The Rise of Dictators

The World Between the Wars

Stalin in the U.S.S.R.• Lenin died in 1924 and there was a power struggle

between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky.• Took on the mentality of you are either for us or

against us (like reign of terror) killed his enemies• Entrenched Communism in the Soviet Union • Developed a plan called collectivization in which the

govt. took over farmers land and only left them small amounts to live on. Millions starved

• Killed approximately 23 million people (just disappeared)

• Feared an attack from Germany and used smaller countries as a buffer zone (see map) Cold war/iron curtain

• Joseph Stalin

Mussolini in Italy• 1922- Mussolini seizes power by using his

“black shirt army” to overthrow the Italian king.• He organized the Fascist party & ruled Italy as

a totalitarian dictator. (facism- extreme nationalism at the expense of the welfare of the people…govt and military put above all else.

• His nickname was “Il Duce” – The Leader- because he used terror & intimidation to get things done (very Machiavellian)

• Mussolini did improve Italy. However, he used terror, fear, propaganda, etc in his country to control the people.

Benito Mussolini

Hitler Rules Germany• Organized the Nazi Party (socialism, not communism!)• Mein Kampf- book written by Hitler which outlined his

hatred for the Jews.• 1933- Hitler named as chancellor in Germany. Before

long, he completely takes over & rules Germany as a totalitarian dictator!

• He goes about trying to promote German culture & destroy anything of Jewish descent in Germany- even before WWII, he begins killing Jews in Germany

• Some positives to reign: Hitler called for development of the VW beetle. He also established the Autobahn interstate highway . Gave Germany back their dignity (nationalism) and rebuilt their economy.

Adolf Hitler

Tojo in Japan• Tojo was the military leader of Japan &

responsible for commanding the Japanese military.

• Even though he was not the official ruler of Japan, he made key decisions regarding military strategy.

• He sought to expand Japan’s borders & would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.

• Will send thousands to their deaths in WWII using Kamikazi warfare.

Hideki Tojo

• However among all of these leaders there was none more ferocious than……………

Queen Elizabeth and Mary Wollstonecraft and King Louis

Asssignment• Pick a dictator Stalin, Hitler, Tojo, MussoliniWrite a one page TYPED essay outlining their rise to

power. You must use your book and other resources (library or internet) to complete this.

1.Tell me when and how they came into power 2. What their major contributions (good and bad)

were to their country. 3. What impact their policies had on the start of WWII

(what did they do to start the war and why?)4. What kind of atrocities did they condone?(I want specific death tolls and who their targets were)DUE MONDAY APRIL 23RD AT THE BEGINNING OF

CLASS (50 PTS) HANDWRITTEN 1 ½ PAGES