TOTALITARIANISM

AuthoritarianismPropagandaState Terrorism« Cult of Personality »

Totalitarianism:

• A Political system where the state, usually one person, recognized no limits to it’s authority and seeks to control every aspect of public and private life, wherever possible.

• It is charactarized by:» Authoritarianism» Propaganda» State Terrorism» A cult of Personality

Authoritarianism

• Ordinary citizens have less significant share in the decision making of the country.

• Leadership is “taken” or rigged.

• No tolerance of opposition.

Propaganda

• State controlled mass media.

• Using that media to influence the attitude of a community toward some cause or position.

• CENSORSHIP: The examining of books, films, or other material and to remove what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable

“We put the fate of the nation in the hands of Hitler”

• Joseph Stalin, routinely airbrushed his enemies out of images. In this photo, a commissar was removed from the original photograph after falling out of favor with Stalin.

State Terrorism

• The systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and bring about a political objective.

A Cult of Personality

• Using mass media, propaganda, and other methods to create an idealized and heroic public image through flattery, praise, and hero worship.

BENITO MUSSOLINI• Also known as El Duce

• Political Dictator of Italy from 1922-1943

• Formed the FASCIST PARTY

FASCISM

• The basic idea of Fascism was that the government should control the whole persons life.

» Education» Newspapers» Trade unions» Sport

• There were slogans everywhere to pursuade people that the Fascist government benefited them. The most common was:

“Mussolini is always right”

MARCH ON ROME

• "Either the government will be given to us or will shall seize it by marching on Rome.“

• Afraid of the Fascist demonstrations, the king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III invited Mussolini to be Prime Minister.

BLACK SHIRTS

• Those men in this unit were usually ex-soldiers and it was their job to bring into line those who opposed Mussolini.

• The motto of the Blackshirts was "Me ne frego" (I do not give a damn")

JOSEPH STALIN• Dictator of Communist

Russia from 1922 to 1953.

PURGES

• Stalin was ruthless in taking and maintaining power.

• He removed all opposition to his rule, including citizens.

• Leaders of Soviet society, armed forces and key personnel were removed if they were considered a threat to Stalin’s rule.

• Anyone, including citizens who opposed, or were accused of opposing Stalin or his policies were dealt with by the NKVD(secret police).

• If you weren’t killed you were sent to labor camps known as “GULAGS”.

• This became known as the “Great Terror”.

CULT OF PERSONALITY• Numerous towns, villages and cities were

renamed after the Soviet leader. (STALINGRAD)

• Statues were built in his honor depicting him as a much larger man than he actually was.

• Stalin became the focus of literature, poetry, music, paintings and film.

ADOLF HITLERDictator of Germany from

1933 to 1945

A.K.A. The Fuhrer (Leader)

Formed the Nazi Party

NAZISM

• Characterized by authoritarianism and militarism

• Belief in German ethnic and cultural supremacy

• Key to Nazism was ANTI-SEMETISM:

• A dislike or hatred for Jews

PROPAGANDA

• Dr. Joseph Goebbels was appointed Minister of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda.

• Used newspapers, radio broadcasts and film to tell the German people how great the Nazis were.

CENSORSHIP

School books were rewritten and newspapers were controlled.

RALLIES

• Hitler used his skills as a great speaker to create enthusiasm for himself and his policies. These rallies were held in open-air arenas and large halls. They were used to create an intense emotional effect.

Hitler Youth Movements

• Hitler believed that if beliefs and loyalties of children can be shaped in a certain way, they will keep these beliefs and loyalties as they grow up.

• Became compulsory• Wore uniforms and were

taught to love and obey Hitler.

USE OF TERROR• Hitler depended on two groups to

ensure that he was feared:

• THE S.S (A.K.A. The Brownshirts) were the personal body guards of Hitler

• THE GESTAPO were the German secret police, who made sure no one opposed the ideas of the Nazi party.