Changes

The world in the early 1930s was suffering from the Great Depression.  This created discontent and encouraged change.  National governments were in place in Italy and Germany, but the people were not happy with them.

The world in the early 1930s was suffering from the Great Depression.  This created discontent and encouraged change.  National governments were in place in Italy and Germany, but the people were not happy with them.

Nationalism had been developing for decades, but it turned into an extreme form known as “[[fascism]]” during this period.  Fascism is defined as a political philosophy that elevates the nation and its ethnicity above the individual, and uses a dictator to impose economic and social regimentation and control.  Often symbols are used for the purpose of mind-control, like the [[swastika]] in Germany.  Special salutes are also required to inculcate complete devotion to the national ruler. Mass rallies were common.  All opposition was suppressed.

Nationalism had been developing for decades, but it turned into an extreme form known as “[[fascism]]” during this period.  Fascism is defined as a political philosophy that elevates the nation and its ethnicity above the individual, and uses a dictator to impose economic and social regimentation and control.  Often symbols are used for the purpose of mind-control, like the [[swastika]] in Germany.  Special salutes are also required to inculcate complete devotion to the national ruler, such as "''Heil Hitler''" Mass rallies were common.  All opposition was suppressed.

Fascism is very different from [[communism]], and fascist countries were the mortal enemies of communist countries.  Communism sought a [[worldwide revolution]] that would abolish national identity, while fascism sought exactly the opposite.  Communism opposed different social classes, while fascism encouraged it.  Communism hated wealth, while fascism encouraged the creation of wealth to make the nation stronger.  Communism pushed women into the traditionally male roles of industrial workers and even soldiers, while strongly nationalistic countries like Japan imported foreign male workers from Korea and China rather than force women into industrial jobs.  Many say that fascism and communism are opposites, but they did have characteristics in common: both used a dictator and demanded complete allegiance to the state ruler, rather than to God. Both also had a disdain for individual freedom and human rights, and both stressed the collective.

Fascism is very different from [[communism]], and fascist countries were the mortal enemies of communist countries.  Communism sought a [[worldwide revolution]] that would abolish national identity, while fascism sought exactly to advance their country over the rest of the world.  Communism opposed different social classes, while fascism encouraged it.  Communism hated wealth, while fascism encouraged the creation of wealth to make the nation stronger.  Communism considered everyone to be equal, while fascists thought their nation was the best.  Communism pushed women into the traditionally male roles of industrial workers and even soldiers, while strongly nationalistic countries like Japan imported foreign male workers from Korea and China rather than force women into industrial jobs.  Many say that fascism and communism are opposites, but they did have a few key characteristics in common: both used a dictator and demanded complete allegiance to the state ruler, rather than to God. Both also had a disdain for individual freedom and human rights, and both stressed the collective.

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===Hitler and the Nazis===

===Hitler and the Nazis===

[[Image:Hitler7.JPG‎|right|300px|thumb|Hitler, his favored “Aryans” as soldiers, and the intimidating swastika symbol of Nazism]]

[[Image:Hitler7.JPG‎|right|300px|thumb|Hitler, his favored “Aryans” as soldiers, and the intimidating swastika symbol of Nazism]]

In Germany the name of the fascists was the “Storm Troopers” or “Brownshirts”, and their political party was called the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party, or “Nazis” for short.  Adolf Hitler became their leader and he promised to stop communism and undo the Treaty of Versailles, which many Germans considered to be a humiliation to their nation. (The humiliation and outrage caused by this treaty is often cited as a reason for Hitler's rise to power.)  In 1923 Hitler led an armed rebellion in Munich, but was defeated and jailed.  While imprisoned, he wrote ''Mein Kampf'' (''My Struggle'') in which he declared “Aryans” to be the master race.  Hitler considered most German people to be “Aryans”, a term that properly refers to the Indo-European people who partly migrated to India.  The connection is ironic because the swastika, Hitler’s symbol, is borrowed from Hinduism and the name itself is Sanskrit.  But when Hitler said “Aryan” he meant people having Nordic features rather Indian features.

In Germany the name of the fascists was the “Storm Troopers” or “Brownshirts”, and their political party was called ''Nationalsozialismus'', the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party, or “Nazis” for short.  Adolf Hitler became their leader and he promised to stop communism and undo the Treaty of Versailles, which many Germans considered to be a humiliation to their nation. (The humiliation and outrage caused by this treaty is often cited as a reason for Hitler's rise to power.)  In 1923 Hitler led an armed rebellion in Munich, but was defeated and jailed.  While imprisoned, he wrote ''Mein Kampf'' (''My Struggle'') in which he declared “Aryans” to be the master race.  Hitler considered most German people to be “Aryans”, a term that properly refers to the Indo-European people who partly migrated to India.  The connection is ironic because the swastika, Hitler’s symbol, is borrowed from Hinduism and the name itself is Sanskrit.  But when Hitler said “Aryan” he meant people having Nordic features rather Indian features.

Hitler also promised to help Germany take back land it lost in the Treaty of Versailles and to conquer Russia and Eastern Europe so that Germans could have more living space, or “lebensraum”.

Hitler also promised to help Germany take back land it lost in the Treaty of Versailles and to conquer Russia and Eastern Europe so that Germans could have more living space, or “lebensraum”.

In 1933, Germany was in the throes of the Great Depression and German President Paul von Hindenburg panicked by naming Hitler chancellor.  This was one of the biggest mistakes in world history.  Hitler quickly solidified power for the Nazis.  Calling himself Der Fuhrer, Hitler began in 1934 to murder hundreds of Germans who had opposed him.  Hitler developed a secret police known as the Gestapo, and also a special, black-uniformed public police known as the SS.  Hitler took over the schools, requiring teenagers to join the Hitler Youth (for boys) and the League of German Girls (for girls).  They were then brainwashed with pro-Hitler propaganda.  But Hitler promoted industrialization and revived the economy, making him a hero in Germany and even to some in the United States.

In 1933, Germany was in the throes of the Great Depression and German President Paul von Hindenburg panicked by naming Hitler chancellor.  This was one of the biggest mistakes in world history.  Hitler quickly solidified power for the Nazis.  Calling himself Der Fuhrer, Hitler began in 1934 to murder hundreds of Germans who had opposed him.  Hitler developed a secret police known as the Gestapo, and also a special, black-uniformed public police known as the ''Schutzstaffel'', SS.  Hitler took over the schools, requiring teenagers to join the ''Hitlerjugend'', or Hitler Youth (for boys) and the League of German Girls (for girls).  They were then brainwashed with pro-Hitler propaganda.  But Hitler promoted industrialization and revived the economy, making him a hero in Germany and even to some in the United States.

From the start Hitler blamed Jewish people in Germany for its problems.  In 1933, the Nazis began passing laws taking away rights from Jews, and on Nov. 9, 1938 the Nazis conducted a massive pogrom in a thousand German towns that attacked Jewish people in their homes and destroyed their businesses.  This day, which came after years of harassment, is known as the “Kristallnacht”.  Afterward Jews were prohibited from being in public buildings or owning or working in retail stores.

From the start Hitler blamed Jewish people in Germany for its problems.  In 1933, the Nazis began passing laws taking away rights from Jews, and on Nov. 9, 1938 the Nazis conducted a massive pogrom in a thousand German towns that attacked Jewish people in their homes and destroyed their businesses.  This day, which came after years of harassment, is known as the “''Kristallnacht''”, night of broken glass.  Afterward Jews were prohibited from being in public buildings or owning or working in retail stores.

''Time'' magazine named Hitler "Man of the Year" at the end of 1938.  It explained that the:<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760539,00.html</ref>

''Time'' magazine named Hitler "Man of the Year" at the end of 1938.  It explained that the:<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760539,00.html</ref>