World War Two Stuff Flashcards
Political and Economic factors which existed after The Treaty of Versailles
Political
- Communism in Russia
- Fascism in Italy
- Experimental Democracies (Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia)
- Women and disenfranchised men could vote in some instances.
Economic
- Casualties
- European financial drain
- New map = new laws, tariffs, and trade barriers
- Russian withdrawal
- Colonies
Countries discontent with a demanded a revision of The Treaty of Versailles
Britain, the United States, and Germany believed the treaty was too harsh. France believed that the treaty wasn’t harsh enough.
Factors which pulled Europe into the Great Depression
- Financial crisis
- Lack of production and distribution of European goods into the world market
- Lack of strong government leadership (esp. Britain and France)
French Occupation of the Ruhr
- Germany fails to pay reparation to France, so France and Belgium troops occupy the Ruhr territory of Germany that is rich in mined resources. Germans go on strike under government demands. The government provides compensation, leading to the government printing off so much paper money that it leads to hyperinflation.
The Lausanne Conference
- Disposed of war burdens and ended reparation debts.
Causes and effects of the lack of production and distribution of commodities in the interwar years
Causes
- Europe went from creditor to debtor
- WW1 Casualties
- Damaged transportation facilities
- Creation of new European states
Effects
- Widespread unemployment
British Response to the Great Depression
King George V and PM Ramsey McDonald. The Labour Party becomes the National Government (1931).
French Response to the Great Depression
The Popular Front (1938): The majority is very liberal and reform-minded. A 40-hour work week is mandated and a 2-week paid vacation is established for all employees.
Irish Independence
1922
- The Easter Rising of 1916 was brutally surpressed, however the executed leaders of the revolt became martyrs rather than examples.
- Sin Fein (Ourselves Alone) was a radical wing of the independence movement who made up their own Parliament after being deprived of seats in the English Parliament.
- The Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) results in the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1922) which declared Ireland to be a “free state within the British Commonwealth” which creates a civil war between those in favor of the treaty and those opposed.
Irish Independence
1922
- The Easter Rising of 1916 was brutally surpressed, however the executed leaders of the revolt became martyrs rather than examples.
- Sin Fein (Ourselves Alone) was a radical wing of the independence movement who made up their own Parliament after being deprived of seats in the English Parliament.
- The Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) results in the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1922) which declared Ireland to be a “free state within the British Commonwealth” which creates a civil war between those in favor of the treaty and those opposed.
Significance of the USSR in post World War 1 Europe
Single most important political development post-WW1. This was a Communist experiment that was designed to cross international borders as the “dictatorship of the proletariate.”
Causes and Effects of War Communism
Causes
- Confiscated and then operated the banks, transport facilities and heavy industry
- Forcibly requisitioned grain and shipped it from the countryside to feed the army and urban workers
- The need to fight the civil war was used as a justification by the Bolsheviks for suppressing any resistance to these economic policies.
Effects
- The Red Army wins the war.
- Domestic opposition to the Bolsheviks: strikes, resistance against the requisition of grain
- Obvious that the revolution wouldn’t go international – the proletariat itself was opposing the so-called dictatorship of the proletariat! The Soviet Union became a “vast island of revolutionary socialism in a sea of world capitalism.”
The NEP (New Economic Policy)
- Upon realizing that Marxism was not realistic, Lenin proposed the New Economic Policy which allowed limited private enterprise for small businesses. Not very effective due to a lack of consumer goods.
Facts about the Third International
AKA The Comintern. This organization established the Russian Soviet model as the true model of Marxism and Communism in order to standardize the cause internationally. Established Russia as the leader of Communism.
Facts about the power struggle between Trotsky and Stalin
Lenin’s death creates a power vacuum to be filled by Trotsky (led the Bolsheviks into victory during the civil war) and Stalin (secretary of state). Trotsky is a pure Marxist, advocating for an international Communist revolution, rapid industrialization and consolidation of farms. Stalin puts up a more moderate front. Stalin wins.
Facts about the 5 Year Plans
AKA the Gosplan. Established 1928-1991. A series of five-year plans that set goals for all production in order to rapidly industrialize. Emphasized capital goods over consumer goods.
Results:
- 400% increase in industrial production
- Birth of industrial cities
- Negative social consequences due to lack of consumer goods
Facts about Collectivization of Agriculture
- Put into place by Stalin
Stalin’s Purges
Sparked in 1934 with the assassination of a Communist leader. Stalin used this event as an excuse to rid of any threats to his regime, such as peasants resisting collectivization, urban workers, clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Communist party members with growing power. Sent to labor camps called gulags.
Facts and Characteristics about Fascism
“Strength with unity.” Right-wring, anti-Socialist, anti-Democratic, anti-Semitic, favored single-party rule, favored middle class, very nationalistic.
Leaders:
March on Rome
Oct. 22-29, 1922. Blackshirts gain support. This causes Victor Emmanuel III’s prime minister to withdraw out of fear, so the king invites Mussolini to take his place.
The Lateran Accord of 1929
Compromise between the Italian State and the Catholic Church which recognized the Pope as the spiritual head of the Church and the temporal leader of the Vatican City, excused Church from property taxes and established Catholicism as Italy’s official religion
Fascist Economics
Corporatism – a mix between Socialist and lasseiz-faire economics: a planned economy that allowed some private ownership of capital regulated by the government. Created 22 centralized corporations that specialized in a specific industry (agriculture, mining, transportation, manufacturing, etc.)
The Role of Women in Fascist Italy
Seen as mothers raiding the new generation of Fascists. Because of the government’s support for large families, women were taken out of the workforce for the most part and contraception and abortion were banned.
Economic Pressures in Eastern Europe following WW1
- New states weren’t financially independent (except Czechoslavakia)
- Nationalistic antagonism causes states to refuse trade with each other.
- This refused trade led to a dependence on Germany.
- Poor and rural; agricultural export value was declining
Ethnic Pressures in Eastern Europe following WW1
- Collapse of old German, Russian and Austrian empires allow ethnic groups to pursue nationalistic goals unchecked by political authority
- Minorities sought to join other states or be independent; majorities were unwilling to compromise
- Except Czechoslovakia, all states succumbed to domestic authoritarian government
How Poland came to exist against on the Map of Europe
Restored in 1919. An independent Poland was one of Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points. Constructed from portions governed by Germany, Russia, and Austria, the new Poland was divided with different laws, economies, and experience with electoral institutions. Nationalism couldn’t overcome political disagreements.
Characteristics of Czechoslovakia in Interwar Years
Only central European successor state without self-imposed authoritarian government, strong industry, substantial middle class, and tradition of liberal values. Tensions between Czechs and Slovaks. (Slovaks tended to be poorer and more rural. There was discontent from about non-Czechs, especially Germans of the Sudetenland.
Reasons Hungary Became Authoritatian
- Defeated in WW1. Achieves separation from Austria.
- 1919: Bela Kun establishes the Hungarian Soviet Republic, receiving socialist support. Allies invade to remove the communist danger.
- Horthy is established as a regent for the Habsburg monarch who couldn’t return to the throne.
- Lenin forbides further cooperation with communists.
- Hungarians resent the territory lost in the Paris settlement.
- Gömbös pursues anti-Semitic policies and rigged elections. The Gömbös party always controlled Parliament.
State of Austria After WW1
- Unstable economy
- Union with Germany forbidden by the Paris settlement.
- During the 1920s, social democrats and Christian socialists contended for power.
- 1933: Engelbert Dollfuss, a Christian Socialist, becomes chancellor and aims to align with the Nazis.
- 1934: Outlaws all parties except for Christian Socialists, agrarians, and paramilitary.
- 1938: Hitler annexes Austria.
Dictatorships of Southeast Europe
TBA
Facts about the Weimar Republic and Constitution
- Controlled mainly by liberals, Socialists, and Democrats after Wilhelm II’s abdication in 1918.
- Fredrich Ebert became the first president and was blamed by German citizens for the negative impacts of WW1.
- Constitution was enlightened in the sense that it provided civil liberties and universal suffrage. However, it was flawed because 1) small radical groups could gain power and 2) the president could appoint a chancellor without vote.
Reasons and examples for the lack of popular support of the Weimar Republic
Examples:
- The Ruhr Uprising (March 1920), left-wing strike
- Kapp Putsch (March 1920), right-wing strike
Hyperinflation
- Caused by reparation costs, borrowing and deficit spending. By November, one US dollar was equivalent to 4.2 trillion marks. This led to desperation.
Facts about Hitler’s Early Career
- From Austria
- Wanted to be an artist
- Became a WW1 soldier
- Joined the Nazi party in Munich where he was exposed to Anti-Semitic views
Facts about the Nazis
- Used the swastika to symbolize strength in unity
- Drafted up 25 Points including the resentment of the Treaty of Versailles and the desire to acquire Alsace and Lorraine
- Form the Brownshirts/Storm Troopers, a militia that attacked Socialists, Communists and Jews
- Nationalistic