ww2ms

World War II - The Third Reich LEADING TO WAR | THE ALLIES | THE AXIS | MAJOR BATTLES | THE HOLOCAUST | LITTLE BOY & FAT MAN

Leading to War Benito Mussolini In 1919, one of Europe's first dictatorships rose in Italy in 1919 under the command of Benito Mussolini. Fascism is an aggressive, racist nationalistic government that believed that order in society would only come through a powerful dictator. They also believe nations become great by building empires. In 1922, backed by the Fascist militia known as the Blackshirts, Mussolini threatened to march on Rome, claiming to defend Italy against the "communist revolution". Persuaded by conservative advisors, the king appointed Mussolini as the premier. With the support of industrialists, landowners, and the Roman Catholic Church, Mussolini set up a dictatorship and proclaimed himself Il Duce. Adolf Hitler Postwar Germany's political and economical chaos led to the rise of many political parties, including the National Socialist German Worker - or "Nazi" - Party. The Nazis were nationalistic and anticommunist, calling for Germany to expand and not abide by the Treaty of Versailles. Adolf Hitler was one of it's first recruits. Attempting to seize power, Hitler and the Nazi party marched on the Munich City Hall, but failed. While in prison, Hitler wrote [|Mein Kampf]. After his release, he changed his tactics. He got Nazis elected into the Reichstag, and by 1932, the Nazis were the largest party. After being proclaimed Prime Minister, Hitler ordered the police to attack the Socialist and Communist Parties and intimidate voters. In 1934, the Reichstag ordered Hitler into office as the president and dictator, where he adopted the title of Der Fuhrer. Joseph Stalin In 1926, when Stalin won a power struggle over Trotsky, Stalin began industrializing his country using Five-Year Plans. During this time, steel production increased from 4 million to 18 million tons. Family farms were combined and turned into collectives, and peasants who resisted faced show trials or starvation. As many as 10 million peasants died in famines during 1932-1933. Tolerating no oppression, Stalin targeted all enemies to his regime, including political opponents, artists, and individuals. By 1935, about 2 million people were in Stalin's concentration camps, mostly located in the Arctic. Between 8 and 10 million people died during Stalin's rule. Hideki Tojo Japanese industries had to import nearly all their resources, and during the 1920's, did not succeed in making enough money to cover the costs of the imports. When the Depression struck, other countries raised their tariffs, which made the situation even worse. Japanese officers blamed corrupt politicians and saw democracy as bad for their country. They believed that seizing territory was the only way Japan could get it's needed resources. In 1931, the Japanese invaded Manchuria. When the prime minister tried to stop the war through negotiation, officers assassinated him. Civilian government supported the nationalist policy and appointed General Hideki Tojo as prime minister.


 * [[image:brokenworld:mussolini.jpg width="124" height="178" caption="Benito Mussolini"]] || [[image:http://www.gazellebookservices.co.uk/Military/WW2/images/Psychological%20Study%20of%20Adolf%20Hitler.jpg width="150" height="190" caption="Adolf Hitler"]] || [[image:http://clapso.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/stalin_color555.jpg width="163" height="182" caption="Joseph Stalin"]] || [[image:http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/Hideki_Tojo.jpg width="160" height="203" caption="Hideki Tojo"]] ||

In 1935, Hitler began to defy the Treaty of Versailles by expanding it's army and attempting unification. He announced his unification with Austria, the Anschluss, in February 1938. After Austria, Hitler demanded a large portion of Czechoslovakia. Unlike Austria, however, Czechoslovakia wasn't so desperate to join Germany. It called on it's alliances, and France and the Soviet Union answered. Great Britain, trying to keep the balance of power and to back up France, pledged support as well. Now at a standoff, representatives of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met at the Munich Conference. On September 29, 1938, Britain and France agreed on a policy of appeasement, bowing to Hitler's cry. Czechoslovakia was left with two options - give up or fight Germany alone.

Merely a month later, Hitler's demands continued, this time setting his eye on Danzig, Poland. Appeasement had failed. Since Hitler had denied the agreement made at the Munich Conference, France and Britain promised it's aid to Poland. Not wanting to fight two fronts, Hitler signed a nonaggression pact with Stalin on August 23, 1939, where Nazis and Communists not only promised peace, but to divide Poland between them as well. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, setting off the second world war.