Canada and WW2 Flashcards
What is a dictator?
a ruler with unrestricted power, without any democratic restrictions
What does totalitarian mean?
describes political philosophies that put the state above all else, including the rights of the individual
What is a totalitarian state?
a dictatorship in which the government uses intimidation, violence, and propaganda to rule all aspects of the social and political life of citizens. The government has total control over all aspects of politics and society.
What were some totalitarian states of the 1930s?
Germany, Italy, Spain, Soivet Union and in a different way Japan
What were the five-year plans?
Stalin’s plans for economic development in the Soviet Union over five years, to industrialize the country and give the government complete control of the economy.
How did Stalin come to power?
1917 Communists had taken control of Russia. 1924 Stalin became the leader of the Communist Party. by 1928 had total control
Describe the five-year plan?
First step was to collectivize argiculture (seizing all privately owned land). Next he created industrial projects, focused on building industry and military.
Describe life under Stalin.
Government controlled all media and imposed strict censorship and travel restrictions on everyone. Secret police arrested anyone deemed to be a threat, government controlled the courts.
How did Benito Mussolini come to into government?
After WW1 Italy suffered chaotic economic and political conditions, Mussolini took advantage of this. Established the Fascist Party; emphasized nationalism and challenged Italy’s democratic government.
What does fascist mean?
a form of authoritarian government that is totalitarian and nationalistic
What are Blackshirts?
Mussolini created the Blackshirts, gangs of fascists who intimidated their opponents by attacking communists and socialist in the streets. Their favourite tactic was forcing bottles of castor oil down a victim’s throat.
How did Benito Mussolini come to power?
In 1922, Mussolini led the March on RomeL he gathered 26 000 Blackshirts outside the city and demanded that the government be turned over to him. Once he was leader, he brought all communications, industry, agriculture, and labour under fascist control and turned Italy into a totalitarian state.
What is Weimar Republic?
the democratic government in Germany after WW1
How did Hitler come to power?
In 1920 he joined the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, also known as the Nazis. 1921 he was the leader of the party. Nazis gained support by criticizing the Weimar Republic and humiliating terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Convinced germans that he could save Germany from the Depression. In 1933 Hitler became chancellor of Germany.
Once Hitler was in power how did he rule the country?
Through intimidation and fear. Banned all political parties other than the Nazis and use the secret police to enforce his rule. Stopped reparation payments. Unemployment went down and the economy improved.
Who were the Nazis?
members of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party; the Nazis were extreme nationalists who took power in 1933 and controlled every aspect of German life through police state
What is the “master race”?
Nazi Party believed that the German people were a master race of Aryans, a supposedly pure race of northern Europeans. Non-Aryans, including Jewish people, Roma, and Slavs were considered inferior. People with mental or physical disabilities were despised because they destroyed the image of the master race. Communists and homosexuals were also undesirables.
The Nazis banned…
Non-Aryans and undesirables from teaching or attending schools and universities, holding government office or writing books.
What was the Nuremberg Laws?
forced Jewish people to wear the Star of David at all times, banned marriages between Jews and Aryans and made it illegal for Jewish people to be lawyers or doctors. Nazi government also encouraged violence against Jewish people.
What was the Kristallnacht?
a coordinated attack against Jewish people and their property carried out by Nazis in Germany
What does persecution mean?
to oppress or ill-treat because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs
What was the Holocaust?
the Nazi Imprionment and murder of 6 million Jewish people and 5 million other peoples during WW2
How did Francisco Franco come to power?
Franco led Nationalists (fascist rebels) to try and overthrow the elected socialist government. Resulted in a brutal civil war lasted 3 years. Military support from Hitler and Mussolini won the war and became the ruler of spain in 1939.
How did Franco rule?
Brutal totalitarian dictator who ruled by intimidation and violence.
What factors contributed to the second world war?
Many countries had nationalistic ambitions to expand their territory and resources. Germany and Italy felt that they had been cheated by treaties at the end of WW1 and wanted fix this. Japan wanted access to more resources to help support its industries.
What did Hitler do to unite the “master race” of germans and help start another war?
- Ordered his troops into Rhineland (violation of treaty, nothing happened)
- Germany took over Austria (violation of treaty, nothing happened)
- Threatened to invade Sudentenland (given to the Czechoslovakia at the Paris Peace Conference) British and French leaders met with him in Munich to try to negotiate
- In exchange for Sudetenland, Hitler promised not to invade. Hitler broke promise and invaded Czechoslovakia.
What is the policy of appeasement?
giving in to an aggressor’s demands in the hopes that no more demands will be made
What is a non-aggression pact?
an agreement between two countries not to attack each other
Why did Hitler sign a non-aggression pact with Stalin?
Even though the Nazis hated communists and vice versa, both countires pledged not to fight each other if one of them went to war, agreed to divide Poland between them. He did this so that he could invade Poland without being attack by Stalin.
Why did Britain and France declare war?
Because Germany ignored their deadline to get out of Poland.
Weakness of the League of Nations?
Was to weak to prevent nationalistic aggression in parts of the world. Did not have the military force to enforce its decisions.
How did Japan and China go to war?
Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria. League of Nations condemned Japans action and tried to negotiate. Japan withdrew from the League and continued with its policy of aggression.
What is a refugee?
a person displaced from his or her home and territory by war and other acts of aggression
Why did Canada not allow Jewish people to immigrate?
Country shared the view of anti-semitism. Because of the rise unemployment Canada only accepted immigrants from Britain or US that could support themselves.
What was the SS St. Louis?
A boat with 907 Jewish people trying to escape persecution. Denied entry in Cuba, South America, and the United States. Canada was last hope. Canadian government refused to let the St. Louis dock in any port because the passengers did not qualify for entry as immigrants. Ship was forced to return to Europe. Many people aboard died in concentration camps.
How/why did Canada decide to go to war?
September 8, King called Parliament to decide whether Canada would join the war. King was for war. Only Woodsworth was against war.
How did Canadians feel about going to war again?
Canada was not prepared. No people cheering on the streets. No trouble finiding volunteers. Many people still felt strong ties to Britain and volunteered from a sense of duty.
