World War II: Rise of Totalitarian Rule in Europe

1. World War II: Rise of Totalitarian Rule in Europe Ms. Humes 8th Period – Contemporary American History

2. What were the problems faced by the Weimar Republic? • After WW1, Germany became a democracy, called the Weimar Republic. German leaders drafted the constitution in the city of Weimar in 1919. • Weimar Republic faced significant economic trouble and uncontrollable inflation. • Political leaders and the German people were angry over the Treaty of Versailles, specifically because of the reparations. • Reparations: paying money as a way of making amends for wrong-doing. • Within Germany, internal disunity among the people.

3. Weimar Republic – An Economic Nightmare • According to the Treaty of Versailles (1919), Weimar Republic and its allies owed United Kingdom/France/Italy/United States reparations for “damages” that occurred during World War I. • Weimar Republic fell behind on raparations payments because Germans were using passive resistance as a form of protest; they refused to work in French-occupied, coal-rich Ruhr Valley. • The Weimar Republic government printed large amounts of money, which led to inflation and the Mark to lose its value. • For example, if something cost 100 marks in July 1922, by August 1923 it cost 944,000 marks. Also, salaries rose by billions of marks!

4. Flag of the Weimar Republic

5. Why was the Weimar Republic weak? • Germany had several small parties with different political agendas that were trying to emerge in the new democracy. • Democratic socialists that ruled came under intense scrutiny from both political sides (Communists & Conservatives) • Some people blamed German Jews for the economic and political problems. • Scapegoats: A person who is blamed for wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others • Picture from Weimar Republic “Blaming Jews”

6. Who could possibly solve all of Germany’s problems? • An energetic and charismatic leader who promised to solve the economic crisis and restore Germany to its former political greatness.

7. How did the Nazi’s rise to power? Causes Effects • Shattered German economy • Widespread unemployment, homelessness, hunger • Fall of democracy • Nazi party recognized as a powerful force • Hitler appointed chancellor of Germany • TOTALITARIAN REGIME!

8. How could you describe the Nazi Party’s political, social, economic, and cultural policies? • Political: • Nazi Party were extreme nationalists that wanted a supreme ruler who would exude power. Nazi’s also attacked the beliefs of Communists and Socialists. • Führer – German word for Leader • Nationalism – patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts (an extreme form) • Social: • Nazi’s felt that the Jews were the greatest enemies to the Aryans (light-skinned Europeans). Hitler and the Nazi’s believe that the Aryans were the best group. • Jews were defined as a separate race, not separate religion. • Jews were defined as anyone with a Jewish grandparent. • Economic: • Hitler put people to work to combat the Great Depression by domestic development (building highways and housing and replanting forests). • Cultural: • State-controlled the educational system and press. Both praised Hitler’s accomplishments and tried to indoctrinate young Germans.

9. Propaganda • Title: “Jugenddientdem Führer.” • Translation: • “Youth serves the Leader” • Propaganda: • Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

10. Why did the rise of totalitarian rule in Eastern Europe take shape in the 1920s and 1930s? • Small countries whose rural, agricultural economies lacked capital ($$) to industrialize. • Social and economic inequalities separated poor peasants from wealthy landlords; great economic disparities developed between the small upper class and the majority lower class. • People didn’t have political experience with the democratic process. • Countries were hit hard by the global depressions; tensions from WWI hindered economic cooperation between countries.