V. The Right-wing dictatorships (pp.

47-57 + extended readings)

Data-file

Germany
A. Background
Name of Dictator: Adolf Hitler
Party/ Group: Nazi Party
Ideology: Nazism
Period in Power: 1933-1945 Party Symbol (Swastika)
B. Conditions of Germany in the late 20s and 30s: (main points only)
Guiding Questions: i) Socio-economic: poor + economic devastation
i) What was the socio- brought by WWI; owed huge debts to the Allies
economic situation? due to the heavy reparations in the Treaty of
ii) How would the people Versailles → hyperinflation because the Weimar
feel? government printed money to pay reparations; in
1930s: collapse of the German economy due to the
iii) Whom/ what would they Great Depression (Germany relied on loans and
blame this on? trade from the US)

ii) They felt discontented and angry with the

government because it signed the Treaty of Versailles
(territorial losses, heavy reparations, war guilt, etc.)

iii) The Government (Weimar Republic) was blamed

for all these problems because they thought that
Germany’s loss was the government’s fault (and
hence turned to support the Nazi Party later on)

C. What promises would the dictator have given to the people under these
circumstances?
List out THREE in the following:
i) The abolition/ repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles and revival of national glory/
German nationalism and secure German national interests (making Germany great
again)

ii) The creation of a strong central government/ a strong leader

iii) Economic Stability and Prosperity

● pledged to create jobs
● reduce unemployment
● improve living conditions
Data-file

Italy
A. Background
Name of Dictator: Benito Mussolini
Party/ Group: Fascist Party
Ideology: Fascism
Period in Power: 1922-1943

Party Symbol
B. Conditions of Italy in the 20s: (main points only)
Guiding Questions: i)They felt resentful because the Italians failed to get the
i) How did the Italians territories that were promised when they joined WWI.
feel about the Paris They felt betrayed by the Allied Powers. (e.g. They were
Peace Conference? against the formation of new states like Yugoslavia that
incorporated territories that Italy wanted.)

ii) What were the ii) Public opinion required that Italy's huge sacrifices be
people’s vindicated by the war's outcome (e.g. territorial rewards).
expectations on the They thought they deserved better than unemployment
government? and starvation after they had fought and worked for their
country, and they wanted the government to solve the
problems.

iii) Italy faced serious postwar economic problems, like

iii) What was the high inflation (Wartime governments had printed money
economic situation? to pay for arms, and inflation intensified. By the end of
1920 the lira was worth only one-sixth of its 1913 value.
Savings became nearly worthless, and rents collected by
landowners plummeted in value.) and unemployment. The
government was also indebted.

C. What promises would the dictator have given to the people under these
circumstances? List out THREE in the following:
i) to improve the economy/ solve economic problems (to provide food and jobs and
improve living standard); to maintain capitalism and private property

ii) to revive Italian national glory (that of the Roman Empire)

iii) to restore order by ending social unrests and political corruption

Data-file

Japan
A. Background
Name of Dictator: Hideki Tojo and other military
leaders
Party/ Group: Imperial Rule Assistance
Association / the Militarists
Ideology: Militarism
Period in Power: 1932-45
Pa
rty Symbol - Rising sun
B. Conditions of Japan in the late 20s and 30s: (main points only)
Guiding Questions: i) - Trade boom during WWI but slowed down in the
i) What were the 1920s
socio-economic - the Great Depression (since 1929) → decrease in
problems? world trade and high tariffs imposed by America on
Japanese exports (protectionist policy)
- Financial instability, rapidly rising population (yet the
lack of resources)
- many people emigrating to the U.S., but the United
States Congress excluded “Asiatics” from immigrating
to the U.S. (restrictions set on Japanese immigrants)
- Natural disasters (e.g. the Great Kanto Earthquake in
1923 that killed many people and destroyed large areas
of territory)

ii) During the 1920s and early 1930s, Japan progressed

ii) What was the toward a democratic system of government.
change of However, the parliamentary government was not rooted
government in this deeply enough to withstand the economic and political
period? pressures of the 1930s. Military leaders/ Militarism
became increasingly influential.

iii) - They believed that the only way to save the

iii) Explain the reasons country was to have a strong military dictatorship
for this change? internally (to replace the incapable democratic
government), and externally the discrimination against
Japan (e.g. restrictions on immigration, protectionist
trade policy) → a deep and long-lasting hurt to Japanese
pride → fight back
- History of strong nationalism and a reverence for its
military traditions in Japan, e.g. Bushido, samurai
C. What promises would the dictator have given to the people under these
circumstances?
List out THREE in the following:
i) Invasion of China to pave the way for global conquest to address the socio-economic
problems of Japan
ii) A more orderly / strong central government and favourable economic environment to
promote economic growth

iii) To avenge those who discriminated the Japanese through military means