Survey of Treaties and Dictatorships (1919-1946)

A peace treaty that ended World War I, punishing Hungary for its role in the war, resulted in loss of territory and military reduction.

Post World War I treaty focused on punishment of Austria and its loss of territory and military reduction.

Post World War I treaty focused on punishment of Germany. Included military restrictions, economic reparations, territorial losses and war criminal accusations.

Clause in the Treaty of Versailles that blamed Germany for the start of World War I, leading to heavy reparations.

Payments imposed on defeated countries after a war to compensate for damages caused.

Authoritarian governments that came to power in Europe following World War I due to widespread hardship.

Countries experienced severe economic struggles post WWI, due to factors like war costs and reparations.

Significant societal upheaval in countries after WWI led partly to rise of extremely nationalist governments.

Separate peace treaty negotiated by Russia with Germany ending their participation in WWI.

Limiting the size and capability of armies as imposed by post-war treaties.

Japan suffered significant losses during WWII, with an estimated 300,907 wounded soldiers, and around 800,000 men contributing to the Allied war effort.

Several nations developed extreme ideologies in the 20th century, including Nazism in Germany, Socialism/Communism in Russia (later Stalinism), Fascism in Italy, and imperialism in Japan. A common factor among these ideologies was nationalism.

Nationalism fueled racist, xenophobic attitudes, a nationalistic attitude to fight, and scapegoating in many countries. These nations also showed negligent attitudes toward international organizations like the League of Nations.

The Great Depression was characterized by inflation, wage depreciation, unemployment, and under/overproduction.

Hitler capitalized on the Great Depression in Germany by promising solutions, exploiting the collapsing middle class and rising nationalism to gain political support.

Mussolini's regime in Italy aimed for self-sufficiency, creating job programs to lessen the effects of the Great Depression.

Japan's economic reliance on silk trade, affected by the global recession, was a major factor in its invasion of Manchuria, China.

Economic hardship fostered the rise of dictators worldwide because they promised hope and deliverance to demoralized citizens and used desperation as an opportunity to gain power.

Stalin used propaganda to cultivate a cult of personality around himself, portraying himself as Lenin's chosen successor, gaining widespread support and legitimacy.

Soviet artists, writers, and filmmakers were required to produce works that aligned with the official Communist ideology, promoting socialist values and ideals.

The NKVD, the Soviet secret police, permeated all aspects of Soviet life, enforcing Stalin's control through surveillance, arrests, and suppression of any dissent or opposition.

Public trials orchestrated by Stalin to accuse and convict perceived enemies of the state, serving as a spectacle of ‘justice’ to instill fear and discourage opposition.

Targeting and eliminating potential rivals and anyone seen as a threat to Stalin's power, including through imprisonments in gulags.

Economic strategies implemented by Stalin to rapidly transform Russia from an agrarian society to an industrial powerhouse, emphasizing collectivization of agriculture and rapid industrialization.

A policy of forced consolidation of private farms into large collective farms under state control, aimed at increasing agricultural production and supporting industrialization.

Soviet citizens lived under constant surveillance, facing potential arrest for real or imagined infractions, contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation.

Mussolini's political ideology in Italy, characterized by nationalism, anti-communism, and anti-democracy. It emerged from post-WWI disillusionment and discontent.

Italy, despite being on the winning side of World War I, was dissatisfied with the Paris Peace Conference due to heavy losses, economic hardship, and political instability.

Benito Mussolini, the future Fascist leader of Italy, aimed to revise the post-war settlement and improve Italy's situation.

Italy faced economic difficulties after World War I, with high unemployment, currency devaluation, and rising living costs.

A powerful public display of strength by Mussolini's Fascist Party, marching on Rome to seize power.

Mussolini's Fascist ideology was primarily opposed to communism and democracy, reflecting the prevailing feelings of discontent and disillusionment after World War I.

Fascism aimed to instill its ideology in youth through organizations like 'Avanguardia' and 'Giovani Italiane', similar to Germany's 'Hitler Youth' and Russia's 'Komsomol'.

After consolidating his domestic power, Mussolini focused on foreign policy, aiming to revise the 1919 Paris Peace Settlement and achieve international recognition for Italy.

The introduction of universal male suffrage in Italy in 1919, meaning that every male over 21 could vote, is seen by historian Mark Mazower as the trigger for the rise of Mussolini and his Fascist Party. This sudden shift towards democracy sparked fear among more conservative sections of Italian society.

Japan emerged from World War I in a good economic position. However, a recession followed due to rising tariffs on Japanese goods by Western powers and Japan's rapidly growing population.

Japan gained control of German concessions in China and mandates over Germany's former North Pacific colonies (Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands) after World War I.

Japan's attempt to include a racial equality clause in the Covenant of the League of Nations was rejected, which deeply offended the Japanese people.

The global economic depression of 1929 significantly impacted Japan, which relied heavily on exports. It exacerbated Japan's existing problems of overpopulation, food shortages, and economic stagnation.

Many in Japan began believing that the country's problems could only be solved through expansion overseas, creating an environment of aggressive nationalism.

In 1931, members of the Japanese Kwantung Army staged an explosion on the South Manchurian Railway, using this as a pretext to invade and occupy Mukden, Manchuria.

While the civilian government in Japan appeared to operate as usual after the Mukden Incident, the military actually wielded real power, dictating national policy.

A faction within the Japanese military that advocated for aggressive expansionism and a strong military role in Japanese society. Advocated for rapid expansion and dominance in Asia.

A faction within the Japanese military that focused on maintaining control over the army through internal hierarchies and opposed the Imperial Way's aggressive expansionist policies.

The Japanese military police force, which was tasked with maintaining order within the military and suppressing dissent during the rise of militarism in Japan.

Hideki Tojo, a prominent Japanese military leader, became Prime Minister in 1941 and consolidated power by controlling key ministries, ultimately paving the way for his dictatorship and Japan's aggressive expansion.

A voting system where the number of seats in parliament a party receives is proportional to the percentage of votes they get, leading to many parties and potential deadlock.

The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany after WWI, including heavy reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions, contributed to the instability of the Weimar Republic.

A failed military coup in Germany in 1920, led by conservative forces who aimed to overthrow the democratic Weimar Republic. While unsuccessful, it weakened the Republic's authority and paved the way for further instability.

The severe hyperinflation that plagued Germany in the 1920s provided an opportunity for the Nazi Party to gain support by promising economic solutions and appealing to nationalist sentiment.