Glossary
Anschluss
The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in March 1938, a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and a key step in Hitler's expansionist policy.
Example:
The Anschluss was met with little resistance from other European powers, emboldening Hitler to pursue further territorial demands.
Appeasement
A diplomatic policy of making political or material concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict.
Example:
Britain and France's policy of appeasement towards Hitler's demands, such as at the Munich Agreement, ultimately failed to prevent World War II.
Axis Powers
The alliance formed before and during World War II primarily between Germany, Italy, and Japan, united by expansionist goals and opposition to the Allies.
Example:
The Axis Powers signed various pacts, including the Anti-Comintern Pact and the Tripartite Pact, solidifying their military and political cooperation.
Disarmament
The reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons, often imposed on defeated nations or agreed upon in peace treaties.
Example:
Germany's forced disarmament under the Treaty of Versailles left it feeling vulnerable and eager to rebuild its military strength in secret.
Enabling Act
A 1933 law passed by the German Reichstag that gave Adolf Hitler the power to enact laws without the involvement of the parliament or the President.
Example:
The Enabling Act effectively dismantled German democracy, granting Hitler dictatorial authority and paving the way for totalitarian rule.
Fascism
A political ideology characterized by a strong, centralized, dictatorial government, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong nationalism, often with a focus on militarism.
Example:
Benito Mussolini's Italy was a prime example of a fascist state, prioritizing national unity and aggressive expansion.
Great Depression
A severe worldwide economic depression that began in the United States in 1929 and had profound global impacts, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty.
Example:
The Great Depression caused immense suffering across Europe, making populations desperate for radical solutions and strong leadership.
Imperialism
A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means, which fueled the expansionist ambitions of the Axis Powers.
Example:
Japan's imperialism in East Asia, particularly its invasion of Manchuria, demonstrated its aggressive territorial ambitions long before the full outbreak of WWII.
International Isolation
The state of a country being excluded from global political and economic affairs, often as a consequence of war or diplomatic sanctions.
Example:
Germany's initial international isolation from organizations like the League of Nations after WWI fueled its sense of injustice and desire for revenge.
Mandates
Territories transferred from the control of one country to another after WWI, administered by Allied powers under League of Nations supervision.
Example:
After WWI, former Ottoman territories like Syria and Lebanon became French mandates, sparking local nationalist movements.
March on Rome
A 1922 demonstration by Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party, which pressured King Victor Emmanuel III to appoint Mussolini as Prime Minister of Italy.
Example:
The March on Rome was a pivotal event that brought Mussolini and the Fascist Party to power in Italy without a direct coup.
Munich Agreement
A 1938 agreement between Germany, France, Britain, and Italy that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in exchange for Hitler's promise of no further territorial demands.
Example:
The Munich Agreement is often cited as the peak of the appeasement policy, failing to prevent Hitler's subsequent invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia.
Mussolini
Benito Mussolini was the fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943, who established a totalitarian regime and pursued an aggressive foreign policy.
Example:
Mussolini sought to restore Italy to the glory of the Roman Empire through military expansion and nationalistic fervor.
Nazi Party
A far-right political party in Germany led by Adolf Hitler, which rose to power in the 1930s and implemented a totalitarian, racist, and expansionist ideology.
Example:
The Nazi Party exploited Germany's economic despair and nationalistic grievances to gain widespread public support.
PNF (Partito Nazionale Fascista)
The National Fascist Party, founded by Benito Mussolini, which ruled Italy as a totalitarian state from 1922 to 1943.
Example:
The PNF used paramilitary groups like the Blackshirts to suppress political opposition and enforce its ideology.
Paris Peace Conference
A meeting in 1919 after WWI where Allied powers negotiated peace treaties, primarily leading to the Treaty of Versailles.
Example:
The Paris Peace Conference attempted to redraw the map of Europe, but its outcomes often sowed seeds of future conflict.
Propaganda
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Example:
The Nazi regime used powerful propaganda films and posters to demonize minorities and glorify Hitler's leadership.
Rearmament
The process of rebuilding and expanding a country's military forces and weaponry, often in defiance of international treaties.
Example:
Germany's rapid rearmament under Hitler directly violated the Treaty of Versailles and alarmed neighboring European powers.
Reichstag Fire
An arson attack on the German parliament building in 1933, which the Nazis blamed on communists and used as a pretext to suspend civil liberties.
Example:
The Reichstag Fire allowed Hitler to consolidate power by convincing the public that a communist threat necessitated emergency decrees.
Treaty of Versailles
The most significant peace treaty of WWI, signed in 1919, which imposed harsh terms on Germany, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations.
Example:
Many historians argue that the punitive nature of the Treaty of Versailles directly contributed to German resentment and the rise of Hitler.
War Guilt Clause
Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, which forced Germany to accept sole responsibility for starting World War I.
Example:
The War Guilt Clause deeply humiliated Germany, providing a powerful rallying cry for nationalist politicians like Hitler.