Question

Body Paragraph 3: Explain what you think accounted for the rise of
totalitarian states after World War I, including how the leaders of these
states gained and kept their power.
Conclusion: Evaluate the rise of totalitarian states and predict the impact
you think their existence will have on world affairs.

Answer 1

$\huge\mathfrak{heya}$

Totalitarian governments in the early 20th century had three basic characteristics: 1- ruled by a single ruler (or party) with unrestricted power. 2- used violence and intimidation to maintain power. 3- people were not given political freedoms, and dissension was not allowed.

The totalitarian governments that existed around the time WWII began were Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the Empire of Japan, and the USSR (which was a US ally during the war). Lets use Nazi Germany as an example of how totalitarianism led to WWII.

Throught the 1930's, Germany was still recovering from the Treaty of Versailles, which blamed Germany for WWI and forced the Germans to pay reparations (money for damages) back to the allied powers. This, coupled with the stock market crash of 1929, bottomed out Germany's economy. Soon enough, the Weimar Republic that was ruling Germany was unable to truly raise Germany back to pre-WWI status. With its political, social, and economic climate in shambles, a strong political party like the National Socialist (Nazi) party was able to take control. When Adolf Hitler was given control of the Nazi Party, he was able to transform Germany into a totalitarian state- he was in complete control, he used intimidation and fear to maintain power, and no dissension was allowed.

Because France and Great Britain appeased Hitler and allowed him to take territory from the Czech Republic, Hitler continued to push for a Germany filled only with Aryans, those Hitler considered ethnically pure and truly "German". With a growing power and the strength of an entire nation behind him, Hitler and his totalitarian regime were able to invade more land, which eventually sparked war in Western Europe (this happened on September 1, 1939, with Germany's invasion of Poland).

While totalitarianism is not the only cause for WWII, it does help explain how Germany became powerful again after WWI and the Treaty of Versailles, and how that power enabled Hitler to begin his conquest of Europe.

HOPE IT HELPS