considered one of the most effective examples of propaganda in history. Does not show at all the dissenting opinions or the negative consequences of Nazi policies, creating a glorified narrative of the regime.

Nuremberg Laws

Racial laws enacted in 1935 that institutionalized many of the racial theories espoused by the Nazi ideology. These laws stripped Jews of their German citizenship and prohibited intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews, fundamentally discriminating against Jews and other non-Aryan groups.

Kristallnacht

“The Night of the Broken Glass”, where over 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps, and over 7,000 Jewish buildings were destroyed or damaged. Hundreds of synagogues, Jewish schools, buildings, and hospitals were destroyed or damaged. and this event marked a significant escalation in the Nazi regime's violent anti-Semitic policies, leading to increased persecution of Jews in Germany.

Third Reich

The idea of the “Third German Empire” that existed from 1933 to 1945, characterized by the totalitarian regime of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, which sought to establish a racially pure state and expand German territory through aggressive militarism. Wanted to bring back the “amazing Germany” that was powerful pre-WW1

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice and discrimination against Jews, often characterized by hostility, hatred, and scapegoating, which became particularly pronounced under the Nazi regime in Germany.

Hitler’s foreign policy goals

Aimed to expand German territory, overturn the Treaty of Versailles, and establish German dominance in Europe through militarization and conquest. This included the annexation of neighboring territories and the promotion of a racial ideology that justified aggressive expansionism.

Hitler & Road to War in Europe (violation of Treaty of Versailles - military, aggression into surrounding countries: The Rhineland, Anschluss,  Munich Conference- who was involved, Sudetenland, appeasement)

Hitler's strategy to gain power and territorial expansion involved systematic violations of the Treaty of Versailles, including re militarizing the Rhineland, annexing Austria (Anschluss), and claiming parts of Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) through the Munich Conference, which involved British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French leaders, embracing a policy of appeasement.

Japanese Path to War – invasion of Manchuria (1931) & China (1937)

This refers to Japan's aggressive military actions in the early 20th century, starting with the invasion of Manchuria in 1931, which established a puppet state, and escalating to a full-scale invasion of China in 1937, leading to widespread atrocities and conflict.

NonAggression Pact between Soviet Union & Germany 1939

A treaty signed in 1939 that ensured mutual non-aggression between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, allowing for the partition of Eastern Europe and facilitating Germany's invasion of Poland.

Soviet Union in the Second World War (on the side of the Allies – because Germany broke the NonAggression Pact!)

The Soviet Union joined the Allies during World War II after Germany violated the Non-Aggression Pact by invading the Soviet territory in 1941. This shift marked a significant turning point in the war, as the USSR played a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany.

Outbreak of War – September 1939 

The outbreak of World War II began in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany, signaling the start of widespread conflict in Europe.

Manchuria

A region in Northeast Asia that was invaded by Japan in 1931, leading to significant international tensions and contributing to the escalation of conflicts leading to World War II.

Axis Powers

The Axis Powers were a coalition of countries led primarily by Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II. They sought to expand their territories and influence through military aggression, ultimately opposing the Allied forces. Because of the Rome-Berlin Axis

League of Nations

an intergovernmental organization founded after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among countries, but ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II.

The Anschluss                 

was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in March 1938, which violated the Treaty of Versailles and inflamed tensions in Europe.

Munich Conference

was a 1938 meeting between Germany, Britain, France, and Italy where the policy of appeasement was enacted, allowing Hitler to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.

The Sudetenland

a region of Czechoslovakia that was predominantly inhabited by ethnic Germans, which was annexed by Nazi Germany following the Munich Conference.

Appeasement

a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding conflict by making concessions to an aggressor, notably practiced by Britain and France towards Nazi Germany.

Neville Chamberlain

the British Prime Minister who is best known for his policy of appeasement toward Adolf Hitler in the lead-up to World War II. He famously declared that the Munich Agreement had secured "peace for our time."

NonAggression Pact    

an agreement between nations to refrain from military action against each other. It was notably signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, allowing for the division of Eastern Europe.

Blitzkrieg

a military tactic that combines fast-moving and concentrated attacks by ground and air forces to quickly overwhelm the enemy. It was notably used by Germany during World War II.