Totalitarian Regimes

Totalitarianism

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

Fascism

An authoritarian political ideology emphasizing extreme nationalism, dictatorial power, and suppression of opposition.

Weimar Republic

The democratic government established in Germany after World War I, known for political instability and economic troubles.

Lebensraum

A Nazi doctrine advocating for the expansion of German territory for the supposed benefit of the German nation.

Bier Hall Putsch

Hitler's unsuccessful coup attempt in 1923 to destabilize the Weimar Republic and seize power.

Nuremberg Laws

A set of anti-Semitic legislation in Nazi Germany that stripped Jews of citizenship and basic rights.

Anschluss

The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, completed in March 1938.

Mein Kampf

A autobiographical book by Adolf Hitler outlining his ideology and plans for Germany, written during his imprisonment.

March on Rome

The 1922 march led by Mussolini and his supporters, which resulted in the seizure of power in Italy.

Great Depression

A global economic crisis that began in 1929, characterized by widespread unemployment and financial instability.

Puppet regime

A government that appears independent but is heavily influenced or controlled by a foreign power.

Spanish Civil War

A conflict (1936-1939) in Spain fought between Democrats, Fascists, and Communists, with significant ideological implications.

Krystallnacht

The 1938 pogrom against Jews in Nazi Germany, marked by widespread violence and vandalism.

Communists

Members of a political movement advocating for a classless society and often associated with Marxist ideology.

General Tojo

The Prime Minister of Japan during World War II, known for his militaristic expansionist policies.

Fascist movements

Political movements defined by authoritarian nationalism, often rising in opposition to leftist ideologies.

Nanking massacre

A horrific series of atrocities committed by Japanese troops against Chinese civilians in Nanking, China, in 1937-1938.

League of Nations

An international organization founded after World War I aimed at maintaining peace but ultimately failed to prevent World War II.

Paul von Hindenburg

A prominent German military officer and politician who served as President of Germany from 1925 until his death in 1934.

Reichstag

The legislative body of the German Empire, which became emblematic of the Nazi party’s control during their rule.

Rhineland

A demilitarized zone in Germany that was remilitarized by Nazi forces in 1936, violating the Treaty of Versailles.

Axis Powers

The military alliance formed during World War II, primarily consisting of Germany, Italy, and Japan.

1937 Invasion of China

The military invasion by Japan that marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, driven by territorial ambitions.

Sudetenland

A region in Czechoslovakia with a large ethnic German population, annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938.

Munich Conference

A 1938 meeting where European powers, attempting to avoid conflict, allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland.

Invasion of Czechoslovakia

The March 1939 occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany, which breached earlier agreements.

Arthur Chamberlain

A British politician and Prime Minister noted for his policy of appeasement towards Hitler before WWII.