Authoritarian States Flashcards
Hitler & Mao Zedong (14 cards)
Give two examples of Hitler’s successful foreign policy (give dates)
- Anschluss of Austria (1938)
- Annexation of the Sudetenland (1938)
Give an example of a failure of Hitler’s foreign policy (date)- and why
Invasion of Poland (1939)
- it eventually led to WWII, a war that Germany was not prepared to fight
- was considered risky and aggressive
- His overconfidence led to the beginning of his downfall
Give two examples of Mao’s successful foreign policy (give dates)
- Korean War - 1950-53
- Sino-Soviet Split (1950s-1960s)
Give an example of a failure of Mao’s foreign policy (date) - and why
Annexation of Tibet (1950-51)
- led to global condemnation
- territorial success but damaged China’s and Mao’s global image
Give two examples of Hitler’s legal methods (date)
- The Reichstag Fire Decree (1933)
- The Night of the Long Knives (1934
Give two examples of Mao’s legal methods (date)
- The Counter-Revolutionaries Campaign
- The Anti Rightist Campaign
Give two examples of Hitler’s propaganda - list some examples - what did they create
**Cult of personality **
- Films “The Triumph of Will”, Posters, Portraits required in homes, slogans “One people, One Empire, One leader”
- They all portrayed him as “God-like” and Germany’s savior
They created a sense of personal connection and emotional loyalty to Hitler
Control of Media
- banned non-nazi newspapers, books and films
- Filled German media with Anti-Semetic propaganda
- This ensured that Germans only heard what the Nazis wanted them to.
Give two examples of Mao’s propaganda - list some examples - what did they create
Cult of personality
- Mao was portrayed as the “Great Helmsman” and savior of China
- Portraits displayed in the center of cities, songs and slogans glorified Mao as their leader
This built loyalty and made questioning him feel like betrayal
The Little Red Book
- pocket sized book filled with Mao’s philosophy and quotes
- Book was required reading in schools and military units
This allowed Mao to maintain power through ideological indoctrination
What was the Reichstag Fire Decree and when was it enabled
1933
Issued by Hindenburg on Feb 28 through Hitler’s urging - it suspended civil liberties, allowed arbitary arrests anf centralised government power
What was the Night of The Long Knives (when was it) and what did it lead the military to do?
July 1934
Hitler used the claim that the Sa were plannign a coup against him as an excuse to eliminate (execute people that he saw as a threat to him such as Ernst Rohm and political oppostition Kurt Von Schleicher
It led to the military swearing an Oath of Loyalty to Hilter himself - not the state
What (and when) was the Campaign against Counter-Revolutionaries - what did it justify and what did it lead to
1950-1952
Mao issued laws to punish former KMT officials, landlords and anyone seena s a counter-revolutionary
- Mass arrests and public executions became legally justified
- It lead to widespread fear - effectively silencing citizens into supporting Mao
What was the Anti-Rightist Campaign, (when), what did it follow and what did it create
1957
It followed the Hundred Flowers Campaign which encouraged criticism
- Mao reversed course through the anti Rightsish Campaign - which was a political purge launched to target and punish individulas who spoke out against him during the HFC \
Again used legal campaign to instill fear and ensure compliance
What was the Sino-Soviet Split and when and what how did it help him
1950s-1960s
Mao distanced himself and China from the USSR presenting himself and China as the superior communist leader
- thus using foreign policy to position himself as ideologically superior
What (and when) was the Korean War and how was it a success and what did it boost?
1950-53
Mao sent troops to aid North Korea against the US and South Korea
- It was seen as a patriotic defense of chinese interests and defense against capitalism
- it boosted his public image as a strong and defensive leader
