The Rise of Totalitarianism, 1929-1939

1929

The start of the Great Depression The start of collectivization in the USSR

In both cases: crisis and heavy statist response to the failures of the market economy

The rise of Stalin: General Secretary since 1923, concentration of power in the 1920s, the growth of personality cult in the 1930s

The rise of Hitler: leadership of the Nazis since 1923, increasing political influence in the 1920s, appointment as Reichskanzler in 1933

2 forms of totalitarianism Similarities Exchange of experience

Differences Germany:

to prevent a revolution to overcome the Depression to reverse the results of WWI racism as the core of Nazi ideology

USSR: to preserve Communist Party rule to defend the country from hostile environment to foster world revolution class struggle as the core of Soviet ideology

Has Stalin succeeded?

Totalitarianism modernized the country by means of extraordinary expansion of state power – but the costs were enormous: The human toll*

1927-38: 10 mln. excess deaths: famine, executions, labour camps Incarceration: a camp population of 2 mln. throughout the 1930s

The destruction of civil society Terrorization of the ruling class – especially the military purge of

1938-39 The policy failures of personal dictatorship The ideological impact of Stalinism undermined resistance to the rise

of fascism: democracy was crushed from both sides The USSR came close to defeat in World War II

______________________________*Chris Ward. Stalin’s Russia. L.: Arnold, 1999, p.135-136

Fascism and Communism as sworn enemies

Both sides tried to win allies Hitler: I am crushing communism and protecting

Western civilization (ideological) Stalin: I am trying to stop Hitler’s aggression

(geopolitical) Both succeeded to some extent:

Hitler managed to overthrow the Versailles constraints and expand Germany’s borders

Stalin gained US recognition and a degree of respectability in the West with his policy of “collective security”

Stalin’s choice:

Continued policies of collective security (alliance with democracies to stop Hitler), OR:

An alliance with Hitler to stay out of the coming war

Why was the Hitler option chosen?

Why did the enemies’ interests converge?

Stalin and Ribbentrop sign on the division of Eastern Europe, Aug.1939