15.3 The Rise of Fascist Dictators

And the causes of World War II.

Fascist Beliefs and Policies

•  Fascism –  Extreme nationalism –  Loyalty to state –  Authoritarian leader –  Restore national pride –  Each class has a function –  Special uniforms, salutes,

mass rallies

Failure of the Treaty of Versailles:

•  Germany was left without an army or navy to defend itself.

•  Nations slipped into serious depressions (especially Germany due to the war reparations).

•  Territories were divided and new nations were created without consideration of the people.

•  Soviet Union was left out of peace talks.

Four Faces of Aggression:

FASCIST ITALY: MUSSOLINI (Il duce) •  Extreme nationalism •  Militaristic

expansion to restore Roman Empire

•  Charismatic leader •  Belief in private

property with strong government control

•  Anti-communist

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NAZI GERMANY: HITLER

•  Der Fuhrer (The Leader) of the Third Reich—German Empire –  Annexes Austria & demands

Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia •  Austrian, failed artist, fought for

Germany in WWI •  Extreme nationalism & racism •  Militaristic expansion •  Charismatic leader/ played on

fears & pride •  Belief in private property with

strong government control •  Anti-communist

Rise of the Nazis

•  National Socialist German Worker’s Party—Nazi Party – Adopted the swastika – Storm Troopers/Brown Shirts—private

militia

Rise of the Nazi’s Cont. •  1923 tried to seize

power, failed & jailed •  Wrote Mein Kampf

(My Struggle) – Aryans master race – Other races inferior – Germany needed

lebensraum, living space, & should conquer other countries

Not done with der Fuhrer…

•  Hitler ignored until depression – Germans turn to Hitler, hoping for security &

strong leadership •  1933 named Chancellor, totalitarian state

– SS (loyal only to Hitler) arrested & murdered opponents

– Gestapo (Nazi secret police) used terror – Used propaganda

Anti-Semitism (hatred for Jews)

•  Nazi’s used Jews as scapegoats for Germany’s problems

•  Deprived them of rights •  Nov. 9, 1938: Kristallnacht “night of

broken glass” – Nazi mobs attacked Jews in their homes &

on the streets, destroying thousands of Jewish owned buildings

German police escort Jews to Dachau, November 10, 1938

Jews arrested by SS

JAPAN: TOJO AND HIROHITO

•  Tojo became militaristic Prime Minister for Emperor Hirohito

•  Militarism, Nationalism and Racism

•  Sought Asian empire for imperialist efforts

•  “Asia for Asians”

Prime Minister Hideki Tojo (above) and Emperor Hirohito (below)

Common Themes:

• Hold power by force and fear • Pass laws to forbid political

competition • Appeal to people’s prejudices • All suffering from hard

economic times