ITALY, GERMANY, SPAIN Fascism Both Communism Believe in social classes Dictators Want classless society Nationalists One-party politics Internationalists No individual rights Strong nationalistic feelings Definition: a political movement that promotes an extreme form of nationalism, a denial of individual rights, and a dictatorial one-party rule Economic distress Fear of Communism Appeal to nationalism Weak government • No democratic tradition Fascism begins in Italy under the leadership of Benito Mussolini Focuses on loyalty to country and leaders Eventually spreads to other countries • Spain: Francisco Franco • Germany: Adolf Hitler “Il Duce” = the leader Abolished democracy Secret police galore Created a model Fascist State Desire to create colonial empire • Invaded: Ethiopia (1935) Albania (1939) • The League of Nations Condemned Italy’s actions but didn’t do anything to stop it. The Rise of Adolf Hitler National Socialist German Workers’ Party • Swastika for a symbol • Brownshirts = storm troopers (militia, not star wars) Hitler became der Führer of NAZI party Attempted coup failed • Lesson learned: Had to take power legally Hitler imprisoned for treason • Wrote book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) Germans were master race (called them “Aryans”) Non Aryans were inferior Vowed to reverse the Treaty of Versailles Conquer eastern Europe and Russia • Gain “lebensraum” or “living space” During depression, Hitler rose in prestige and prominence • Widespread fear of communism President appointed Hitler chancellor Hitler asked for dictatorial powers for 4 years Banned all other political parties SS (schutzstaffel)- elite military force loyal only to Hitler Gestapo = secret police Took control of economy Propaganda Book burning Hitler Youth and League of German Girls Targeted the Jewish population for failure in WWI Anti-Semitism already engrained in German (and all European) society Deprived Jews of their rights Kristallnacht- “Night of the Broken Glass” • Attack on Jewish owned businesses • A “pogrom”- gov’t sponsored violence against Jews 1935- began rebuilding military 1936- took the Rhineland 1938- Anschluss 1938- Munich Conference • Germany, French, and British leaders met to discuss the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia • GB & F said G could have Sudetenland if Hitler promised not to invade Czechoslovakia • Policy of appeasement 19391939- took Czechoslovakia invaded Poland, start of WWII 1920’s- government struggled Depression hit Japan hard • Relied on exports to foreign nations • Drought which led to extreme famine • Government efforts to boost economy Spent less on the military Right-winged military leaders mad Throughout the 1930’s a series of militaristic Prime Ministers • Hideki Tojo Extreme nationalism • Belief in “chosen-ness” of Japanese people • Asia should be dominated by the “superior” Japanese • “Asia for Asians”- anti-European Imperialism Belief Earth that Emperor is god on • Emperor had little political power Desire to save economy by foreign expansion 1931- Japan invaded Manchuria • Sought resources Iron and coal 1937- China Japan invaded