Totalitarianism history

Treaty of Versailles

A treaty that required Germany to give up 10% of its prewar territory.

War Guilt Clause

A clause that forced Germany to accept full responsibility for World War I.

Reparations

Financial payments that Germany must make to the Allies after World War I.

Territorial Losses

Land that Germany lost as a result of the Treaty of Versailles.

Fascism

A political belief in action over thought, characterized by extreme nationalism and dictatorial leadership.

Totalitarianism

A political system where one leader holds all power and enforces a single ideology.

Propaganda

Information spread in a misleading or false manner to influence public opinion.

Benito Mussolini

An Italian fascist leader who originally started as a socialist and led the Black Shirts party.

March on Rome

The event that marked Benito Mussolini's rise to power in Italy.

Black Shirts

A paramilitary group associated with Benito Mussolini's fascist party.

Weimar Republic

The name given to the democratic government system in Germany between World War I and the rise of the Nazis.

Adolf Hitler

The leader of the Nazi Party in Germany, responsible for the Holocaust and rising to power using terror and propaganda.

Mein Kampf

An autobiographical book by Adolf Hitler outlining his ideas and beliefs.

Anti-Semitism

Hatred toward Jewish people.

Lebensraum

The idea that Germany should acquire more land for German-speaking people.

Reichstag Fire

The fire set in the Reichstag parliament building, which was blamed on Communists to promote a climate of fear.

Enabling Act

An act that allowed Hitler to gain more power and override laws.

Gestapo

The secret police force in Nazi Germany.

Berlin Olympics

An event where Hitler aimed to showcase his regime to the participating 49 nations.

Jesse Owens

An African American athlete who challenged Hitler's racist supremacy by succeeding in the Berlin Olympics.