Totalitarianism

Kyungna Kim


 * Prompt **: Analyze the practice of totalitarianism used in Italy and Germany under Mussolini and Hitler, respectively.

o Rose to leader after using his stellar speech and persuasive skills o The Nazi party used force to put Hitler in power after losing the election o Enabling Act made Hitler a dictator o Civil Service Act required all workers in that field to perform a personal oath o All other parties made illegal o Death of Hindenburg allowed Hitler to take ultimate control o Kristallnacht: Jewish businesses burned, destroyed o Nuremburg laws: Jews made less equal and stripped of basic rights o Terrorized citizens, secret police o Censoring of the press and media o Secret police (OVRA) o Corporative state: economy run as separate corporations o Lateran Accords: Recognized Church’s authority over Vatican City o Dolaprovo: Public leisure, used to give public a sense of comfort
 * Germany **
 * Hitler was one of the more successful totalitarian leaders
 * Began as a member of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party, aka Nazi Party
 * Beer Hall Putsch: failed attempt to resist the Weimar regime
 * His anti-Semitism fueled his drive to expand Germany and gain power
 * Nazi state
 * Anti-Semitism
 * Italy **
 * The first true totalitarian leader
 * Began as a left-wing journalist; viewpoints shifted toward right when war began
 * Used Squadristi/blackshirts as an intimidation factor
 * Gained the support of the public; Victor Emmanuel named him premier (March on Rome)
 * Acerbo Law: Party with the most votes in the next election earned 2/3 of the seats of Congress
 * Convincing the public

Source: AP Achiever