ap euro rise of dictators cont. in class 3/26

Soviet Government System and Stalinism

  • Stalinism is characterized by a totalitarian dictatorship.

  • Significant transformation of Soviet society during Stalin’s rule.

  • Harsh economic policies led to severe hardship for civilians.

    • Five-Year Plans: Aimed at rapid industrialization but resulted in extreme poverty for most citizens.

    • Collective Farms: Instituted to feed the population, but equally harsh on workers.

    • Individuals not suitable for industrial roles were often forced to work on these farms.

    • Resistance could result in imprisonment or death (e.g., gulags).

  • Overall, while the economy appeared to grow, the populace experienced little to no benefit.

The Great Purges

  • Marked by extreme paranoia from Stalin, leading to massive repressions.

  • Estimated 16 to 20 million Soviet citizens were killed, including:

    • Anyone resisting the Stalinist regime or collective farms.

    • High-ranking officials or military leaders seen as threats.

  • Executions were often secretive and lacked the dramatic flair of earlier purges (e.g., Reign of Terror).

The Impact of Fear in Soviet Society

  • Citizens were terrorized into silence, with an atmosphere of fear leading to a lack of open dissent.

  • Example: Incident involving the discovery of bodies floating down a river from a gulag where townspeople remained quiet.

Causes of World War II

The Rise of Fascist Dictators

  • Mention of dictators in Spain, Italy, Germany, and their roles leading into WWII.

  • Discussion on Poland as a major catalyst for the war:

    • Munich Conference: Initially believed that appeasement would prevent war.

    • Hitler’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, led to declared war by Britain and France on September 3, 1939.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact

  • Nazi-Soviet Pact: Agreement between Hitler and Stalin to divide Poland and remain non-aggressive to each other.

  • Stipulated that the USSR would take the territories lost post-World War I.

  • Stalin strategically agreed to this deal to avoid conflict with Germany.

Policy of Appeasement

  • League of Nations initially adopted a policy of appeasement to avoid war, which ultimately failed.

  • Definition: Giving in to the demands of an aggressor (e.g., Hitler).

  • Illustrative Example: If you give a mouse a cookie, implying one concession leads to another.

    • This policy allowed Hitler's ambitions to grow unchecked until the invasion of Poland.

The Tripartite Pact

  • Signed in 1940, formalizing the Axis Powers of World War II:

    • Germany, Italy, Japan form an alliance.

    • Spain, however, remained neutral despite previous involvement in conflicts (supporting Franco).

    • Highlights the complexity of alliances during this period, with Spain's refusal to join the Axis angering Hitler and Mussolini.

Summary of Key Events

  • It took Hitler only 24 days to successfully take over Poland following his invasion.

  • This set the stage for further invasions into Europe (e.g., Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium).

Concise Version

Stalinism is marked by totalitarian dictatorship and severe economic policies, notably the Five-Year Plans, leading to significant societal hardships, including extreme poverty and harsh working conditions on collective farms. The Great Purges involved massive repression, leading to the deaths of 16 to 20 million Soviet citizens, including those resistant to Stalin’s regime and perceived threats. This atmosphere of fear silenced dissent among the populace. Additionally, the rise of fascist dictators in Europe and the Nazi-Soviet Pact, which outlined territorial divisions and non-aggression, contributed to the outbreak of World War II following Germany's invasion of Poland. The policy of appeasement adopted by the League of Nations ultimately failed, enabling Hitler's expansionist ambitions. The Tripartite Pact of 1940 formalized the Axis Powers, complicating alliances, especially with Spain's neutrality despite earlier support for Franco. Overall, the early stages of WWII saw rapid invasions, highlighted by the quick capture of Poland by Hitler, setting the tone for further military actions across Europe.