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Module 7 - The Rise of Totalitarianism

7.00 Module Index
(Standard 10.7) Textbook pages: 412-467

Lesson	Estimated Time
7.00 Module Overview - World War II	min.
7.01 A New Regime in Russia	min.
7.02 Fascism in Italy	min.
7.03 Germany: Dictatorship	min.
7.04 The Rising Sun in the Far East	min
7.05 The March toward War	min.
7.06 Activity Log	5 min.
Module 7 Discussion	35 min.
7.07 Module Test

MODULE 7 OVERVIEW

And home they went. The soldiers who had fought so bravely in the Grand War (World War I) either returned home to their vastly changed countries to resume their lives or returned home in a coffin. Many returned to the unknown tombs listed by a simple cross or a mass grave with a memorial. The picture below is in Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C.

In the United States the 1920’s ushered in an era of prosperity. But things were different in Europe. Its war losses had been far greater, for winners as well as losers. And the war settlements of the Treaty of Versailles brought new strains. Germany was angry at what they considered harsh treatment by the Allies. Many of newly created nations included sizable minorities that did not feel any kinship with the majority. Economic difficulties made political problems worse. Thus for Europe the twenty-one years between the two world wars were a time of tremendous stress and tension.

See the map of Europe below.

In Africa, Asia, India, and the Middle East the preoccupation of the war by European nations had stimulated nationalist movements within these regions. European overlords would find it increasingly difficult to maintain their colonial control in the days ahead. Major changes occurred in Russia as well as the Communists came to power.

Nations soon had to cope with a worldwide depression that saw governments topple and experiment with new ways to govern themselves. By the 1930’s , the short peace after the world war was ended, and the world was back to war.

As a quick review of what happened in World War I, click on this link and take this online quiz:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/modern/quiz/quizhtm.htm