The Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments

Adolph Hitler (Germany)

Adolf Hitler was a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. He rose to power as the chancellor of Germany in 1933, and as Führer in 1934. During his dictatorship from 1933 to 1945, he initiated World War II in Europe by invading Poland on 1 September 1939.

Benito Mussolini

(1883-1945) Italian leader. He founded the Italian Fascist Party, and sided with Hitler and Germany in World War II. In 1945 he was overthrown and assassinated by the Italian Resistance.

Joseph Stalin

Communist dictator of the Soviet Union

Francisco Franco

Fascist leader of the Spanish revolution, helped by Hitler and Mussolini

Dress Rehersal for WWII

Term used to describe the Spanish Civil War in which the Germany military helped fascist leader Francisco Franco to power

Neville Chamberlain and Appeasement

> in order to avoid war with Hitler/Germany, Chamberlain chose to appease Hitler and give him a small part of Czechoslovakia

Hideki Tojo & Emperor Hirohito

Hideki Tojo was political and military leader of Japan during World War II who ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hirohito demoted Tojo but Hirohito had controversial role in actual war despite his position as Emperor

Franklin D. Roosevelt

President of the United States during most of the Depression and most of World War II.

Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937

Short-sighted acts passed in 1935, 1936, and 1937 in order to prevent American participation in a European War. Among other restrictions, they prevented Americans from selling munitions to foreign belligerents.

The Rhineland

Territory on the French side of the Rhine River invaded by Hitler

Sudetenland

Land that Germany thought was rightfully theirs due to the large German speaking population

Lebensraum

Hitler's expansionist theory based on a drive to acquire "living space" for the German people

Anshulss

The Nazi annexation of Austria

Poland

located between Germany and Soviet Union. Invaded by Germany in September, 1939. The start of WW II

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

A secret agreement between the Germans and the Russians that said that they would divide Poland but not attack each other

Pearl Harbor

United States military base on Hawaii that was bombed by Japan, bringing the United States into World War II. Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941.

Munich Conference (1938)

During the Munich Conference of 1938, Britain and France met with Hitler, allowing him to take over Czechoslovakia as long as he agreed to expand no further. The agreement was seen as an assurance of peace.

Manchuria

A northern industrial province in China, invaded by the Japanese in 1931. From here the Japanese would launch an invasion of mainland China beginning in 1937.

Dunkirk Evacuation

British and some French forces escaped to England, saving over 300k allied troops.

Czechoslovakia

1939 Hitler occupies Czechoslovakia and violates Munich Agreement.

Internationalism

A national policy of actively trading with foreign countries to foster peace and prosperity

Appeasement / "Peace in our time"

not wanting to get into war with Germany allowing Adolf Hitler to do what he wants. Quote issued by British Prime Minister following Munich Conference..."Peace in Our Time"

Totalitarianism

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

Fascism

A political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition

Nazism

Adolf Hitler used fascism to create this type of government based on totalitarian ideas and was used to unite Germany during the 1930s.

Mein Kampf

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

Axis Powers (WWII)

Germany, Italy, Japan

Blitzkrieg

"Lighting war", typed of fast-moving warfare used by German forces against Poland in 1939

Propaganda Techniques

Propaganda techniques and persuasive tactics are used to influence people to believe, buy or do something. Students should be able to identify and comprehend the propaganda techniques and persuasive tactics listed below.

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them