Ch. 30 Notes

1930’s Europe

Depression-
	*U.S. dollars had represented most of the post-WW1 prosperity
	*Depression cut this spending
	*Weak democracies began to fall as people turn to political extremes for hope and promises
The Promises
1.	revive economic growth
2.	punish those responsible for the hard times
3.	restore national pride
Facism
1.	no clear theory or program
2.	extreme nationalism (nationalistic)
3.	nations must struggle; peace leads to weakness
4.	look to authoritarian leader, part of loyalty to state
5.	state of supreme over individual rights
6.	not a classless society
*each class had its place and function
*allied with aristocrats and industrialists
Mussolini (Il Duce) - Italy
1.	First of Europe’s fascist dictators
2.	after WW1
*felt cheated by Treaty of Versailles
*economic crisis
*upper/middle classes feared communism
3.	Mussolini promises to return to the greatness of ancient Rome
4.	Fascists slowly gain support
*organize “Blackshirts”- bully Communists/Socialists
5.	October 1922- Fascists surround Rome
*King Emanuel III- weak
*he makes Mussolini prime minister
6.	Fascist policies
*authoritarian
    - absoluteloyalty and obedience to the state
	    *abolish democracy
	        - outlaws political parties
                    - secret police
	    *cenosorship
	    *takes over all aspects of economy
Hitler (The Fuhrer) – Germany
1.	soldier in WW1
2.	against Treaty of Versailles and Communism
3.	helped for the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi)
*Nazism= German fascism
*Brownshirts- private army
4.	In 1923, unsuccessful coup attempt
*Hitler jailed
* writes Mein Kampf – My Struggle
    - asserts master race
    - all other races inferior
    - Treaty of Versailles – an outrage
    - must regain lost lands
    - needed more living space
5.	By 1932, as the Great Depression spreads, more people listen to Hitler
*he is named the new Chancellor (1933)
*Parliament gives him absolute power
6.	Quickly and ruthlessly takes control
*bans political parties
*secret police- Gestapo
*arrests opponents- then murders them
*takes over economy- bans strikes and labor unions
*puts millions of people to work
7.	asserts cultural control
*propaganda and censorship
*book burnings
*uses public schools to spread ideas (Hitler Youth Movements)

8.	Promotes “master race” ideology
*blames Jews for all problems
*In 1933 - no Jews can hold public office
*In 1935 – Nuremberg laws
    - deprives Jews of citizenship
    - wear Star of David ID’s
*November 1938 – Kristallnacht
    - Destroy Jewish owned shops, businesses and synagogues
    - seeks “Final Solution”
    - sends Jews to concentration camps