The Interwar Years

Fascism

Authoritarian and agressive system of government where the interest of state supersede those of citizens

Benito Mussolini

Fascist dictator of Italy, took power after threatening to march on Rome. Wasn’t a very good leader and brought Italy into WWII.

Black shirts

Mussolini’s followers who started riots and violence to destabilize the government. Many were WWI veterans.

March on Rome

When Mussolini and his followers planned to March on Rome to get him named as prime minister and the king panicked, putting him in power.

The Lateran Accords

Made with the pope. Recognized Vatican cities independence. The Church got money and recognition and catholicism was named the sole religion of Italy. Recognized fascism as Italy’s official ideology.

Invasion of Ethiopia

Italian revenge for previous defeat to raise pride. The League of Nations did nothing.

Rome-Berlin Axis

The alliance between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.

Weimar Republic

New weak and unpopular democratic government in Germany after WWI who was unable to deal with economic problems.

Adolph Hitler

Austrian HS dropout/failed artist. Fought for Germany in WWI. Nazi leader. Wrote Mein Kampf while in jail.

National Socialist German Workers’ Party

Renamed German Workers Party. Led by Hitler shortened to Nazi.

Beer Hall Putsch

Hitlers failed attempt to overthrow the Weimar government which resulted in 5 years in jail, but he only served 9 months. Got him national attention.

Mein Kampf

Written by Hitler while in jail. It outlined the Nazi philosophy.

Lebensraum

“Living space.” Said that Germany needed to expand east towards its inferior neighbors because they needed more space.

Dawes Plan

When the US gave loans to Germany so that they could pay back Britain and France who would pay back the US. It would stabilize the German economy and bring a period of hope.

Treaty of Locarno

Treaty that guaranteed the borders of Germany, France, and Belgium.

Kellogg-Briand Pact

Treaty signed that war would not be used in foreign policy.

“Stabbed in the Back” Myth

Spread by Germans, said that they lost WWI because they were betrayed at home.

Demagogue

Leader who appeals to people's fears and prejudices to gain power

Brown shirts

Nazi thugs who caused disorder. Later turned into the SS (Nazi stormtroopers).

Reichstag Fire

Unknown who set it, but Hitler blamed the communists even though it was probably the Nazi’s. Increased Nazi support in future elections.

Enabling Act

Gave Hitler emergency dictatorial powers.

Gestapo

Nazi secret police

Night of the Long Knives

Purge by Hitler to eliminate enemies where ~100k were killed including some Nazi’s.

Nuremberg Laws

Stripped Jews of German citizenship and other rights. People were classified by their grandparents.

Kristallnacht

In 1938, planned attacks on Jews in Germany and Austria. Turned legal prosecution of Jews to violence.

Spanish Civil War

Germany and Italy supported the victorious Fascist side led by Franco which defeated the leftist and democratic republicans (USSR supported) Led to the Rome-Berlin axis.

Guernica

Bombed by Germany during Spanish Civil War

The Rhineland

Remilitarized by Germany even though it violated Versailles. The part of Germany that bordered France and Belgium.

Anschluss

Remilitarized by Germany even though it violated Versailles. It was a union with Austria.

Sudetenland

Hitler demanded this part of Czechoslovakia with a high German population. He wanted war.

Munich Conference / Appeasement

“Peace in our time”. Britain and France gave into Hitler. Didn’t discuss with Stalin. Convinced Hitler that Britain and France wouldn’t fight

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Pledge that Germany and the USSR wouldn’t attack each other. Also agreed to secretly divide up Poland between Germany and the USSR. The USSR got the Baltic states. Removed the threat of a two-front war for Germany and made the German invasion of Poland inevitable.

Axis vs. Allied Powers

Axis: Germany, Japan, Italy. Allies: Britain, France, USSR (1941), US (1941).

Blitzkrieg

Lightning war which the Nazi’s used early on in the invasion of Poland.

Sitzkrieg / Phony War

No fighting, Germany and France just sat behind opposing lines. Hurt the Allies and soldiers.

Maginot Line

Series of defensive forts.

Winter War

Where USSR weakily invaded Finland. Caused Hitler to believe the Red Army was weak.

Battle of Dunkirk

Nazi’s cut off Allied troops and the British army evacuated leaving the French alone on the continent.

Vichy France

Nazi puppet government ruling ⅖ of France

Charles DeGaulle

Led the French government into exile.

Battle of Britain / The Blitz

Air War between British Royal Air Force vs German Air Force, the Blitz was constantly bombing in areas of Britain, to break British spirit

Operation Sea Lion

Nazi’s massive bombing campaign which they would need to clear skies for.

Winston Churchill

Prime minister who led British morale.

Operation Barbarossa

German invasion of the USSR which was the largest in history.

Siege of Leningrad

Longest siege in history with mass starvations.

Battle of Moscow

Nazi’s failed attempt to take control of Moscow so they met with Soviets to counterattack.

Battle of Stalingrad

one of the bloodiest battles in history. Hitler wouldn’t allow surrender, but the German 6th army was forced. Served as a major turning point because it ended Nazi’s chance for victory.

Holocaust

Nazi’s systematic and state-sponsored murder of 12 million people including 6 million jews.

Ghettos

The Nazis confined Jews to small areas, temporary solution until the camps.

Einsatzgruppen

Mobile death squads that followed the Nazi army.

Final Solution

Holocaust by gas

Wannsee Conference

Decision to speed up killings and set up 5 major death camps. The camps ran until the end of the war.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Jewish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto, failed.

Nuremberg Trials

Nazi leaders stood trial for war crimes and “crimes against humanity”