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Dictators Threaten World Peace Nationalism Grips Europe & Asia

Nationalism • Post WWI world had brought depression and struggle around the world. • Powerful dictators who used nationalism (loyalty to one’s country above all) and strove for territorial expansion.

Failures of WWI • The Treaty of Versailles was meant for a “just and secure peace” but caused anger and resentment. • The Weimar Republic in Germany was blamed for their economic problems. • President Wilson had hoped for a world “safe for democracy”. • New democracies around the world struggled.

Stalin & the Soviet Union • Civil War broke out in Russia post WWI. • A communist state replaced the Czars. • After its found Vladimir Lenin died Joseph Stalin took power. • He aimed for a pure communist state.

Stalin • He wanted to turn the Soviet Union into a industrial power. • Stalin created a secret police and purged all he considered an enemy. • In 1939, Stalin had created a totalitarian state one that has complete control over society.

Fascism in Italy • Benito Mussolini was establishing a totalitarian regime in Italy. • Mussolini new how to speak about nationalism. • He established a fascist party, one that stresses nationalism above individual needs.

Mussolini • In 1922, he marched on Rome with thousands of his followers known as “black shirts”. • He called himself Il Duce or “the leader”. • He did this by creating a totalitarian and using fear.

Nazis in Germany • After WWI Adolph Hitler joined the National Socialist German Worker’s Party better known as the Nazi Party. • He named himself Der Fuhrer “the leader” and promised to bring German out of chaos. • In prison, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) he outlined his plans for restoring Germany.

Hitler • He also wanted to enforce racial “purification” at home. • He considered Aryans a “master race”. • The Great Depression helped the Nazis come to power. War debts and unemployment made the German people desperate for strong leadership.

Military gains control in Japan • The military in Japan believed in more living space and nationalism as a driving force. • They would invade Manchuria China and then seek more territorial gains.

Civil War in Spain • Spanish Army officers led by General Francisco Franco rebelled against the Spanish Republic. • Franco’s fascist forces would receive aid from Hitler and & Mussolini. • With the aid Franco seized control and created a fascist state.

U.S. Responds • Though Americans were concerned with events around the world they wanted to remain isolationist. • Congress even passed Neutrality Acts or laws forbidding the selling of weapons abroad.