...After and during World War I, some people rose to power and became notorious, totalitarian leaders. Most of the totalitarian leaders such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini began their lives as normal citizens, but the rose to power because of the war and the treaties. Because the people of the countries such as Italy, Germany, and Russia were influenced and encouraged, leaders such as Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin rose to power, but starting their lives as normal citizens. Each of the totalitarian leaders share common characteristics, such as aggression and influence, especially demonstrated by their rise to power and their foreign policy. The Totalitarian leaders came to the rise of power by giving encouragements to the people around them. In the picture of document six, Mussolini demonstrated his rise to power by making a speech around his fellow commanders. His hand is in a form of a fist which shows him giving an influential and a powerful speech. Since Mussolini is giving a speech to his comrades, his speech became the milestone of his leadership. Similarly, in the picture of Hitler in document four, Hitler demonstrates his extreme nationalism and aggressiveness by giving a speech, a tactic used by each leader as a major cause of their of power. THe leaders remained in power by using propaganda to make them seem...
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...How successful was Mussolini's foreign policy in the years to 1939? During the years 1922-39 Mussolini committed to many different foreign policies. Mussolini’s foreign policy aims for Italy were to build national prestige, increase domestic support for the regime, gain dominance over the Mediterranean, and spread fascism abroad to establish his empire. He had to consider factors whilst formulating his foreign policy plans such as trading, alliances (military back-up/defence), resources within the empire and war to ensure that his regime would be a success. In many ways, Mussolini’s foreign policy was a success in the short term. His foreign policies can be judged whether or not to be successful by looking at his aims, as previously stated, and if these aims were achieved. Mussolini entered the Spanish Civil War in 1936 as part of an anti-Bolshevik campaign and to help spread fascism abroad, one of the clear aims of Mussolini. Italy sent planes and troops to help nationalist General Franco’s revolt against Spain’s socialist government and despite Mussolini expecting a short war it lasted 3 years. Mussolini’s intervention of this war was to achieve dominance over the Mediterranean, to spread fascism abroad, stop French left-wing influence in Spain and to gain an ally in a strategic area. In the battle of Guadalajara, in March 1937, Italian troops were defeated and 400 soldiers were killed and 1,800 wounded, 500 were taken prisoner and 25 artillery pieces, 10 mortars,...
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...1939, although forcible acquisition of Lebensraum was mainly the goal of Hitler and his Nazis. Since the beginning of Hitler’s career up until the day he was dying Lebensraum was what really fueled Hitler to do the things he did. Though he could not just start by taking the land he wanted, Hitler had to openly violate the Treaty of Versailles to start his campaign and gain even more support from the German peoples. When WWI ended and the Treaty of Versailles was signed, Germany was angered. Reparations killed the German economy, land was lost, and Germany had to assume full responsibility for the war (The War Guilt Clause). Hitler said the treaty was “the greatest villainy of the century” and used it to gain power in Germany by promising to get her land back, and to stop the payment of reparations. Hitler’s first act against the treaty was in March of 1935, by introducing compulsory military conscription in Germany, and rebuilding the armed forces, after Goering announced the formation of the Luftwaffe. With Hitler’s stronger armed forces he and the Nazi’s reoccupied the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone along the Rhine River in western Germany. When this happened France and Britain did nothing; France was between governments at the time, and Britain was weak in her forces. Hitler took from this that he could get away with more aggressive actions because of Britain and Frances’ being weak. Once Hitler reoccupied the Rhineland, he was ready to fully implement the next phase...
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...Assess the aims and nature of Nazi Foreign policy to September 1939 The aims and nature of Nazi Foreign policy up to September 1939 were ambitious yet hostile to others in nature, ultimately derived from Hitler’s worldview in creating a perfect German society. The ultimate aim of the policy centered on the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles, strategically set to be achieved through long and short-term goals. Territorial expansion and the desire for a racially pure Germany were encompassed in the long-term view of Nazi Foreign policy, however to achieve this, Hitler realised that he would first have to take smaller steps. This is observed through his establishment of the short-term goals of undoing the Treaty of Versailles and the creation of a GrossDeutschland. It is therefore conveyed that the aims and nature of Nazi Foreign policy were desirous in the nations ability to grow internationally, and unsympathetic in its nature and determination in an attempt to achieve this. The long-term goal of territorial expansion was highly linked to the Nazi aim of Lebensraum, which had a possibility of success before war broke out through the peace seeking façade of Germany. This idea is stated in the 3rd point of the Nazi program, ‘We demand land and territory to feed our people and to settle our surplus population’. The nature in which this was to be achieved by Hitler was through deceit and manipulation of other nations, in order to present a ‘changed’ Germany, thus allowing...
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...* Hitler’s aims in foreign policy; * Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement, 1938-1939? You must refer to both causes when explaining your answer. (10 marks) Task Read both of the answers below and make notes on what makes the first answer “bad” and the second answer “good”. Things to think about: * Does it focus on the question? How do you know if it is focusing on the question? * Does it answer the question, e.g. does it focus on explanation or description, and does it come to a conclusion about which bullet point was most important? * Does it include irrelevant material, e.g. things which happened before or after the dates mentioned in the question? * Does the structure of the answer affect its quality? If so, how? * Is there anything good about the bad answer? Task Read both of the answers below and make notes on what makes the first answer “bad” and the second answer “good”. Things to think about: * Does it focus on the question? How do you know if it is focusing on the question? * Does it answer the question, e.g. does it focus on explanation or description, and does it come to a conclusion about which bullet point was most important? * Does it include irrelevant material, e.g. things which happened before or after the dates mentioned in the question? * Does the structure of the answer affect its quality? If so, how? * Is there anything good about the bad answer? Bad answer Hitler aimed to overturn the...
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...exaggerated From the instant Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany from January 1933, began to challenge the Treaty of Versailles and adapt an aggressive foreign policy, which heavily contributed to the outbreak of World War Two. Some historians argue that Britain and France were to blame for the Second World War because they did not stand up to Hitler.The historian AJP Taylor argued that Hitler simply continued the aggressive foreign policy but others point out that he did not initially intend to the take back Germany's former colonies, this theory is known as the Functionalist argument. On the other hand the other theory which is the Internationalist argument, these historians such as Gerhard Weinberg argued that Hitler had a master scheme all along and that he had planned the Holocaust. The functionalist view may argue that Great Britain and France were more to blame as they did not stop Germany, eventually they turned a blind eye. Chamberlain proposed the policy of appeasement which made concessions to the dictatorial powers of Hitler, he had done this because the British armed forces were not ready for a world war with Germany in 1938. However appeasement was wrong because Hitler was a dictator who could not be trusted to keep his word, especially because he had made it clear that he wanted an Empire in the East to give German Lebensraum and would only be stopped by war. Appeasement also made Britain look weak and encouraged Hitler to keep demanding more and more. Not...
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...Word count= 2000 Word count= 2000 World War Two (WW2) and the situation it created within Germany saw the creation of two rival political systems which were influenced by rival foreign powers. In this aspect, it can be seen as the key turning point in German political systems. When Germany at the end of WW2 was conquered and occupied by the allies between the years 1945-1949 (point zero), the subsequent rift between the capitalist allies (Britain, France and America) and the communist allies (Russia) formed two opposing democratic Germany’s; The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR). This is significant, due to foreign powers controlling Germany’s political system, as well as the departure from Sonderweg, meaning Germany no longer followed a unique path of development and that nationalism and militarism were on the decline. The significance of the previous German eras, Kaiser Reich (Semi-Autocratic Empire), Weimar Republic (Federal Democracy) and the Third Reich (Dictatorship) are also significant, however in political terms they are not as significant as post 45. The significances of post 1945 can be seen by its success of creating a working democracy in Germany after 1945, the FRG. One reason why the FRG was successful revolves around the sudden decline in German militarism and nationalism. This is evident in the fact that the FRG’s constitution was based on the Weimar Republics concept of ‘Grundgesetz’, which means basic law. The implications...
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...How far do you agree with the view that Stalin’s foreign policy was a major contributing factor to the emergence of the Cold War in the period 1945-50? Throughout the period 1945-50 there were a number of factors that caused the emergence of the cold war. One of these was Stalin and his aggressive foreign policy; another key factor to be considered is the American paranoia and resultant aggression at the time. Which of these factors was more significant is debatable but it is undeniable that soviet foreign policy was a major contributor to the outbreak of the Cold War. One of the key elements that led to the cold war was Stalin's expansionist foreign policy, with ideas “to dominate the continent as Hitler had sought to do so”. This view from American historian Gaddis shows the view of many Americans during the period; it highlights just how threatened the USA felt and demonstrates how pivotal Stalin's expansionist views were in the outbreak of war, his zeal and resolve to control the continent conjured fear in the Americans and source T shows that Stalin would use any means necessary. Such actions so as to cease control in Europe would not go without reaction from America and actions such as the communist coup d’état in Czechoslovakia would not go unnoticed. They were met with resistance; both the Marshall plan and Truman doctrine were arguably the response to soviet aggression. The Marshall plan aimed to prevent the further spread of communism particularly into Western Europe...
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...Army and inability to uphold agreements. However for a war of any kind to develop there is always more than one party involved and the USA and it’s president Truman could also be said to have contributed to the developing of Cold War, arguably being equally aggressive as Stalin – taking an Iron fist on dealings with Russia through policies such as the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, as well as his direction over the US involvement in the Korean War. However issues such as Britain and Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech, as well as the birth of McCarthyism in America, can also be seen as hindering relations between the two superpowers of the Cold War and therefore playing a role in it’s development. Whether Stalin was to blame for the Cold War can also be judged and evaluated through the use of sources, offering a number of interpretations, from extreme Orthodox and Revisionist views to the more diplomatic reasonings of the post revisionist stance. It is correct to say that development of the Cold War, between 1945 and 50, was definitely impacted and heightened through provocative, and at times, aggressive actions on foreign policy, taken by Stalin. An example of Stalin’s confrontational actions, in terms of foreign policy, is his part in the events of the Yalta and Potsdam, 1945, conferences; two meetings which were intended to sort through post war issues and reach a place of peace and calm for the allies. The issue of Poland was the one least simple to solve due to Stalin’s...
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...of Stalin’s foreign policy? Development of the Cold War, in the five years between 1945 and 1950, could be argued as taking place for a number of reasons and due to various individuals. It could be easy to simply site Stalin as the main reason responsible for it’s outbreak and growth, clear through his approach on communist expansion, use of Red Army and inability to uphold agreements. However for a war of any kind to develop there is always more than one party involved and the USA and it’s president Truman could also be said to have contributed to the developing of Cold War, arguably being equally aggressive as Stalin – taking an Iron fist on dealings with Russia through policies such as the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, as well as his direction over the US involvement in the Korean War. However issues such as Britain and Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech, as well as the birth of McCarthyism in America, can also be seen as hindering relations between the two superpowers of the Cold War and therefore playing a role in it’s development. Whether Stalin was to blame for the Cold War can also be judged and evaluated through the use of sources, offering a number of interpretations, from extreme Orthodox and Revisionist views to the more diplomatic reasonings of the post revisionist stance. It is correct to say that development of the Cold War, between 1945 and 50, was definitely impacted and heightened through provocative, and at times, aggressive actions on foreign...
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...an aggressive nationalism and often racism. A political movement that employs the principles and methods of fascism, especially the one established by Mussolini in Italy. Benito Mussolini: Benito Mussolini served as Italy’s 40th Prime Minister from 1922 until 1943. He is considered a central figure in the creation of Fascism and was both an influence on and close ally of Adolf Hitler during World War II. In 1943, Mussolini was replaced as Prime Minister and served as the head of the Italian Social Republic until his execution by Italian partisans in 1945. Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. Hitler was responsible for starting World War II and for killing more than 11 million people during the Holocaust. He was know as the Führer of the Third Reich. As dictator of Germany, Hitler wanted to increase and strengthen the German army as well as expand Germany's territory. Although these things broke the terms of the Versailles Treaty, the treaty that officially ended World War I, other countries allowed him to do so. Since the terms of the Versailles Treaty had been harsh, other countries found it easier to be lenient than risk another bloody European war. When the Nazis attacked Poland World War II began. Nazism: "Nazi" is an abbreviation for the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), known in English as the German National Socialist Workers Party, as it existed under the control of Adolf Hitler from...
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...Stalin’s foreign policy? Development of the Cold War, in the five years between 1945 and 1950, could be argued as taking place for a number of reasons and due to various individuals. It could be easy to simply site Stalin as the main reason responsible for it’s outbreak and growth, clear through his approach on communist expansion, use of Red Army and inability to uphold agreements. However for a war of any kind to develop there is always more than one party involved and the USA and it’s president Truman could also be said to have contributed to the developing of Cold War, arguably being equally aggressive as Stalin – taking an Iron fist on dealings with Russia through policies such as the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, as well as his direction over the US involvement in the Korean War. However issues such as Britain and Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech, as well as the birth of McCarthyism in America, can also be seen as hindering relations between the two superpowers of the Cold War and therefore playing a role in it’s development. Whether Stalin was to blame for the Cold War can also be judged and evaluated through the use of sources, offering a number of interpretations, from extreme Orthodox and Revisionist views to the more diplomatic reasonings of the post revisionist stance. It is correct to say that development of the Cold War, between 1945 and 50, was definitely impacted and heightened through provocative, and at times, aggressive actions on foreign policy, taken...
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...Higher Level History Notes 19th Century Russia The Russian people are descendants of the ‘Rus’ who are thought to be a mixture of Scandinavian and Slavic origin and settled in that region out of ± 800 AD Byzantine Empire A major legacy of the Byzantine Empire for the Russians was the eastern orthodox or Greek Orthodox Church With the decline of Byzantium came a wave of conquest from the East, the Mongols until the 15th century (Tatars). To a large extent, the Mongols allowed Russians to maintain their way of life: - Slavic based languages including writing system (Cyrillic) - Orthodox religion The Russians adopted much from Asian culture and this led western Europeans to think less of the Russians Geographically Russia was isolated from the rest of Europe: - Entirely land locked (mostly) - Huge Plains of Eastern Europe prevented overland travel During these early years there were a series of muscovite princes based in Moscow and called themselves Tsars. By the 17th century the Romanov family became the ruling dynasty: - Alexander I (1801-1825) - Nicholas I (1825-1855) - Alexander II (1855-1881) - Alexander III (1881-1894) - Nicholas II (1894-1917) Under the rule of Peter the Great (1689-1728) Russia grew greatly in size and entered the European World www.ibscrewed.org The Russia of 1800 was one of the greatest autocracies in Europe where: - The Tsar’s rule was absolute - There was a small...
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...The standard view in the West during the development of the Cold War was that the Soviet Union conducted an expansionist policy which was seen to threaten peace and collective security. The provocative and expansionist nature of Stalin’s foreign policy after 1945 was singled out as the prime cause of the Cold War and, as the Soviet Union sought to expand world communism, the West was forced into taking action to safeguard the free world. However, a closer examination of Soviet foreign policy during this period illustrates a combination of mistrust and a lack of understanding which arguably led to a misinterpretation of Stalin’s motives for expanding Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. While there is evidence that supports the Orthodox view that Stalin’s expansion was aggressive, new arguments have come to light to support the idea that the Soviet Union “wanted to guarantee its security in the future” and can therefore it was simply a defensive move. One key factor responsible for the incorporation of Eastern Europe into the sphere of Soviet control was the presence of the Red Army in Eastern Europe at the end of the Second World War. Although Stalin was willing to accept coalition governments, in the eastern European states the USSR had occupied, in the years immediately after the Second World War, the tension generated by the Cold War resulted in the trend towards the imposition of communist governments on the countries of Eastern Europe. Thus developments in this region of...
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...of Franklin D. Roosevelt to be the next President of the US. For the duration of Harry S. Truman’s point in time as the President, he faced numerous obstacles, nevertheless created several doctrines as solutions toward these obstacles. His mainly famous involvement to date is the Truman Doctrine, which focused on top of containing the development of communism all over the place. It was meant in a straight line at the Soviets, led by means of Joseph Stalin whom had been a supporter of the United States throughout World War II. Nonetheless, USSR and the USA were alienated by an enormous ideological gap. As a result the single thing that detained the partners mutually was the need to eliminate Adolf Hitler and wipe out his army of Nazis. Knowing their essential differences, Adolf Hitler was at last beaten in 1945. Truman passionately detested communism and felt with the purpose of that it was the US obligation to obstruct the development of those principles. Throughout the Cold War, the US established harmony and detained back the Soviet development in addition to build financial and political solidity in the course of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This Cold War started for the reason that Stalin started to shatter the agreements among partners that were established at the 1945 meeting at Yalta. The single most important agreement prepared all through the meeting, was that free or democratic elections were to obtain a...
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