World War Two: The Rise of Totalitarianism

Learning Goals

  • Explain key features of fascism and totalitarianism leading up to WWII
  • Explain multiple causes for the rise of totalitarianism in USSR, Italy, Germany, and Japan before WWII
  • Compare and contrast government systems in these nations before WWII

Key Vocabulary

  • Dictatorship: Government controlled by a single leader or party with absolute power
  • Totalitarianism: Political system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life
  • Fascism: Radical, right-wing ideology emphasizing extreme nationalism and often dictatorial power
  • Nazism: A form of fascism associated with Adolf Hitler's regime, characterized by totalitarianism, racism, and fascist economic policies
  • Communism: Political ideology advocating for a classless system in which the means of production are owned communally
  • Militia/paramilitary: Armed groups that are not part of the regular military, often used for political violence
  • Scapegoat: An individual or group blamed for problems, often used in propaganda

Totalitarianism

  • Definition:
    • Intense government control over all aspects of life
    • One dictator or party holds absolute power
    • Citizens are required to support state-approved ideology (usually communism or fascism)
    • Oppression through military violence, propaganda, media censorship, and severe punishments for dissent (e.g., prison camps, torture)
    • Political purges to eliminate rivals and formation of a cult of personality around the dictator

The Rise of Totalitarianism in Key Nations

Soviet Union
  • Post-WWI Events:
    • 1917: Russian Revolution led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks
    • Chaos followed by the Russian Civil War (1917-1922)
    • Rise of Stalin post-Lenin, taking control by 1928
  • Stalin's Policies:
    • Introduced "Five Year Plans" focusing on industrialization and agricultural collectivization
    • Harsh outcomes included famine (Holodomor) and extensive purges
    • Secret police (NKVD) used extensively to eliminate opposition and dissent
    • Use of propaganda to create a cult of personality around Stalin and censor historical realities
Italy
  • Post-WWI Context:
    • Italy in economic despair despite being on the winning side of WWI
    • Mussolini capitalized on national discontent, leading the Fascist Party
  • Fascist Tactics:
    • Cult of personality around Mussolini
    • Use of paramilitary groups (Blackshirts) to intimidate opponents
    • Implemented propaganda and censorship, including education manipulation
    • Military aggression (e.g., invasion of Ethiopia) to bolster national pride
Japan
  • Historical Background:
    • Initially isolationist until the Meiji Restoration (1868)
    • Transitioned to imperialist policies and militarization
  • Militarism and Ideology:
    • Rise of ultranationalist movements advocating military control
    • Expansionism, including invasions of Manchuria and China
    • Propaganda and censorship to maintain public support for military actions
Germany
  • Post-WWI Consequences:
    • Treaty of Versailles created resentment and extreme economic hardship
    • Hitler and Nazi ideology emerged, blaming Jews as scapegoats
  • Nazi Ascendancy:
    • Use of SA (Stormtroopers) for violence and intimidation
    • Propaganda led by Joseph Goebbels to cultivate Hitler's cult of personality
    • Implementation of policies targeting Jews and political opponents, resulting in widespread violence and oppression

Comparison of Totalitarian Regimes

Similarities
  • Use of violence and intimidation to suppress dissent
  • Propaganda to cultivate loyalty and present the leader as a savior
  • Scapegoating of specific groups to unify national sentiment against a common enemy
  • Economic policies tied to military agenda, enhancing state control
Differences
  • Ideological foundations (communism in USSR vs. fascism in Italy/Germany)
  • Methods of expansion (military in Japan and Germany, political in Italy)
  • Terms of opposition treatment (e.g., in Soviet Union, high use of purges and state terror)

Discussion Questions

  1. What methods did totalitarian regimes use to maintain power?
  2. How did these methods reflect the ideologies of each state?
  3. Why do historians argue that these systems arose due to economic and social unrest?
  4. Can parallels be made to modern times regarding totalitarianism?

Conclusion

  • The effectiveness of totalitarian methods often hinged on a mix of fear, propaganda, and suppression of dissent, which ensured the regimes could maintain control despite harsh governance.