Interbellum PDF - Past Paper

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Interbellum Name: Class:  S3 2. £ £ 'S O t B v> o l 3. g 3’ a 3 £ o G> q 3 £ & n 8-. o n> 3 3O s 3 o. O g g v> O 3- s- o £ o S- ö. 3 O S cn3’ PT CL. £ o>8- I' B- a 3 o 3 3 s- 0> B. o £ p I 8- s 53 s: E S’ ft a ft Italy: Learn and see! (about 2.14 Mussolini) 1. What do you know now of Benito Mussolini, and which ideology was central to his dictatorship? 2. How did Mussolini use propaganda to strengthen his power in Italy? 3. Understanding: What were the main goals of Mussolini’s policies during his leadership? 4. Integrating: Compare how Mussolini and other interwar dictators Csuch as Hitler or Stalin) Consolidated their power. What similarities and differences can you identify?  5. Applying: Imagine you are a journalist in Mussolini’s Italy. Write a short article analyzing one of his major policies and its impact on Italian society. USA: Fire away! (About2.15and 2.16-usa) 1. What were the Roaring Twenties, and why were they significant in American history? 2. How did the stock market crash of 1929 contribute to the Great Depression? 3. What role did President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal play in addressing the effects of the Great Depression? U. Compare the social and economie changes in the USA during the Roaring Twenties with the chatlenges faced during the Great Depression. How did these periods shape American society? 5. Imagine you are an economist in the 1930s. Propose one additional policy that could have helped the USA recover -From the Great Depression, and explain why it might have been e-F-fective. Additional notes: Germany in the Interwar Period A Nation in Turmoil and Transformation The period between 1919 and 1939 was a time of immense upheaval and transformation for Germany. Emerging from the devastation of World War I, the country faced political instability, economie hardship, and deep societal divisions. These challenges, combined with external pressures and internal strife, would eventually lead to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, setting the stage for World War II. The Treaty of Versailles and lts Consequences In 1919, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, a punitive agreement imposed by the Allied powers. The treaty placed sole responsibility for the war on Germany, demanding extensive reparations to compensate for damages caused during the conflict. Additionally, it stripped Germany of its territories, including Alsace-Lorraine, and all of its overseas colonies. The military was reduced to a fraction of its former size, capped at 100,000 soldiers, and prohibited from maintaining a significant air force or navy. These terms were met with outrage and humiliation by the German people. Many viewed the treaty as a "Diktat"-a dictated peace - and a betrayal by the Weimar politicians who signed it. This resentment simmered throughout the interwar years, creating fertile ground for political extremism. Economie Challenges and Recovery The economie aftermath of the war was dire. Germany’s obligation to pay reparations exacerbated its financial struggles. In 1923, the government began printing money to meet these obligations, leading to one of history’s most notorious cases of hyperinflation. The value of the German mark plummeted, and prices soared. A loaf of bread, which had cost less than a mark before the war, could cost billions of marks by late 1923. Ordinary Germans saw their savings wiped out, leading to widespread despair and loss of trust in the government. The crisis was alleviated by the introduction of the Dawes Plan in 1924, a financial strategy orchestrated by American banker Charles Dawes. The plan reduced Germany’s annual reparations payments and tied them to its economie capacity. Furthermore, it provided substantial loans from the United States, allowing Germany to stabilize its currency and rebuild its economy. With this influx of foreign Capital, Germany entered a period of relative prosperity known as the “Golden Years” of the Weimar Republic, lasting from 1924 to 1929. Cities like Berlin became cultural hubs, celebrated for their avant-garde art, music, and cinema. Industrial production increased, unemployment decreased, and Germany regained a degree of political stability. However, this recovery was fragile and heavily dependen! on American loans. The Great Depression and Renewed Crisis The prosperity of the late 1920s came to an abrupt end with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929. When the U.S. stock market crashed, American banks called in their loans, leaving Germany without the financial support it relied upon. Industrial production plummeted, and unemployment skyrocketed to over six million. The economie despair reignited public anger and disillusionment with the government, paving the way for the rise of extremist political movements. XATE NEWS WALLST. INJPANIC AS STOCKS CRASH Attempt Made to Kilt Italy’s Crown Prince^ «r* --------- - IIoIJvhooiI 1'iH' ISISI!UK'I HighDutyGioup IMRSSUVH Deitiiiis rilms ilIlWUHI» 1 IK III(« j Gave $700,000 to. *-------.««xcunttiwimi» - Worth Milli..H‘. l.iTOi® ISmWStt Coolidge Dihe klfilHtMUK Rwrifl S IfJJl mniiuiwiiii gBa'g 'saiiEum HiSSKUM FUÖ6 tUM! ‘ aiwfsaw.Kiuisttii Political Instability and the Fragility of the Weimar Republic Germany’s political landscape in the interwar period was dominated by the Weimar Republic, established in 1919. Although it introduced democratie principles such as universal suffrage and a parliamentary system, the republic faced intense opposition from both the far left and the far right. Communists sought to emulate the Russian Revolution, while conservative and nationalist factions longed for the return of the monarchy. This polarization resulted in frequent uprisings and assassinations, undermining the government’s legitimacy. Moreover, the proportional representation system in the Reichstag often led to fragmented parliaments, making it difficult to form stable coalitions. For many Germans, democracy itself was seen as a foreign imposition and an ineffective system incapable of addressing the nation’s problems. This widespread disillusionment created an opening for demagogues like Adolf Hitler, who offered an alternative Vision of strong, centralized leadership. The Rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party Adolf Hitler emerged as a dominant figure during this tumultuous time. After joining the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) in 1920, he quickly became its leader. Hitler’s speeches resonated with Germans who feit betrayed by their leaders and humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles. He promised to restore Germany’s greatness, reject the treaty, and provide jobs and stability. In 1923, Hitler attempted to seize power through the Beer Hall Putsch, a failed coup in Munich. Although the revolt was quickly suppressed, it brought Hitler national attention. During his subsequent imprisonment, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle), outlining his ideological beliefs, including extreme nationalism, anti-Semitism, and a Vision of Germany’s expansion into Eastern Europe. The Nazi Party’s popularity grew during the economie crisis of the 1930s. By exploiting fears of communism, frustration with democracy, and the widespread desire for change, Hitler secured significant electoral victories. In 1933, he was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Within months, he Consolidated power, dismantling democratie institutions, and establishing a totalitarian regime. Life in Nazi Germany Under Hitler’s rule, Germany became a tightly controlled dictatorship. The Reichstag Fire of 1933 was used as a pretext to pass the Enabling Act, granting Hitler the authority to enact laws without parliamentary approval. Opposition parties were banned, and political dissidents were arrested, ensuring the Nazis faced no challenges to their authority. Propaganda played a central role in maintaining control. Joseph Goebbels, as Minister of Propaganda, used newspapers, radio, films, and rallies to promote Nazi ideology and portray Hitler as Germany’s savior. At the same time, the regime implemented policies of racial discrimination, targeting Jews, Roma, disabled individuals, and other minority groups. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 institutionalized anti-Semitism, stripping Jews of citizenship and legal rights, setting the stage for the horrors of the Holocaust. Economically, Hitler pursued a policy of rearmament and public works projects, such as the construction of the Autobahn. These efforts reduced unemployment and boosted national pride, further solidifying his support among the populace. Militarization and the Path to War As Germany regained strength under Nazi rule, Hitler began to openly defy the Treaty of Versailles. In 1936, he remilitarized the Rhineland, a region that had been demilitarized as part of the treaty. Two years later, Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss and demanded the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a significant ethnic German population. Although Britain and France sought to avoid conflict through a policy of appeasement, Hitler’s ambitions were not satisfied. In 1939, Germany invaded Roland, prompting Britain and France to declare war. World War II had begun. A Nation Transformed The interwar period saw Germany undergo profound changes, from the humiliation of Versailles and the chaos of economie collapse to the rise of one of history’s most infamous regimes. These years offer valuable lessons about the dangers of political extremism, the impact of economie hardship, and the consequences of international isolation. Questions to think about. 1. Economie Dependency: How did the Dawes Plan both help and weaken Germany's economy in the long run? 2. Treaty’s Role: How did the Treaty of Versailles contribute to Germany’s instability, and could it have been fairer? 3. Leadership Comparison: How did the leadership of the Weimar Republic differ from Hitler’s, and how did this shape Germany? M. Appeasement: Did appeasement by Britain and France encourage Hitler’s aggression, or was it justified? 5. Power of Ideology: How did Nazi propaganda and policies transform German society during Hitler’s rule? Write the answers in your notebook.