WWII

Rise of Authoritarian States & Causes of World War II

Political Changes Leading to Global Conflict in the 1930s and 1940s

  • Major focus on the rise of fascism and the causes of World War II.

  • Emphasis on additional topics in section 7.7 for personal study.

Underlying Causes of World War II
Factors: MINT

  • M militarism:

    • Similar to WWI, but intensified due to widespread trauma from the conflict.

  • I imperialism:

    • Continued tension surrounding moral implications of imperialistic endeavors.

  • N nationalism:

    • Rise of nationalist ideologies: Nazi regime in Germany, Neo Roman Empire in Italy, and Imperial aspirations of Japan (Land of the Rising Sun).

  • T totalitarianism:

    • Emergence of totalitarian regimes marked by extreme repression and atrocities committed against both citizens and foreigners.

Totalitarianism Characteristics

  • Definition: A system of government characterized by a single-party dictatorship where obedience to a single leader is paramount.

  • Mechanisms for enforcement and control:

    • Use of police spies and terror to enforce state will.

    • Government control over media to indoctrinate citizens; heavy reliance on propaganda.

    • Educational institutions and youth organizations leveraged to spread ideological beliefs.

    • Strict censorship applied to artists and intellectuals voicing dissent.

  • Both communist and fascist states exemplified totalitarianism.

Key Totalitarian Leaders and Their Methods

  • Joseph Stalin (Communist): Utilized a mix of fear, propaganda, and bureaucratic control.

  • Adolf Hitler (Fascist): Employed fear, military force, and propaganda to consolidate control.

  • Benito Mussolini (Fascist): Sought to restore Italian prestige and established a far-right regime.

Mechanisms of Control Used by Authoritarian Leaders

  • Military Forces:

    • Hitler’s S.S. and Mussolini’s Black Shirts; utilized to suppress opposition.

  • Secret Police:

    • Gestapo (Hitler) used to eliminate dissent.

  • Propaganda:

    • Centralized propaganda departments to promote regime goals and suppress opposition.

  • Purges:

    • Notable purges include Stalin’s Great Purges and Hitler’s Night of Long Knives.

  • Prison Camps:

    • Concentration camps under Hitler and gulags under Stalin for political prisoners.

Communism vs. Fascism

Aspect

Communism

Fascism

Economic Policy

Economic equality

Dictatorship rule

Social Structure

Class equality among the poor

Rigid classes

Property Rights

All property public

Private enterprise

Individual Rights

Anti-individualism

Anti-free speech

Government

Government surveillance

National pride and racism

Context for Fascism in Italy

  • Historical Background:

    • Early 20th century Italy was a constitutional monarchy with civil rights.

    • Unmet territorial claims post-WWI fueled discontent.

    • Inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution, societal unrest increased.

    • Returning WWI veterans faced high unemployment leading to class tensions.

Benito Mussolini's Rise to Power

  • Mussolini emerged from Italy's post-WWI chaos.

  • Charisma and Nationalism:

    • Promised the revival of ancient Rome and restored order.

    • Rejecting socialism, formed the Fascist party with veterans and discontented citizens.

Black Shirts and the March on Rome

  • Combat Squads:

    • Organized supporters into “Black Shirts” to break up socialist rallies.

  • Key Event:

    • The March on Rome in 1922 led King Victor Emmanuel III to appoint Mussolini as Prime Minister.

Mussolini's Consolidation of Power

  • By 1925:

    • Assumed the title Il Duce (“the Leader”).

    • Implemented rigorous control measures: suppressed opposition, rigged elections, and controlled the press.

    • Established fascist youth movements and disbanded labor unions.

    • Maintained support by recognizing Vatican independence in 1929.

Mussolini's Ideological Proclamation

  • Quote: “Everything in the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”

Artifacts of Fascism

  • Propaganda Poster:

    • “One for all, all for the Duce” displayed across Italy.

  • Fascist Anthem - “Giovinezza”:

    • Emphasized youth, national pride, and loyalty to Mussolini.

Stalin's Rule and the Soviet Union

  • Post-Lenin Era:

    • Stalin transformed the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state focused on industrialization.

  • Five Year Plan:

    • Aimed to boost heavy industry, transportation, and agricultural output.

Economic Strategies in the Soviet Union

  • Implementation: Massive industrialization with emphasis on efficiency and centralized control.

  • Collectivization:

    • Forced peasants onto state-owned farms; many revolted leading to widespread starvation.

Control and Censorship in the Soviet Union

  • Censorship of Thought:

    • Strict regulation of artistic expression and promotion of a singular ideology - Russification.

    • Endorsement of atheism, aligning with Marxist principles.

Background to the Rise of Hitler

  • Post-WWI Germany:

    • Economic weakness and resentment post-Treaty of Versailles created fertile ground for extremism.

    • Hyperinflation crises were temporarily mitigated by foreign loans.

Adolf Hitler's Ideology and Actions

  • Early Life and Beliefs:

    • Born in Austria in 1889; became a fervent anti-Semite.

  • Political Career:

    • Joined a right-wing extremist party (Nazi Party), military service, attempted a coup (Beer Hall Putsch), and wrote Mein Kampf.

Key Concepts from Mein Kampf

  • Aryan Supremacy:

    • Advocated for German expansion (Lebensraum) and propagation of the Aryan race.

Hitler's Ascension to Power

  • Deteriorating Circumstances:

    • Economic distress led to increased Nazi party membership; Hitler's rise marked by manipulation of public desire for stability.

  • Seizing Dictatorial Powers:

    • Elected President Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor in 1933; subsequently consolidated power through purging rivals.

Results of German Elections (1919-1938)

  • Highlighted the fluctuating fortunes of political parties in Weimar Germany, leading up to the Nazi dominance.

Reinvigorating Nationalism in Germany

  • Third Reich Concept:

    • Hitler sought to establish a regime that referred to historical successes of the First and Second Reichs while aiming to last 1,000 years.

  • Public Works Program:

    • Created jobs through infrastructure projects to bolster the economy.

Total Control in Nazi Germany

  • Governance:

    • Totalitarian control affected all aspects of life; instilled fear through elite enforcement groups (SS, Gestapo).

Anti-Semitism in the Third Reich

  • Nuremberg Laws (1935):

    • Legally stripped Jews of German citizenship and imposed severe societal restrictions (marriage bans, professional restrictions).

The Nanjing Massacre (1937-1938)

  • Death Toll Estimates:

    • Credited victims range widely among historians, with estimates around 200,000 during Japanese occupation.

Formation of the AXIS Powers

  • Allied Efforts:

    • Collaboration of fascist states (Germany, Italy, and Japan), leading to expanded militaristic pursuits.

German Expansionist Policy

  • Territorial Aggression:

    • Hitler's initiatives included annexing Austria and the Sudetenland, with European appeasement leading to further expansion such as the occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Outbreak of World War II

  • Invasion of Poland:

    • Formal declaration of war by Britain and France in response to Germany's actions.

Japanese Militarism

  • Aggressive Expansion:

    • In response to US restrictions, Japan used militaristic choices to build an empire, seizing territories and contesting control throughout Asia.

Pearl Harbor Attack (December 7, 1941)

  • Impacts:

    • Catalyst for direct US involvement in the war post-attack, leading to significant military engagement in the Pacific.

Major Battles and Strategies in WWII

  • Island Hopping:

    • Allied forces engaged in strategies like the Battle of Midway to establish naval superiority.

  • Home Fronts:

    • Involvement of all citizens in war efforts, supported by extensive propaganda initiatives.

The Cold War and Post-War Outcomes

  • Global Changes:

    • Shift in power dynamics leading to increased tensions, emergence of the US as a global superpower, and fostering of independence movements in colonial territories.