Dictatorships between the wars

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Dictatorships between the wars (1918-1939)

Trace the rise of nationalism, totalitarianism and fascism  

Lesson Objectives

How did the Germans feel about the Treaty of Versailles?

The treaty of Versailles caused anger in Germany as they alone were blamed and forced to pay enormous reparations. Unfair!

It caused anger in the USSR as they lost  territory.

 The Great Depression only made these feeling worse and increased the appeal to nationalism.

Mussolini

Hitler

Churchill

Stalin

Lenin

What is totalitarianism?

• Totalitarianism is a form of government in which the national government takes control of all aspects of both public and private life.
• It has an ideology, or set of beliefs, that all citizens are expected to approve. 
  
• It is often led by a single leader and a single political party.
• Mass communication technology helps a totalitarian government spread its aims and support its policies. 
• Surveillance technology makes it possible to keep track of the activities of many people. 
• Violence, such as police terror, discourages those who disagree with the goals of the government.
  

Can you repeat some key traits
of totalitarianism?

Which books illustrates the horrors of a
totalitarian government?

1. Brave New World
2. 1984
3. Angels and Demons
4. To kill a mocking bird

State whether fascism is opposed to, or in support of each of the following. Drag to the right category.

In support of fascism

Opposed to fascism

Democracy

Dictatorship

Communism

Nationalism

Italy felt betrayed: Italy had entered World War I as an ally of Britain and France, and had suffered significant losses. However, the treaty did not fully reflect the promises made to Italy regarding its territorial gains at the border with Austria Hungary.

Give four reasons why Fascism began to rise in Italy after WWI

The March on Rome

• In 1922 Mussolini issued an ultimatum to the Italian government. Sort out Italy’s problem or move aside and allow the Fascist Party to do so.
• Mussolini and 30,000 Fascists began a march on Rome. Mussolini took the train!
• King Victor Emmanuel feared a civil war, panicked and refused the PM permission to use the army against the Blackshirts

• After a meeting in the royal palace Mussolini was appointed PM of Italy.

How did Mussolini become Prime Minister of Italy in 1922?

Mussolini becomes a dictator. Steps to dictatorship

• Secret police force known as the OVRA
• Il Duce 
• All political opponents were sent to prison camps on the Lipari Islands, north of Sicily
  
• A new electoral law, the Acerbo, was introduced. This meant that which ever political party gained the largest percentage of votes would gain two-thirds of the seats in parliament.

I

Mussolini becomes a dictator. Steps to dictatorship

• In the 1924 election, the Blackshirts went on a campaign of terror and intimidation to ensure that the Fascist Party won the election.
• Giacomo Matteotti, Socialists Party, was brutally murdered when he complained about this.

• This economic down turn affected Italy but Mussolini carried on. He used propaganda, convincing the Italians that he was doing a lot more than he actually was.
• History books were rewritten to suit fascism
  

Mussolini was portrayed as an national hero who had the ability to do anything and succeed at whatever he turned his hand to.

The Wall Street Crash, New York 1929, sent a wave of depression across many countries 

Deal with the Church, 1929

Italy before 1870 had been made up of several independent states. Around 1870 Italy was unified. However the Catholic Church had lost land and control over an area in this process and so refused to recognise the Italian government.

 

• In 1929 an agreement between the Church and State were signed. This was known as the Lateran Treaty and Concordat.  

Lateran treaty and concordat

• Mussolini recognised the Vatican State
  
• Compensation was paid to the Church for lands lost
  
• Catholicism became the official religion of Italy
  
• In return the pope recognised the Italian State
  

The Second World War

• In 1940 Italy  joined forces with Hitler. Mussolini was convinced that in no time at all war would be over and that he could take advantage of any peace agreement.
• However from the start things did not go well for Italy.
•  Italy failed to gain control of North Africa or Greece. Hitler had to delay his invasion of Russia in 1941 so that he could send some of his army to help the Italians out in Greece.

End of Fascism in Italy

• The  disaster of the Italian army and failed attempts to conquer countries left Mussolini a very unpopular leader. 
•  When the Americans invaded Southern Italy in 1943 the King had Mussolini dismissed and placed under house arrest.
  
•  Mussolini escaped and with the help of some Nazi’s  established a state called the Salo Republic in the north of Italy. 
•  When the war was coming to an end in 1945 Mussolini tried to escape to neutral Switzerland. He was recognised by Italian partisans, resistance fighters, arrested and given an informal trial and shot dead.