Rise of Totalitarian LeadersWhat conditions give rise to Totalitarian Leaders?

Stalin as a child

Stalin’s Economic and Social Environment•Came to power after Lenin died•Just after the Russian Revolutions,

famine, civil war, and WWI•The country was starving, tired, and

wanted someone to fix their lives•How did this lead to the rise of Stalin?

▫For the same reason the Russians had the revolution – they were tired of living such terrible lives, and so they wanted someone powerful to fix their lives for them.

WWI

Russian Revolutions

Russian Civil War

Russian Famine

Politics and Previous Government

•The Russians had several autocratic leaders before

•After the Bolsheviks took over, there was only one party that ruled Russia

•Stalin promised some freedoms•How would this help Stalin gain power?

▫The Russian people were used to the type of control that dictators had over them, and when Stalin promised a little freedom and equality, they were excited that it was simply better than their current lives. Also, there was only one person that Stalin had to take over, so it made the process quicker and easier.

Russian Art

Recap of the Russian RevolutionsMarch

RevolutionProvisional Government

Lenin

Czar Nicholas II

November (Bolshevik) Revolution

How does this lead to Stalin?

•After the Revolutions, Lenin begins to create a Russia that he wants:▫Lenin is the only one in power▫All decisions he makes are for “the people”▫Everyone must support Communism

•When Lenin dies, there is a struggle between Trotsky and Stalin for power

•Stalin wins the struggle and becomes a Totalitarian Leader. DUN DUN DUN!

Stalin!!!

Young Mussolini

Mussolini’s Economic and Social Environment

•They had just exited from WWI, and almost 500,000 soldiers had died

•The country was in deep economic debt•How would this help Mussolini come to power?

▫The Italians were so angered by the fact that they had lost so much national pride and so many soldiers and money in WWI, that when Mussolini promised to fix their problems, they jumped at the chance to better their lives.

Treaty of Versailles

Previous Politics and Government

•Before Mussolini, there was a king who controlled Italy

•Mussolini gained more support as the economy got weaker

•How did this help Mussolini rise to power?▫Because his popularity was growing, the King

thought the only way to keep the dynasty going was to make Mussolini “il duce” or dictator. After he had come to power, he never left.

Victor Emmanuel

Hitler’s Rise to Power

What conditions allowed Hitler to come to power in Germany?

Hitler’s Rise to Power

November 11, 1918:Germans are forced to sign the Armistice

June 28, 1919:Germans are forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles by the Allied Powers

Hitler’s Rise to Power

Germany felt betrayed by the treatment of the Allies. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to:

•Reduce their military

•Accept blame for WWI

•Lose land and Colonies

•Pay reparations

Hitler’s Rise to Power

As a result, Germany faced devastating inflation and high unemployment.

Germany’s government, the Weimar Republic, was unstable:

•Weak coalition governments had to be formed

•No democratic tradition

Hitler’s Rise to Power1889: Hitler born in Austria1913: Hitler moves to Germany1914: Joins German Army; fights in

WWIWounded, earns Iron

Cross – high honor

Hitler’s Rise to Power

1920: Hitler Joins National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazis)

1923: Beer Hall Putsch – Hitler tries and fails to overthrow the government; realizes must take power legally1924: Hitler writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in prison

Hitler’s Rise to Power

1924:•Inflation kept under control

•Dawes Plan and Young Plan help stabilize Germany’s economy

1929:U.S. Stock Market

Crashes!

The Great Depression…

US’ Great Depression

•How would the US stock market crash affect Germany?▫Because of the stock market crash, the US would no longer be able to help Germany pay their debt, which led to their hyperinflation

Hitler’s Rise to Power1933:

•Jan. 30: Hindenburg names Hitler Chancellor

Hitler’s Rise to Power1933:

•Jan. 30: Hindenburg names Hitler Chancellor

•Feb. 27: Reichstag building burns – Hitler blames the Communists

Hitler’s Rise to Power1933:

• Jan. 30: Hindenburg names Hitler Chancellor

•Feb. 27: Reichstag building burns – Hitler blames the Communists

•Mar. 20: Dachau - First concentration camp

Hitler’s Rise to Power1933:

• Jan. 30: Hindenburg names Hitler Chancellor

•Feb. 27: Reichstag building burns – Hitler blames the Communists

•Mar. 20: Dachau - First concentration camp

Hitler’s Rise to Power1933:

• Jan. 30: Hindenburg names Hitler Chancellor

• Feb. 27: Reichstag building burns – Hitler blames the Communists

• Mar. 20: Dachau - First concentration camp

• Mar. 23: Reichstag passes Enabling Act – Hitler has full dictatorial power

Hitler’s Rise to Power1933:

• Jan. 30: Hindenburg names Hitler Chancellor

• Feb. 27: Reichstag building burns – Hitler blames the Communists

• Mar. 20: Dachau - First concentration camp

• Mar. 23: Reichstag passes Enabling Act – Hitler has full dictatorial power

• June 22: SPD banned

Hitler’s Rise to Power

1934:•Jun. 30: Night of

the Long Knives => Hitler gains support of Army

Hitler’s Rise to Power

1934:•Jun. 30: Night of

the Long Knives => Hitler gains support of Army

•Aug. 2: President Hindenburg dies => Hitler is Führer