Summary
Rise of Totalitarian Regimes and the Outbreak of World War II
Germany’s Rise to Power
Following Germany’s defeat in World War I, the country was forced to accept blame, pay massive reparations, and reduce its size, leading to widespread resentment and economic instability. The Treaty of Versailles aimed to create a new world order, but the US withdrew into isolationism, and Germany’s new democracy, the Weimar Republic, was plagued by street battles, hyperinflation, and the rise of right-wing politicians like Adolf Hitler, who would eventually seize control of the Nazi party and attempt a coup in 1923.
After a failed coup attempt, Hitler was sentenced to prison, where he wrote a book blaming Jews for Germany’s problems and advocating for territorial expansion. Upon his release, he rebuilt the Nazis into a disciplined party, using the democratic system to achieve his goals. When the US stock market crashed in 1929, Hitler’s popularity soared, and by 1933, he was appointed Chancellor, eventually declaring himself president and absolute leader of Germany.
Japan’s Aggression
In the early 20th century, Japan was a military power that had defeated Russia in 1905 and fought alongside the Allies in World War I. Despite being a democracy, Japan was plagued by contradictions, with a strong reverence for the Emperor and feudal traditions. The country faced major economic problems, lacking natural resources to fuel its expanding industries.
Japan’s leaders saw solutions in Chinese Manchuria, which was a perfect target due to its rich resources. With the US distracted by its economic boom and later the Great Depression, Japan made its move in 1931, seizing the capital Muk and overrunning the rest of the territory, proclaiming a puppet state, and eventually walking out of the League of Nations.
In 1937, Japan invaded China, taking advantage of the country’s civil war between the government and the Communist Party. The Japanese military committed atrocities, such as the Nanking Massacre, killing over 300,000 civilians, and attacked British and US warships. Despite this, the Western Powers, including the US and Britain, did not take decisive action, fearing it might provoke a war.
Italy’s Rise to Power
Benito Mussolini, a war veteran and journalist, organized a right-wing nationalist party, the Fascists, and took advantage of Italy’s general strike in 1922 to rise to power. By 1928, he had eliminated political opposition and assumed dictatorial powers. Mussolini’s initial acts, such as providing employment and transforming Italy’s infrastructure, made him popular.
He then set his sights on recreating the Roman Empire, starting with Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia), which he invaded in 1935, despite the League of Nations’ inaction and Britain’s failed attempts to intervene.
Appeasement Policy
Britain and France, still reeling from the devastating effects of World War I, were no longer willing to fight. Their economies had not recovered, and they faced the added burden of controlling their expanded empires. Both countries had suffered greatly in World War I, and were traumatized by the horrific casualties.
As a result, they adopted a policy of appeasement, focusing on their own internal issues, such as the Great Depression, and were unprepared to take on the rising threats of Germany and Italy, even when Italy conquered Abyssinia.
Spanish Civil War
In 1936, a popular front government in Spain faced a military coup led by General Francisco Franco, who sought to save Spain from communism. Franco’s forces were initially stuck in North Africa, but he received crucial air support from Adolf Hitler, who saw the opportunity to test his new equipment and expanding armed forces.
The Nationalist situation was further boosted by the support of Benito Mussolini, while the Republicans received limited help from the Soviet Union. Despite the Republicans’ initial advantage, the Nationalists’ foreign support ultimately gave them the upper hand.
Germany’s Aggressive Expansion
Germany’s ultimate goal was to conquer and germanize territory in the East, and they prepared for massive expansion by secretly developing tank designs and mobile armored tactics. Hitler adopted these ideas and created three Panzer divisions, and also revealed the existence of the Luftwaffe, increasing the Army to 300,000 men and reintroducing conscription.
He then set his sights on unifying Austria with Germany, and after a Nazi plot was discovered, he sent in troops, incorporating Austria into the Third Reich, and then turned his attention to Czechoslovakia, where a substantial German minority lived.
Hitler threatened Czechoslovakia, but backed off when it mobilized its army. Later, Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, and Britain and France agreed to give it to him in the Munich Agreement. Hitler then occupied the Sudetenland and began to target Poland, demanding the return of Danzig. When Poland refused, Hitler annexed the rest of Czechoslovakia and declared Slovakia a protectorate.
Despite Britain and France’s warnings, Hitler continued to pursue his territorial ambitions, eventually signing a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, which secretly agreed to split Poland and allow Stalin to take over other territories.
On the evening of August 31st, Germany prepared to launch an assault, a decision that would plunge the world into war.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Totalitarian Regime | A government that exercises total control over its citizens, suppressing opposition and dissent. | Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party in Germany is an example of a totalitarian regime. |
| Appeasement Policy | A policy of giving in to an aggressor’s demands in order to avoid conflict. | Britain and France’s policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany, allowing Hitler to annex Austria and invade Czechoslovakia, is a classic example. |
| Fascism | A political ideology that emphasizes nationalism, authoritarianism, and militarism. | Benito Mussolini’s Fascist party in Italy is an example of fascism in action. |
| League of Nations | An international organization established after World War I to promote peace and security. | Japan’s withdrawal from the League of Nations in 1933, following its invasion of Manchuria, highlights the organization’s ineffectiveness. |
| Non-Aggression Pact | A treaty between two or more countries agreeing not to engage in aggressive behavior towards each other. | The non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 allowed Hitler to focus on invading Poland. |
| Isolationism | A foreign policy of avoiding involvement in international conflicts and alliances. | The United States’ isolationist policy in the 1930s allowed Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to expand their territories unchecked. |
| Panzer Division | A military unit specializing in armored warfare, particularly with tanks. | Hitler’s creation of three Panzer divisions in Germany’s military expansion is an example of the importance of armored warfare. |
| Munich Agreement | A treaty allowing Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland in exchange for a promise of no further aggression. | The Munich Agreement in 1938, signed by Britain, France, and Italy, is often seen as a failed attempt to appease Hitler. |
| Weimar Republic | The democratic government of Germany from 1919 to 1933, established after World War I. | The Weimar Republic’s instability and economic struggles paved the way for Hitler’s rise to power. |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
1. Which word means ‘a policy of giving in to someone’s demands in order to avoid conflict’?
A) Isolationism
B) Hyperinflation
C) Appeasement
D) Aggression
2. Which word means ‘a very large amount of money that a country has to pay because it has lost a war’?
A) Reparations
B) Hyperinflation
C) Isolationism
D) Appeasement
3. Which word means ‘a system of government in which one person has complete power and control’?
A) Democracy
B) Fascism
C) Dictatorship
D) Totalitarianism
4. Which word means ‘a period of time when there is very little economic activity and many people are unemployed’?
A) Depression
B) Recession
C) Boom
D) Inflation
5. Which word means ‘a group of countries that work together to promote peace and stability’?
A) League of Nations
B) United Nations
C) European Union
D) NATO
Answer Key:
1. C
2. A
3. C
4. A
5. A
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense
Grammar Quiz:
1. By 1928, ____________________ dictatorial powers.
A) Mussolini had assumed
B) Mussolini assumes
D) Mussolini had been assuming
C) Mussolini had assumed
2. When the US stock market crashed in 1929, ____________________ popularity soared.
A) Hitler’s
B) Hitler had
C) Hitler’s had
D) Hitler was having
3. By 1933, ____________________ Chancellor.
A) Hitler was appointed
C) Hitler had been appointed
B) Hitler has appointed
D) Hitler is appointed
4. Despite being a democracy, Japan ____________________ major economic problems.
A) had faced
B) faces
C) was facing
D) faced
5. When the Japanese military committed atrocities, the Western Powers ____________________ decisive action.
A) did not take
B) had not taken
C) were not taking
D) have not taken
Answer Key:
1. C) Mussolini had assumed
2. A) Hitler’s
3. A) Hitler was appointed
4. A) had faced
5. A) did not take