WW2

• Rise of Fascism


  • Less democracy in Europe and Asia after WW1
  • Nine dictatorships developed
  • Communism spreading in Europe
  • Dictatorship in Italy and Germany
• Benito Mussolini


  Gained popularity in Italy in 1915 through a fascist coalition
• Fascist Coalition in Italy

  • People who wanted protection, respect, and prosperity
  • People who wanted to protect capitalism
  • Veterans/military wanting more benefits
  • Labor unions supporting Mussolini for jobs
• Mussolini's rise to power

  1. Formed a group of "shock troops"/Black Shirts

  2. Marched on Rome in 1922

  3. Became dictator
• Slogan for Mussolini's Fascist Party


  Believe, Obey, and Fight: Believe in the State, Obey Mussolini, Fight for Fascism
• Mussolini-led Italy attacked and took control of Ethiopia in 1935
• Weimar Republic in Germany


  • Established after overthrow of Kaiser in 1919
  • People did not trust it for signing Treaty of Versailles
  • Faced communist Spartacist Revolt in 1919
• Reasons for Weimar Republic's weakness

  • Debt (33 billion dollars)
  • Too many political parties
  • People did not trust the government
  • Germany lost 5-6 million men - no competent leadership
  • Long economic depression
• Hyperinflation in Germany - 1914: 1 USD = 4 marks, 1923: 1 USD = 7525 marks, Nov 1923: 1 USD = 4.2 billion German marks
• German professor took 100,000 marks retirement savings and could only buy a round-trip subway ticket, then committed suicide
• Adolf Hitler


  • Failed coup d'etat in 1923, sent to prison for 6 months
  • Wrote "Mein Kampf" in prison, said he would take over Germany and the world, exterminate Jews
  • Nazi party emerged in 1928, gained majority in Reichstag by 1932
• Reichstag Fire in 1933


  Hitler blamed communists, people turned to him in fear
• Hitler's rise to power

  1. Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor in 1933

  2. Reichstag fire led to banning of other parties

  3. Hindenburg's death led to Hitler becoming dictator
• Nuremberg Laws in 1935

  • No Jews could carry influence
  • No German citizenship for Jews
  • Jews not allowed to hold/vote for office
  • Jewish teachers, actors, musicians fired
  • No Jews could marry Germans
  • Jewish males add "Israel", Jewish women add "Sarah"
• Hitler violated Treaty of Versailles multiple times
• Hitler's actions in 1930s

  • Got Germany out of depression by making tools for war
  • Passed Volkswagen reform
  • Brought electricity to remote areas
• Hitler's territorial expansion


  1. Seized Rhineland in 1936

  2. Annexed Austria in 1938 (Anschluss)

  3. Demanded Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia in 1938
• Munich Conference


  • Meeting between European powers and Hitler over Sudetenland demand
  • Chamberlain and others backed down to avoid war
• Germany and Russia agreed to non-aggression pact in 1939, then Germany invaded Poland, leading to Britain declaring war