Totalitarianism

• Government control over the political, economic, social, intellectual and cultural lives of its citizens

• Used both persuasion and intimidation• Absolutism in modern form - the state

is more important than the individual:– No “consent of the governed”– No “inalienable,” natural rights– No separation of powers

Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after,And the poetry he invented was easy to understand;He knew human folly like the back of his hand,And was greatly interested in armies and fleets;When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter,And when he cried the little children died in the streets.

-W.H. Auden, Epitaph On A Tyrant

FASCISM promised to transcend the class struggle by developing a new "corporatism": a planned

economy that preserved private ownership of capital. Unlike Bolshevism, Fascism did not overturn the

class hierarchy or threaten private capital. But it too featured legally unrestrained government, a single mass party, pseudo-elections, systematic terror, the

state monopoly of communications, the manipulation of enthusiasm by propaganda, a centrally directed industrial economy, and charismatic leadership. It was Mussolini who invented and popularized the

word "totalitarianism."

Fascism - a subset of Totalitarianism

• Ultra-Nationalist - sought expansion of territory for glory or to win mass support

• Supported by wealthy landowners and capitalists as a bulwark against communism

• Private property, but state controlled and directed

Fascism in Italy

• Turmoil after WWI– Peasants seize land– Workers seize factories– Revolution in the air?

• Benito Mussolini organizes “Black Shirts” paramilitary squads as an anti-communist organization

Benito Mussolini“Il Duce” - “The Leader”

Fascism in Italy“March on Rome” (1922) - Mussolini threatens to

take over government

King invites Mussolini to become Prime Minister

Benito Mussolini loves children a

lot. The children of Italy love the Duce a lot. Long live Il

Duce !. A salute to Il Duce: Here's to

us!".

Fascist Youth. Fascism does

not promise you honor, or load you with gain, only duty and

combat

The Path to Nazi Power

• Versailles Treaty

• Hyper-inflation

• Dawes Plan

Party % of vote - 1928

Nazis 3

Socialists 30

Communists 11

National Party 14

Catholic Party 12

The Path to Nazi Power

• Versailles Treaty

• Hyper-inflation

• Dawes Plan

• Great Depression

Party % of vote - 1928

% of vote - 1930

Nazis 3 18

Socialists 30 25

Communists 11 13

National Party

14 7

Catholic Party

12 12

The Path to Nazi Power

• Versailles Treaty

• Hyper-inflation

• Dawes Plan

• Great Depression

• Industrialists and Military Support Nazis

Party 1928 1930 July 1932

Nov 1932

Nazis 3 18 37 33

Socialists 30 25 22 20

Communists 11 13 14 17

National Party

14 7 6 9

Catholic Party

12 12 12 12

The Path to Nazi Power

• Versailles Treaty

• Hyper-inflation

• Great Depression

• Industrialists and Military Support Nazis

• Hitler Named Chancellor

• Reichstag Fire

Party 1928 1930 July 1932

Nov 1932

March 1933

Nazis 3 18 37 33 44

Socialists 30 25 22 20 18

Communists 11 13 14 17 12

National Party

14 7 6 9 8

Catholic Party

12 12 12 12 11

The Path to Nazi Power

• Versailles Treaty• Hyper-inflation• Great Depression• Industrialists and Military Support Nazis• Hitler Named Chancellor• Reichstag Fire• Enabling Act

The Path to Nazi Power• Versailles Treaty• Hyper-inflation• Great Depression• Industrialists and Military Support Nazis• Hitler Named Chancellor• Reichstag Fire• Enabling Act: Suspends Constitution; Hitler

can rule by decree

The Path to Nazi Power• Versailles Treaty• Hyper-inflation• Great Depression• Industrialists and Military Support Nazis• Hitler Named Chancellor• Reichstag Fire• Enabling Act: Suspends Constitution; Hitler can

rule by decree• Nazis Take Complete Control of Government• Totalitarianism: Persuasion

Führer, we will follow

you

Long Live Germany!

One People, One Reich, One Führer

No One Shall Be Hungry! No One Shall Be Cold!

Hitler is building. Help him. Buy German goods

Nazi Labor Service:We build body and soul

"A wonderful task: Reich

Labor Service Women's

Leader: A job for today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcFuHGHfYwE&feature=related

Tomorrow Belongs to Me The sun on the meadow is summery warm.The stag in the forest runs free.But gather together to greet the stormTomorrow belongs to me.The branch of the linden is leafy and greenThe Rhine gives its gold to the sea.But somewhere a glory awaits unseenTomorrow belongs to me.Oh Fatherland, Fatherland,Show us the signYour children have waited to see.The morning will comeWhen the world is mine.Tomorrow belongs to me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMVql9RLP34

Tomorrow Belongs to Me The sun on the meadow is summery warm.The stag in the forest runs free.But gather together to greet the stormTomorrow belongs to me.The branch of the linden is leafy and greenThe Rhine gives its gold to the sea.But somewhere a glory awaits unseenTomorrow belongs to me.Oh Fatherland, Fatherland,Show us the signYour children have waited to see.The morning will comeWhen the world is mine.Tomorrow belongs to me!

The Path to Nazi Power• Versailles Treaty• Hyper-inflation• Great Depression• Industrialists and Military Support Nazis• Hitler Named Chancellor• Reichstag Fire• Enabling Act• Nazis Take Complete Control of Government• Terror: Concentration Camps - Political Prisons• Terror: Jews as “the Other”: Kristallnacht

German Gross National Product 1926-39

German Unemployment Rate 1900-1940

I now ask the German people to strengthen my faith and to give

me through the strength of its will the

strength I need to continue to fight

courageously at any time for its honor and its freedom, and to be

able to further its economic prosperity. I ask it particularly to support me in my struggle for true

peace.