The Rise of Totalitarian Dictators



Name: _______________________________________________________ Date: _______

Between the Wars: Totalitarianism Ms. Carey

Focus Questions:

▪ What factors led to the rise of dictatorships in Russia, Italy, and Germany?

▪ What methods of control did Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler use to maintain their power?

▪ What impact did totalitarian dictatorships have on global history?

The Rise of Totalitarian Dictators

Historical Context:

I. Stalin - Russia

A. Factors that led to his rise to power

1. Following Lenin’s death in 1922, communist leadership

passed to a “triumvirate”, three leaders, one being Joseph Stalin, the General Secretary of

the Communist Party.

2. Through careful political maneuvering, Stalin controlled the Party and had the other

including Leon Trotsky, exiled and eventually executed.

B. Methods of Rule

1. Secret Police – encouraged workers to spy on each other and children to spy on their

parents. Those accused of being disloyal were either sent to “gulags,” or prison camps

in Siberia, or they were executed.

2. Purges – Any potential leaders or Stalin dissenters were killed. Stalin also purged military

leaders, leaving the Soviet military with inexperienced and incompetent officers who were unprepared to fight in World War II.

3. Propaganda –

a. the Soviet government used posters to glorify Soviet Union and to urge people to

carry out the goals of the communist party.

b. writers and artists were forced to adopt a new style: “Socialist Realism.” They

were forced to glory Soviet heroes and achievements. They were not permitted to

use terror or forced labor as topics for their work.

4. War on the peasants – to successfully collectivize the Soviet agriculture, Stalin needed to

take land away from wealthy land-owning peasants called kulaks. Many kulaks lived in the

Ukraine and resisted the collectivization plan. Many Ukrainians also disliked communist

rule and wanted independence from the Soviet Union. As a result, Stalin forced a famine

upon Ukraine, killing nearly 10 million people.

II. Hitler – Germany

A. Factors that led to his rise to power

1. Global Depression – 1930’s – led to high unemployment rates throughout the world.

Nearly 22 percent of Germans were not working. Hitler’s increase in militarism (a violation

Of the Treaty of Versailles) put thousands of people back to work.

2. Treaty of Versailles –

a. Germany was forced to pay over 30 billion dollars in reparations for WWI.

b. Germany was forced to accept the blame for causing WWI.

c. Disarmament: The German military was practically disarmed

1. No airforce

2. No tanks

3. No submarines

4. No high-caliber weapons

5. Germany was not permitted to put troops in the Rhineland (territory near

France)

6. Germany’s standing army was limited to only 100,000 soldiers

d. Germany was forced to return the Alsace-Lorraine territory to France (an area that

was rich in natural resources)

e. The “Polish Corridor” was created – Germany was forced to give the Danzig

territory to Poland – giving Poland access to sea trading ports on the Baltic

3. Weimar Republic – its democratic nature provided the Nazis with a forum to promote their

anti-Semitic propaganda. In addition, the Weimar government was blamed for signing the

Treaty of Versailles.

4. Appointed Chancellor- President Von Hindenberg appointed Hitler as Chancellor to try

to restore order to the chaos of the German streets.

5. Burning of the Reischtag – Hitler and the Nazis burned the Reischtag (German

Parliament) and blamed the communists. With no Parliament to make laws, Hitler

assumed dictatorial powers

B. Methods of Rule

1. Propaganda

a. Hitler Youth – Camps that promoted absolute loyalty to the Nazis and prepared

children for war

b. Education – Books were burned and history became revised to promote the Nazis

racist views

2. Religion – Catholic churches and schools were closed as Hitler tried to replace religion

with his own racial creed.

3. Anti-Semitism –

a. The Nuremberg Laws of the 1930’s prohibited Jews from marrying non- Jews,

attending or teaching at schools or universities, holding government jobs, practicing

law or medicine, or writing books.

b. Kristallnacht – “Night of Broken Glass” – November 9, 1938: Nazis attacked

Jewish communities and businesses throughout Germany. Windows of synagogues

And shops were broken and stores were looted. Some synagogues were burned.

c. Concentration Camps – Jews were considered enemies to the German state and

forced into concentration camps as Hitler prepared for his “Final Solution” – the

extermination of all Jews.

III. Mussolini

A. Factors that led to his rise to power

1. Treaty of Versailles – As a victorious Allied country during WWI, Italy was promised and

expected territory from the German and Austria- Hungarian Empires. Italian veterans were

angered when they received no territory in the Treaty.

2. Global Depression – 1930’s – led to high unemployment rates throughout the world.

Nearly 20 percent of Italians were not working. Mussolini’s increase in militarism helped

To put many Italians back to work.

3. General Strikes – Inspired by the Russian Revolution, Italian communists inspired workers

throughout Italy to go on strike, resulting chaos in the streets.

4. Weakness of Constitutional Monarchy – King Victor Emmanuel III was no strong enough

to stop the riots. His government was blamed for the Treaty and for the Depression.

5. Black Shirts – Mussolini supporters used violence and intimidation to cause chaos in Italy

6. Appointed Prime Minister – In 1922, King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini as

Prime Minister, hoping that this would quiet the streets of Italy.

B. Methods of Rule

1. Censorship – Mussolini’ fascists took control of radio stations and newspapers

2. Black Shirts – Mussolini supporters used violence and intimidation to cause chaos in Italy

3. Propaganda – Mussolini gave speeches throughout Italy, pledging to return the country to

the glorious days of their Roman past.

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Following the economic and political destruction of World War I, political leaders around the world claimed to have solutions to their nation’s problems. They were willing to take drastic measures to change the conditions of their countries.

HITLER

GERMANY

MUSSOLINI

ITALY

STALIN

USSR

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