Presentation Transcript

1. The Growth of Fascism

   Social 20 Topic 2—National Interests
2. Interwar Germany A variety of circumstances existed in Germany during the Interwar Period that contributed to instability: Economic stagnation—despite brief gains made to the German economy during the later 1920s (mostly as a result of American intervention and a booming international economy), Germany experienced the same massive economic failures as many other Western nations during the Great Depression. By 1931, a downward spiral had gripped the nation and its economy:
3. Interwar Germany Massive unemployment—1/3 of people were unemployed Hyperinflation—extreme devaluation of the German mark Ineffective trade—reliance on imports and subsidies for domestic goods caused prices to skyrocket Economic stagnation made the German people vulnerable and suggestible—they were eager to fix the economic problems in the state by any means necessary, and were open to any solutions. If only someone could promise to restore the economy...
4. Interwar Germany Social instability—economic disparity was a major problem, as there was a great gap between the wealthy elites and the working classes. As the economic problems worsened, all levels of society experienced heavy losses, none more so that the middle class. This was coupled with the general discontent of all citizens with the Treaty of Versailles Social instability made the German people desire changes to reform society and restore order and pride to Germany. If only someone could promise to rebuild German society and make it great once more...
5. Interwar Germany Many historians suggest that were it not for the above unstable conditions, the German people would not likely have supported Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party’s extremist policies. However, people tend to be highly suggestible and easily persuaded during times of crisis, and often respond to strength rather than to reason.
6. From Democracy to Dictatorship Before 1930, Germany’s Nazi Party had tried without success to seize power. With a small following and membership made up mostly of ex-soldiers, Hitler plotted to seize control of Munich in a “putsch” or coup in 1923. This “Beer Hall Putsch,” as it would be known, was a disaster: the police fired on the protestors, Hitler was arrested, and spent the following year in jail. While imprisoned, Hitler wrote a famous book titled “Mein Kampf.” This text laid out his plans for Germany, and his fanatic Nazi ideology. He created an “ideal,” ultranationalistic version of Germany, based on:
7. From Democracy to Dictatorship Anti-Semitism: Jews are the cause of Germany’s problems Anti-Communism: Communists are another cause of Germany’s problems Militarism: Germany should pursue world domination Propaganda: Significant programs should control the people Aryan Supremacy: Pure-blood Germans are culturally and physically superior and should not be tainted by Jewish people Lebensraum (German for “living space”): Germany must take over European territory, by force if necessary, so that Germany can grow and include Germans from other countries like Austria and Czechoslovakia National Socialism: Loyalty to Germany, racial purity, equality, and state control of the economy are essential to success
8. From Democracy to Dictatorship Upon release from prison, Hitler dedicated himself and the Nazi party to gaining legitimate power through democratic means. Through campaigning, rallies, and the use of propaganda, the Nazi Party rose to prominence, and won the second-most seats in the German Reichstag (House of Parliament) in 1933. As a result, Hitler was named Chancellor (position second only to President Hindenberg). Once he had this title, he set about further consolidating power in his own hands. At least initially, Hitler and his Nazi Party had significant support from the German people. His speeches and the party’s propaganda were very persuasive in convincing Germans that the Nazi Party could solve the economic problems in Germany and return it to “great power” status.
9. From Democracy to Dictatorship Economic promises: Hitler used the German people’s fear of poverty in the future based on the social and economic conditions of the time. His promises gave people hope for the future by promising farmers higher prices for their products, the unemployed jobs through public works programs, and business owners a strong market free from the fears of a communist takeover.
10. From Democracy to Dictatorship Germany as a Great Nation promise: Hitler promised the German people that Germany would be a strong and powerful nation again. He promised that he would “tear up” the Treaty of Versailles. He vowed that Germany would not honour the terms of the hated agreement. The Treaty had come to symbolize the source of many of Germany’s problems, and it was a constant reminder of the humiliation of the Germans in the international arena. The Nazi officially called Germany the “Deutches Reich” (or German Empire) to suggest higher status. It also became known as the Third Reich, a reference to other historical German empires. The Germany identity was being manipulated by the Nazis into ultranationalism under Nazi control.
11. From Democracy to Dictatorship Someone to Blame: Hitler placed the responsibility for all German’s difficulties on other groups. By creating scapegoats of the communists and Jews, Hitler gave people a concrete source for their problems. In this way, he created the notion that, if these groups were to disappear, Germany’s problems would as well. United Germans: Slogans were used effectively to focus people’s attention on particular issues. Slogans also provided people with rallying points, as the use of a slogan automatically makes an individual part of a group. All the slogans in that image were used to rally German people around Nazi policies that promised to help them improve their lives and restore Germany to its former glory.
12. From Democracy to Dictatorship Silenced Opposition: The Nazi Party often silenced opposition through the use of its paramilitary arm, the SA or Brownshirts. Consisting mostly of thugs, the SA often assaulted opposition members in street fights and attacked Jewish businesses. Hitler manipulated events in 1933 to pass the Enabling Acts—a series of laws that allowed him to pass laws without the approval of the Reichstag, and create legislation that ignored civil liberties, and to restrict the opposition, press, and general society. The Acts were justified by Hitler as necessary to maintain order and stability, but he abused them to eliminate and silence his opponents in government and to tighten his control over the nation.
13. Militarism and Expansionism A key aspect of Nazi Germany in the 1930s was its expansionist and militaristic foreign policy. Hitler’s theory of lebensraum was used to justify German expansion in all directions: The Rhineland (1936)—remilitarization of the Rhineland to create a more effective defensive position against France Anschluss (1938)—unification with Austria, a nation populated mostly by ethnic Germans The Sudetenland (1938)—hostile takeover of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, a region with a significant ethnic German majority
14. Militarism and Expansionism German conquest of these regions was justified by the Nazi Party in several ways. According to Hitler’s government, The factories of Germany required raw materials such as coal, oil, and iron ore. The raw materials within Germany were not enough to supply industry and support further militarism. Germany would have to take the resources, space, and labour it needed from other countries. The promise of a return to Germany’s “glorious past” required rebuilding Germany’s military strength. This required further raw materials. Might made right—according to Social Darwinism, only those people and nations that were most suited to survival would be able to survive in his “New World Order.” In Hitler’s perspective, a state’s strength was measured by its ability to fight fights and win wars. The Nazi Party used militarism as a means of expressing its will and reaching its goals.
15. Expansionism and Militarism At first, the major powers in Europe (Great Britain, France, the USSR) were hesitant to allow Germany to violate the terms of the Treaty of Versailles by expanding its territory and military. However, a general policy of appeasement was used by these nations in an attempt to avoid hostility. This policy, however, was abandoned after Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939.
16. Italian Militarism and Expansionism Pursuing his promise of building a “New Roman Empire” in Italy, Fasci leader Benito Mussolini focused his efforts on increasing Italian prominence in Africa. Italy had control over the “Somaliland” on either base of Africa’s horn, but had been unable to capture Abyssinia in 1896. In 1935, Mussolini attempted to unify the two Italian colonies by invading and conquering Abyssinia (the region would also prove valuable in raw materials and resources). Despite defying Italian conquest decades earlier, the Abyssinians were no match for Italy’s new, industrialized military and its use of mustard gas. As previously examined, Italy received no consequences in the League of Nations for this action because of British fear of an alliance between Italy and Germany.
17. Japanese Militarism and Expansionsim Following an extended period of isolation during the Edo Period, Japan entered the international stage rapidly in the 20th century and began to figure heavily in global trade. As Europe and the USA continued to colonize Asia, Japan felt it had a right to acquire colonies itself and to drive out the “foreign” imperial powers and liberate other Asian nations from European and American control. This policy of expansionism was coupled with a strong militaristic tradition of the Japanese people. As Japanese nationalism, population, and militarism grew, the nation began to seek out new territory in Asia to colonize. By 1932, Japan had manipulated events to seize control of Manchuria (northeastern China) and Korea. After moving to invade the rest of China, Japan left the League of Nations and mounted a campaign to seize control over the rest of Asia.