Power and Authority in the Modern World 1919-1946 Flashcards
• An overview of the peace treaties which ended World War I and their consequences
Survey
Treaty of Versailles
The treaty forced Germany to surrender colonies in Africa, Asia and the Pacific; cede territory to other nations like France and Poland; reduce the size of its military; pay war reparations to the Allied countries; and accept guilt for the war.
Treaty of St Germain
The treaty officially registered the breakup of the Habsburg empire, recognizing the independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) and ceding eastern Galicia, Trento, southern Tirol, Trieste, and Istria.
Treaty of Trianon
By the terms of the treaty, Hungary was shorn of at least two-thirds of its former territory and two-thirds of its inhabitants. Czechoslovakia was given Slovakia, sub-Carpathian Ruthenia, the region of Pressburg (Bratislava), and other minor sites. Austria received western Hungary (most of Burgenland).
Treaty of Neuilly
Under its terms Bulgaria was forced to cede lands to Yugoslavia and Greece (thus depriving it of an outlet to the Aegean) involving the transfer of some 300,000 people; to reduce its army to 20,000 men; and to pay reparations, 75 percent of which were later remitted.
Treaties of Sevres and Lausanne
The outcome of the Treaty of Lausanne set Armenians and other minorities of the former Ottoman Empire back nearly five hundred years to the beginning of the colonization of their homeland. The Treaty of Sèvres promised Armenians an independent nation and trials for the Turks responsible for the Armenian Genocide.
• The conditions that enabled dictators to rise to power in the interwar period
Focus
Great Depression
o European economies had collapsed under the economic strain WW1
o USA became Europe’s aide with large loans to the Allies
o 1929 US stock market crashed resulting in the USA losing economic confidence and called in their loans from European nations
o Large companies collapsed
o Unemployment rose
o People felt threatened and insecure beginning to question whether democratic governments were able to fix the worsening social and economic problems
o Many people were ready to listen to any party / individual who offered answers - allowing for the perfect atmosphere for dictators to rise to power
Political unrest
o In many nations and out of trauma and dislocation of World War I grew fascism new ideology that appeared in post war Italy.
The treaty of Versailles
o Created conditions for conflicts to arise.
World War I
o Had and intellectual and cultural impact on Europe that subsequently enabled dictators like (Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin) to rise to power.
• An overview of the feature of the dictatorships that emerged in Russia, Italy, Japan
Russia
Totalitarian
o Control over every aspect of a populations public and private life
o Provided a sense of security and direction for the future
Strong charismatic leader - only allowed one party
Most political and civil rights were denied to citizens and terror tactics were used by the police and secret government forces to control or eliminate any opposition
Propaganda - control information people had access to in order to influence their thinking
Spreading ideas worldwide as part of an ongoing communist revolution
o Attempted to end private ownership of property and production, and social class distinction
Italy
Benito Mussolini - Rose to power from the support of his fascist principles of authoritarian control
o By 1925 had eliminated all potential sources of opposition
Fascism o Extreme nationalism o Military power to control the people o Militaristic beliefs of courage o Unquestioning obedience to authority o Discipline o Physical strength
Supported a class society and rights to private property
Brought fascism to prominence with his desire for Italy to be a great and powerful state
1922 - united with other fascist groups and moved to take power in Italy
o ‘Either the government will be given to us, or we shall seize it by marching on Rome’
Japan
Imperialistic goals
o Asia-pacific
Economy suffered from great depression
o Booming silk trade and export prices fell by 50% by 1931
o Half of the factories closed as a direct result of the worldwide economic collapse
For the military, the immediate answer to the impact of the depression was a strong government at home and economic expansion to overseas territories controlled by Japan
Brief period of democracy and modern culture after WW1
o Soon gave way to increasing internal division between the politicians and the military sections of society over the rejection and discrimination of the Japanese by the Western powers
To the military - Emperor Hirohito was a God who was the symbolic and spiritual leader
o Thus, supported the rise of militarism led by powerful leaders who ruled in the name of the
Emperor
By late 1930’s
o Japanese militarists had almost full control of government decision-making
o Rapidly industrialise - more raw materials were required than could be sourced
Military-led government looked overseas to expand the Japanese empire
The Nazi regime to 1939
• The rise of the Nazi party and Hitler in Germany and the collapse of the Weimar Republic
German Workers Party
Drawn to the ideas of the party and by 1921 became leader
1923 - 50 000 members
Held rallies to protest the Weimer government, threat of communism, and treaty of Versailles
November 1923 - The Munich Beer Hall Putsch
o Hitler tried to take power but was arrested
o He wrote mein Kapmf which outlined his ideology
Article 48
o Dissolved parliament and called for fresh elections
o President Hindenburg used article 48 to override democracy and install an authoritarian government
1930 elections
o Socialist and moderates lost seats to the Nazi party
o Increased their vote from 2.6 to 18.3 % - mainly from depression affected middle class
o Voters were moving away from the parties which supported the Weimar Republic
Violent protests, attacking socialists and republicans
1932 election
o Nazi party wone 37% making it the majority party in the Reichstag
o Right-wing parties now controlled the Reichstag
New elections held and the Nazi’s lost around 2mil votes and the communist vote increased significantly
Once Hitler became Chancellor, he was the puppet master and with that democracy and the Weimer republic were dead
• The initial consolidation of Nazi power 1933–1934
1933
o Reichstag building was damaged by fire
o Nazi party took full advantage of the propaganda angle and used the fire as an example of a pending communist revolution
o Hundreds of communists and political opponents were arrested
Hitler urged Hindenburg to enact article 48 to suspend civil liberties in Germany
1933 election
o Won 43% of the vote but still needed the majority
o Formed a coalistion with the DVNP - allowed for the passing of the enabling act which empowered Hitler and the Nazi party for a four-year period of complete control
Nazification
o All areas of society came under total control and direction of the Nazi party
o Books and literature deemed unGerman were banned and burnt
1933 law against the formation of parties saw all opposition parties banned and dissolved
Night of the long knives
o SS troops purged Ernst Rohm and around 1000 political opponents were arrested and murdered
1934 - Hindenburg died
o Hitler combined Presidency and Chancellorship to become Fruher
o All military personnel were ordered to make a personal oath of loyalty to the Fruher
• The nature of Nazi ideology
National socialism
Revolved around a single powerful leader
o Fruher leading a powerful and authoritarian state dedicated to militarism and the subordination of the individual to national interests and purity of race
Centred on restoring German supremacy by restoring the economy, ending unemployment by engaging in mass building programs and increasing industrial capacity
Wanted to remove Germany from all international treaties
Sought to reinvigorate traditional 19th century values of authoritarian government, social conservatism, and Christian beliefs - through rhetoric and propaganda
• The role of prominent individuals in the Nazi state
Hitler
o Initiated WWII in Europe by invading Poland in September 1939, and was central to the perpetration of the Holocaust
Martin Bormann
o Hitler’s private secretary: controlled appointments and flow of information given to the Fuhrer
Hermann Goering
o From 1933 was in charge of the mobilisation of the German economy
o Central figure at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials where he was sentenced to death
Joseph Goebbels
o Minister for Propaganda and Enlightenment. Managed the flow of information and public opinion
Heinrich Himmler
o Commander of the Nazi SS and responsible for implementing the ‘Final Solution.’
o Responsible for the state security and controlled the secret police known as the Gestapo
• The various methods used by the Nazi regime to exercise control, including laws, censorship, repression, terror, propaganda, cult of personality
Laws
Bring into line all aspects of society so that they conformed to the will of the Nazi Party
1933 Emergency Decree
o Restrictions of civil liberties
o Imprisonment without trial
Enabling Act
o Replaced Germany’s parliamentary democracy with a dictatorship
o Gave Hitler the power to make laws without the Reichstag
Banned political parties, trade unions, targeted individuals, criticising the government
Redefined treason
Secured Hitlers position and enabled Nazi party to slowly abolish civil liberties, suppress dissent and empower officials and supporters
Censorship / Propaganda
Control of mass media
o Prevent criticism of the regime and ensure culture reflected Nazi ideology
Spread philosophy and indoctrinate the people into supporting Hitler and his government without question
Emphasise government achievements, promote sense of nationalism, reinforce Nazi racial ideology
Terror and Repression
Eliminate opponents and create complete conformity
SA
o Violence against opponents
SS
o State security, intelligence and surveillance, secret police, and concentration camps
Gestapo
o Carried out the majority of the campaign of terror
Fighting people into conformity
Cult of personality Fuhrer myth o Carefully constructed an image of Hitler that stressed his positive qualities o Emphasised achievements of his rule Army swore a personal oath of allegiance Portraits hung in schools Wanted to incorporate his name Result of myth - remained respectful and loyal even after they lost faith in the government
• The impact of the Nazi regime on life in Germany, including cultural expression, religion, workers, youth, women, minorities including Jews
Cultural expression
Restricted media - had to go through screening
Religion
Detested Christian beliefs and values
Concordat
o Religion out of politics in return for religious freedom
o Reneged - closed clubs, hassled/arrested priests, changes in school curriculum
Attempted to substitute Christianity with their own ‘German Faith’ with Nazi ideals
Never succeeded in destroying churches or providing a popular substitute
o Majority remained Christian
Workers
No trade unions to advocate for rights
Hours increased
Low living standards
Shortage of goods
Unemployed - benefits withdrawn, risked being sent to concentration camps
Minorities forced out of government jobs - encouraged to leave the workforce and stay home
Youth
Indoctrinated through education and Nazi youth groups
Hitler youth
o 1939 – compulsory
o Purpose - provide the regime with future soldiers - military-style activities, and nazi ideology lectures
Girls
o Focused on household activities - prepare girls for motherhood
Women
‘Children, Kitchen, Church’
Encourage to have many children
Divorce discouraged
Difficult to obtain contraceptives
Propaganda - reinforced importance of motherhood
Encouraged to leave the workforce and focus on motherhood - not all women accepted this
o Liked the independence they got from the war
Shortages in agriculture and admin saw an increase in female workers
o Cheaper and more reliable
Minorities including Jews Impure 1933 -1939 o Antisemitism evolved from simple discrimination aimed to encourage emigration to more sinister measures National boycott Gradually excluded from civil services, medicine, law, arts, culture, armed forces Nuremberg laws o Defined who was Jewish o Deprived them of citizenship o Banned sexual relations
Hereditary diseases / intellectual disability
o Targeted for involuntary sterilisation and euthanasia
• Opposition to the Nazi regime
Ranged from general discontent (wages, and goods) to political activism, open resistance
42 assassination attempts between 1933 and 1944
Did not pose a serious threat as it was incredibly difficult to oppose
Opposition within the army appeared once it was clear Hitler was steering German to war
o Right-wing nationalists in the army saw it as their duty to end the war as quickly as possible by sending secret emissaries to the Allies or attempting Hitlers assassination
• An overview of the search for peace and security 1919–1946:
- The ambitions of Germany in Europe and Japan in the Asia-Pacific
Germany
Nazi foreign policy was directly influenced by Hitler’s racial aims and desire for Lebensraum
o Territorial expansion
o Restore honour
o Destroy legacy of Weimar Republic
Japan
Discontent with their perceived unequal treatment during the Versailles conference, combined with internal economic and social issues influenced foreign policy
Belief of domination of East Asia was essential for Japan’s security and self-sufficiency
Chinese Nationalist Party and Soviet Union posed a threat to Japan interests in East Asia
• An overview of the search for peace and security 1919–1946:
- The intentions and authority of the League of Nations and the UN
League of Nations
Designed to resolve international disputes, administering world justice and avoid future conflict
Relied on the concept of ‘collective security’
o If a member was attacked the rest would go aid
o Military and trade sanctions could be imposed
Flaws undermined its authority
o Members did not always agree
o Nationalism overshadowed the notion of internationalism
o Lacked military force
o Some powerful countries were not members - US, Germany, USSR
Manchuria
o Japan tried to overcome the depression by building up an empire - invaded Manchuria and threw out the Chinese. They set up their own government
o League sent a group of officials led by Lord Lytton to study the problem (this took a year) - asked to leave
o Japan refused to leave Manchuria - Instead, Japan left the League.
o The League could not agree on sanctions or even a ban on weapons sales. Britain and France did not want a war, so nothing was done
UN
Maintain peace, promote foster friendly relations, assist the nations to work together to improve lives, overcome hunger, disease, and illiteracy, encourage respect, rights and freedoms, act in harmony to achieve these goals
Achieved little in terms of disarmament - elimination of nuclear weapons, unresponsive in the face of genocide, incapable of adequately dealing with dictatorships, failed to prevent countless wars
• An overview of the search for peace and security 1919–1946:
