LQ 5: Interwar Period

Question 1

What is totalitarianism?

Answer 1

A system in which a dictator/government controls every aspect of the individual’s life. This is done through terror, nationalism, and propaganda.

Question 2

What brought Lenin into power?

Answer 2

A successful Bolshevik (communist) revolution in 1917. Lenin becomes Dictator of the Proletariat.

Question 3

Describe Tzar Nicholas II’s assassination. (Who did it, why, when?)

Answer 3

Lenin had Nicholas II killed (along with the entire Romanov family) in 1918. This was done to prevent a potential counterrevolution.

Question 4

Lenin creates a Communist State supposedly based on the ideas of whom?

Answer 4

Karl Marx. The Communist State did not truly follow the ideas of Marx (private property, on a small scale, existed under Lenin, for example).

Question 5

What is the “New Economic Policy” (NEP)?

Answer 5

Lenin initiated state control of the largest sectors of the economy while, at lower levels, private enterprise continued.

Question 6

What is the Cheka?

Answer 6

Lenin’s secret police who, along with the Red Army, attempt to exterminate opposition.

Question 7

Upon Lenin’s death, a power struggle ensued among whom? Who won?

Answer 7

A communist intellectual Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Stalin won.

Question 8

How did Trotsky die?

Answer 8

Stalin exiled him to Mexico, where he then had him brutally assassinated.

Question 9

What are two characteristics of Stalin?

Answer 9

1. He is extremely paranoid.

2. There is nothing he will not do to maintain power.

Question 10

What are the Great Purges?

Answer 10

In the 1930s, Stalin had all party and military personnel that have proven themselves capable killed.

Question 11

What are the “5 Year Plans?”

Answer 11

Economic plans that called for the heavy industrialization and collectivization of agriculture.

Question 12

Were Stalin’s “5 Year Plans” successful?

Answer 12

They were, but at a heavy cost to the people. The Kulaks were an example.

Question 13

What happened to the Kulaks during the “5 Year Plans?”

Answer 13

The Kulaks, large land owning peasants who opposed the collectivization of agriculture, were exterminated.

Question 14

Total War tends to precipitate a shift in which direction politically?

Answer 14

To the Left, due to expanding government control of everything.

Question 15

How did Germany and Italy respond to the Russian Revolution and the overall shift to the left?

Answer 15

By going to the Right (like way, way right)!

Question 16

How was Mussolini involved in the Italian Socialist Party?

Answer 16

He became editor of their newspaper, the “Avanti.”

Question 17

What era was Mussolini involved in?

Answer 17

1st half of the 20th century.

Question 18

What did WW1 do to the political beliefs of Mussolini?

Answer 18

Before the war, he supported left wing ideology, whereas after WW1, he became a staunch right-wing conservative.

Question 19

What was Mussolini’s newspaper?

Answer 19

After WW1, he began the Right wing newspaper called the “Papola de Italia.”

Question 20

What was the Fasci di Combattimento?

Answer 20

Violent squads, primarily composed of war veterans, who wanted to gain control of the government.

Question 21

What is fascism?

Answer 21

It is a political philosophy that advocates the glorification of the state (via propaganda), a single party system with a strong ruler, and an aggressive form of nationalism.

Question 22

How did Mussolini rise to power? (Hint: It wasn’t a coup)

Answer 22

He worked within the existing political system (constitutional monarchy) to create the 20th century fascist state.

Question 23

Regarding Mussolini, what happened in 1921?

Answer 23

He became Prime Minister of Italy.

Question 24

What did Mussolini do in 1922?

Answer 24

He created the “Grand Council of Fascist” which replaced the legislative branch of the existing government.

Question 25

What changes did the “Grand Council of Fascist” make? (2 things)

Answer 25

1. Mussolini alone will set the date for national elections (usually done by the King).
2. They created a Fascist military called MSVN, which swore allegiance to Mussolini and not the state.

Question 26

What resulted from the changes made by the “Grand Count of Fascist?”

Answer 26

Totalitarianism

Question 27

After WW1, what did William II (Kaiser of Germany) do and how was he helped?

Answer 27

William II fled to Holland. Queen Willomina refused to turn William II over to the Allies and remained under her protection for the rest of his life.

Question 28

When was the Versailles Peace Treaty signed?

Answer 28

June 28, 1919

Question 29

Why was the Weimar Republic doomed from the beginning?

Answer 29

Because to the average German, the new state symbolizes defeat in war and national humiliation.

Question 30

How was the government of the Weimar Republic made up and what problems were inherent in it?

Answer 30

The government was setup as to allow proportional representation. This meant that too many parties were around for a clear majority.

Question 31

Who was Paul von Hindenburg?

Answer 31

Hindenburg was a Prussian war hero of the Eastern Front who became President in 1925. He held the Weimar Republic together.

Question 32

Briefly describe the early life of Adolf Hitler (his birthplace to art school).

Answer 32

He was born in Austria in 1889, the son of a customs official. After a limited education, he went to Vienna and was rejected twice by the Fine Arts Academy.

Question 33

Where did Hitler develop his hatred of Jews?

Answer 33

Many argue in Vienna. Jews were successful whereas young Hitler was not.

Question 34

How was Hitler involved in WW1?

Answer 34

He volunteered for the Bavarian army and served for 4 years. He was promoted to corporal and received the iron cross twice.

Question 35

What did Hitler’s job of “political training official” consist of?

Answer 35

He would attend political party meetings in order to keep an eye on radical Left wing groups.

Question 36

What was the “German Workers Party?” (3 characteristics)

Answer 36

A political party that was anti-semitic, hated the Versailles Peace Treaty, and supported the union of all Germans.

Question 37

What did the “German Workers Party” come to be known as?

Answer 37

NAZIS

Question 38

Who were the Storm Troopers (SA)?

Answer 38

Young men (many of whom were WW1 vets) who protected Nazi party meetings and disrupted meetings of opposition groups through violence.

Question 39

What is the Beer Hall Putsch?

Answer 39

In 1923, Hitler attempted to overthrow the government. He served 8 months in prison, during which he wrote Mein Kampf.

Question 40

What did the failure of the Beer Hall Putsch convince Hitler of?

Answer 40

That he must work within the existing political system.

Question 41

Who were the SS (German troops)?

Answer 41

A paramilitary group that first served as Hitler’s bodyguards. Later, they were the very best troops in the German military.

Question 42

Why did Hindenburg offer the Chancellorship to Hitler?

Answer 42

Due to the government’s inability to function and fear of a possible revolution from the Left.