Italy

Benito Mussolini.

Italy has TONS of problems after WWI.

1) Peasants are taking over farms & factories.

2) The economy is in trouble.

3) Unemployed veterans.

4) Italy didn’t get land promised to them before the Treaty of Versailles.

5) The government is corrupt.

Rise of MussoliniPromised to make political

changes.

Formed “combat squads” toharass his enemies.

Used patriotic symbols from Italy’s past.

Organized the “March to Rome” (1922)The King panics & makes Mussolini the new Prime Minister

Mussolini’s Government

He fired lots of politicians.

He took over lots of businesses.

He reduces unemployment…

by firing most Italian women!(women are told to go have

babies)

Short of complete Totalitarianism

• Never completely infiltrated all area of society

• Some dissidents escaped Mussolini’s eye

Germany

Adolf Hitler

Weimar RepublicGermany:

- is trying to run under a different styleof government for the first time.

- revolutionary groups (commies,socialists, etc) are running amuck.

- begin looking for a scapegoat.

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• Germany unable to continue reparation payments

• France/Belgium occupied Ruhr Valley

• Germany reacted with ‘passive resistance’

• Germany printed money causing hyperinflation

• 1919– 1 US dollar = 4.7 German Marks

• 1923– 1 US dollar = 4 + trillion German marks!

Western Aid

• Too costly for France to keep the Ruhr– France pulled out of the Ruhr

• USA and others help with– Dawes Plan

– Young Plan

Too Late… Rise of Hitler• Hitler already had a foot-hold in the

Nationalist Democratic Party (Nazi)

• Germans do not respect the Weimar Republic

• Nazi’s offer possible answers

• 1929 Market Crash ended US aid – people turn to charismatic leader…

Hitler HistoryAustrian

He’s an artist (not a very good one) and a decorated soldier from WWI.

He works for the military as a subversive, a spy, but winds up joining the German

Workers Party (one of the organizations he watched)

Hitler soon becomes the propaganda minister of the party.

Within 18 months of joining, Hitler is in charge of the German Workers

Party.

Communists seen as main political enemy

Hitler creates the “Brownshirts” (SA, or Stormtroopers) for WWI veterans

(would be used to harass enemies)

Hitler’s first attempt to take power was...

1923!!!

The Bavaria attempt is called the “Beerhall Putsch”.

Hitler and most of his followers are captured & arrested. Hitler is given 4

years in jail. (serving 13 months)

While in jail, he writes “Mein Kampf”. (his future plans for Germany)

After Hitler is released from jail

early, he goes out on the campaign trail &

forms the S.S. (an elite military corps).

The Nazi Party gains in the Reichstag.

Hitler’s Popularity

1. Some people are afraid to challenge Hitler (SA)

2. Some thought Hitler was a joke

3. Other Germans truly believed in what he was saying. [Hitler was an EXCELLENT public speaker!]

Two key men between Hitler & total control of Germany...

Franz von Papen Marshall Hindenburg

(German Chancellor) (Influential WWI War Hero)

• Papen resigned amid a loss of confidence

• After a lot of back-and-forth a new Chancellor is chosen – Schleicher

• Schleicher promised to ‘split’ the Nazis, thus weakening their influence

• The party split between Strasser & Hitler

• After an inner circle meeting of the Nazi’s Strasser resigned and ‘took a vacation’ to Italy

This is what Strasser had to say about Hitler & the Nazis:

"Whatever happens, mark what I say. From now on Germany is in the hands of an

Austrian, who is a congenital liar (Hitler), a former officer who is a pervert (Röhm), and a clubfoot (Goebbels). And I tell you the last is the worst of them all. This is Satan in human

form," declared Gregor Strasser in 1932.

• Nazi division failed…

• Big Bankers & Industrialists saw best hope in Hitler & supported him

• Papen wanted to return to power & wanted to oust Schleicher

• Papen & Hitler met & Papen offered a Papen-Hitler government (this surprised Hitler)

• Hitler said he would be the real head of government, but would fully support Papen & his ministers

• Papen agreed

• Schleicher took many anti-Papen/Hitler/Nazi proposals to Hindenburg… but Hindenburg liked Papen and refused

• Schleicher resigned from frustration

• Hitler would then be chosen as Chancellor by Hindenburg!

Web site with details: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/collapse.htm

Once Hitler is in charge on 1/30/33...

2/2/1933 - He outlaws the Communist Party.

2/27 - The Reichstag Fire - Hitler blames the fire on the Communists.

Hitler uses the fire to begin taking away the personal liberties of German citizens.

The main people in the Nazi Party:

Hermann Joseph Heinrich Göring Goebbles Himmler

(Luftwaffe) (Propaganda) (SS)

Ernst Rudolph Rohm (SA) Hess

(Nazi Party)

Led the SA – helped Hitler early on, but became a rival

Rohm will be assassinated during the Night of Long Knives (1934)

Long standing Nazi member – became

Deputy Fuhrer:

Changes under Hitler...

#1 - Rearm Germany (SA already about 3 mill strong) – 1935-1936

German military reduced after Treaty of Versailles

No subs allowed, only 100,000 soldiers, etc.

Rearming is illegal! Europe does nothing!!!

#2 - Germany quits the League of Nations-1935

#3 - “Night of the Long Knives” (1934)

Nazi purge of Rohm & his allies.

Rohm is a threat - some loyal to him only.

Rohm is an embarrassment to Hitler.

Rohm is openly gay. Hitler hates homosexuals.

#4 - Hitler formed the “Rome-Berlin” Axis 1936 - They agree on two things:

*Help each other out.* * Attack commies!*

#5 - Sent troops into the Rhineland.

So what?

*It’s a demilitarized zone on France’s border.*

Is France worried?

No! They built the Maginot Line on the French-German border.

What was the Maginot Line?

A series of tunnels connecting troops and heavy guns along the entire French-German border.

#6 - The Nuremberg Laws 1935Anti-Jewish Legislation

No intermarriage between Jewish/non-Jewish people.

All Jewish college students are kicked out!

All Jewish teachers are fired!

All Jewish government workers are fired!

All Jewish Doctors/Lawyers are forbidden to work.

#7 – Kristallnacht 1938(“Night of the Broken Glass”)

Hitler’s first major attack on Jewish people.

Why?

A Jewish man murdered a German diplomat in Paris in retaliation for the

Nuremberg Laws.

Results of “Kristallnacht”... Synagogues and businesses torched

& destroyed.

Some Jewish people are attacked, raped or killed.

Jewish businesses begin to go out of business.

Jewish people will soon be forced into the “Ghettos”.

The Spanish Civil War

1931-Spain dumps the power elite (King, rich, military & Church) and

forms a Republic

Progress made in Spain:

elite stripped of power, poor people finally can own land, elections held

annually & women can vote.

Two groups begin fighting in Spain:

Loyalists (Communists) - want more reforms. (supported by U.S.S.R.)

Nationalists (Fascists led by Franco)- want fewer reforms. Supported by Nazi Germany & Italy

Everyone is testing new weapons!!!

Nationalists win & remain neutral in WWII.