Dictators of 20th Century

Question 1

Who was Benito Mussolini?

Answer 1

Benito Mussolini was the Italian Prime minister and the ‘Il Duce’ (‘The leader’) of fascist Italy from 1922 - 1945.

Question 2

Who was Joseph Stalin?

Answer 2

Joseph Stalin was a communist politician that ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 - 1953

Question 3

Who was Adolf Hitler?

Answer 3

Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi party and Fuher of Nazi Germany from 1933 - 1945.

Question 4

Who was Emperor Hirohito?

Answer 4

Emperor Hirohito was the Emperor of the Japanese empire from 1926 - 1989

Question 5

Who was Hideki Tojo?

Answer 5

Japanese prime minister and general of the imperial army from 1940 - 1944

Question 6

What was the impact of the treaty of Versailles on Germany?

Answer 6

The treaty of Versailles crippled the German state by taking away land, money and the army without possible negotiation.

Question 7

Why was the confiscation of certain land detrimental to the German economy?

Answer 7

The Saar coalfields (confiscated by France) was rich in resources and contained the vast majority of German industry.

Question 8

Why was the Rhineland demilitarised?

Answer 8

The treaty of Versailles demanded the treaty of Versailles be demilitarised to provide a buffer from incoming attacks by Germany on France. Additionally, it gave France control over the industry there.

Question 9

Why did Japan feel cheated by the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 9

Japanese delegates submitted a request for racial equality, which was rejected by the other delegates. Additionally, Japan expected to gain more territory from the treaty.

Question 10

What was the Paris Conference?

Answer 10

The Paris peace conference was the meeting in 1919 of the victorious Allied Powers following the end of the first world war. It aimed to set peace terms for the defeated Central Powers.

Question 11

Outline the terms of the Treaty of Saint Germain

Answer 11

Austria lost territory to Czechoslovakia, Poland and Italy. The military was also reduced to a standing army of 35,000

Question 12

Outline the terms of the Treaty of Trianon

Answer 12

Hungary lost territory to Romania and Yugoslavia. The military was reduced to a standing army of 35,000

Question 13

Outline the terms of the Treaty of Neuilly

Answer 13

Bulgaria lost territory to Greece. Reparations of 90 million to pay. The standing army was reduced to 20,000

Question 14

Outline the terms of the Treaty of Sevres

Answer 14

Turkey lost territory to Greece. Turkey’s empire in the middle east and north Africa become mandates of France and Britain. The military was reduced to a standing army of 50,000.

Question 15

Outline the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 15

German colonies in Africa were given to France and Britain. The return of Alsace-Lorraine to France. Territory to be given to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Lithuania.
German reparations of £6,600 billion.
The military was reduced to a standing army of 100,000
Germany to take full blame for the war.

Question 16

Describe what the post-war treaties did to the political geography of Europe?

Answer 16

The treaties created countries such as Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Poland.

Question 17

Describe the international effects of the Post-War treaties

Answer 17

The post-war treaties damaged relations between the Central Powers and the Allies. It also caused nations to move into isolationism, as was seen with Japan and the Soviet Union.

Question 18

Explain the effects of the post-war treaties on increasing antisemitism in the post-war period

Answer 18

The loss of the war and the ensuing post-war treaties were blamed on the Jews. This is due to them not fighting in the war in some cases and were therefore seen to be not fulfilling their wartime duty.
Additionally, during the economic hardships, Jewish people were victimised because of the stability they maintained by trading in gold.

Question 19

Explain the effects of the treaties on the rise of Nationalism after the great war

Answer 19

The nations that formed the central powers were forced to obey the Allied nations, therefore, Germany and Italy looked to move towards nationalism, as it provided stability and security.

Question 20

Explain how the war and post war treaties affected the balance of power in Europe

Answer 20

The post-war treaties allowed for the Allied nations to prosper and become more powerful. The left the central powers powerless and without means to pay reparations or economically sustain themselves.

Question 21

Outline how peace was negotiated between Turkey and the Allied Powers

Answer 21

The treaty of Sèvres was rejected by the new Turkish Nationalist government and Turkey entered into the Lausanne Treaty in 1923. This permitted Turkey to maintain a full standing army, not pay for reparations and revoked the land concessions to Greece.