Totalitarianism Chart – Between the Wars

Definition: total govt control of all aspects of life (public and private)

Kinds of governments that became totalitarian after WWI:

l  Fascism = dictatorship + nationalism + worship of state + imperialism and militarism

l  Nazism = fascism + racism

l  Communism = dictatorship + socialism (state control of economy)

l  Military Dictatorship = fascism + tradition (emperor remained head of state)

Why totalitarian governments were able to take control of Europe after WWI:

l  weak governments

l  economic problems

l  Treaty of Versailles/League of Nations failed

l  strong leadership

Totalitarian leaders appear to provide a sense of security and to give a direction for the future.

see also chart on p. 776 / Italy / Germany / Soviet Union / Japan
Leader / Mussolini / Hitler / Stalin / Tojo/Hirohito (emp)
Dates in Power / 1922-1943 / 1933-1945 / 1924-1953 / 1931-1945
Type of Govt (above) / fascism / nazism / communism / military dictatorship
Goal / new Roman empire / Third Reich
gain lebrensraum / conquer world and spread communism / more living space and resources
Strong Military? / yes (Brownshirts) / yes (Blackshirts) / yes (Red Army) / yes (duh!)
Secret Police? / yes / yes (Gestapo) / yes (KGB) / yes
Nationalism? / yes / yes / yes / yes
Glorify Individual? / no / no / no / no
Propaganda? / yes / yes / yes / yes
Censorship? / yes / yes / yes / yes
Equality? / no / no / no / no
Private Industry? / yes / some / no / yes
Aggressive Foreign Policy? / Ethiopia (35)
Albania (39) / Spanish Civil War
Rhineland (36)
Austria (38)
Czechoslovakia (39) / Poland (39)
Baltics (39)
Nazi-Soviet Pact / Manchuria (31)
China (37)
anti-communist / anti-western
League of Nations / withdrew 1937 / withdrew 1933 / admitted 1934
expelled 1939 / withdrew 1933

Compare and Contrast – Totalitarian Leaders

What are some common characteristics of all the leaders?

What are some clear differences?

TASK: Choose 2 totalitarian leaders to compare/contrast – create a Venn diagram below.

You should include as many details as possible (at least 5 items in each section). Use the chart on the other side, the stories we read yesterday, and your textbook to help guide you.