Rise of Mussolini and Italian Fascism

• WWII detailed study guide answers and vocabulary words/people info

Rise of Mussolini

• Italy faced economic struggles, high joblessness, and social unrest post-WWI
• The democratic government was weak, leading to fears of communism
• Benito Mussolini exploited the situation by promising to restore Italy's glory
• Mussolini's Fascist Blackshirts intimidated opponents
• He gained support from businesses and the military
• King Victor Emmanuel III invited Mussolini to form a government in 1922
• Mussolini rapidly established a dictatorship in Italy

Nature of Italian Fascism

• Italian Fascism was an extremely nationalist and authoritarian system
• The state was prioritized over individual freedoms
• It rejected democracy and promoted militarism
• Propaganda was used to control public opinion
• Mussolini sought to create a totalitarian state with complete power
• Violence was used repress opposition, including imprisonment or killing of political enemies

Hitler's Rise to Power

• In 1923, Hitler attempted to overthrow the Weimar government in the Beer Hall Putsch, but failed and was arrested
• While in prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, outlining his ideology
• By 1933, Germany experienced the Great Depression that resulted in mass unemployment and economic hardship
• Many Germans lost faith in democracy turning to radical leaders
• Nazi Party gained popularity by blaming Jews and communists for Germany’s problems
• Hitler was legally appointed Chancellor in 1933
• After the Reichstag Fire, he used emergency powers to eliminate opposition, establishing a dictatorship

Appeal of Authoritarian Leaders

• During crises, people seek strong leaders promising stability, economic recovery, and national pride
• They may sacrifice democratic freedoms for security and order
• Economic hardships, unemployment, and fear of threats increase appeal of authoritarian leaders
• This occurred in Germany, Italy, and Japan before WWII

Nazi Totalitarian State

• The Nazi regime controlled nearly all aspects of German life
• Hitler banned political opposition and censored the media
• Propaganda was used to spread Nazi ideology
• The secret police force, Gestapo and SS, suppressed opposition through arrests, torture, and executions
• The government promoted extreme nationalism, racism (especially against Jews), and militarism
• Schools, businesses, and churches followed Nazi principles
• Children were indoctrinated through the Hitler Youth program

Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals

• Overturn the Treaty of Versailles
• Expand German territory (Lebensraum) by conquering Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union
• Unite all German-speaking people into one empire (Anschluss with Austria)
• Destroy communism and defeat the Soviet Union
• Establish German racial superiority by eliminating Jews

Causes of Japanese Militarism

• Japan lacked natural resources, and desired to expand its empire
• The Great Depression weakened Japan’s economy
• The government became dominated by the military
• It promoted nationalism and expansionism

Effects of Japanese Militarism

• Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, and later China in 1937 with atrocities like the Rape of Nanking
• Japan joined Germany and Italy in the Axis Powers
• Japan’s aggression led to conflict with the U.S., attacking Pearl Harbor in 1941 which led to WWII

Appeasement of Aggressors

• Britain and France appeased aggressive demands to avoid war
• They wanted to prevent another world war, and believed that Hitler's demands were reasonable
• The Great Depression weakened their economies
• They underestimated the dangers of Hitler, Mussolini, and Japan

Major Turning Points of WWII

• Battle of Stalingrad (1942-43): Soviet Union stopped the German advance
• D-Day (June 6, 1944): Allies invaded Nazi-occupied France
• Battle of Midway (1942): The U.S. destroyed much of Japan’s navy
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945): Atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, leading to surrender

Responsibility for the Holocaust

• Adolf Hitler and high-ranking Nazi officials planned and carried out the Final Solution
• This resulted in the deaths of 6 million Jews and millions of others
• Many German soldiers, local collaborators, and ordinary citizens participated in the genocide

Post-War Conferences

• At Yalta in February 1945, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union
• Stalin agreed to help fight Japan
• At Potsdam in July 1945, tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union grew
• The U.S. warned Japan to surrender or face destruction

Japan Post-Atomic Bombing

• Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945
• The U.S. occupied Japan, led by General Douglas MacArthur
• Japan’s military was dismantled
• Its government became democratic
• The Constitution of 1947 outlawed war (Article IX)

Key Vocabulary and People

• Fascism: Political ideology valuing nationalism, dictatorship, and military strength
• Benito Mussolini: Italian dictator and founder of Fascism; Ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943
• Adolf Hitler: Leader of Nazi Germany; Responsible for WWII and the Holocaust
• Naziism: Ideology of the Nazi Party focused on racism, dictatorship, and military expansion
• Emperor Hirohito: Japan’s emperor during WWII; his government promoted military aggression
• Lebensraum: Hitler’s idea for Germany needing "living space" in Eastern Europe, leading to expansionist policies
• The Great Depression: Worldwide economic crisis from 1929-1939 which contributed to the rise of totalitarian leaders
• Totalitarianism: A political system where the government has total control over people’s lives
• Militarism: A belief that military strength is the key to national power
• Blitzkrieg: A German strategy of “lightning war” using fast, powerful attacks
• Rape of Nanking: A massacre in 1937 where Japanese forces killed and raped thousands of Chinese civilians
• Appeasement: Giving in to aggressive demands to avoid war
• Nuremberg Laws: Racist laws in Nazi Germany that stripped Jews of rights
• Final Solution: The Nazi plan to exterminate Jews in concentration camps
• Article IX of the Constitution of 1947: A law in Japan’s post-war constitution that banned war and military aggression