Chapter 27(Dictatorships and the Second World War)

Totalitarianism: A form of government that seeks total control over every aspect of its citizens’ lives, including their beliefs and behaviors, spanning all societal elements (economic, cultural, intellectual).
Radical vs. Conservative Dictatorships: The 1920s through 30s showcased both conservative (limited control, emphasizing traditional values) and radical (extreme ideologies, total control) regimes. Fascism and Communism serve as primary instances of radical totalitarianism.

Characteristics: These regimes are historically rooted, limited in scope, and primarily rely on obedient bureaucracies. They permit some personal freedoms as long as compliance with the regime is maintained.
Examples: Figures like Catherine the Great and Metternich exemplified conservative authoritarianism.

The years following WWI saw the emergence of radical dictatorships, notably in Eastern Europe (Soviet Union, Germany, Italy).
Propaganda and Repression: Both Communist and Fascist parties gained dominance through aggressive repression and propaganda.
A one-party system replaced parliamentary democracy, enforcing singular party rule.
Charismatic leaders (e.g., Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler) fostered political movements aimed at promoting collective harmony.

Common Goals: Both ideologies aimed for a radical restructuring of society, with Fascism centered on nationalism and Marxist Communism focused on class struggle.
Differences:
- Fascism: Promotes national unity, is anti-socialist, militaristic, and disregards class leveling.
- Communism: Advocates for international working-class solidarity, envisions a classless society, and seeks radical social equality based on Marxist ideals.
Fascists often endorsed eugenics and racist ideologies, while Communists concentrated on class struggles.

Five-Year Plans: Stalin’s initiatives focused on rapid industrialization and the collectivization of agriculture (forcing small farms into collective ones).
New Economic Policy (NEP): Introduced by Lenin post-civil war to stimulate the economy by allowing limited private trade; later overturned by Stalin.
Great Purges: Campaigns targeting perceived enemies resulting in around 6 million arrests, many executed or sent to labor camps.

Mussolini sought to establish a totalitarian state through violent suppression of opposition and control over media and education.
Fascist Ideology: Emphasized nationalism, militarism, and anti-communism.

Hitler pursued aggressive expansionism while instigating the persecution of Jews and minorities. Propaganda and terror were tools for maintaining control.
Nuremberg Laws: Established definitions for Jewish identity, stripping away rights.
Holocaust: The systematic extermination of about 6 million Jews, among countless others deemed undesirable (including gypsies and the disabled).

WWII was instigated by Germany's aggressive moves and appeasement from Western powers (UK, France).
Key battles and turning points include the invasions of Poland, the Battle of Britain, and Stalingrad.
Atomic Bombings: To prevent massive casualties from a likely invasion of Japan, the U.S. bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's capitulation.

Post-war Europe faced reconstruction challenges, paving the way for economic recovery. The discrediting of totalitarian ideologies set the scene for Cold War divisions.