Key Terms in Totalitarianism and WWII History

(30 mins)

A political system in which the government has total control over the lives of individual citizens.

Totalitarianism (Authoritarianism)

German brand of fascism

Nazism

'My Struggle', a book by Hitlertler, later became the basic book of nazi goals and ideology, reflected obsession

Mein Kampf

Hitler's secret police; operate to remove anyone deemed inferior by Hitler; above the law

Gestapo

Forced labor camps, soviet prisons (prisoners worked to death)`

Gulags

government in Germany created after WWI; short lived, people got upset at govt. and Hitler quickly came into power

Weimar Republic

Treaty created after WWI; blamed Germany for the war, and requested reparations that Gernany had to pay to the other countries involved

Treaty of Versailles

Germany's young men and women who joined the Nazi political party and pledged their allegiance to Germany and Adolf Hitler. The Hitler Youth organization "brainwashed" the children and convinced them of German superiority.

Hitler Youth

Nazi storm troopers who destroyed all opposition to Hitler

Brownshirts

Mussolini's police force who destroyed any opposition to him

Blackshirts

Refers to the act of forcefully removing or eliminating something, often individuals or groups, deemed undesirable or dangerous by those in power.

Purges

Allowing a country to invade/take over land without fighting back (ex: Czechoslovakia sharing a border w/ Germany)

Appeasement

Britain, France, and the US

The Allies

Italy, Germany, Japan

Axis Powers

a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries. (Ex: The US stayed out of the war until Pearl Harbor.)

Isolationism

name of Hitler's government; Relates to first pillar of fascism

Third Reich/Third Empire

The practice of politics based on what can lead to the best possible outcome, not what actually aligns with one's ideals/momals (practical rather than moral ideaology)

Realpolitik

German democracy's building catches on fire; Hitler blames the Jews and uses it to turn ppl against the Jews

Reichstag Fire

June 6, 1944: All of the Allies (France, America, England) plan to invade and free France from Hitler's control; succeed + win the war

D-Day

Big turning point in the war; ended Hitler's westland expansion

Battle of Britain

Big turning point in the war; ended Hitler's eastland expansion

Battle of Stalingrad

turning point for war; ended Japan's expansion in the Pacific

Battle of Midway

Base in hawaii that was bombed by Japan on December 7, 1941, which eagered America to enter the war.

Pearl Harbor

1939-1945

WWII Date

Extreme nationalism

Narrative of national decline, promise of national rebirth

Only the dictator/leader can bring nation to peace

Palingenetic Ultra-Nationalism

Rejects liberal democratic principles, diversity, and equality, viewing them as corrupting influences on national strength.

Anti-liberalism, anti-democracy, anti-egalitarianism

The leader embodies the state (criticism of the leader = treason)

"Only the leader can fix it"

Followers loyal to + worshiped the leader

Cult of personality (charismatic authoritarian leadership)

obligated loyalty or faithfulness

Feality

German Nazi dictator during World War II, Nazi leader and founder; had over 6 million Jews assassinated during the Holocaust

Hitler

Russian leader who succeeded Lenin as head of the Communist Party and created a totalitarian state by purging all opposition

Stalin

Fascist leader of Italy

Mussolini

Russian founder of the Bolsheviks and leader of the Russian Communist Party until hsi death in 1924

Lenin

President of the US during almost all of WWII

Roosevelt

Elected Vice president in 1944; 33rd President, after FDR's death; led the U.S. through the end of World War II and beginning of the Cold War (also decided to nuke Japan with atomic bombs)

Truman

British Prime Minister who made the Munich Agreement with Hitler (appeasement)

Chamberlain

British Prime Minister who replaced Chamberlain during the second half of the war

Churchill

1921--Britain, France, Italy, Japan & US agree to limit size of navy; everyone have 5 battleships but Japan only nave 3; angered Japan + created tension

Washington Naval Conference

A symbolic character designed to increase production of female workers in the factories. It became a rallying symbol for women to do their part.

Rosie the Riveter