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A World in Flames: Rise of Dictators
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Explain how leaders in Europe and the US failed to respond
to Nazi Germany’s military aggression and persecution of
Jews and other groups. In what ways did leaders like
Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill rally their nations
to take action?
Why were many German Jews and Jews in other parts of
Europe unable to flee and immigrate to the United States
(and other countries) when the Nazis took power?
Describe FASCISM and the beliefs of its followers. Explain
how Fascist ideology contributed to the global warfare that
caused World War II.
To what extent, if any, should civil
liberties be restricted during
times of war?
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You will write a position paper on this topic
You will cite a minimum of 5 sources to defend your position
This will be written after the holiday break
Totalitarian Rule:
A government that exerts
total control over a nation (government,
economics, religion, home)
* Leaders use
terror and intimidation to silence any opposition
Hitler and Mussolini had FASCIST governments [Franco in Spain
will use Fascism as well]
Stalin had a COMMUNIST government
Fascists and Communists were fierce enemies
German, Italy, Japan (& Russia) were all
“EXPANSIONIST”
expansionism refers to the doctrine of a state expanding its
territorial base (or economic influence) usually, though not
necessarily, by means of military aggression.
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a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class
war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly
owned and each person works and is paid according to
their abilities and needs.
 DICTATOR: a person exercising absolute power,
especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in
a government without hereditary succession.
Book Work
p. 266-268
Use your books to fill in information about the 3 dictators of
the time
STALIN - - - - ->
<- - - MUSSOLINI
HITLER - - - - ->
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5 Year Plans: Stalin’s plan to modernize agriculture and
build new industries
 Stalin’s
Economic Plans
• Communism meant the state owned/controlled EVERYTHING
• Stalin tried to modernize economy with 5year plans
• USSR/Russia too big/complex for this to work
 Stalin
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Reign of Terror
When “plans” failed, Stalin needed to blame someone
PURGES to remove enemies and undesirable individuals
“Show Trials” for any who Stalin saw as disloyal
7 million arrested, 1 million killed, millions in labor camps
Stalin’s power was absolute
People of Russia ADORED/FEARED Stalin and his party
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After WWI, Mussolini rose to power in Italy
“Il Duce” organized the Fascist party to bring order
“Blackshirts” terrorized and intimidated all Italians
The King appointed Mussolini Prime Minister hoping it
would satisfy him
Mussolini seized power (dictatorship)
• Economic reforms brought order and some prosperity to Italy
• Elections suspended (to maintain order), other political parties
outlawed
• Europe praised Mussolini for fixing Italy’s economy
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Mussolini had visions of another Roman Empire
• “ITALY IS NOTHING WITHOUT CONQUEST”
• Italy will invade Ethiopia and crush them quickly
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The Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers’ Party)
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A form of fascism based on racial superiority and nationalism
Hitler’s powerful public speaking quickly made him the leader of the party
Nov. ‘23 – Nazi’s tried to overthrow German gov’t – failed
Hitler sentenced to 5 year (only served 9 months)
Mein Kampf – outlined Hitler’s philosophy and his plan for Germany
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Strengthen German Military
Removal of “undesirables
* Aryan Race policies
Hitler Becomes Chancellor (Great Depression hit Germany hard)
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Nazi Party won majority in 1932 election for Reichstag
Hitler appointed Chancellor (head of govt) by President to appease Nazi’s
Hitler suspended free speech and free press
Stormtroopers used to ‘silence’ opposition
Burned down Reichstag and blamed the Communists – used to pass law
giving him dictatorial powers
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Germany Rearms (in violation of Treaty of Versailles)
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Nazi’s begin spending huge on rebuilding military (work & power)
Public works to hire unemployed built up German infrastructure
Lebensraum (living space) – Hitler looked to expand, regaining territory
1936 Rhineland retaken, no action by European power
Hitler signs an alliance with Italy, Japan would join later AXIS POWERS
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Germany Expands
• 1938 Austria overtaken by German military (GB and Fr objected but
did not act)
APPEASEMENT: Chamberlin (GB) and Daladier (Fr) met with Hitler and
Mussolini to try to keep the peace. They will give them the Sudetenlands
if they would stop. People cheered “peace in our times,” but Hitler did
not stop
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Difficult economic times lead Japan (like Germany) towards
militarism, dictatorship
o Japan had to import most everything
o Military leaders blamed politicians for economic problems, believed
Japan was DESTINED to dominate Asia
o Japan seized lands to secure resources – Manchuria had OIL
• Japan will invade and take control of Manchuria
• US reacts by cutting off imports of metal & oil
• Emperor wanted to make peace with America and ordered troops
withdrawn. Tojo, the leader of the military refused
• The military now was in control of Japan and expanded their invasion of
China, sweeping through the country
• Rape of Nanking – Japanese troops took city, killing as many as 300,000
• Tojo took over as Prime Minister of Japan
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Each POD will be assigned a small section in the book
They are to read and discuss the event/topic
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You need to be able to explain the 5W’s to the class
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o WHO
o WHAT
o WHERE
o WHEN
o WHY
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Each POD will be assigned a small section in the book
They are to read and discuss the event/topic
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You need to be able to explain the 5W’s to the class
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o WHO
o WHAT
o WHERE
o WHEN
o WHY
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Austrian Anschluss
o Hitler called for the reunification of all “German speaking” peoples
o 1938 – Hitler threatened to invade Austria unless Nazi-Austrians were
given high government posts
o Austrian PM agreed, but would put to a peoples’ vote
o Hitler, fearing the outcome, invaded Austria. He called it “ANSCHLUSS” or
unification of Austria and Germany
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Munich Crisis (Europe wanted to AVOID another war)
o Hitler’s next target were the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia)
o The Czech’s resisted – the French and Soviets promised aid if Hitler
attacked
o Neville Chamberlain, PM of England, pledged support to France
o A meeting was called in Munich for the world leaders (Hitler, Chamberlain,
Mussolini, Clemenseau)
• Hitler agreed to end expanding if he was allowed to keep Austria &
Chechoslovakia
• Chamberlain returned to England claiming “PEACE IN OUR TIME”
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Hitler Demands Danzig
Shortly after Munich agreement, Hitler demanded control of Danzig, a city in Poland
that was 90% german (but part of Poland since WWI)
o England and France were convinced war was coming, announced they would back
Poland if they were attacked. This encouraged Poland to refuse Hilter
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The Nazi-Soviet Pact
Hitler ordered his foreign minister to negotiate with Stalin over Poland
o The NON AGGRESSION PACT between Germany and USSR promised not to attack each
other and to split up Poland
o Pact shocked the world (as Fascism/Communism were enemies), but it freed Hitler up
from worrying about attack from the east
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Invasion of Poland
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On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland using a new tactic called “BLITZKRIEG”
Britain and France immediately declared war on Germany and WWII had begun
In less than 1 month, Germany and defeated Poland
England and France awaited the German attack
Again, using BLITZKRIEG, Germany drove thru Belgium and into France, trapping
French and British forces
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Miracle at Dunkirk
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British and French troops driven back to English Channel at Dunkirk
The British mounted and all-out evacuation of troops
More than 338,000 British and French troops rescued by water in what became known as the
“MIRACLE AT DUNKIRK”
3 weeks later, the French government surrendered to Germany
French leader, Charles de Gaulle escaped and worked with the Allies through out the war to
free France from German control
Britain Remains Defiant
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England the only nation in Europe left to fight the Nazi’s – Hitler expected them to negotiate a
peace but England remained defiant
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“Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall
into the group of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or
fail, we shall go on to the end . . . We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be . . . We
shall never surrender, never. . . .” Winston Churchill
German air force, the LUFTWAFFE, began bombing England’s military
o After an accidental bombing of London, England bombed Berlin
o Hitler would react by launching the “Battle of Britain”, a non-stop bombing campaign on
London
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America was concerned about the rise of dictators, but not
enough to get involved – ISOLATIONISM”
THE NYE COMMITTEE – looked into the allegation that gun makers “tricked”
the US into entering the war to make money. Report issued that convinced
even more Americans that ISOLATIONISM was the way to go
LEGISLATING NEUTRALITY – Congress passed the NEUTRALITY ACT in 1935
making it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war.
This would be amended in 1936 to include either side in a civil war because
Spain was fighting a civil war
* Shortly after US action, Hitler and Mussolini pledged to back
Franco in the Spanish Civil War
* Japan will sign on with Germany and Italy – Axis Powers
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US Congress passed another NEUTRALITY ACT in 1938 –
any non-military goods purchased from the US was on a
“CASH AND CARRY” basis to prevent any US ships from
being sunk, and maybe drawing the US back into war
FDR found a way around the Neutrality Acts
o Britain asked the US for old WWI ships to help replenish their Navy
o “Destroyers for Bases” - FDR gave/sent 50 old destroyers to Britain
in exchange for US access to British bases in the Atlantic Ocean
o US people accepted this deal – they favored England over Germany
o Issue wasn’t giving aid, it was HOW MUCH/WHAT KIND of aid
FDR wanted “INTERNATIONALISM” or trade between countries to
continue (believed it created prosperity and prevented wars)
FDR warned that the NEUTRALITY ACTS might “drag us into war
instead of keeping us out”
When Japan invaded China, FDR claimed the NEUTRALITY ACTS
did not apply and authorized the sale of arms to China
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FDR gave a major speech to help convince the American
people that there were GOOD REASONS why the US needed
to be part of this fight
Four Freedoms Speech explained what we had that
countries under totalitarian rule did not have
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Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Worship
Freedom from Want
Freedom from Fear
People could understand and were willing to
be part of saving these basic freedoms that
we took for granted
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By December 1940 – Britain was out of funds to fight the war
FDR proposed a new program, the LEND LEASE ACT
o Britain could borrow military goods
o After the war, they could return them or pay rent on them
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This program will be extended to the USSR in 1941 when
Germany invaded Russia
FDR was willing to support any fight against Nazi Germany
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Getting supplies to England was a big issue – Germany still
ruled the seas with their submarines
o The US could not defend British ships and remain neutral
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FDR declared the entire Northern Atlantic a “hemispheric
defense zone” and therefore neutral
o The US Navy could protect ships in neutral waters
o The US Navy could reveal the position of Germany submarines to
the British if they were found in the neutral zone
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FDR and Churchill met to develop a plan for a post war world
o Democratic
o Non-aggression
o Free Trade
o Economic Advancement
o Freedom of the Seas
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Churchill later said FDR said he was just waiting for an event to
justify the US entry into the war
o Tensions between the US and Germany escalated as German U-Boats
sunk an American ship that had been warning British ships of U-Boat
positions
o The following month, 2 more US ships were sunk
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America “EMBARGOS” Japan
o US tried economic pressure to stop Japan from advancing in Asia
o “STRATEGIC MATERIALS” like iron, steel, oil were withheld from Japan
o US Lend-Lease program used with China as well, also angering Japan
o Needing more resources, Japan planned on attacking SE Asia
o America was the only power in position to stop their plans
o While negotiations for peace continued, Japan planned a surprise attack
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Surprise Attack
o US had decoded a message that made it clear Japan was planning for war
o US did not believe Hawaii a target because it was too far from Japan
o December 7, 1941 – Japan hit Pearl Harbor, catching the US totally off guard
o 8 battleship, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers and 4 other vessels were sunk
o 180 aircraft were destroyed and 2,403 Americans were killed
o Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan the next day
• Congress voted 388 to 1 to declare war on Japan
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Hitler believed war with Japan would occupy the US
Hitler UNDERESTIMATED the US
o Hitler hoped Japan would help Germany against Russia after Europe and
America were defeated
o US believed Hitler was the bigger threat at the moment
o The US would begin a fight with Japan (Navy), but they would also quickly
commit to fighting with the Allies in Europe (Army)
o On December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy both declared war in the US
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WORLD WAR II HAD BEGUN FOR AMERICA
The HOLOCAUST killed nearly 6 million European Jews
* It also killed nearly 6 million other “undesirables”
So HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
**The Nuremberg Laws: the strongest laws were targeted at the
Jewish population in areas controlled by Germany
^^ Deprived Jewish people of their rights
* banned marriage between a Jew and a German
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barred Jews from holding public office or voting
compelled to adopt “jewish” sounding names
identifying markers (on ID cards, yellow stars on clothing)
Jews prohibited from being lawyers, doctors
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Most Jewish people chose to stay, did not believe this would last long
It became increasingly difficult to make a living, buy food, pay rent
KRISTALLNACHT (the Night of the Broken Glass) November 9, 1938
** Hitler ordered an attack on Germany’s Jewish population
** The ‘police’ were forbidden from intervening as thugs/Gestapo rioted
- Anti-Jewish violence erupted in Germany and Austria
- 91 Jewish people killed
- 30,000 Jewish men taken to Concentration Camps
- 100’s were injured
- 7,500 businesses destroyed
- 100’s of synagogues were destroyed/burnt
** Life for Jewish people in Germany took an evil turn. From here on in,
they were the target of the German government’s Jewish persecution
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Many families were now looking to escape Germany
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250,00 will successfully flee Nazi Germany, including Albert Einstein
LIMITS ON JEWISH IMMIGRATION
o US had limits on the number of people from any one region
o German laws forbid leaving Germany with more than $4 so America feared
these immigrants would be “public charges” and denied VISA applications to
the US
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INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
o Several countries announced they could take in NO MORE Jewish refugees
o Several ships will load up and sail in hopes some country would take them in,
but it did not happen. These ships became floating refugee ships
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SAINT LOUIS AFFAIR
o A ship called “THE SAINT LOUIS” arrived at Cuba with 930 Jewish refugees
o The ship was refused. It sailed to Florida. It was reused
o It sailed to France, Holland, then Great Britain. They were allowed to
disembark. Most of these people ended up in Death Camps
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1942 – Wannsee Conference – Nazi leaders met to
coordinate the “FINAL SOLUTION” to their Jewish problem
o Previous ways (shooting) wasn’t working fast enough to eliminate all
the “undesirable” people (Jews, Gypsies, other conquered people)
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Concentration Camps
o Jewish from Germany and areas the Germans had conquered were
rounded up and taken to detention centers known as
CONCENTRATION CAMPS where they worked them until they died
from hunger, exhaustion or disease
o The young, old, sick would be sent to EXTERMINATION CAMPS (aka
– death camps) to be executed in gas chambers
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Auschwitz, Sobibor, Treblinka, Dachau were the worst of the death
camps
Auschwitz averages 12,000 killed PER DAY
1.6 million died at Auschwitz
Upon arrive, prisoners were sorted
o Healthy or skilled men and women would go to work camps
o Elderly, sick, children would go to the gas chamber
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Most of the Jewish people of Europe were murdered
How something this horrid could happen is still debated
o German people’s sense of injury after WWI
o Severe economic problems
o Hitler’s control over the German people
o Fear of Hitler’s SS/Gestapo
o History of ANTI-SEMITISM and discrimination in Europe
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Explain how leaders in Europe and the US failed to respond
to Nazi Germany’s military aggression and persecution of
Jews and other groups. In what ways did leaders like
Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill rally their nations
to take action?
Why were many German Jews and Jews in other parts of
Europe unable to flee and immigrate to the United States
(and other countries) when the Nazis took power?
Describe FASCISM and the beliefs of its followers. Explain
how Fascist ideology contributed to the global warfare that
caused World War II.