The Rise of Authoritarianism
(Totalitarianism)
Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini in the
1920s-30s
Totalitarianism
• To have “total” control over all aspects of your
country.
• 20th century concept
• Typically, a bad country to live in because
personal freedom is lost
• Famous Totalitarian dictators in history are:
– Stalin- Russia (Communist)
– Hitler- Germany (Fascist)
– Mussolini- Italy (Fascist)
• Lenin died in 1924
• His 2 biggest
rivals/supporters for
power fought to become
dictator
– Leon Trotsky
– Joseph Stalin
Stalin Becomes Dictator
• Joseph Stalin gained complete control
over the communists by 1928
• His main rival for power, Leon Trotsky,
was exiled and later assassinated
• TOTALITARIANISM:
– Government which takes total control over
every aspect of life.
– Stalin was this style of leader
– Has nothing to do with the fact that USSR
was communist.
Industrial Revolution
• Institutes a command
economy- gov’t (Stalin)
makes all economic decisions
• 1928, Russia was 50-100
years behind other countries
in industrialization
• Stalin developed a plan to
catch up in 10 years by
forcing constant work
– Called the 5-Year Plans
Agricultural Revolution
• Stalin seized 25 million farms
and forced the previous
owners to work on them.
– Farms combined into
larger farms called
“collective farms”
• Many workers (peasants)
resisted and 5-10 million
were killed or sent to prison
camps
• Many Kulaks (wealthy
peasants) resisted and were
sent to gulags (work camps)
Daily Life Under Stalin
• Gov’t assigned jobs and
working hours
• Education was important
• Communist values promoted
everywhere and everyday
• Women were given equal
rights
• not working hard enough?
=killed or sent to Siberia
Weapons of Terror
• Totalitarian dictators like Stalin often use terror to
keep people under control
–
–
–
–
Read mail and listened to telephone lines
Spies everywhere/Secret police (KGB)
Indoctrination/Brain-washing
Propaganda: biased info meant to sway beliefs
• Socialist Realism: artistic style of the era
– Censorship: Gov’t controlled newspapers so nothing bad
was printed about Stalin
– Religious Persecution: atheism replaced religion
The Great Purge
• 1934-39, Stalin’s plan to
eliminate anybody who
threatened his power
• Used phone taps, read mail,
and used spies to determine
enemies
• Many were arrested and 8-13
million people were killed for
“crimes against the Soviet
state”
Legacy leading to WWII
• By 1939, Stalin had
total control of the
country
• The U.S.S.R. was fully
industrialized
• They were also
political powerhouse
Fascism in Europe
What is Fascism?
• Valuing the nation over that of
the individual.
*Nationalism and Militarism is focus
• Total devotion to one leader.
• Rulers often gain control by convincing people
that there is a problem that only the leader can
solve.
• Leaders use propaganda, and violence to stay in
control.
Italy After WWI
• After WWI, Italians were angry
about not gaining land and
scared of communist
revolution.
• The democratic government
appeared weak in handling
inflation and unemployment.
Mussolini in Italy
• Benito Mussolini promised to make
Italy strong by building an army and
fixing the economy.
• In 1922, 30,000 Fascist supporters
demanded that Mussolini be put
into power, and the king agreed.
Il Duce (The Leader)
• Mussolini became the leader and outlawed all
political parties except the Fascists.
• How he secured his leadership:
– Secret police jailed his opponents
– Radio and newspapers were censored
– Outlawed strikes and labor unions
– Nationalism
Rise of the Nazis
• National Socialist Workers Party
(NAZI)
• Political party that believed that the
Treaty of Versailles should be
overturned (too harsh) and that
communism was dangerous.
Adolf Hitler
• Born 1889, not good at school, failed
artist
• Abusive, alcoholic father
• Fought in WWI and won 2 Iron Cross
awards for bravery
• Joined the Nazis in 1920 and quickly
became known for his speaking ability
Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
• 1923, Hitler tried to take over the
government, but failed and was
arrested for treason
• Served 9 months in prison during
which he wrote Mein Kampf, a book
that was a blueprint for his takeover of
Germany
– Outlined his hatred of the Jews
Hitler’s Beliefs
• Hitler’s beliefs:
– Germans, especially “Aryans”, were the master
race (not necessarily blond hair, blue eyed)
– Jews, Slavs, and Gypsies were subhuman and must
be removed
– Germans needed to regain lands lost by Treaty of
Versailles
– Germany was overcrowded and needed
lebensraum (living space)
Hitler Gets Power
• World-wide economic depression due to
America’s “Great Depression”
• 1932, America stopped loans to Germany, 30%
of Germans were unemployed, and inflation
caused starvation
• Frightened and upset, Germans wanted a
strong leader.
• 1933, Hitler became Chancellor (president).
Der “Fuhrer” (The Leader)
• Hitler created a totalitarian government.
• He kept control by:
– Arresting & killing political opponents
– Secret Police (SS & Gestapo)
– Censoring the press
– Using propaganda
– Burning books
– Censoring Churches
– Hitler Youth (HJ)
– Nationalism
The Power of Speech
“All great world-shattering events have
Been brought about….
By the spoken word! “
~Adolf Hitler~