Notes on Dictatorships and the Second World War

Learning Objectives

  • Factors Leading to Totalitarian Regimes

    • Discrediting of liberalism after WWI.

    • Disillusionment with progress; the Great War shattered faith in modernist ideas.

    • Renunciation of war by Entente Powers and dissatisfaction from countries like Italy, Japan, and Germany due to the Treaty of Versailles.

Legacies of the Great War

  • Liberalism diminished in prominence.

  • Social faith in progress eroded.

  • Significant resentment in Italy, Japan, and Germany due to the perceived injustices of the Treaty of Versailles.

Italian Fascism

Post-War Italy

  • Allies failed to honor promises made to Italy.

  • High unemployment and economic instability.

  • Increased fears of communism.

  • Weak government unable to address social issues.

Characteristics of Fascism

  • The state holds supremacy over the individual.

  • Combines anti-capitalist and anti-communist sentiments.

  • Relies on propaganda, censorship, political violence.

  • Italian Fascism lacks foundations in racism and anti-Semitism.

Key Figures

  • Benito Mussolini: Former socialist turned nationalist, organized veterans into the Fascist Party, created the Black Shirts to combat political opposition.

The March on Rome (1922)

  • Mussolini's supporters threatened a takeover, leading to his appointment as Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel III, establishing a dictatorship.

Consolidation of Power

  • Rapid membership growth in the Fascist Party.

  • State control over the economy while allowing business owners to retain profits.

  • Signed Lateran Treaty, establishing a foothold for the Church within the state.

Foreign Policy

  • Initial alignment with France and Britain; relations soured post-Ethiopian invasion.

  • Formed alliances with Hitler, impacting European politics.

Militaristic Japan

Japan in the 1920s

  • Colonization of Korea and acquisition of German territories post-WWI.

  • Economic struggles exacerbated by the Depression.

  • Emperor Hirohito's coronation; strong influence of Zaibatsu over the government.

Manchurian Incident (1931)

  • Sabotage of the Manchurian railroad by army officers led to military seizure of Manchuria and establishment of a puppet state, Manzhouguo.

International Response

  • League of Nations condemned Japan's actions; Japan withdrew from the League.

  • Deteriorating U.S.-Japan relations due to breach of the Open Door Policy.

The Rise of Hitler

The Weimar Republic

  • Established after WWI, consisted of a parliament (Reichstag), Chancellor, and President.

  • Considerable political turmoil, with both extreme left and right attempting to usurp power.

Political Problems

  • Territory loss fostered resentment and perception of illegitimacy.

Social Issues

  • Increasing openness in society.

  • American cultural influences permeated; rise in anti-Semitism as a scapegoat for societal problems.

Economic Crisis

  • Hyperinflation caused by excessive money printing devastated most citizens, while businesses benefitted.

  • The Great Depression had a severe impact, catalyzing the rise of extremist parties like the Nazis.

Adolf Hitler's Background

  • Austrian origin, aspiring artist turned soldier; held Jews and Communists accountable for Germany's misfortunes.

Nazi Ideology

  • Articulated in Mein Kampf, blending nationalism, militarism, racism, and the ambition for territorial expansion.

  • Early views discounting its severity, but later escalated into genocidal policies.

Political Ascendancy

  • Beer Hall Putsch (1923) led to Hitler's imprisonment and temporary outlaw of the NSDAP.

  • The Great Depression allowed for increased nationalist rhetoric, leading to Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in January 1933.

Consolidation of Power

  • Utilized the Reichstag Fire Decree to suspend civil liberties and imprison political adversaries, facilitating a totalitarian regime.

  • Enabling Act bolstered his capacity to legislate unopposed; purging of S.A. during the Night of Long Knives.

World War Outbreak

  • Aggressive foreign policy, remilitarization, and territorial expansion leading to war declarations following the invasion of Poland in 1939.

Key Events During WWII

Blitzkrieg Strategy

  • A military doctrine emphasizing rapid movement and coordination between all military branches, contributing to early German victories.

Significant Battles

  • The Battle of Britain, characterized by sustained air conflict; results redefined German military ambitions toward Britain.

  • The retraction of German forces from Moscow following a failed invasion, culminating in a two-front war scenario.

Allied Operations

  • D-Day invasion (June 6, 1944) and subsequent operations leading to the liberation of Western Europe; integration of resources and extensive planning.

The Eastern and Western Fronts

  • The Red Army's resurgence after Stalingrad, culminating in the counter-offensive that marked a turning point in the war.

Conclusion of WWII

  • Destruction of Berlin and assassination of Hitler.

  • Establishment of trials holding Nazi leaders accountable for wartime crimes, emphasizing humanity’s moral stance against aggression and genocide.

Causes of Totalitarian Regimes

Discrediting of liberalism after WWI.

  • Liberalism diminished in prominence due to widespread disillusionment with progress following the Great War, as many lost faith in modernist ideas.

  • The Treaty of Versailles caused dissatisfaction among nations like Italy, Japan, and Germany, who felt unjustly treated.

Legacies of the Great War.

  • The Great War eroded social faith in progress, leading to significant resentment and political instability in various nations, particularly those affected by perceived injustices in the Treaty.

Italian Fascism

Post-War Italy.

  • Italy faced high unemployment and economic instability, coupled with a weak government unable to address social issues, exacerbating fears of communism.

Characteristics of Fascism.

  • Fascism emphasized the supremacy of the state over the individual, combined anti-capitalist and anti-communist sentiments, and relied on propaganda, censorship, and political violence. It notably did not have a foundation in racism and anti-Semitism.

Key Figures.

  • Benito Mussolini: A former socialist turned nationalist, he organized veterans into the Fascist Party and established the Black Shirts to combat political opposition.

The March on Rome (1922):

  • This demonstration by Mussolini's supporters threatened a takeover, leading to his appointment as Prime Minister and the establishment of a dictatorship.

Consolidation of Power.

  • The Fascist Party experienced rapid growth, with state control over the economy while allowing business owners to retain profits. Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty, solidifying the Church's position within the state.

Foreign Policy.

  • Initially aligned with France and Britain, relations soured post-Ethiopian invasion, leading Mussolini to form alliances with Hitler, impacting European politics.

Militaristic Japan

Japan in the 1920s.

  • Japan expanded territorially through the colonization of Korea and the acquisition of German territories after WWI. Economic struggles intensified during the Great Depression.

  • Emperor Hirohito's coronation marked a significant nationalistic shift influenced by the Zaibatsu families over the government.

Manchurian Incident (1931).

  • Army officers sabotaged a railroad, leading to military control of Manchuria and the establishment of a puppet state (Manzhouguo).

International Response.

  • The League of Nations condemned Japan's actions, resulting in Japan's withdrawal from the League and deteriorating relations with the U.S. over the breach of the Open Door Policy.

The Rise of Hitler

The Weimar Republic.

  • Established after WWI, the Weimar Republic faced significant political turmoil, with both extreme left and right attempting to gain power.

  • Post-war territory loss fostered resentment and a perception of weakened legitimacy.

Social Issues.

  • Increasing openness in society coincided with a rise in anti-Semitism utilized as a scapegoat for Germany's societal problems.

Economic Crisis.

  • Hyperinflation devastated the economy due to excessive printing of money, benefiting businesses. The Great Depression catalyzed the rise of extremist parties like the Nazis, leveraging public discontent.

Adolf Hitler's Background.

  • An Austrian by birth, Hitler was an aspiring artist turned soldier, blaming Jews and Communists for Germany’s misfortunes.

Nazi Ideology.

  • Outlined in Mein Kampf, Nazi ideology mixed nationalism, militarism, racism, and territorial ambition, evolving into genocidal policies.

Political Ascendancy.

  • The Beer Hall Putsch (1923) led to Hitler's imprisonment and a temporary ban on the NSDAP, but the Great Depression fueled nationalist sentiments, culminating in his appointment as Chancellor in January 1933.

Consolidation of Power.

  • Hitler utilized the Reichstag Fire Decree to suspend civil liberties and imprison political adversaries, facilitating a totalitarian regime. The Enabling Act allowed him to legislate unopposed, leading to purges like the Night of Long Knives.

World War Outbreak.

  • Aggressive foreign policy, remilitarization, and territorial expansion led to war declarations following the invasion of Poland in 1939.

Conclusion of WWII

Blitzkrieg Strategy.

  • A military doctrine emphasizing rapid movement and coordination between military branches, contributing to early German victories.

Significant Battles.

  • The Battle of Britain and the failed invasion of Moscow marked crucial turning points, culminating in a two-front war scenario.

Allied Operations.

  • D-Day invasion (June 6, 1944) led to liberation efforts across Western Europe, marked by extensive planning and resource integration.

The Eastern and Western Fronts.

  • The resurgence of the Red Army post-Stalingrad marked a counter-offensive that significantly altered the war's trajectory.

Conclusion of WWII.

  • Destruction of Berlin, the assassination of Hitler, and the establishment of war crimes trials emphasized humanity’s moral stance against aggression and genocide.